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<ref name="tudors">{{cite video |date=2007 |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skho5PaUAY8 |title=Showtime original series: ''The Tudors'' trailer |publisher=[[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] ''via'' YouTube |accessdate= 2007-02-16}}</ref>
<ref name="tudors">{{cite video |date=2007 |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skho5PaUAY8 |title=Showtime original series: ''The Tudors'' trailer |publisher=[[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] ''via'' YouTube |accessdate= 2007-02-16}}</ref>
<ref name="Cre">{{Cite music release notes |Name=The Open Door |Type=album |Artist=[[Evanescence]] |Year=2006 |Format=liner notes |Publisher=[[Wind-up Records]]}}</ref>
<ref name="Cre">{{Cite music release notes |Name=The Open Door |Type=album |Artist=[[Evanescence]] |Year=2006 |Format=liner notes |Publisher=[[Wind-up Records]]}}</ref>
<ref name="IGN">{{cite news|url=http://music.ign.com/articles/737/737281p1.html|title=The Open Door (Evanescence)|work=IGN|first=Ed|last=Thompson|date= 2006-10-03|accesdate=05-29-2011}}</ref>
<ref name="IGN">{{cite news|url=http://music.ign.com/articles/737/737281p1.html|title=The Open Door (Evanescence)|work=IGN|first=Ed|last=Thompson|date= 2006-10-03|accessdate=05-29-2011}}</ref>
<ref name="About.com">{{cite news|url=http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/evanescenceod.htm|title=Evanescence - The Open Door: Review The Open Door, the Second Album From Evanescence|work=''About.com''|first=Bill|last=Lamb|date= 2006-10-03|accesdate=05-29-2011}}</ref>
<ref name="About.com">{{cite news|url=http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/evanescenceod.htm|title=Evanescence - The Open Door: Review The Open Door, the Second Album From Evanescence|work=''About.com''|first=Bill|last=Lamb|date= 2006-10-03|accessdate=05-29-2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Spain">{{cite web |url=http://www.music-chart.info/song/56496/Lacrymosa|title=Lacrymosa by Evanescence - Song Analysis|work=''iTunes Music Chart''|publisher=[[iTunes]]|date= 2010-03-22|accesdate=05-29-2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Spain">{{cite web |url=http://www.music-chart.info/song/56496/Lacrymosa|title=Lacrymosa by Evanescence - Song Analysis|work=''iTunes Music Chart''|publisher=[[iTunes]]|date= 2010-03-22|accessdate=05-29-2011}}</ref>
<ref name="rstone091105">{{Cite news |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/evanescence-return-to-the-stage-at-secret-new-york-gig-20091105|title=Evanescence Return to the Stage at "Secret" New York Gig |work=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=Chris |last=Harris |date=November 5, 2009 |accessdate= 2009-11-21}}</ref>
<ref name="rstone091105">{{Cite news |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/evanescence-return-to-the-stage-at-secret-new-york-gig-20091105|title=Evanescence Return to the Stage at "Secret" New York Gig |work=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=Chris |last=Harris |date=November 5, 2009 |accessdate= 2009-11-21}}</ref>
<ref name="Evboardbunchostuff">{{Cite web |url=http://www.evboard.com/780922-post1.html |title=EvBoard - A Bunch Of Stuff!!! |work=''EvBoard.com'' |first=Amy |last=Lee |date=December 2, 2005|accessdate=06-16-2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Evboardbunchostuff">{{Cite web |url=http://www.evboard.com/780922-post1.html |title=EvBoard - A Bunch Of Stuff!!! |work=''EvBoard.com'' |first=Amy |last=Lee |date=December 2, 2005|accessdate=06-16-2011}}</ref>

Revision as of 21:50, 23 June 2011

Template:Other uses2

"Lacrymosa"
Song

"Lacrymosa" is a song recorded by the American rock band Evanescence for their second studio album, The Open Door (2006). The song was composed by Amy Lee and Terry Balsamo and produced by Dave Fortman. "Lacrymosa" incorporates the Lacrimosa sequence from Mozart's Requiem (1791) throughout the song and Lee said that its main inspiration is the film Amadeus. The song uses genres from alternative metal to gothic rock and post-grunge. Set in slow tempo, it was originally written in the key of D-minor but Lee and Balsamo transposed it into E-minor.

