Paranoid (Black Sabbath song)
Updated: 5/24/2026, 7:23:59 PM Wikipedia source
"Paranoid" is a song by the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in 1970 on the band's second studio album, Paranoid (1970). It is the first single from the album, while the B-side is the song "The Wizard". The song is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time. It reached number 4 on the UK singles chart and number 61 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Black Sabbath's first song to place on both of those charts.
Infobox
B-side
"The Wizard" (1970) "Snowblind" (1976)
Released
August 1970
Recorded
16 June 1970
Studio
Island Studios, London
Genre
Heavy metal proto-punk
Length
2:48
Label
Vertigo
Songwriters
Geezer Butler Tony Iommi Ozzy Osbourne Bill Ward
Producer
Rodger Bain
Tables
· Accolades
NME
NME
Publication
NME
Country
United Kingdom
Accolade
"All Time Top 100 Singles"
Year
1976
Rank
41
Spin
Spin
Publication
Spin
Country
United States
Accolade
"100 Greatest Singles of All Time"
Year
1989
Rank
81
Radio Veronica
Radio Veronica
Publication
Radio Veronica
Country
Netherlands
Accolade
"Super All-Time List"
Year
1989
Rank
16
Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame
Publication
Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame
Country
United States
Accolade
"The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs
that Shaped Rock and Roll"
Year
1994
Guitarist
Guitarist
Publication
Guitarist
Country
United Kingdom
Accolade
"Top 100 Guitar Solos of All-Time"
Year
1998
Rank
84
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Publication
Rolling Stone
Country
United States
Accolade
"500 Greatest Songs of All Time"
Year
2004
Rank
253
Q
Q
Publication
Q
Country
United Kingdom
Accolade
"1010 Songs You Must Own!"
Year
2004
Q
Q
Publication
Q
Country
United Kingdom
Accolade
"100 Greatest Guitar Tracks Ever!"
Year
2005
Rank
11
Q
Q
Publication
Q
Country
United Kingdom
Accolade
"100 Greatest Songs of All Time"
Year
2006
Rank
100
VH1
VH1
Publication
VH1
Country
United States
Accolade
"40 Greatest Metal Songs"
Year
2006
Rank
1
VH1
VH1
Publication
VH1
Country
United States
Accolade
"100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs"
Year
2008
Rank
4
Planet Rock (radio station)
Planet Rock (radio station)
Publication
Planet Rock (radio station)
Country
United Kingdom
Accolade
"Top 500 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time"
Year
2026
Rank
12
| Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank | |
| NME | United Kingdom | "All Time Top 100 Singles" | 1976 | 41 | |
| Spin | United States | "100 Greatest Singles of All Time" | 1989 | 81 | |
| Radio Veronica | Netherlands | "Super All-Time List" | 1989 | 16 | |
| Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | United States | "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll" | 1994 | ||
| Guitarist | United Kingdom | "Top 100 Guitar Solos of All-Time" | 1998 | 84 | |
| Rolling Stone | United States | "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" | 2004 | 253 | |
| Q | United Kingdom | "1010 Songs You Must Own!" | 2004 | ||
| Q | United Kingdom | "100 Greatest Guitar Tracks Ever!" | 2005 | 11 | |
| Q | United Kingdom | "100 Greatest Songs of All Time" | 2006 | 100 | |
| VH1 | United States | "40 Greatest Metal Songs" | 2006 | 1 | |
| VH1 | United States | "100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs" | 2008 | 4 | |
| Planet Rock (radio station) | United Kingdom | "Top 500 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time" | 2026 | 12 |
Weekly chart performance for "Paranoid" · Charts › Weekly charts
Australian Go-Set National Top 60
Australian Go-Set National Top 60
Chart (1970–1971)
Australian Go-Set National Top 60
Peak
position
18
Austrian Singles Chart
Austrian Singles Chart
Chart (1970–1971)
Austrian Singles Chart
Peak
position
3
Canadian Singles Chart
Canadian Singles Chart
Chart (1970–1971)
Canadian Singles Chart
Peak
position
54
Danish Singles Chart
Danish Singles Chart
Chart (1970–1971)
Danish Singles Chart
Peak
position
1
French Singles Chart
French Singles Chart
Chart (1970–1971)
French Singles Chart
Peak
position
7
German Singles Chart
German Singles Chart
Chart (1970–1971)
German Singles Chart
Peak
position
1
Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
Chart (1970–1971)
Irish Singles Chart
Peak
position
12
Italian Singles Chart
Italian Singles Chart
Chart (1970–1971)
Italian Singles Chart
Peak
position
9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Chart (1970–1971)
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Peak
position
2
Norwegian Singles Chart
Norwegian Singles Chart
Chart (1970–1971)
Norwegian Singles Chart
Peak
position
6
South African Springbok Radio Top 20
South African Springbok Radio Top 20
Chart (1970–1971)
South African Springbok Radio Top 20
Peak
position
3
Swiss Singles Chart
Swiss Singles Chart
Chart (1970–1971)
Swiss Singles Chart
Peak
position
2
UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
Chart (1970–1971)
UK Singles Chart
Peak
position
4
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (1970–1971)
US Billboard Hot 100
Peak
position
61
US Cashbox Top 100
US Cashbox Top 100
Chart (1970–1971)
US Cashbox Top 100
Peak
position
79
| Chart (1970–1971) | Peak position |
| Australian Go-Set National Top 60 | 18 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 3 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 54 |
| Danish Singles Chart | 1 |
| French Singles Chart | 7 |
| German Singles Chart | 1 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 12 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 9 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 2 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 6 |
| South African Springbok Radio Top 20 | 3 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 2 |
| UK Singles Chart | 4 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 61 |
