Enter Sandman: Difference between revisions

| released = July 29, 1991<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Enter Sandman |url=https://www.metallica.com/releases/singles/release-4293.html |website=Metallica.com |access-date=29 July 29, 2022 |archive-date=September 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924124402/https://www.metallica.com/releases/singles/release-4293.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

"Enter Sandman" was the first song Metallica had written for their [[Metallica (album)| 1991 eponymous album]].<ref name="ulrichca">{{cite video|people=[[Lars Ulrich]]|title=Classic Albums: Metallica – Metallica|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Eagle Rock Entertainment]]|year=2001}}</ref> Metallica's songwriting at that time was done mainly by rhythm guitarist [[James Hetfield]] and drummer [[Lars Ulrich]], after they gathered tapes of song ideas and concepts from the other members of the band, lead guitarist [[Kirk Hammett]] and bassist [[Jason Newsted]]. Ulrich's house in [[Berkeley, California]], was used for this purpose.<ref name="ulrichca"/> "Enter Sandman" evolved from a guitar [[Ostinato#Riff|riff]] that Hammett wrote,<ref name="ulrichca"/> after being inspired by [[Soundgarden]]'s 1989 album ''[[Louder Than Love]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/kirk-hammett-enter-sandman-riff-was-inspired-soundgarden |title=Kirk Hammett: "Enter Sandman" Riff Was Inspired By Soundgarden |last=Camp |first=Zoe |date=September 14, 2017 |website=Revolver |access-date=March 26, 2019 |archive-date=March 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326022910/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/kirk-hammett-enter-sandman-riff-was-inspired-soundgarden |url-status=live }}</ref> Originally, the riff was two [[Bar (music)|bars]] in length, but Ulrich suggested the first bar be played three times and the second bar only be repeated every fourth time.<ref name="ulrichca"/> The instrumental parts of the song were quickly finished,<ref name="hetfieldca">{{cite video | people =[[James Hetfield]] | title =Classic Albums: Metallica – Metallica | medium =DVD | publisher=[[Eagle Rock Entertainment]] | date = 2001 }}</ref> but Hetfield did not come up with vocal melodies and lyrics for a long time. The song was among the album's last to have lyrics,<ref name="ulrichca"/> and the lyrics featured in the song are not the original; Hetfield felt that "Enter Sandman" sounded "catchy and kind of commercial" and so to counterbalance the sound, he wrote lyrics about "destroy[ing] the perfect family; a huge horrible secret in a family" that included references to [[Sudden infant death syndrome|crib death]].<ref name="hetfieldwhenruled">{{cite AV media|people=[[James Hetfield]] |title=When Metallica Ruled the World |medium=TV Documentary |url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/when_ruled_the_world/89764/episode_videos.jhtml |access-date=August 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130212019/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/when_ruled_the_world/89764/episode_videos.jhtml |archive-date=January 30, 2016 |publisher=[[VH1]] |quote=Extras – "James On Writing "Enter Sandman" Lyrics, 2004; [[When Ruled the World]] |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref><ref name="blendergreatest">{{cite news|title=The Greatest Songs Ever! Enter Sandman |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1973 |author=Grierson, Tim |work=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]] |year=2006 |access-date=September 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101141956/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1973 |archive-date=November 1, 2007 }}</ref> For the first time in Metallica's history, however, Ulrich and producer [[Bob Rock]] told Hetfield that they felt he could write better lyrics.<ref name="hetfieldwhenruled"/> Nevertheless, according to Ulrich, the song was the "foundation, the guide to the whole record" even before it had lyrics.

