Rina Sawayama – “Enter Sandman” from The Metallica Blacklist
"Enter Sandman" is a 1991 song by American heavy metal band Metallica, from their fifth self-titled studio album, commonly known as The Black Album.
Rina Sawayama covered the song for the band's album The Metallica Blacklist, a reissue of The Black Album, released on 10 September 2021. Sawayama's rendition of the song was released on 26 August 2021, and its production was handled by frequent collaborator Clarence Clarity.
All proceeds of her cover go to Metallica's All Within My Hands foundation and Positive East, the latter being by Sawayama choice.[1]
Background
On 22 June 2021, Metallica announced The Metallica Blacklist, celebrating "the enduring influence of Metallica with an unprecedented 50+ artists spanning an unbelievably vast range of genres, generations, cultures, continents and more, each contributing a unique interpretation of their favorite Black Album cut."[2] It was also announced that Rina Sawayama would be featured on the reissue, covering "Enter Sandman".[3] It was featured as the album's fifth track on the disc one.[4]
Recording
Sawayama recorded the song in 2021 with Clarence Clarity. She stated that the recording of the song was two days before her Tiny Desk performance.[1] Sawayama also revealed that there will be a key-change.
Critical reception
Writing for Paper magazine, Trey Alston described the rendition as "bigger, bolder, and more electric" than the original itself. "Sawayama's has always been successful at the intersection of rock and pop, as evidenced by 2020's Sawayama, so being able to immerse herself in the high energy world of Metallica proves no problem. She practically flies over the guitars on 'Enter Sandman,' creating a stunning rendition that earns its place on the LP."[5]
Lyrics
Say your prayers, little one, don't forget, my son
To include everyone
I tuck you in, warm within, keep you free from sin
'Til the Sandman, he comes
Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
We're off to never-never land
Something's wrong, shut the light, heavy thoughts tonight
And they aren't of Snow White
Dreams of war, dreams of liars, dreams of dragons' fire
And of things that will bite, yeah
Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
We're off to never-never land
Ha-ha-ha
Now, I lay me down to sleep (Now, I lay me down to sleep)
Pray the Lord my soul to keep (Pray the Lord my soul to keep)
If I die before I wake (If I die before I wake)
Pray the Lord my soul to take (Pray the Lord my soul to take)
Hush, little baby, don't say a word
And never mind that noise you heard
It's just the beast under your bed
In your closet, in your head
Exit light
Enter night
Grain of sand
Oh-oh-oh
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
We're off to never-never land (yeah, haha haha)
Oh! Yeah-yeah
We're off to never-never land
We're off to never-never land
We're off to never-never land
We're off to never-never land
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "RINA SAWAYAMA on Instagram". Instagram (22 June 2021). “All proceeds from my cover of Enter Sandman will go to Metallica’s All Within My Hands foundation and my charity of choice @positiveeast !!”
- ↑ "The Metallica Blacklist. Coming to Digital September 10th, Vinyl & CD on October 1st". Metallica. Retrieved on 22 June 2021.
- ↑ Hartmann, Graham (22 June 2021). "Metallica Announce 'Black Album' Reissue With 53 Massive Artists". Loudwire.
- ↑ Moore, Sam (22 June 2021). "Metallica announce special reissue of 'The Black Album' and star-studded covers album". NME.
- ↑ Alston, Trey (26 August 2021). "Listen to Rina Sawayama Cover Metallica's "Enter Sandman"". Paper. Retrieved on 29 August 2021.