The song received mostly positive reviews from music critics who called it one of the best songs on The Open Door and praised the performance of the background choir. According to Lee, "Lacrymosa" was originally written for the soundtrack of the movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but was not included because of its dark sound. The producers of Narnia, however, rebutted her claim, stating this information was "news to them" and that no Evanescence music had been planned for inclusion in the soundtrack. The song was part of the setlist during their The Open Door Tour. The title of the track, lacrymosa, means related to sadness.

Background and recording

The band sampled the Lacrimosa sequence from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's (pictured) Requiem throughout the song.

"Lacrymosa" was composed by Amy Lee and Terry Balsamo and produced by Dave Fortman.[1] Lee fantasied to make Lacrimosa from Mozart's Requiem a metal one. She said "This was the time for that, for trying things I hadn't been brave enough to try before. I think Mozart would have loved it. He was a rebel."[2] The original Lacrimosa was part of the Dies Irae sequence in the Requiem mass and its text comes from the 18th and 19th stanzas of the sequence.

During an interview with VH1, Lee said,

I saw Amadeus when I was nine years old and fell in love with Mozart. The part of Mozart's Requiem called "Lacyrmosa" [sic] is my favorite piece of music ever. I always wished we could cover it, but with programming and guitars and make it cool. It's our moment to try all the things I wanted to and couldn't, so I started messing with it in Protools. Terry wrote some riffs and turned it into this awesome metal epic.

— Amy Lee, VH1 News[3]

David Campbell, who has previously arranged music for the band and worked with them at the Billboard Music Awards, led a 22-piece orchestra for the song. The Millennium Choir performed the Lacrimosa sequence (Lacrimosa dies illa Qua resurget ex favilla Judicandus homo reus. Huic ergo parce, Deus: Pie Jesu Domine, Dona eis requiem. Amen.) and backing vocals throughout the song. It was recorded in a chapel near Seattle, Washington.[4]

Composition, music and lyrics

David Campbell led an orchestra for "Lacrymosa"

According to the sheet music published by Alfred Publishing on musicnotes.com, "Lacrymosa" is an alternative, gothic rock and post-grunge song set in a common time and performed in slow tempo of 48 beats per minute.[5] Although the original Lacrimosa sequence was performed in D-minor, it was transposed into E-minor by Lee and Terry Balsamo.[5] The instruments in the song are piano, guitar, violins and drums. Lee's vocal range from the note of B3 and E5; the SATB choir ranges from the note of B2 to E4.[5] "Lacrymosa" has a "violin intro, synth worth of a Nine Inch Nails album, and Omen-esque choral sections that are very haunting."[6]

According to Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone, in "Lacrymosa" Lee is "sobbing hysterically over a grand piano."[7] The song was named as the "most memorable track" on the album that "takes the trademark Evanescence sound - Lee's celestial voice, and adds her brooding lyrics 'I can't change who I am, not this time, I won't lie to keep you near me and in this short life, there's no time to waste on giving up. My love wasn't enough'." by the IGN reviewer, Ed Thompson.[8] Danielle Baudhuin from The Oshkosh West Index stated that "Lee's astounding classical vocals are displayed with songs as the eerie 'Like You,' and 'Lacrymosa'."[9] She said that these two songs feature slower beats, and are more "piano-themed melodies, followed shortly by the power guitar section of the song." But she said that the song was very similar to "Haunted" from Fallen adding, "creepy background choir vocals and violins send listeners into a gothic Cathedral-like setting."[9] Jim Farber from nydailynews.com said that "Lacrymosa" will remind older listeners the '70s art-rock horror Renaissance.[10] Andree Farias from Christianity Today said "[But] the song has nothing to do with Lucy and her escapades into the land of Aslan. Rather, it's just another bitter break-up anthem: 'And you can blame it on me / Just set your guilt free, honey / I don't want to hold you back now love.'"[11]

Reception

Critical reception

Add in electronic backing beats, symphonic string section and heavy guitar and the elements are there. But this time, Evanescence went one step further - they added an ethereal choir backing track, giving the track a contrasting representation of light and dark and making the song just that much more haunting."
—IGN's Ed Thompson talking about "Lacrymosa."[8]

"Lacrymosa" received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Bill Lamb from About.com put the song in the list of Top Tracks on The Open Door alongside with "Sweet Sacrifice", "Call Me When You're Sober", "Your Star" and "Good Enough". He added "Elements such as the connection of the song 'Lacrymosa' to the Mozart 'Requiem' movement of the same name, or intense exploration of the benefits and costs of 'Lithium' give hints that Evanescence could add intellectual heft to their obvious command of emotion."[12]

