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{{Infobox song
| name = Enter Sandman
| cover = Metallica - Enter Sandman cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = [[Metallica]]
| album = [[Metallica (album)|Metallica]]
| B-side = {{hlist|"[[Stone Cold Crazy]]" (originally performed by [[Queen (band)|Queen]])|"Enter Sandman (Demo)"|"Holier Than Thou" (Work in Progress...)}}
| released = July 30, 1991
| format = {{hlist|[[Gramophone record|7"]]|[[12-inch single|12"]]|[[CD single|CD]]|[[Cassette single|cassette]]}}
| recorded = June 16, 1991 at One on One Studios, Los Angeles
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = [[Hard rock]],<ref>https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7736640/ask-billboard-more-charted-nursery-rhymes-from-metallica-to</ref> [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]
| length = 5:32
| label = [[Elektra Records|Elektra]]
| writer = {{hlist
|[[James Hetfield]]|[[Lars Ulrich]]|[[Kirk Hammett]]}}
| producer = {{hlist|[[Bob Rock]]|James Hetfield|Lars Ulrich}}
| prev_title = [[One (Metallica song)|One]]
| prev_year = 1989
| next_title = [[The Unforgiven (song)|The Unforgiven]]
| next_year = 1991
| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|id=CD-E-LDc384|title="Enter Sandman"}}}}
}}
{{Listen|filename=EnterSandman original riff.ogg|title=The original main riff from "Enter Sandman"|description=Sample of the main [[Ostinato#Riff|riff]] from "Enter Sandman" as it was originally written by Kirk Hammett and before Lars Ulrich suggested to repeat the first part. This sample was taken from the DVD documentary, Classic Albums: Metallica – Metallica.|format=[[Ogg]]}}
{{Listen|filename=Metallica - Enter Sandman.ogg|title="Enter Sandman"|description=Sample of "Enter Sandman" from Metallica's 1991 album ''[[Metallica (album)|Metallica]]''. In this sample, the main riff of the song can be heard in the beginning followed by the verse and the pre-chorus. The whole song evolved from the main riff, written by guitarist Kirk Hammett. |format=[[Ogg]]}}
"'''Enter Sandman'''" is a song by American [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Metallica]]. It was released as the first single from their self-titled fifth album, ''[[Metallica (album)|Metallica]]'' in 1991. The music was written by [[Kirk Hammett]], [[James Hetfield]] and [[Lars Ulrich]]. Vocalist and rhythm guitarist Hetfield wrote the lyrics, which deal with the concept of a child's nightmares.
The single achieved platinum certification for more than 1,000,000 copies shipped in the United States, spurring sales of over 30 million copies for ''Metallica'' and propelling Metallica to worldwide popularity. Acclaimed by critics, the song is featured in all of Metallica's live albums and DVDs released after 1991 and has been played live at award ceremonies and benefit concerts.
==Writing and recording==
"Enter Sandman" was the first song Metallica had written for their 1991 eponymous album, ''[[Metallica (album)|Metallica]]''.<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"/> Originally, the riff was two [[Bar (music)|bars]] in length, but Ulrich suggested the first bar be played three times.<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]] |date= |year= |title=When Metallica Ruled the World |trans-title= |medium=TV Documentary |language= |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 |time= |location= |publisher=[[VH1]] |id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote=Extras – "James On Writing "Enter Sandman" Lyrics, 2004; [[When Ruled the World]] |ref= |deadurl=yes |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 |accessdate=September 10, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101141956/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1973 |archivedate=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.
