"Lithium" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Evanescence | ||||
from the album The Open Door | ||||
B-side | "The Last Song I'm Wasting On You" | |||
Released | December 4, 2006 | |||
Length | 3:44 | |||
Label | Wind-up | |||
Songwriter(s) | Amy Lee | |||
Producer(s) | Dave Fortman | |||
Evanescence singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Lithium" on YouTube |
"Lithium" is a song by American rock band Evanescence from their second studio album, The Open Door . It was released by Wind-up Records on December 4, 2006 as the album's second single. "Lithium" was written by singer and pianist Amy Lee and produced by Dave Fortman. Lee initially wrote it on guitar when she was 16 years old, and later reworked it on piano, recording it with the band's performance. The song is a power ballad with lyrics about uncertainty between feelings of sorrow and happiness.
"Lithium" received generally positive reviews from music critics. The single entered the top 40 in multiple countries, where it spent several weeks charting. The music video was directed by Paul Fedor, and features Lee and the band performing the song in a dark snowy forest, where Lee sinks in a lake of black water. An alternate version of the song appears on the band's fourth studio album, Synthesis (2017).
Lee had originally composed the song on guitar when she was 16 years old, but never used it despite liking its chorus. While writing the album, she completed the song on piano, finishing the verses. [1] Lee used the word "Lithium" as a "metaphor for numbness" for herself, adding that she's known people on the medication and seen its effects. [2] She described the song's theme as a representation of "happiness from a negative point of view", viewing it as "I don't want to numb myself and not feel anymore". [3] Her inspiration for the song was the feeling that she was "in love with my sorrow". Elaborating in an interview, she stated: "I get into these moods where I write music. It's not about so much about being depressed, it's just the strange low that I ride. But at the same time I want to be free and break through and be happy. I think that was kind of me, getting ready to play [and saying], 'That's it, drop the ball and just change and move on.'" [4] The song is about wanting to "break free" from cycles of being stuck in negative situations. [3] [5]
"Lithium" is a power ballad with "cinematic production, gripping orchestration and Amy Lee's voice gliding through verses and soaring over choruses", wrote Billboard . [6] It depicts the singer's love-hate relationship with sadness. [7] [8] Entertainment Weekly writer Jon Dolan described the song as a "tortured Queensrÿche-style pain strummer" in which Lee explores a form of addiction. [9] Kerrang! 's Sam Law said it utilizes "tinkling piano", Lee's "wide-ranging vocals", and "crashes of metallic instrumentation" layered onto the composition, thematically "drawing comparisons between a medicated state and the numbness of uncertainty and depression." [10] Lee employs her lower vocal register, [1] with her vocals spanning from the low note of A♭3 to the high note of G♭5. [1] [11] According to the sheet music published on the website Musicnotes.com, the song is written in the key of B♭ minor. [11]
Lee initially considered four different album tracks for the second single, and ultimately decided on "Lithium". [3] "Lithium" was made available for digital download on December 4, 2006, along with its B-side "The Last Song I'm Wasting on You" and a recording of a live acoustic performance of "All That I'm Living For". [12] [13] Lee wrote "The Last Song I'm Wasting on You" while touring Fallen, recording it in a bathroom on an analog device. She deemed it "one of those personal, hard moments, when beauty is born out of pain". [8] [14] The song was later included as a bonus track on several editions of The Open Door.[ citation needed ]
In 2017, a reworked orchestral version of the song was recorded and included on Evanescence's fourth studio album Synthesis . It was performed during the band's Synthesis Tour in support of the album. [15]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine described "Lithium" as a "churning" song. [16] Rolling Stone 's Rob Sheffield viewed it as Lee's ode to Kurt Cobain. [17] Andy Gill from The Independent said it captures the album's mood "wreathed in the genre staples of black-clad, mascara'd gloom", naming it one of the standout tracks. [18] In an album review, Sara Berry from St. Louis Post-Dispatch deemed it a "reflective, piano-heavy ballad". [19] Alex Nunn of musicOMH disliked the song, calling it a "bloated rocker". [20] Writing for BBC Radio 1, Fraser McAlpine felt it "seemed have lost what we liked about their singles – a bit of oomph". [21] A Stornoway Gazette writer dubbed the song an "extreme-power-ballad maelstrom" and a "rare instance of when pop metal actually does justice to both musical genres." [22]
IGN's Ed Thompson wrote that Lee's piano playing on songs like "Lithium" completes the album. [23] Mark Daniell of Jam! called it a "full-bodied" song. [24] A writer from the Leader-Post praised Lee's "stunning notes" on "Lithium", which he considered the equivalent of "My Immortal" from debut album Fallen. [25] Writing for Revolver , Eli Enis said "Lithium" is "a prime example of Lee skillfully using her voice as an instrument that perfectly complements everything else going on around her." [26] Billboard regarded it as "the kind of number Evanescence was born to perform: cinematic production, gripping orchestration and Amy Lee's voice gliding through verses and soaring over choruses", concluding that Lee's "latest musical affair with darkness is captivating" and would almost make listeners "wish [their] heart was broken". [6]
