Classical musician reacts — ONE — Metallica — FIRST TIME LISTENING – *heavy!*
Music reaction by a Classical musician: ONE by METALLICA ♫. ♥ This is the 2nd Metallica song on the channel and I love …
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January 29, 2026
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The song that killed Metallica. They vowed to not do music videos, but when they released this song on MTV, they procured an instant commercial following. They then, in my opinion, became "Craptallica" and every album afterwards was a mere shell of their former masterpieces. James began his whiny wailing instead of his trademark gruff singing. I can't even watch or listen (I've tried) to anything after …And Justice for All. The self-titled Black album was drivel compared to the previous records. If it was released by a different band, I would have thought it was okay, but it was definitely not Metallica.
How in the hell have have you not gotten lost in this..at your age!
This life is a personal hell for some
@8:22 'ONE's template was the song 'Welcome Home ( Sanitarium )' from MoP.
Albeit, 'ONE' is a superior offering, but you can really see how they're basically differnt iterations with nearly identical structure.
& you're totally correct. 'The Unforgiven' is a better song than 'Nothing Else Matters'.
'88's ONE , even to this day, @14:37 leaves a new listener gasping… that overwhelming, relentless Thrash finale. Amirite?!
It's ubiquity at the time of it's release was fascinating, attracting people from all over the musical spectrum.
The stark, shearing, punishing guitar tone roars a symphony of pain that is as awe-inspiring in it's orchestration as it is in it's fury.
ONE – live, Hammersmith Odeon '88 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjrrSn9YKy8
fun fact :the album version of this song hosts the only spot on AJFA where Hetfield uses his 'Live tone' & can be heard through the orchestral 'middle scetion' & layered among the 6 tracks he over-layed thoguh the finale. Also, for the uninitiated. Hetfield plays all the guitars, including the harmony runs; with Hammett playing only the lofty solos
Their bassist and friend cliff burton had been killed before this album was done and is partially playing on the album. I imagine that loss was pivotal to the direction also.
One official video.
Thank you for not watching the video it takes from the song itself
If you want to get an example of just how closely related metal is to classical music, and how well it works when you transform one into the other, take a look at what happened when Harp Twins stripped this song down, and played it on, you guessed it, a harp. It's sublime. If you didn't know better, you'd think it's a classical composition from the beginning. Another example is Miyako's piano arrangement of Eagle Fly Free by Helloween. The band Apocalyptica also comes to mind. It works the other way around as well, as Tina S showed us when she turned Moonlight Sonata into a shred fest.
Hearing this song live is even better. Just saw them in Charlotte, NC on May 31st. Best damn concert I have ever been to.. The song is based on a Dalton Trumbo novel, "Johnny Got His Gun". It was published in September 1939.
Id love to see your thoughts on really early metallica, when they were really a speed metal band. And maybe one of their instrumental tracks (call of ktulu is probably my favorite)
I would say watching the full official video of the one to really appreciate what they are trying to convey.
Need to find the version where the bass is turned back up. The guys did Jason dirty by nearly wiping him out of the mix.
Hope you react to Anesthesia, Pulling Teeth Live from Chicago in 1983 by Metallica ❤❤❤
The three songs you already know are post Thrash Metallica "One" comes from the last album that Metallica recorded that is relevant to Thrash Metal.
As far as the drums in Metallica are concerned I'd like to give Lars a big thumbs up, He gets alot of shit from Metal fans saying he's no good but I have to disagree. To me he's like Ringo Star…, He plays for the song he's just there to support it, Unlike alot of other Metal or Rock drummers that just have to force themselves into every nook and cranny never giving any room for the music to breath.
Hi, you can make a reaction stargazer rainbow (Ronnie James dio) please🙏
this song is always moving, painful, and kinda "exhausting" for me.
I used to listen to it every day, during my 1st deployment in
combat zone, in the Middle East (maybe it was not a good idea…).
Despite all the bad memories it reminds me, it's a masterpiece,
and a very accurate description of what's in a veteran's head
(though these guys from Metallica didn't experience that).
The music and the lyrics are so perfect : this song is
One* of their multiple jewels.
(* sorry for the bad joke, but it's the title !)
(C.B. – E.U./NATO veteran)
This song was made into their very first video which got heavy play on MTV. Prior to this they never did videos and never got any radio airplay. Their reputation and following were generated by word of mouth and their live performances. Side note – I used to rock my daughters to sleep listening to The Unforgiven. They're now 24 & 27.
Oh, this is one that requires the video. It is a TOTALLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE to see the video!
waiting till you discover Opeth.
If you like Enter Sandman there is a channel called 12 tone, and he has a video that it think is called Dark Lulubye, where he breaks down with an extreme level of technical analysis of that song.
Watch the music video and you'll see what the sing is about.
That motif is palm muted pedal points… and switched to triples.
One thing about 80s Metal as a composer you should know.
Most songs have 2 modes in them Aeolean (Natural Minor) and Dorian…
The songs start with one and switch to the other at some point and then go back to the first… so you get a key change and a mode change resulting in an emotional change within the song.
This song is based on the 1972 movie Jonny Got His Gun.. check out IMDB for a plot summary.
You really got to check out
Black Sabbath… Paranoid , Iron Man and War Pigs
Then Ozzy Osborne Crazy Train, and Mr Crowley
Most Metallica songs are fairly personal ..
Kurt Hammett the Lead Guitarist grew up in an abusive household
And James Hatfield grew up in a very Christian household, and his mother died, I think from Cancer, when he was young.
Please now that you've done One…
Listen to this song, not a reaction request, it has an intro with violin that is a tribute to the intro part of One…
Aldious We Are music video, all Female Japanese metal band.
Classical musician?
Checking out Metal…
Listen to
Galneryus Angel of Salvation
Versailles Faith and Decision live with English Subtitles
Lovebites Swansong live with Chopin Intro Five of a Kind
Yngwie Malmsteen Black Star live
Dream Theater Dance of Eternity Breaking the fourth wall
And
Unlucky Morpheus Cadaver/Revadac with sheet music
(Very important to do this version)
A great review. Thank you…I was lucky enough to see them live 5 times. And they never disappoint. They are such professionals and put on a great show live and sound great as well.
As others have mentioned, the official video gives the lyrics more context.
Johnny got a gun
Need to watch the video.
the video version has extra stuff in it. clips and lines from a movie. a lot of people don't like that version, but i feel it just adds to the song. also check out orion, and fade to black
This song and music video are based off the movie. Johnny got his gun. Johnny comes back from world war one as a human stump.