An instrumental demo was recorded on August 13, 1990. The album ''Metallica'' was mostly recorded in Los Angeles at One on One Studios, between October 6, 1990, and June 16, 1991, although Ulrich, Hetfield, and Rock also recorded for a week in [[Vancouver|Vancouver, British Columbia]], Canada, between April and May 1991. As the first to be produced by Bob Rock, it was recorded differently than previous Metallica albums; Rock suggested that the band members record in the studio while playing together, rather than separately.<ref name="rockca">{{cite video | people =[[Bob Rock]] | title = Classic Albums: Metallica – Metallica | medium =DVD | publisher=[[Eagle Rock Entertainment]] | date = 2001 }}</ref>
"Enter Sandman" had what Hetfield described as a "wall of guitars"— three rhythm guitar tracks of the same riff played by himself to create a "[[wall of sound]]".<ref name="hetfieldca"/> According to engineer Randy Staub, close to 50 takes of the drums were recorded because Ulrich did not record the song in its entirety, but rather recorded each section of the song separately.<ref name="staubca">{{cite video | people =Randy Staub | title = Classic Albums: Metallica – Metallica | medium =DVD | publisher=[[Eagle Rock Entertainment]] | date = 2001 }}</ref> Because it was difficult to get in one take the "intensity" that the band wanted, numerous takes were selected and edited together.<ref name="rockca"/> Staub mentioned that the producing team spent much time in getting the best sound from each part of the room and used several combinations of 40 to 50 microphones in recording the drums and guitars to simulate the sound of a live concert.<ref name="staubca"/> The bass guitar sound also gained importance with Rock; as Newsted states, Metallica's sound was previously "very guitar-oriented" and that "when he [Rock] came into the picture, bass frequencies also came into the picture."<ref name="newstedca">{{cite video | people =[[Jason Newsted]] | title =Classic Albums: Metallica – Metallica| medium =DVD | publisher=[[Eagle Rock Entertainment]] | date = 2001 }}</ref> As the first single, "Enter Sandman" was also the first song to be mixed,<ref name="rockca"/> a task that took roughly ten days because the band and Bob Rock had to create the sound for the entire album while mixing the song.<ref name="rockca"/>
==Composition==
The simpler songs in the album ''Metallica'',<ref name="ulrichca"/> including "Enter Sandman", are a departure from the band's previous, more musically complex album ''[[...And Justice for All (album)|...And Justice for All]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title =...And Justice for All — Review|url ={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r12992|pure_url=yes}}|author=Huey, Steve|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate =September 1, 2007}}</ref><ref name="allmusicreview">{{cite web |title =Enter Sandman Song Review|url ={{Allmusic|class=song|id=t850588|pure_url=yes}}|author=True, Chris|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate =August 27, 2007}}</ref> Ulrich described "Enter Sandman" as a "one-riff song", in which all of its sections derive from the main riff credited to Kirk Hammett.<ref name="ulrichca"/>
"Enter Sandman" moves at a tempo of 123 beats per minute for 5:32, running slightly above the average song length of the album.<ref name="tabbook">{{cite book | title = Metallica — Black (Play it like it is — Guitar Tabulature Book) | publisher=Cherry Lane Music | year = 1991 | pages = 5–12| isbn = 0-89524-675-9}}</ref> It begins with a clean guitar intro 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]]}}</ref> Just a few seconds before the solo ends, the [[Break (music)|breakdown]] starts, in which the clean drum intro starts, then the clean 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]]|accessdate =February 12, 2008|deadurl =yes|archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20081227093522/http://www.metallica.com/Media/Albums/album_6_lyric.asp?skin_id=13#1|archivedate =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
|title=Sandman — definition
|url=http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861701143
|publisher=[[MSN Encarta]]
|accessdate=November 23, 2007
|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5kwbovkls?url=http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861701143
|archivedate=October 31, 2009
|deadurl=yes
|df=
}}</ref>
==Release and reception==
Initially, the song "Holier Than Thou" was slated to be the opening track and first single from ''Metallica'';<ref name="ulrichca"/> according to the documentary ''[[A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica]]'', producer Bob Rock told Ulrich and Hetfield that the album has "five or six songs that are going to be classics", not only with fans but also on the radio, and that "the first song that should come out is 'Holier Than Thou'".<ref name="rockyear">{{cite video | people =[[Bob Rock]] | title =[[A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica]] | medium =DVD | publisher=[[Elektra Entertainment]] | date = 1992 }}</ref> According to Rock, Ulrich was the only band member who felt, even before recording, that "Enter Sandman" was the ideal song to be the first single.<ref name="rockca"/> Ulrich has said that there was a "big argument"; however, after explaining his point of view to the rest of the band,<ref name="ulrichca"/> "Enter Sandman" eventually became the opening track and first single of the album.<ref name="mettimeline1991"/><ref>{{cite web|title =''Metallica''|url =http://www.metallica.com/Media/Albums/albums.asp?album_id=6|publisher =[[Metallica]]|accessdate =February 12, 2008|deadurl =yes|archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20080208221108/http://www.metallica.com/Media/Albums/albums.asp?album_id=6|archivedate =February 8, 2008|df =mdy-all}}</ref>