An editor from The New York Times said that "Lacrymosa" is grandiose even by the album’s standards.[13] It was added that the song is "an audacious, exhilarating blast." Bill Clark from bullz-eye.com stated that the song is a superb noting that the "captivating strings" of "Lacrymosa" make it one of the most memorable tracks on the album but added that it was one of the most experimental tracks on Evanescence's catalog.[14] Sputnikmusic said that the song is the the best on the album and gave the song a grade of 4.5 along with "Good Enough", adding that on the last two songs the album stops to be boring because of the variations.[15]

Simon Cosyns from The Sun said that "song titles such as 'Weight of the World', 'Lose Control' and 'Lacrymosa' tell you it’s not a bed of roses, but there is a positive streak running through The Open Door".[16] On canada.com it was stated that Lee "achieves stunning notes on 'Lacrymosa', which employs a haunting choir".[17] Jordan Reimer from The Daily Princetonian praised Lee's melodies and said that "Cloud Nine" and "Lacrymosa" were her best two arrangements.[18] USA Today said, "the melodramatic mix of hard-core crunch and electronic pop was specially effective in 'Weight of the World' and the wonderfully bombastic 'Lacrymosa'."[19] John Hood from Miami New Times said, "'Call Me When You're Sober' sent a man away, 'Lacrymosa' kept him there, and 'Cloud Nine' told the clueless dolt why he would no longer ever be welcomed back.[20] Joost Melis from the Dutch website FOK! said that "Lacrymosa is a good example. Frequently resembles the band Within Temptation and Nightwish with choirs and lacks the originality and the significant tension throughout the album."[21]

Amy Lee singing at Maquinaria Festival on November 8, 2009.

Brendan Butler from Cinema Blend was critical saying that "the worst song on The Open Door, i[t’]s a toss up between 'Lacrymosa' with its abominable choir and the obnoxious 'Lose Control,' which features Amy crying for about five minutes."[22] A reviewer from Altsounds said that the weakest tracks on the album are "Snow White Queen", "Lacrymosa", "Like You", and "Lose Control" because "the vocal arraignments on those tracks just do not flow with the lyrics and music combined therefore making them annoying because [Lee's] voice gets a bit unsettling and can only be tolerable to a certain extent."[23] Glenn Gamboa from ProJo said that "maybe the over-the-top dramatics of 'Lacrymosa' and piano ballad 'Your Star' will be seen as so-bad-they’re-good."[24]

Chart and live performances

Although it wasn't released as a single and it wasn't promoted by the band, "Lacrymosa" peaked on iTunes Spain Alternative Music Chart on March 22, 2010 at number forty-three due to its digital downloads, and its last position on the chart was sixty-nine on October 13, 2010.[25]

The song was played live by the band during their tour for the promotion of The Open Door. On the concert which took place on November 17, 2007 in Orem the band played "Lacrymosa". During the performance Lee was wearing purple tank, black skirt and black boots.[26] Evanescence also played the song live at their secret New York gig which took place on 4 November, 2009.[27] They also performed the song at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York in 2006.[28]

Usage in other media

"Lacrymosa" appears as the backdrop for the promotional clips for the Showtime Original Series The Tudors.[29] According to Amy Lee, it was originally written for the film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, but was mysteriously not included.[30] However, according to producers Mark Johnson and Phillip Steuer, neither Lee or the band were approached to compose music for the film.[31] Lee also wrote another song for the movie, but it was rejected because of its dark sound. Lee went on to state that it was just "more great stuff [for The Open Door]".[32]

