THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

730-Metallica-Enter Sandman.

1991-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 2.43.After the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, this was one of the songs chosen to be played continuously to try to break the will of uncooperative supporters of Saddam Hussein, by American interrogators. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich said,’I can name 30 Norwegian ‘Death Metal’ bands that would make Metallica sound like Simon and Garfunkel.’

Metallica (see also best songs 52) are a Heavy Metal band formed in 1981, in Los Angeles, California, United States, by James Hetfield, and Lars Ulrich. They were influenced by the Rock music that came out in the 1970’s, from bands such as Black Sabbath, and Iron Maiden, but with their fast tempos, and aggressive musicianship, they were pioneers of the musical genre ‘Thrash Metal,’ a term that has been in use since 1984.

‘Enter Sandman’ is taken from the bands self titled fifth studio Album, and signified a more ‘commercial’ sound, as they leaned toward a more heavy metal approach, through working with producer Bob Rock for the first time. This approach paid off, and the Album ‘Metallica,’ with sales of over 31 million worldwide, is the best selling Heavy Metal album since the start of the 1990’s.

‘Enter Sandman’ is a song about children being frightened of having nightmares. James Hetfield who wrote the lyrics has said,’I wanted more of the mental thing, where kids get manipulated by what adults say, and you know when you wake up with that s..t in your eye? That’s supposedly been put there by the sandman to make you dream. So the guy in the song tells this little kid that, and he kinda freaks. He can’t sleep after that, and it works the opposite way. Instead of a soothing thing, the table’s turned.’

‘Sleep with one eye open, gripping your pillow tight.Exit light, enter night, take my hand, off to never ever land.’