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Cover of Metallica by Metallica
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Song · Metallica

“Enter Sandman” by Metallica

From the album Metallica (1991)

“Enter Sandman” by Metallica appears on 164 radio countdowns from 50 stations between 1991 and 2026. It was first released in 1991 on the album Metallica. Its best result is #2 on the WLLZ 500 (2021). In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #42 alternative song of 1991, #210 alternative song of all time and #230 of the '90s.

164countdowns
50stations
#2best position
0#1 finishes
31top 10 finishes
1991–2026years charted

Watch

Metallica: Enter Sandman (Official Music Video)

Video from YouTube (Metallica). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

"Enter Sandman" kicks off Metallica's self-titled fifth album from 1991 and was the lead single, and it's the sound of a metal band discovering that weight beats speed. Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich wrote it, and the words turn a child's nightmares into something genuinely creepy.

Everything hits harder by doing less: a coiled, sinister guitar figure, Ulrich's drums landing like pile-drivers, Jason Newsted's bass thickening the floor, Hammett slashing across the top and Hetfield snarling the lead vocal. Hetfield and Ulrich produced it with Bob Rock, with Randy Staub recording, and the sound is huge, clean and menacing all at once.

It climbed to No. 16 on the Hot 100, went nine-times platinum in the US, and helped drive sales of over 30 million copies for the album, taking Metallica worldwide. It picked up a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song in 1992, and it has turned up on every Metallica live album and DVD since.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

Classic Rock

Hard Rock & Metal

All Rock Formats

Year-end countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1991 26 91X San Diego, CA / Tijuana 91X Top 91 Songs of 1991 91
1991 12 CFNY 102.1 The Edge Toronto, ON CFNY Top 91 Songs of 1991 91
1997 76 97.1 The Eagle Dallas-Fort Worth, TX KEGL The Eagle's Top 97 Songs of 1997 97