"Enter Sandman" moves at a tempo of 123 beats per minute for the song length of 5:32 which is slightly above the average song length of the album.<ref name="tabbook">{{cite book | title = Metallica&nbsp;— Black (Play it like it is&nbsp;— Guitar Tabulature Book) | publisher=Cherry Lane Music | year = 1991 | pages = 5–12| isbn = 0-89524-675-9}}</ref> It begins with an acoustica guitar intro using a chorus pedal similar to the main riff; an [[E minor]] [[Guitar chord|chord]] on a guitar using the [[wah-wah pedal]] is then introduced, followed by heavy use of [[tom-tom drum]]s. [[Distortion (guitar)|Distorted guitars]] then build up to the main riff, which starts 56 seconds into the song and utilizes variations of the [[E (musical note)|E]]/[[B♭ (musical note)|B{{music|flat}}]] [[tritone]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Rooksby | first = Rikki | title = Inside Classic Rock Tracks | publisher=Backbeat | year = 2001| isbn = 0-87930-654-8 | page = 132}}</ref> P. J. Howorth, in ''The Wah Wah Book'', characterized the main riff as "sinister".<ref name="wahbook">{{cite book | last = Howorth | first = P. J. | title = The Wah Wah book | publisher=[[Hal Leonard Corporation]] | year = 1994 | pages = 42–45 | isbn =0-7119-5259-0}}</ref> The song then follows a common [[Song structure (popular music)|structure]], playing two iterations of a verse, a pre-chorus, and a chorus. On the chorus and pre-chorus, the song [[Modulation (music)|modulates]] one [[Major second|whole tone]], up to [[F♯ (musical note)|F{{music|sharp}}]],<ref name="wahbook"/> and after the second chorus, Hammett plays a guitar solo with the main, pre-chorus, and chorus riffs in the background. Hammett makes use of the wah-wah pedal and a wide range of scales, including E [[Pentatonic scale|minor pentatonic]], B minor, [[F-sharp minor|F{{music|sharp}} minor]], E minor, and the E [[dorian mode]].<ref name="wahbook"/> One of the final licks of the solo was inspired by the [[Heart (band)|Heart]] song "[[Magic Man]]" as used in [[Ice-T]]'s "[[Power (Ice-T album)|Personal]]".<ref name=gw>{{cite journal|url=http://www.guitarworld.com/metallica-talkin-thrash?page=0,7/1|title=Metallica: Talkin' Thrash|author=Bienstock, Richard|journal=[[Guitar World]]|date=December 2008|page=7|publisher=[[Future US]]|access-date=November 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625065802/http://www.guitarworld.com/metallica-talkin-thrash?page=0%2C7%2F1|archive-date=June 25, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Just a few seconds before the solo ends, the [[BreakBreakdown (music)|breakdown]] starts, in which the clean drum intro starts, then the acoustic guitar intro when the last notes of Kirk's solo echo over it into the background, are heard together with Hetfield teaching a child the "[[Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep]]" bedtime prayer and reciting a variation of the [[lullaby]] rhyme "[[Hush Little Baby]]" where he is heard saying "Hush little baby don't say a word, and never mind that noise you heard. It's just the beasts under your bed, in your closet, in your head".<ref>{{cite web|title =''Metallica'' lyrics|url =http://www.metallica.com/Media/Albums/album_6_lyric.asp?skin_id=13#1|publisher =[[Metallica]]|access-date =February 12, 2008|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20081227093522/http://www.metallica.com/Media/Albums/album_6_lyric.asp?skin_id=13#1|archive-date =December 27, 2008|df =mdy-all}}</ref> After building again to a chorus, the song starts to fade out while the band plays the same riffs as the buildup intro in reverse order.<ref name="tabbook"/> Lyrically, the song is about "nightmares and all that come with them", according to Chris True of [[AllMusic]].<ref name="allmusicreview"/> The title is a reference to the [[sandman]], a character from [[Western culture|Western]] [[folklore]] who makes children sleep.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia

The single was released on July 29, 1991, two weeks before the release of ''Metallica''.<ref name="auto"/> The album debuted at No.&nbsp;1 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] in the United States and nine other countries, and sold over 22 million copies worldwide,<ref name="mettimeline1991"/><ref>{{cite web|title =Metallica History Part 2|url =http://www.metallica.com/Band/history.asp?part=2|publisher =[[Metallica]]|access-date =August 27, 2007|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110824030222/http://www.metallica.com/404.asp|archive-date =August 24, 2011|df =mdy-all}}</ref> allowing "Enter Sandman" to become, as Chris True describes it, "one of the most recognizable songs of all time in rock".<ref name="allmusicreview"/> The single peaked at No.&nbsp;16 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart and at No.&nbsp;5 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. On September 30, 1991, it became Metallica's second single to achieve gold status in the United States, for shipping more than 500,000 copies.<ref name="riaasearch">{{cite web|title=RIAA Gold and Platinum Searchable Database |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] |access-date=September 1, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |archive-date=June 26, 2007 |df=mdy }}</ref> In August 2021, the song re-entered the [[German Singles Chart]] at No. 1 after a CD single was re-issued whose profit is set to be donated for charity benefitting the German survivors of the [[2021 European floods]].<ref name="ger"/> In addition to the nominations received by the album as a whole, the song was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]] at the [[Grammy Awards of 1992|34th Grammy Awards]] in 1992, ultimately losing to "The Soul Cages" by [[Sting (musician)|Sting]].<ref name="mettimeline1992">{{cite web|title =Metallica&nbsp;— Timeline – 1992|url =http://www.metallica.com/timeline.asp?page=events&n_categoryid=830&year=1992|publisher =[[Metallica]]|access-date =August 28, 2007|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070930220157/http://www.metallica.com/timeline.asp?page=events&n_categoryid=830&year=1992|archive-date =September 30, 2007|df =mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Grammy Award Winners – 1992 |url=http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx?title=&winner=&year=1992&genreID=0&hp=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226041029/http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx?title=&winner=&year=1992&genreID=0&hp=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 26, 2008 |publisher=[[Grammy Award]]s |access-date=December 27, 2007 }}</ref> It was also voted Song of the Year in ''[[Metal Edge]]''{{'}}s 1991 Readers Choice Awards.<ref>Metal Edge, May 1992</ref>

"Enter Sandman" was acclaimedmet with acclaim by critics. Chris True of AllMusic declared it "one of Metallica's best moments" and a "burst of stadium level metal that, once away from the buildup intro, never lets up".<ref name="allmusicreview"/> According to him, the song's breakdown "brilliantly utilizes that 'Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep' bedtime prayer in such a way as to add to the scary movie aspect of the song".<ref name="allmusicreview"/> Steve Huey, in AllMusic's review of ''Metallica'', described it as one of the album's best songs, with "crushing, stripped-down grooves".<ref>{{cite news|title =Metallica&nbsp;— Review|url =https://www.allmusic.com/album/r12993|author =Huey, Steve|publisher =Allmusic|access-date =August 31, 2007|archive-date =July 18, 2011|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110718103141/http://www.allmusic.com/album/r12993|url-status =live}}</ref> Robert Palmer of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' described "Enter Sandman" as "possibly the first metal [[lullaby]]" and wrote that the song "tell[s] the tale" of the album's "detail and dynamic, [...] song structures and impact of individual tracks".<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite magazine |title =Metallica&nbsp;— Metallica&nbsp;— Review|url =https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/150659/review/5941896/metallica|author=Palmer, Robert|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date =August 29, 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071001215808/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/150659/review/5941896/metallica |archive-date = October 1, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sid Smith from the [[BBC]] called the song "psycho-dramatic" and noted that the "terse motifs served notice that things were changing" with Metallica's new album.<ref>{{cite news|title =Metallica, Metallica&nbsp;— Review|url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/8b8c/|author =Smith, Sid|publisher =BBC|date =June 21, 2007|access-date =September 3, 2007|archive-date =September 17, 2008|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080917135604/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/8b8c/|url-status =live}}</ref> ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' magazine's Tim Grierson says that the lyrics "juxtapose childhood bedtime rituals and nightmarish imagery" and praises the "thick bottom end and propulsive riff".<ref name="blendergreatest"/>

