a very important aspect, i think, of trent reznor’s songwriting and why it comes across so intense and genuine and impactful (and - listen - so bisexually) is - despite the number of songs he has regarding pain and rejection and bitterness towards a partner - his lack of casual misogyny. though he makes it consistently and intensely clear how miserable he feels about himself and how angry he is at others, it’s never in a way that makes you think he just hates women. even in reptile, for example, where he calls a woman (well. a “she”) “whore,” it’s not used in a derogatory way but with perhaps adoration, longing, self recognition.
as another point, he doesnt tend to describe the appearance of partners. he focuses very heavily on how people make him FEEL (physically and emotionally), and expresses a visceral and very intimate sexuality and attraction, without ever describing someone physically or remarking on their beauty or “sexiness.” it makes his feelings seem more genuine and also more easily relatable; you could picture anyone. you could picture him.
and, his consistent use of “you” or “she” to refer to partners in his lyrics, instead of petnames like “babe” or something like “that girl,” also adds to the sense of intimacy and personal respect, even towards people he clearly hates. he doesnt see himself as better, by default, than whoever he’s singing about, even if he sees himself as (correctly or incorrectly) the victim. you have to feel for him.
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