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1991 60 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1991) 100
1993 78 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1993) 100
1994 101 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1994) 1000
1995 55 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1995) 1000
1996 33 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1996) 1000
1997 633 102.3 WBAB WBAB Top 1,023 Rock and Roll Songs of All Time (1997) 1023
1998 10 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1998) 1000
1998 9 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1998) 100
1999 29 KROQ KROQ Top 300 Most Requested Songs of the '90s (Labor Day 1999) 300
1999 85 WHFS WHFS Top 500 Songs of the '90s (December 1999) 500
1999 8 Q101 Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1017
1999 32 CFNY 102.1 The Edge CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999) 1002
1999 116 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1999) 150
1999 16 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1999) 998
2000 48 DC101 DC101 Top 101 Rock Songs of the 90s 101
2000 2 103.3 The Edge 103.3 The Edge Top 103 New Rock Songs of the Millennium 103
2000 12 The Edge KEDJ Countdown 2000 (106 songs) 106
2001 51 KISW KISW Top 99 Rock Songs (2001) 99
2001 90 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2001) 100
2001 68 WBRU WBRU Modern Rock Top 500 (2001) 500
2002 5 K-Rock K-Rock Top 92 Party Songs of All-Time (2002) 92
2002 3 KISW KISW Top 999 of All Time (2002) 999
2003 56 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2003) 100
2004 11 Q101 Q101 Top 300 Party Songs of All-Time (July 2004) 300
2004 23 Y100 Y100 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (July 2004) 300
2004 70 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2004) 100
2005 415 99X 99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005) 1000
2006 63 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 216 Live 105 Live 105 500 Co-Op Countdown (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 85 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2006) 100
2007 18 KROQ KROQ Top 500 Most Requested Songs of the '90s (Labor Day 2007) 500
2007 60 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2007) 100
2008 11 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2008) 500
2008 64 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2008) 100
2009 73 CFNY 102.1 The Edge The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge 200
2009 93 Live 105 Live 105 Memorial 500 Song List (2009) 500
2009 147 CFNY 102.1 The Edge 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009) 200
2009 83 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2009) 100
2009 11 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2009) 70
2009 31 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (2009) 100
2010 114 CFNY 102.1 The Edge 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010) 200
2010 51 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2010) 100
2010 10 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2010) 70
2010 5 97.9 The Loop The Loop USO Rock 'N' Roll 500 (2010) 500
2011 33 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2011) 100
2011 9 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2011) 70
2012 11 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2012) 70
2012 59 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2012) 100
2012 136 WXPN WXPN 885 Greatest Rock Songs (2012) 885
2013 27 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR CT 500 (2013) 500
2013 11 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2013) 66
2013 900 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Grand Jam 1000 (2013) 1000
2013 58 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2013) 100
2013 7 KBPI KBPI Top 200 Songs of All Time 200
2014 34 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2014) 66
2014 306 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2014) 500
2014 527 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX 1K Countdown (2014) 1000
2014 76 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2014) 100
2015 52 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2015) 100
2015 385 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 500 (2015) 499
2015 17 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2015) 66
2015 285 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2015) 500
2015 903 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Classic Rock Countdown (2015) 1007
2015 77 I-95 I-95 Memorial Day Weekend Top 500 (2015) 500
2016 43 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2016) 100
2016 65 103.5 The Fox The Fox Memorial Day 500 (2016) 299
2016 18 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2016) 66
2016 111 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Countdown for 2016 1007
2016 34 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2016) 500
2016 150 102.9 The Whale 102.9 The Whale Hartford 500 (2016) 500
2017 10 97.9 The Loop 97.9 The Loop Top 540 Countdown (2017) 540
2017 17 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2017) 500
2017 57 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2017) 100
2017 173 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2017) 500
2017 13 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2017) 66
2018 184 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs 892
2018 18 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2018) 500
2018 62 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2018) 100
2018 175 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2018) 500
2018 10 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2018) 66
2019 35 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2019) 500
2019 32 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2019) 500
2019 41 102.5 KZOK KZOK Top 1025 of 2019 1025
2019 65 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2019) 100
2019 210 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2019) 500
2019 19 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2019) 499
2019 103 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2019) 500
2019 15 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2019) 66
2019 7 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2019) 500
2020 3 DC101 Top DC101 of the 90's 101
2020 27 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2020) 66
2020 760 WXPN WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time 2020
2020 4 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2020) 500
2020 35 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2020) 500
2020 464 Q105.7 Q105.7 Memorial Day 500 (2020) 499
2020 28 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2020) 1025
2020 33 DC101 The DC101 Top 500 500
2020 9 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2020) 420
2020 45 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2020) 500
2021 58 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s 908
2021 16 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2021) 500
2021 2 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2021) 500
2021 19 KISW KISW 25 Biggest Rock Songs From The Past 50 Years 25
2021 59 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2021) 66
2021 59 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2021) 500
2021 31 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2021) 1043
2021 6 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2021) 500
2021 9 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2021) 420
2022 55 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s 900
2022 8 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2022) 420
2022 10 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2022) 500
2022 211 KEXP KEXP Top Songs of the Last 50 Years (1972-2022) 491
2022 5 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2022) 500
2022 57 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2022) 66
2022 42 94.1 KRNA KRNA Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2022 59 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2022) 500
2022 73 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2022 178 101X 101X 500 (2022) 498
2022 9 97.1 The River River 500 (2022) 500
2022 37 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2022) 1025
2022 143 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2022) 1043
2023 45 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s 893
2023 54 97.1 The Drive 97.1 The Drive Memorial Day Weekend Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 76 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2023) 500
2023 12 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2023) 420
2023 372 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of All Time 909
2023 10 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 8 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 50 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2023) 66
2023 42 101.5 WPDH WPDH Top 1015 (2023) 1015
2023 89 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2023) 500
2023 18 KSHE 95 KSHE 95 Rock N' Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 140 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2023) 500
2023 25 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2023) 1043
2023 31 94.1 WJJO WJJO Frequent Rocker Top 100 Songs of 2023 100
2024 23 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2024) 1043
2024 17 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Top 400 of the Last 40 Years (2024) 400
2024 78 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2024) 498
2024 7 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 499
2024 175 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2024) 500
2024 7 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 500
2024 34 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2024) 66
2024 51 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2024) 500
2024 20 KSHE 95 KSHE 95 Rock N' Roll 500 (2024) 500
2024 142 KEXP The Best Opening Tracks of All Time 738
2025 61 WFPK WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '90s 500
2025 46 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2025) 500
2025 31 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2025) 1043
2025 2 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Top 400 of the Last 40 Years (2025) 400
2025 6 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2025 80 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2025) 498
2025 34 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2025) 500
2025 6 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2025 58 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2025) 66
2025 81 94.1 WJJO WJJO Frequent Rocker Top 100 Songs of 2025 100
2026 11 100.7 KSLX KSLX Arizona 500 (2026) 500
2026 52 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2026) 500
2026 218 101X 101X 500 (2026) 500
2026 65 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2026) 500
2026 4 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2026) 500
2026 58 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Zwaarste Lijst (2026) 66

Charting alongside it in 1991

Best songs of 1991 →
  1. 1Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana
  2. 2Losing My ReligionR.E.M.
  3. 3UnbelievableEMF
  4. 4Kiss Them for MeSiouxsie and the Banshees
  5. 5RushBig Audio Dynamite
  6. 6Give It AwayRed Hot Chili Peppers

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