"Enter Sandman" has received many accolades. ''Rolling Stone'' magazine listed it as the 408th song on their "[[The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]" list <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/metallica-enter-sandman-19691231|title=the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time|date=December 11, 2003|publisher=www.rollingstone.com|access-date=March 21, 2012|archive-date=April 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430044548/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/metallica-enter-sandman-19691231|url-status=live}}</ref> and 30th on their March 2023 "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time" list.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2023-03-March 13, 2023 |title=The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-heavy-metal-songs-1234688425/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313191405/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-heavy-metal-songs-1234688425/ |archive-date=2023-03-March 13, 2023 |access-date=2023-03-March 13, 2023 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> [[VH1]] placed it 22nd in their list of the "40 Greatest Metal Songs of All Time", 18th in their list of the "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s" and 88th in their 2003 list of "The 100 Greatest Songs from the Past 25 Years".<ref>{{cite magazine |title =The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|url =https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/4|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date =August 27, 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070705153311/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/4 |archive-date = July 5, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title =40 Greatest Metal Songs|url =http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/103446/episode_this_list.jhtml|publisher =[[VH1]]|access-date =August 27, 2007|archive-date =April 5, 2013|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130405065157/http://www.vh1.com/shows/the_greatest/series.jhtml|url-status =dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title =100 Greatest Songs of the '90s|url =http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/127759/episode_featured_copy.jhtml|publisher =[[VH1]]|access-date =June 12, 2008|archive-date =April 5, 2013|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130405065157/http://www.vh1.com/shows/the_greatest/series.jhtml|url-status =dead}}</ref> ''Blender'' magazine included the song in their "The Greatest Songs Ever!" series of articles and placed it 65th on their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".<ref name="blendergreatest"/><ref>{{cite news|title=The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born: 51–100 |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=1771 |work=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]] |year=2005 |access-date=September 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713231707/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=1771 |archive-date=July 13, 2007 }}</ref> ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' magazine listed it 81st in their list of "The 100 Songs That Changed The World" and 55th in their list of "The 1001 Best Songs Ever".<ref>{{cite news|title =The 100 Songs That Changed The World|url =http://www.q4music.com/nav?page=q4music.now.page&fixture_page=281242&resource=281242|work =[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|access-date =September 10, 2007|archive-date =August 10, 2007|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070810074427/http://www.q4music.com/nav?page=q4music.now.page&fixture_page=281242&resource=281242|url-status =live}}</ref> ''[[Total Guitar]]'' magazine readers chose the song's riff as the fifth greatest ever,<ref>{{cite news|title =Guns N' Roses top rock riff poll|url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3677965.stm|work =BBC News|date =May 2, 2004|access-date =August 27, 2007|archive-date =April 2, 2021|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20210402021047/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3677965.stm|url-status =live}}</ref> while ''[[Kerrang!]]'' places it fourth on their list of the "100 Greatest Singles of All Time".{{CNCitation needed|date=December 2023}} The [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] includes it in their list of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock".{{CNCitation needed|date=December 2023}} It was also featured in Triple J's "Hottest 100 of All Time".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100_alltime/countdown/cd_list.htm |title=Countdown &#124; Hottest 100 – Of All Time &#124; triple j |publisher=ABC |location=Australia |date=July 20, 2009 |access-date=August 22, 2010 |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006123848/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100_alltime/countdown/cd_list.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2009, it was named the 5th greatest [[hard rock]] song of all time by [[VH1]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=BraveWords |title=VH1 Counts Down The Top 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs Of All-Time; The Entire List Is Here! |url=https://bravewords.com/news/vh1-counts-down-the-top-100-greatest-hard-rock-songs-of-all-time-the-entire-list-is-here |access-date=2023-09-September 21, 2023 |website=bravewords.com |language=en}}</ref>