The word lacrymosa means "related to sadness".[3] The track title is also the scientific name for a species of moth known as Catocala lacrymosa, also known as the 'Tearful Underwing'.[33] The species of moth are featured throughout The Open Door's cover booklet and on the cover of the "Sweet Sacrifice" radio promo CD. A clip of "Lacrymosa" was used in the video teaser for The Open Door.[34]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from The Open Door liner notes.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b (Media notes). {{cite AV media notes}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Format= ignored (|format= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Type= ignored (|type= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Amy Lee gets it off her chest - Music - Entertainment - smh.com.au". Smh.com.au. October 16, 2006. Retrieved 2011-06-17. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  3. ^ a b Bottomley, C (2006-09-18). "Evanescence: Amy Lee Explains the New Songs". VH1.com. VH1 News. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  4. ^ "Listen To Two New Tracks From Evanescence's Album 'The Open Door'". SonyBMG.com.au. Sony BMG News. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  5. ^ a b c "Evanescence - Lacrymosa Sheet Music (Digital Download)". MusicNotes.com. Alfred Publishing. Retrieved 2008-01-03. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  6. ^ Claire, Colette (2006). "The Gauntlet - Evanescence. html". The Gauntlet. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
  7. ^ Sheffield, Rob (October 5, 2006). "The Open Door by Evanescence". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
  8. ^ a b Thompson, Ed (2006-10-03). "The Open Door (Evanescence)". IGN. Retrieved 05-29-2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ a b Baudhuin, Danielle (October 19, 2006). "The Oshkosh West Index - Evanescence walks through The Open Door to melodic succes". The Oshkosh West Index. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
  10. ^ Farber, Jim (October 01, 2006). "Blasting Into 'Town' - Page 2 - New York Daily News". Nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2011-06-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  11. ^ Farias, Andree (1-01-2006). "The Open Door (Page 2)". Christianity Today. Retrieved 2011-06-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Lamb, Bill (2006-10-03). "Evanescence - The Open Door: Review The Open Door, the Second Album From Evanescence". About.com. Retrieved 05-29-2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  13. ^ "New CD's - New Yrok Times". The New York Times. October 2, 2006. Retrieved 16 June, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ^ Clark, Bill (2006). "CD Review of The Open Door by Evanescence". bullz-eye.com. Retrieved 2011-06-12. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  15. ^ "Evanescence - The Open Door (album review)". Sputnikmusic. 2006. Retrieved 2011-06-12. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  16. ^ Cosyns, Simon (06 October 2006). "Amy Lee: I'm my own therapist". The Sun. Retrieved 2011-06-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "'Open Door' to likeable return of Evanescence". Postmedia News. November 11, 2006. Retrieved 2011-06-19. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  18. ^ "Bare-boned Evanescence album lacks heart". The Daily Princetonian. November 9, 2006. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
  19. ^ Va, McLean (October 10, 2006). "Sammie grows up; Unk clunks". USA Today. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
  20. ^ Hood, John (October 18, 2007). "Through the Open Door - Page 1". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
  21. ^ Melis, Joost (13-10-2006). "CD: Evanescence - The Open Door - FOK! [[:Template:Nl]]". FOK!. Retrieved 2011-06-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  22. ^ Butler, Brendan (2006-10-03). "CD Review: Evanescence's The Open Door". Cinemablend.com. Retrieved 16 June, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  23. ^ "Altsounds - Evanescence - The Open Door". Altsounds. October 22, 2006. Retrieved 2011-06-17. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  24. ^ Gamboa, Glenn (October 15, 2006). "Music - projo.com - The Providence Journal". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
  25. ^ "Lacrymosa by Evanescence - Song Analysis". iTunes Music Chart. iTunes. 2010-03-22. Retrieved 05-29-2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  26. ^ Reavy, Pat (November 20, 2007). "Evanescene rocks Orem". Deseret News. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
  27. ^ Harris, Chris (November 5, 2009). "Evanescence Return to the Stage at "Secret" New York Gig". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
  28. ^ Harris, Chris (October 10 2006). "Evanescence Live In NYC: Amy Lee Headbangs. Serenades Her 'New Hometown". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2011-06-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  29. ^ Showtime original series: The Tudors trailer. Showtime via YouTube. 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-16. {{cite AV media}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ Reesman, Bryan (2006). "The Essence of Evanescence". Metal Edge. Retrieved 2007-02-28. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  31. ^ "Wardrobe closed to Evanescence singer". The New Zealand Herald. 2004-11-27. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
  32. ^ Lee, Amy (December 2, 2005). "EvBoard - A Bunch Of Stuff!!!". EvBoard.com. Retrieved 06-16-2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  33. ^ Oehlke, Bill. "Catocala lacrymosa". Catocala silkmoths. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  34. ^ "Evanescence: 'The Open Door' Trailer". Ultimate Guitar. 07-18-2006. Retrieved 2011-06-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)

External links

Look up lacrimosa in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lacrymosa_(song)&oldid=435876542"