The single was released on July 30, 1991, two weeks before the release of ''Metallica''.<ref name="mettimeline1991">{{cite web|title =Metallica — Timeline – 1991|url =http://www.metallica.com/timeline.asp?page=events&n_categoryid=827&year=1991|publisher =[[Metallica]]|accessdate =August 31, 2007|deadurl =yes|archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20070930220409/http://www.metallica.com/timeline.asp?page=events&n_categoryid=827&year=1991|archivedate =September 30, 2007|df =mdy-all}}</ref> The album debuted at No. 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]]|accessdate =August 27, 2007|deadurl =yes|archiveurl =https://www.webcitation.org/619AUAcY1?url=http://www.metallica.com/404.asp|archivedate =August 23, 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. 16 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart and at No. 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]] |accessdate=September 1, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |archivedate=June 26, 2007 |df=mdy }}</ref> 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 — Timeline – 1992|url =http://www.metallica.com/timeline.asp?page=events&n_categoryid=830&year=1992|publisher =[[Metallica]]|accessdate =August 28, 2007|deadurl =yes|archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20070930220157/http://www.metallica.com/timeline.asp?page=events&n_categoryid=830&year=1992|archivedate =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 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=December 26, 2008 |publisher=[[Grammy Award]]s |accessdate=December 27, 2007 |df= }}</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 acclaimed 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 review of ''Metallica'', described it as one of the album's best songs, with "crushing, stripped-down grooves".<ref>{{cite news |title =Metallica — Review|url ={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r12993|pure_url=yes}}|author=Huey, Steve|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate =August 31, 2007}}</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 news |title =Metallica — Metallica — Review|url =https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/150659/review/5941896/metallica|author=Palmer, Robert|work=Rolling Stone|accessdate =August 29, 2007|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071001215808/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/150659/review/5941896/metallica |archivedate = October 1, 2007|deadurl=yes}}</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 — Review|url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/8b8c/|author=Smith, Sid|publisher=BBC |date =June 21, 2007|accessdate =September 3, 2007}}</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|publisher=www.rollingstone.com |date= |accessdate=March 21, 2012}}</ref> and [[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 web |title =The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|url =https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/4|work=Rolling Stone|accessdate =August 27, 2007|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070705153311/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/4 |archivedate = July 5, 2007|deadurl=yes}}</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]]|accessdate =August 27, 2007}}</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]]|accessdate =June 12, 2008}}</ref><ref name="accolades">{{cite web| url=http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/S183.htm| title=Enter Sandman| publisher=acclaimedmusic.net| accessdate=August 26, 2007}}</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 |accessdate=September 10, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713231707/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=1771 |archivedate=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 name="accolades"/><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]]|accessdate =September 10, 2007}}</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|publisher=BBC News |date =May 2, 2004|accessdate =August 27, 2007}}</ref> while ''[[Kerrang!]]'' places it fourth on their list of the "100 Greatest Singles of All Time".<ref name="accolades"/> The [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] includes it in their list of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock".<ref name="accolades"/> 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 | Hottest 100 – Of All Time | triple j |publisher=ABC |location=Australia |date=July 20, 2009 |accessdate=August 22, 2010}}</ref> In 2009, it was named the 5th greatest hard rock song of all time by [[VH1]].<ref>{{cite web|title=spreadit.org music |url=http://music.spreadit.org/vh1-top-100-hard-rock-songs/ |accessdate=February 7, 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212180319/http://music.spreadit.org/vh1-top-100-hard-rock-songs/ |archivedate=February 12, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref> In 2010, "Enter Sandman" was included in ''[[Kerrang]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Top 100, as decided by fans.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}