"Enter Sandman" has been played in almost every Metallica live performance since its release. The band released live versions of the song in the videos ''[[Live Shit: Binge & Purge]]'', ''[[Cunning Stunts (Metallica)|Cunning Stunts]]'', and ''[[S&M (Metallica album)|S&M]]'' where the band played with the [[San Francisco Symphony]] led by maestro [[Michael Kamen]]. The song is discussed in the videos ''[[A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica]]'' and ''Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica'', and its video is available in ''[[The Videos 1989–2004]]''. Metallica has played the song live at awards ceremonies and benefit concerts, such as the [[1991 MTV Video Music Awards]],<ref>{{cite web|title =Video Music Awards&nbsp;— Past VMAs – 1991|url =http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/past-vmas/1991/|publisher =MTV|access-date =August 7, 2007|archive-date =January 5, 2008|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080105055413/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/past-vmas/1991/|url-status =livedead}}</ref> the [[Grammy Awards of 1992|1992 Grammy Awards]],<ref name="mettimeline1992"/> the [[The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert|Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert]],<ref>{{cite web |title =Singles&nbsp;— Live at Wembley|url =http://www.chapterinc.com/singles.cfm?recordID=11|publisher=Chapter Inc.|access-date =August 27, 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928112028/http://www.chapterinc.com/singles.cfm?recordID=11 |archive-date = September 28, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Live Earth]].<ref>{{cite news|title =Metallica's 'Live Earth' Setlist Revealed|url =http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=76297|publisher =Blabbermouth.net|date =July 7, 2007|access-date =August 27, 2007|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070828042810/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=76297|archive-date =August 28, 2007|df =mdy-all}}</ref> Explosives are occasionally set off at 0:49 of the song, when the main riffs start. Following its UK terrestrial broadcast of Live Earth, the [[BBC]] received 413 complaints and apologized to Metallica fans for cutting the band's set before "Enter Sandman".<ref>{{cite news|title =Metallica Fans Complain To BBC About Band's Abbreviated 'Live Earth' Performance|url =http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=76392|publisher =Blabbermouth.net|date =July 9, 2007|access-date =August 27, 2007|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070828044035/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=76392|archive-date =August 28, 2007|df =mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title =BBC Apologizes To Metallica Fans|url =http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=76860|publisher =Blabbermouth.net|date =July 16, 2007|access-date =August 27, 2007|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070828042426/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=76860|archive-date =August 28, 2007|df =mdy-all}}</ref>

During the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], uncooperative prisoners were exposed to the song for extended periods by American interrogators. According to [[Psychological Operations (United States)|United States Psychological Operations]], the intention was to "break a prisoner's resistance [... by] playing music that was culturally offensive to them".<ref name="iraqipows">{{cite news|title =Sesame Street breaks Iraqi POWs|url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3042907.stm|work =BBC News|date =May 20, 2003|access-date =August 31, 2007|archive-date =January 2, 2018|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180102074436/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3042907.stm|url-status =live}}</ref> Upon discovering that the song was used for these purposes, drummer [[Lars Ulrich]] commented saying "it all seems so bizarre and so strange that Metallica's music, which generally sort of facilitates bringing people together, is used in these bizarre circumstances. It's certainly not something that we in any way advocate or condone".<ref>{{cite interview |last=Maddow |first=Rachel |author-link=Rachel Maddow |others=[[Lars Ulrich]] |title=Metallica's Lars Ulrich joins Maddow |work=[[The Rachel Maddow Show]] |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |date=April 27, 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuNfAFOv2F4&t=6m19s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/iuNfAFOv2F4 |archive-date=2021-12-December 15, 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=April 18, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Since 2000, "Enter Sandman" has been used as the entrance theme for the [[Virginia Tech Hokies football team]]'s home games at [[Lane Stadium]], as well as the start of the school's basketball games at [[Cassell Coliseum]]. <ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk-wB0PbYkI&ab_channel=Bean | title=Virginia Tech Enter Sandman Before Tipoff VS In-State Rival Virginia - Absolute Chills - Feb 14 2022 | website=[[YouTube]] }}</ref> The custom was started when the stadium installed a new scoreboard, and the team debated between using [[Guns N' Roses]]' "[[Welcome to the Jungle]]" and [[the Alan Parsons Project]]'s "[[Sirius (instrumental)|Sirius]]" before selecting "Enter Sandman".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Shapiro|first=Michael|url=https://www.si.com/college/2018/10/06/virginia-tech-football-entrance-lane-stadium-enter-sandman|title=How Virginia Tech Started Using 'Enter Sandman' for its Entrance|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=October 6, 2018|access-date=June 26, 2020|archive-date=June 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628234103/https://www.si.com/college/2018/10/06/virginia-tech-football-entrance-lane-stadium-enter-sandman|url-status=live}}</ref> The song is now "the unofficial theme of the Virginia Tech athletic department," playing, for example, to celebrate the [[Virginia Tech Hokies women's basketball|Hokies women basketball team]]'s victory on March 27, 2023, that yielded their first trip to the [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|Final Four]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/35975461/elizabeth-kitley-leads-va-tech-ohio-state-final-four|website=ESPN.com|last=Pelton|first=Kevin|title=Virginia Tech Reaches First Final Four over Ohio State|date=March 27, 2023|access-date=March 28, 2023|archive-date=March 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328081219/https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/35975461/elizabeth-kitley-leads-va-tech-ohio-state-final-four|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2021, "Enter Sandman" has been used as entrance music for the [[Welsh Rugby Union]] and [[Premier League]] side [[Brentford FC]] during theirboth walksports teams walk-out onto the pitch.{{cncitation needed|date=November 2022}} The same year, the song was covered by [[Weezer]] as part of ''[[The Metallica Blacklist]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/weezer-metallica-enter-sandman-blacklist-black-album-1206759/|title=Weezer Cover Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’ for ‘Black Album’ Anniversary|website=Rolling Stone|last=Shaffer|first=Claire|date=August 3, 2021}}</ref>

