Nothing Else Matters (Remastered 2021)
Metallica · Metallica (Remastered 2021)
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know
So close no matter how far
It couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know
I never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they say
Never cared for games they play
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
And I know
So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
No, nothing else matters
Nothing Else Matters (Remastered 2021)
"Nothing Else Matters" is the song that proved Metallica could be vulnerable. Released on 20 April 1992 as the third single from their self-titled fifth album, Metallica (1991), the track is a power ballad, according to Wikipedia. It was written by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, with lyrics by Hetfield, and produced by Bob Rock, Hetfield, and Ulrich. The song runs 6:28.
The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, number six on the UK Singles Chart, and number one in Denmark, and it reached the top ten on many other European charts. It is recognized as one of Metallica's best known and most popular songs, and it has become a staple in live performances.
In a Far Out Magazine article, James Hetfield discussed the songs he enjoyed playing live the most, and "Nothing Else Matters" was among them. The article describes the song as "slow, sweet and serene," noting that it is "very stripped back for the majority of the song and builds up naturally." It highlights how the song shows a different side of a band famous for distortion and heavy metal, and how it is "one of their greatest songs that highlights the diverse talent within this band."
According to Wikipedia, the song was released with "Enter Sandman" (live) as its B-side. It has also been covered by many artists, including Miley Cyrus, and has appeared in alternative versions over the years.
As a reviewer, I think "Nothing Else Matters" works because it does not try to be a metal song. It is a love song, written by Hetfield while he was on the road, and it captures the loneliness of being away from someone you care about. The opening guitar melody is delicate, and the song builds slowly into something huge without ever losing its intimacy. The collective reception, from the sources I read, is that this is a song that even people who do not like Metallica can love. It is a reminder that the best bands are the ones that can surprise you, and that vulnerability can be just as powerful as aggression.