Since the song's release, there have been claims that the main riff was taken from the song "Tapping into the Emotional Void" by [[Excel (band)|Excel]]. "Tapping into the Emotional Void" was released originally on their 1989 album ''[[The Joke's on You]]''. In 2003, it was reported that Excel members were considering legal action against Metallica due to the similarities between the songs.<ref>{{cite news|title =METALLICA Threatened With Copyright Infringement Lawsuit|url =http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=16905|publisher =Blabbermouth.net|date =November 22, 2003|accessdate =July 25, 2011|deadurl =yes|archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20040114032527/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=16905|archivedate =January 14, 2004|df =mdy-all}}</ref>
==Music video==
[[File:EnterSandmanvideo.jpg|thumb|right|Screenshot of the music video in which a child is seen reciting a prayer while being watched by Sandman.]]
"Enter Sandman" was the second music video from Metallica and the first from ''Metallica''. It was also the first of six Metallica music videos directed by [[Wayne Isham]].<ref name="videosln">[[The Videos 1989-2004]] liner notes.</ref> Recorded in Los Angeles, it premiered on July 30, 1991, two weeks before the release of the album.<ref name="mettimeline1991"/> The plot of the music video directly relates to the theme of the song, combining images of a child having nightmares and images of an [[Sandman|old man]] ([[R. G. Armstrong]]) with shots of the band playing the song.<ref name="popmattersvideos"/> The child dreams that he is drowning, falling from the top of a building, covered in snakes, being chased by a truck and finally falling from a mountain while escaping the truck. During the part of the song in which the child recites a prayer, he is being watched by the Sandman. Throughout the video, the picture flickers continuously. The music video won [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video|Best Hard Rock Video]] at the [[1992 MTV Video Music Awards]] and was nominated for [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]] and [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]].<ref name="mettimeline1992"/> Andrew Blackie of PopMatters has said the video's "narrative suits the sludgy riffs and James Hetfield's twisted lullaby lyric".<ref name="popmattersvideos">{{cite news |title =Metallica — The Videos 1989–2004 – Review|url =http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/9297/metallica-metallica-the-videos-1989-2004/|author=Blackie, Andrew|publisher=[[PopMatters]]|date =January 12, 2007|accessdate =September 3, 2007}}</ref>
==Appearances and covers==
"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 — Past VMAs – 1991|url =http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/past-vmas/1991/|publisher=MTV|accessdate =August 7, 2007}}</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 — Live at Wembley|url =http://www.chapterinc.com/singles.cfm?recordID=11|publisher=Chapter Inc.|accessdate =August 27, 2007|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928112028/http://www.chapterinc.com/singles.cfm?recordID=11 |archivedate = September 28, 2007|deadurl=yes}}</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|accessdate =August 27, 2007|deadurl =yes|archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20070828042810/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=76297|archivedate =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|accessdate =August 27, 2007|deadurl =yes|archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20070828044035/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=76392|archivedate =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|accessdate =August 27, 2007|deadurl =yes|archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20070828042426/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=76860|archivedate =August 28, 2007|df =mdy-all}}</ref>
{{Listen|filename=EnterSandmanApocalyptica.ogg|title="Enter Sandman" (played by Apocalyptica)|description=Sample of "Enter Sandman" from Apocalyptica's 1996 debut album ''[[Plays Metallica by Four Cellos]]''. At that time, Apocalyptica consisted of four cellists. All the songs on the album are instrumental covers of Metallica songs arranged and played on cellos.<ref>{{cite web |title =Plays Metallica by Four Cellos|url ={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r260294|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate =September 3, 2007}}</ref> |format=[[Ogg]]}}
The song was the first "entrance" music used by the Virginia Tech football team starting in 2000.<ref>https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/9/30/16381936/virginia-tech-enter-sandman-entrance-videos-how-long-history</ref> Its first usage was just prior to the start of the weather-cancelled Virginia Tech-Georgia Tech football game that was to open the season for both teams. Over the next few years the [[Lane Stadium#Pre-Game|Blacksburg Bounce]] would develop, becoming a staple of Virginia Tech football pre-game as well as TV production of the event.
