Nothing Else Matters

Metallica  

Electric Guitar cover of Nothing Else Matters

Nothing Else Matters is a song from the heavy metal band Metallica, featured on the Metallica album (more often called Black Album because of its all-black cover except for a grey snake) released in 1991. It remains one of the best known of the band.

This ballad differs from the usual compositions of the band. It begins with a long introduction played on acoustic guitar. Its lyrics evoke on a melancholic tone the independence and what is most important in life. This song contributed to the commercial success of the group by opening the doors to a wider public: it was ranked 34th in the Billboard Hot 100 on May 2, 19922. It has been covered by many bands outside the heavy metal world. Nothing Else Matters is sometimes considered by some detractors as the symbol of the turn that the Metallica band would have taken compared to the music of the previous albums, rougher, more thrash and less commercial.

James Hetfield (Metallica's guitarist and singer) wrote this song when he was on tour and away from his girlfriend (so close, no matter how far...). Bob Rock, the producer of the album, suggested to the members of Metallica to incorporate an orchestra in the song. They finally called upon the San Francisco conductor, Michael Kamen, to help them in the search for a melody.