| US Cashbox Top 100 | 79 |
1980 chart performance for "Paranoid" · Charts › Weekly charts
UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
Chart (1980)
UK Singles Chart
Peak
position
14
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
| UK Singles Chart | 14 |
· Charts › Weekly charts
Hungary (Single Top 40)
Hungary (Single Top 40)
Chart (2023)
Hungary (Single Top 40)
Peak
position
20
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
| Hungary (Single Top 40) | 20 |
2025 chart performance for "Paranoid" · Charts › Weekly charts
Canada Hot 100 (Billboard)
Canada Hot 100 (Billboard)
Chart (2025)
Canada Hot 100 (Billboard)
Peak
position
44
Czech Republic Singles Digital (ČNS IFPI)
2009 Remaster
Czech Republic Singles Digital (ČNS IFPI)
2009 Remaster
Chart (2025)
Czech Republic Singles Digital (ČNS IFPI)
2009 Remaster
Peak
position
33
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Chart (2025)
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Peak
position
46
Germany (GfK)
Germany (GfK)
Chart (2025)
Germany (GfK)
Peak
position
50
Global 200 (Billboard)
Global 200 (Billboard)
Chart (2025)
Global 200 (Billboard)
Peak
position
25
Greece International (IFPI)
Greece International (IFPI)
Chart (2025)
Greece International (IFPI)
Peak
position
61
Ireland (IRMA)
Ireland (IRMA)
Chart (2025)
Ireland (IRMA)
Peak
position
28
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)
Chart (2025)
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)
Peak
position
10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Chart (2025)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Peak
position
34
Norway (IFPI Norge)
Norway (IFPI Norge)
Chart (2025)
Norway (IFPI Norge)
Peak
position
48
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)
Chart (2025)
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)
Peak
position
46
Portugal (AFP)
Portugal (AFP)
Chart (2025)
Portugal (AFP)
Peak
position
175
Russia Streaming (TopHit)
Russia Streaming (TopHit)
Chart (2025)
Russia Streaming (TopHit)
Peak
position
97
Slovakia Singles Digital (ČNS IFPI)
2009 Remaster
Slovakia Singles Digital (ČNS IFPI)
2009 Remaster
Chart (2025)
Slovakia Singles Digital (ČNS IFPI)
2009 Remaster
Peak
position
39
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (2025)
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Peak
position
21
UK Singles (OCC)
UK Singles (OCC)
Chart (2025)
UK Singles (OCC)
Peak
position
20
UK Indie (OCC)
UK Indie (OCC)
Chart (2025)
UK Indie (OCC)
Peak
position
1
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)
Chart (2025)
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)
Peak
position
1
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
Chart (2025)
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
Peak
position
8
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
| Canada Hot 100 (Billboard) | 44 |
| Czech Republic Singles Digital (ČNS IFPI) 2009 Remaster | 33 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 46 |
| Germany (GfK) | 50 |
| Global 200 (Billboard) | 25 |
| Greece International (IFPI) | 61 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 28 |
| Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan) | 10 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 34 |
| Norway (IFPI Norge) | 48 |
| Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100) | 46 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 175 |
| Russia Streaming (TopHit) | 97 |
| Slovakia Singles Digital (ČNS IFPI) 2009 Remaster | 39 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 21 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 20 |
| UK Indie (OCC) | 1 |
| UK Rock & Metal (OCC) | 1 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard) | 8 |
References
- The sleeve design was first used on a 1970 Dutch release.
- McIver 2006, p. 55.
- MIX Onlinehttps://www.mixonline.com/recording/classic-tracks-black-sabbath-paranoid
- Ozzy Knows Best: The Amazing Story of Ozzy Osbourne, from Heavy Metal Madness to Father of the Year on MTV's "The Osbournes"https://archive.org/details/ozzyknowsbestuna00nick
- Ultimate Classic Rockhttps://ultimateclassicrock.com/best-black-sabbath-songs/
- Rolling Stonehttps://web.archive.org/web/20090503083902/https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6596095/paranoid
- The Great Rock Discographyhttps://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro
- Billboardhttps://www.billboard.com/music/black-sabbath/chart-history
- "Black Sabbath Paranoid Lyrics"http://www.lyrics007.com/Black%20Sabbath%20Lyrics/Paranoid%20Lyrics.html
- "Stolz, Nolan. 2019. "A Rumination on Black Sabbath's Birmingham and the Value of Music Tourism". Riffs Journal (September): 18"https://issuu.com/riffsjournal/docs/riffs-homeofmetalzine-digitalissue/18
- "Paranoid – Black Sabbath –"http://www.last.fm/music/Black+Sabbath/_/Paranoid
- Associated Press Newshttps://apnews.com/article/e27f2b7bc4e37f1b750c9fc9fc912297
- Cash Boxhttps://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1970/CB-1970-10-24.pdf
- "VH1 40 Greatest Metal Songs", 1–4 May 2006, VH1 Channel, reported by VH1 ; last accessed 10 September 2006https://web.archive.org/web/20060913132117/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/103446/episode_this_list.jhtml
- Rolling Stonehttps://web.archive.org/web/20060820114511/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/3
- Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-heavy-metal-songs-1234688425/
- Rock – Das Gesamtwerk der größten Rock-Acts im Check: alle Alben, alle Songs. Ein eclipsed-Buch
- Kerranghttps://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-black-sabbath-songs-ranked
- Louder Soundhttps://web.archive.org/web/20220328161454/https://www.loudersound.com/features/black-sabbath-40-greatest-songs/2
- rocklistmusichttp://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_readers.htm