The song was also used by [[NASA]] mission control CAPCOM [[B. Alvin Drew]] to wake up space shuttle astronauts aboard [[STS-123]]. The song was selected for Mission Specialist [[Robert L. Behnken]] by his fiancé.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/audio/shuttle/sts-123/transcript/fd12.txt |title=STS-123 Wake Up Call, Flight Day 12 |publisher=NASA |accessdate=August 22, 2010}}</ref>
The song has long been used as the entrance music for pro wrestler and former [[ECW World Heavyweight Champion]] [[The Sandman (wrestler)|The Sandman]], as well as for former [[New York Yankees]] pitcher [[Mariano Rivera]].
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|publisher=BBC News |date =May 20, 2003|accessdate =August 31, 2007}}</ref> Upon discovering that the song was used for these purposes, drummer [[Lars Ulrich]] commented saying "If there are people that are dumb enough to use Metallica to interrogate prisoners, you're forgetting about all the music that's to the left of us. I can name, you know, 30 Norwegian [[death metal]] bands that would make Metallica sound like [[Simon & Garfunkel]]".<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 |access-date=April 18, 2015}}</ref>
The song is featured in the on-board audio soundtrack for [[X2 (roller coaster)]] at [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]].
==Track listing==
;US single
#"Enter Sandman" – 5:37
#"[[Stone Cold Crazy]]" – 2:19
;International CD single
#"Enter Sandman" – 5:37
#"Stone Cold Crazy" – 2:19
#"Enter Sandman (Demo)" – 5:05
;International 12" vinyl single (4 tracks)
#"Enter Sandman" – 5:34
#"Holier Than Thou" (Work in Progress...) – 3:48
#"Stone Cold Crazy" – 2:17
#"Enter Sandman (Demo)" – 5:05
;International 12" vinyl single (3 tracks)
#"Enter Sandman" – 5:34
#"Stone Cold Crazy" – 2:17
#"Enter Sandman (Demo)" – 5:05
;International 7" vinyl single
#"Enter Sandman" – 5:34
#"Stone Cold Crazy" – 2:17
;International 7" vinyl picture disc single
#"Enter Sandman" – 5:34
#"Stone Cold Crazy" – 2:17
;Australian 2-track CD single
#"Enter Sandman" – 5:37
#"Stone Cold Crazy" – 2:19
;Japanese 2-track 3" CD single
#"Enter Sandman"
#"Stone Cold Crazy"
==Charts and certifications==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1991)
!Peak<br />position
|-
| Norway ([[VG-lista]])
| style="text-align:center;"| 2<ref name="charsch">{{cite web |title =Enter Sandman Charts information|url =http://www.swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?key=2304&cat=s|publisher=SwissCharts.com|accessdate =August 29, 2007}}</ref>
|-
|Canada Singles ([[The Record (magazine)|The Record]])
|align="center"|2<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=bCgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA73#v=onepage&q&f=false |title=HITS OF THE WORLD |publisher=''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' |accessdate=December 31, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|Canada Top Singles (''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'')
|align="center"|17<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.1648&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|title=Top Singles – Volume 54, No. 19, October 12, 1991|work=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|accessdate=February 7, 2011 }}</ref>
|-
|Denmark ([[IFPI Denmark|IFPI]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-09-07.pdf|title=Top 10 Denmark|publisher=[[Music & Media]]|accessdate=March 21, 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|4
|-
|Finland ([[The Official Finnish Charts|Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref>{{cite book | first= Jake | last= Nyman |year= 2005 | title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja | edition= 1st | publisher=Tammi | location= Helsinki| isbn= 951-31-2503-3| language= Finnish }}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
| [[Polish Music Charts]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 4<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lp3.polskieradio.pl/notowania/?numer=501 |title=Polish Singles Chart |}}</ref>
|-
| [[UK Singles Chart]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 5<ref>{{cite web |title =UK Top 40 Hit Database|url =http://www.everyhit.com/|publisher=EveryHit.com|accessdate =August 29, 2007}}</ref>