In 2011, Loudwire journalist Mary Ouellette, placed the song at number nine on her list of 10 Best Evanescence Songs, and praised Lee's "sweeping" vocals which "complement" her piano playing, adding that "Lithium" was one of the many highlights on The Open Door. [27] In 2016, Brittany Porter from AXS listed it at number six on her list of the band's ten best songs. [28] Kerrang! 's Sam Law ranked the song at number four on his list of the 20 greatest Evanescence songs, calling it "a showcase for [Lee] as the classical powerhouse", noting that its "icy" music video "perfectly compliments one of their most cinematically sweeping works." [10]
In the week ending of February 10, 2007, "Lithium" peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, a chart which acts as a 25-song extension to the Billboard Hot 100. [29] The song also charted on two other Billboard component charts in the U.S, peaking at number 39 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, where it spent a total of four weeks, and at number 37 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks where it spent a total of three weeks. [30] [31] In Australia, the song debuted at its peak position of number 28 on the ARIA Singles Chart for the chart issue dated January 28, 2007. It spent an additional week at the same position and a total of eight weeks on the chart, last seen at 49 on March 18, 2007. [32] It achieved a higher position of 16 on the New Zealand Singles Chart on January 29, 2007 in its second week of charting there. [33]
"Lithium" charted in various countries across Europe, peaking within the top 50. In the UK, it debuted at number 32 on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending January 14, 2007. [34] The following week, it moved to a position of number 52, and exited the chart after this week. [35] On the UK Rock Singles Chart, it debuted at number three for the week ending January 7, 2007. [36] It moved to the top of the chart the following week, where it spent an additional week on the chart issue dated January 27, 2007. [37] [38] In Ireland, the song debuted and peaked at number 30 on the Irish Singles Chart for the week ending January 11, 2007. [39] In continental Europe, "Lithium" achieved its highest peak in Italy where it debuted at number two for the week of February 8, 2007. It spent a total of ten weeks on the chart and marks the band's second highest-charting single on the single charts in Italy after "Bring Me to Life" peaked at number one in 2003. [40] The single further peaked at number 23 in Sweden, 40 in Switzerland, 41 in Austria and 44 in Germany. [41]
The music video was directed by Paul Fedor. Lee wrote the treatment for the video, which features a winter backdrop, with Lee in all-white and all-black, and includes scenes of her under the surface of a lake in a forest. Lee said it represents the happiness and sorrow "almost singing to each other, trying to figure out how both of us can work." [3] [42] She expressed that it's "all about touching somebody and I hope it does that". [3] Fake snow and trees were used on the set along with various other objects to create a "frozen, gothic, cemetery feel". [43] For the scenes filmed in water, the lake was dyed black, and a hydraulic lift was used for Lee to easily sink in the water. [43]
The music video was available online on November 27, 2006, [44] and posted on Evanescence's official website in December. [45] The clip peaked at number four on Total Request Live 's countdown list of the best music videos in January 2007. [46] A behind-the-scenes clip from the filming set of the music video was posted on January 12, 2007 on the band's official YouTube channel. [43]
|
|
Chart (2006–2007) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [32] | 26 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [41] | 41 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [50] | 13 |
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100) [51] | 18 |
Germany (Official German Charts) [52] | 98 |
Greece (IFPI) [53] | 5 |
Ireland (IRMA) [39] | 30 |
Italy (FIMI) [40] | 2 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [33] | 16 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [54] | 55 |
Scotland (OCC) [55] | 8 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [56] | 23 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [57] | 40 |
UK Singles (OCC) [34] | 32 |
UK Rock & Metal (OCC) [37] | 1 |
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) [29] | 24 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard) [30] | 39 |
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) [31] | 37 |
Chart (2007) | Position |
---|---|
Brazil (Crowley) [58] | 94 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [59] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Evanescence is an American rock band founded in 1994 by singer and keyboardist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody in Little Rock, Arkansas. After releasing independent EPs as a duo in the late '90s and a demo CD, Evanescence released their debut studio album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Propelled by the success of hit singles like "Bring Me to Life" and "My Immortal", Fallen sold more than four million copies in the US by January 2004, garnering Evanescence two Grammy Awards out of six nominations. The band released their first live album and concert DVD, Anywhere but Home, in 2004, which sold over one million copies worldwide.
