As Alive as You Need Me to Be
"As Alive as You Need Me to Be" | ||||
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Single by Nine Inch Nails | ||||
from the album Tron: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||||
B-side | ||||
Released | July 17, 2025 | |||
Genre | Industrial rock, synth-pop | |||
Length | 3:53 | |||
Label | Interscope | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
Nine Inch Nails singles chronology | ||||
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Halo numbers chronology | ||||
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"As Alive as You Need Me to Be" is a song by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. Released on July 17, 2025, the song served as the lead single from their upcoming score for the film Tron: Ares (2025). It is the first Nine Inch Nails release since the 2021 Health collaboration "Isn't Everyone".
Release and reception
A few days before the song's release, its title was teased on a T-shirt sold at European dates on the band's Peel It Back world tour.[3]
The release was accompanied by a lyric video uploaded to Nine Inch Nails' official YouTube channel, as well as a new trailer for Tron: Ares on Disney's channel that prominently featured the song.[4][5] The release date, track list, and pre-orders for the film's soundtrack were also announced on the day of the song's release.[6]
The song debuted at No. 10 on Billboard's Dance Digital Song Sales chart.[7]
Stereogum described the song as "a fearsome rocker built on retro-futuristic '80s electro synths" with "Reznor [bringing] real ferocity to his lead vocal", while Uproxx described it as "an electronic banger [...] that could fit on a regular NIN studio album".[8][9] Furthermore, Revolver characterized the track by its "huge-ass synth-bass rhythms and quake-inducing drum-machine beats [as well as] a devilishly melodic, distortion-pressed chorus", also theorizing that its "vocoded backups [are] perhaps a nod to previous Tron scorers Daft Punk".[10]
Track listing
All tracks written by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
San Diego Comic-Con-exclusive 7" single
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "As Alive as You Need Me to Be" | 3:53 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Building Better Worlds" |
Standard 7” single
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "As Alive as You Need Me to Be" | 3:53 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Empathetic Response" |
Charts
Chart (2025) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)[11] | 45 |
Canada Rock (Billboard)[12] | 28 |
Italy Rock Airplay (FIMI)[13] | 10 |
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[14] | 74 |
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[15] | 76 |
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[16] | 40 |
References
- ^ Betti, Tony (July 23, 2025). "Photos: San Diego Comic-Con Attendees Can Get Their Hands On Special "TRON: Ares" Memorabilia". Laughing Place. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ MacMichael, Paul (July 28, 2025). "As Alive As You Need Me To Be | 7" Vinyl". nin.com. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ Chan, Anna (July 17, 2025). "Nine Inch Nails Drops Surprise New Song, Reveals Release Date & Tracklist for 'Tron: Ares' Soundtrack". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ MacMichael, Paul (July 17, 2025). "As Alive As You Need Me To Be | Official Lyric Video". nine inch nails. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
- ^ Taylor, Drew (July 17, 2025). "Latest 'Tron: Ares' Trailer Reveals New Nine Inch Nails Song 'As Alive As You Need Me to Be'". TheWrap. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (July 17, 2025). "Nine Inch Nails Detail Tron: Ares Soundtrack Album, Share New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ McIntyre, Hugh. "Nine Inch Nails Launches A Comeback With A New Top 10 Hit". Forbes. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ "Nine Inch Nails Share New 'Tron' Soundtrack Single "As Alive As You Need Me To Be": Listen". Stereogum. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ "Nine Inch Nails Share 'As Alive As You Need Me To Be' From 'Tron'". UPROXX. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
- ^ Adams, Gregory. "Hear NINE INCH NAILS' first song in five years "As Alive as You Need Me to Be"". Revolver. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 28 July 2025". The ARIA Report. No. 1847. Australian Recording Industry Association. July 28, 2025. p. 9.
- ^ "Canada Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
- ^ "EarOne Airplay Rock". EarOne (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. August 1, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart". Official Charts Company. July 25, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ^ "Nine Inch Nails Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2025.