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Sad but True

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Sad But True is a Metallica song of the eponymously named album, Metallica (also known as The Black Album). The song was released as a single in 1992 with an accompanying music video to support the band on its then ongoing Wherever We May Roam Tour, and was composed by band members James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich.

The song is based off of a 1978 movie directed by Richard Attenborough starring Anthony Hopkins, entitled "Magic". The movie is about a ventriloquist who is at the mercy of his vicious puppet.

A focal point of the song is its consistent bass riff. It is accompanied by heavy and sludgy, yet melodic guitars, and steady, booming drum beats alongside Hetfield's (at times) harmonious vocals. The guitars are tuned down a full step from the conventional "EADGBE" tuning, adding to the deeper, heavier sound.

Sad But True is one of 5 songs released as a single off the Black Album, and moves toward a power metal groove, rather than the thrash/speed metal scene. The song was included in Metallica's live collaboration with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Michael Kamen), entitled S&M.

The bass riff in this song was sampled by American rap/rock/alternative country artist Kid Rock in his song American Badass, which was at one point used as entrance theme music by the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler known as Undertaker. This version was parodied by the rock band Tuff in a song called American Hair Band from their album The History of Tuff.

The snippet of the song was performed live by Snoop Dogg on the tribute show MTV Icon Metallica edition in 2003.

Sad But True is the name of a Metallica Tribute band from England.

Track Listing

UK Single #1

  1. "Sad But True" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 5.27
  2. "Harvester of Sorrow (Live)" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 6.40
  3. "So What" (Exall/Culmer) - 3.09

"Harvester of Sorrow" recorded live on September 28, 1991 at Tushino Air Field, Moscow, Russia

UK Single #2

  1. "Sad But True" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 5.27
  2. "Nothing Else Matters (Elevator Version)" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 6.31
  3. "Creeping Death (Live)" (Hetfield/Ulrich/Burton/Hammett) - 8.01
  4. "Sad But True (Demo)" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 4.53

"Creeping Death" recorded live on September 28, 1991 at Tushino Air Field, Moscow, Russia

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