Fallen is the debut studio album by American rock band Evanescence, released on March 4, 2003 by Wind-up Records. Co-founders singer and pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody began writing and recording songs as Evanescence in 1994, and after releasing two EPs and a demo CD, they signed to Wind-up in January 2001. Several of the songs from their earlier independent releases feature on Fallen. The album was recorded between August and December 2002 in several studios in California. It is Evanescence's only studio album to feature Moody, who left the band in October 2003.
"Bring Me to Life" is the debut single by American rock band Evanescence from their debut studio album, Fallen (2003). It was released by Wind-up as the album's lead single on January 13, 2003, following its inclusion in the soundtrack of the film Daredevil. The song was written by Amy Lee when she was 19 about having been desensitized in an abusive relationship and realizing things she had been missing in life. Guitarist Ben Moody and David Hodges also share songwriting credits on the song, which features guest vocals from Paul McCoy of the band 12 Stones. Produced by Dave Fortman, "Bring Me to Life" is primarily a nu metal song. The male vocals, which are rapped, were forced by the label against Lee's wishes in order to market it in the musical landscape of the time.
Anywhere but Home is the first live album and concert DVD release by American rock band Evanescence. It was released on November 23, 2004, by Wind-up Records. It includes a recording of a concert at Le Zénith in Paris, an hour of behind the scenes footage, three previously-unreleased songs, and all four of the Fallen music videos.
"My Immortal" is a song by American rock band Evanescence from their debut studio album, Fallen (2003). It was released by Wind-up Records on December 8, 2003 as the album's third single, following its inclusion on the soundtrack to the film Daredevil. The song was written by singer and pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody when they were 15. Several versions were recorded, with the earliest in 1997. Wind-up used the recording from their 2000 demo CD on Fallen against Lee's wishes, which featured Lee's demo vocals and a MIDI keyboard. Strings from Daredevil composer Graeme Revell were added during the production of Fallen. The single, dubbed "band version", is the re-recording Lee and Moody made for Fallen, featuring guitar, drums and bass after the bridge and a string arrangement by David Campbell. An alternative version of the song appears on the band's fourth studio album Synthesis (2017).
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"Going Under" is a song by American rock band Evanescence from their debut studio album, Fallen (2003). It was released by Wind-up Records as the album's second single on August 18, 2003. Lee wrote the song about coming out of a difficult relationship. Guitarist Ben Moody and David Hodges share songwriting credits on the song, produced by Dave Fortman. Musically, "Going Under" is primarily a nu metal song featuring electronic drum beats and a piano interlude.
The Open Door is the second studio album by American rock band Evanescence, released on September 25, 2006, by Wind-up Records. Amy Lee had full creative control of the record, incorporating new elements into their previous musical styles, including her classical influences, homemade sounds, industrial rock, symphonic metal, progressive rock, electronica and the use of choirs on several songs. The album was written in the course of 18 months, and the recording process was delayed as a result of guitarist Terry Balsamo's stroke. Most of the songs were co-composed by Lee and Balsamo, with production handled by Dave Fortman.