|-
| Germany ([[GfK Entertainment]])
| style="text-align:center;"|9
|-
|align="left"|Italy ([[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|FIMI]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/indici/per_interprete/am.htm|title=Hit Parade Italia - Indice per Interprete: M|website=www.hitparadeitalia.it}}</ref>
|align="center"|20
|-
| Australia ([[ARIA Charts]])
| style="text-align:center;"| 10<ref name="Australian-Charts">{{cite web|title=Enter Sandman Charts information |url=http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Metallica&titel=Enter+Sandman&cat=s |accessdate=June 14, 2016 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820175523/http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Metallica&titel=Enter%20Sandman&cat=s |archivedate=August 20, 2016 |df=mdy }}</ref>
|-
| [[Swiss Hitparade]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 11<ref name="charsch"/>
|-
| Sweden ([[Sverigetopplistan]])
| style="text-align:center;"| 14<ref name="charsch"/>
|-
| US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 16<ref name="billboardcharts">{{cite web |title =Metallica — Artist Chart History|url ={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=metallica|chart=all}}|work=Billboard|accessdate =August 29, 2007}}</ref>
|-
| US ''Billboard'' [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|Mainstream Rock Tracks]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 10<ref name="billboardcharts"/>
|-
| US ''Billboard'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot Single Sales]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 4
|-
| US ''Billboard'' [[Digital Songs]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 55<ref name="billboardcharts"/>
|}
{{col-2}}
===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1991)
!Position
|-
|align="left"|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nztop40.co.nz/index.php/chart/?chart=3880|title=End of Year Charts 1991|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}</ref>
|align="center"|45
|}
===Certifications===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Country
! Certification
|-
|Canada
| style="text-align:center;"| Platinum<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=Enter%20Sandman&ica=False&sa=Metallica&sl=&smt=5&sat=-1&ssb=Artist|title= Platinum Database: Metallica - Enter Sandman|publisher=[[Canadian Recording Industry Association]]|accessdate=May 1, 2012 }}</ref>
|-
|Germany
| style="text-align:center;"| Gold<ref>{{cite certification|region=Germany|type=single|artist=Metallica|title=Enter Sandman|accessdate=May 1, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|Italy
| style="text-align:center;"| Gold<ref>{{cite certification|region=Italy|type=single|artist=Metallica|title=Enter Sandman|accessdate=October 10, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|United States
| style="text-align:center;"| Platinum<ref>{{cite web |url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=4&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Enter&artist=Metallica&format=single&debutLP=&category=group&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=di&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |title=RIAA Certification |work=riaa.com |accessdate=March 5, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://archive.is/20120717203509/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=4&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Enter&artist=Metallica&format=single&debutLP=&category=group&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=di&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |archivedate=July 17, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|}
{{col-end}}
==Personnel==
*[[James Hetfield]] – rhythm guitar, lead vocals
*[[Kirk Hammett]] – lead guitar
*[[Jason Newsted]] – bass guitar, backing vocals
*[[Lars Ulrich]] – drums
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
==External links==
* [https://www.metallica.com/songs/25920/enter-sandman Lyrics] from Metallica's official website
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