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Revision as of 13:09, 16 September 2004 by Army1987 (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Nothing Else Matters is probably Metallica's best known ballad. It was first released in 1991 on the self-titled "black album". At that time, it was not liked by long-standing Metallica fans, who were used to the thrash metal songs of their first four albums and accused them of "selling out". However, nowadays most people consider it one of the best Metallica songs.
Singer and rhytm guitarist James Hetfield initially wrote it to a girlfriend he once had, but now he cannot remember why; some say it meant that "no matter how far" he was (since Metallica spent most of their time on tours), he was still "so close" with the heart. He considered it a very personal song and was not going to publish it, but once guitarist Kirk Hammet heard it and wanted it on the Black Album. Now Metallica consider it a song dedicated to all their fans.
Its orchestration was arranged by Michael Kamen conducting the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. A live version is found on the album S&M.