It was used by [[Brock Lesnar]] as an entrance song during 5 of his MMA fights in the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]]. {{cncitation needed|date=November 2022}}

Personnel adapted from ''Metallica'' liner notes,<ref>{{Cite AV media notes| title=Metallica| others=[[Metallica]]| date=1991| type=liner notes| publisher=[[Vertigo Records]]| id=510 022-2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media notes| title=Metallica| others=[[Metallica]]| date=2021| type=liner notes| publisher=Blackened Recordings| id=00602577471063}}</ref> except where noted.

*Bob Rock’sRock's son – child talking<ref>{{Cite web |last=Armstrong |first=Chuck ArmstrongChuck |date=2012-10-October 17, 2012 |title='Enter Sandman' – Story Behind the Song |url=https://ultimatemetallica.com/enter-sandman-story-behind-the-song/ |access-date=2023-11-November 21, 2023 |website=Ultimate Metallica |language=en}}</ref>

!scope="row"|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nztop40aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/chartarchive/index_chart?chart=3880annual-singles/1991-12-31|title=End of Year Charts 1991|publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ]]|access-date=December 15, 2019|archive-date=November 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106054258/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/index_chart?chart=3880|url-status=live}}</ref>

!scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-12-21.pdf#page=95|title=The Year in Music 1991: Top Album Rock Tracks|magazine=Billboard|date=21 December 21, 1991|page=YE-41|access-date=May 10, 2022|archive-date=August 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817155223/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-12-21.pdf#page=95|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Metallica|title=Enter Sandman|type=single|award=Platinum|number=58|relyear=1991|certyear=20202024|access-date=April1 25,May 20212024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=Metallica|title=Enter Sandman|award=Platinum|relyear=1991|certyear=2019|id=6734|note=sales since 2009|access-date=December 15, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry |region=United KingdomSpain|type=single|award=Platinum|certyear=2024|artist=Metallica|title=Enter Sandman|award=Platinum|relyear=1991|certyear=2020|id=12950-2158-1|access-dateaccessdate=MarchFebruary 2817, 20202024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United StatesKingdom|type=ringtonesingle|artist=Metallica|title=Enter Sandman|award=GoldPlatinum|number=2|relyear=20052008|certyear=20212024|noteid=Mastertone12950-2158-1|access-date=JuneMarch 171, 2021|refname=RIAA2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Metallica|title=Enter Sandman|award=Platinum|relyear=1991|certyear=2009|note=Digital|digital=true|salesamount=1,000,000^{^} / 3,169,026|salesref=<ref>{{cite web |title=Digital Songs Chart Week Ending October 5, 2017|url=http://www.defjampromo.com/files/2009/10/BB-Digital-Songs-Chart-Wk.-Ending-10-05-17.pdf |publisher=[[Nielsen SoundScan]] |access-date=June 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330181835/http://www.defjampromo.com/files/2009/10/BB-Digital-Songs-Chart-Wk.-Ending-10-05-17.pdf |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>|refname=RIAA2}}