American rock band Evanescence has released five studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, two demo albums, three extended plays, eighteen singles, nine promotional singles, two video albums, and eighteen music videos. Evanescence was founded in 1994 by Amy Lee and Ben Moody in Little Rock, Arkansas. The band's lineup comprises Lee, guitarist Troy McLawhorn, guitarist Tim McCord, drummer Will Hunt, and bassist Emma Anzai. As of 2022, the band has sold over 31.9 million albums.
"Call Me When You're Sober" is a song by American rock band Evanescence from their second studio album, The Open Door. It was released as the album's lead single on September 4, 2006. The track was written by Amy Lee and guitarist Terry Balsamo, and produced by Dave Fortman. A musical fusion of alternative metal, symphonic rock, and electropop, the song was inspired by the end of Lee's relationship with singer Shaun Morgan as well as Lee's other experiences at the time.
"The Chain" is a song by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on their 1977 album Rumours. It is the only song from the album with writing credits for all five members.
Amy Lynn Lee is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She is the co-founder, lead vocalist, lead songwriter and keyboardist of the rock band Evanescence. A classically trained pianist, Lee began writing music at age 11 and co-founded Evanescence at age 13, inspired by various musical genres and film scores from an early age. Lee has also participated in other musical projects, including Nightmare Revisited and Muppets: The Green Album, and composed music for several films, including War Story (2014), Indigo Grey: The Passage (2015), and the song "Speak to Me" for Voice from the Stone (2017). She has also released the covers EP Recover, Vol. 1 (2016), the soundtrack album to War Story, the children's album Dream Too Much (2016), and collaborated with other artists such as Korn, Seether, Bring Me the Horizon, Lindsey Stirling, Body Count, and Wagakki Band. Lee has a mezzo-soprano voice type.
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Evanescence is the third studio album by American rock band Evanescence, released on October 7, 2011, by Wind-up Records. The band began writing the album in June 2009. Its release was delayed several times; on February 22, 2010, the band entered the studio with producer Steve Lillywhite but later stopped working with him because he "wasn't the right fit". At the time the album was scheduled for an August or September 2010 release, but Lee later announced that Evanescence had postponed recording to write more material. In April 2011, the band returned to the studio with producer Nick Raskulinecz. Evanescence is the first Evanescence album to be written as a band, with Lee, guitarist Terry Balsamo, guitarist Troy McLawhorn, bassist Tim McCord and drummer Will Hunt co-writing the music together.
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"My Heart Is Broken" is a song by American rock band Evanescence. It was released on October 31, 2011, as the second single for their eponymous third studio album (2011). An alternative version appears on the band's fourth studio album Synthesis (2017). The track was written by Amy Lee, Terry Balsamo, Tim McCord, Will Hunt and Zach Williams, while production was handled by Nick Raskulinecz. Musically, "My Heart Is Broken" is an uptempo rock ballad, whose instrumentation consists of piano, guitars and drums. Lee revealed that the song was written after seeing victims of sex trafficking. The recording received favorable reviews from music critics, who praised the combination between Lee's vocals and piano playing, as well as its fellow instrumentation; several of them chose it as a highlight on the album. On music charts, "My Heart Is Broken" reached number 36 on the Austrian Singles Chart, number 92 on the German Singles Chart and number 34 on the US Adult Top 40.
"Lost in Paradise" is a song by American rock band Evanescence from their third self-titled studio album, Evanescence (2011). An alternative version appears on the band's fourth studio album, Synthesis (2017). Although initially penned by frontwoman Amy Lee as a personal song and anticipated to become a B-side, it was later recorded for the album. Wind-up Records released the song as the third single from the album on May 25, 2012. It was produced by Nick Raskulinecz. A snippet of the song premiered online on July 15, 2011, prior to its album's release in October. Musically, "Lost in Paradise" is a rock ballad that begins with piano, strings, and Lee's vocals before the band kicks in during the climax. Lyrically, it is inspired by the struggles in Lee's life during Evanescence's hiatus. The song was compared to Björk's song "Jóga" (1997) and the band's own "My Immortal" (2003).
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