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Lacrymosa (song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Lacrymosa
| cover =
| alt =
| type = Song
| artist = Evanescence
| album = The Open Door
| released = September 25, 2006
| format =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Alternative metal
| length =
| label = Wind-up
| writer =
| producer = Dave Fortman
| misc =
}}
"'Lacrymosa'" is a song recorded by American rock band Evanescence for their second studio album, 'The Open Door' (2006). An alternative version appears on the band's fourth studio album 'Synthesis' (2017). 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. Lee said that it was inspired by the movie 'Amadeus'. The song contains elements of various genres, including alternative metal, 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 garnered polarizing opinions from music critics, with some labeling it as one of the best songs on 'The Open Door', particularly complimenting the backing choir, while others lamented it one of the worst for the same reason. According to Lee, "Lacrymosa" was originally written for the soundtrack to the film 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe', but was not included because of its dark sound. The producers of the film, 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 set list during the band's second worldwide tour, The Open Door Tour (20062007).
Background and recording
"Lacrymosa" was written by Amy Lee and Terry Balsamo and produced by Dave Fortman. 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. Lee, the orchestra and choir recorded the song at a chapel in Seattle, Washington. In a number of interviews, Lee revealed that everyone asked about a collaboration between her and Mozart. She further stated that she always wanted to make 'Lacrimosa' from Mozart's 'Requiem' a metal song, later adding that 'The Open Door' was "the time for that, for trying things I hadn't been brave enough to try before." In an interview with VH1 News, Lee further explained the inspiration behind the song
I saw 'Amadeus' when I was nine years old and fell in love with Mozart. The part of Mozart's 'Requiem' called "Lacyrmosa" 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.
In a 2004 interview with MTV News, Lee revealed that she was composing music for the film 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'. She also revealed that the producers of the film offered her a small role: "They were like, 'Do you want to do a cameo?' And I was like, 'Hell yeah! Let me die. I want to be somebody who gets murdered.' So I don't think that's going to happen." She later revealed that "Lacrymosa" was originally written for the film, but it was not included due to its dark sound, and because the producers wanted an original song. However, according to producers, neither Lee nor the band were approached to compose music for the film. Another song was also written for the film, but it was ultimately rejected as well. Lee went on to state that it was just "more great stuff [for 'The Open Door']".
Composition, music and lyrics
According to the sheet music published by Alfred Publishing on Musicnotes.com, "Lacrymosa" is an alternative metal, gothic rock and post-grunge song set in a common time and performed in slow tempo of 48 beats per minute. Although the original 'Lacrimosa' sequence was performed in D-minor, it was transposed into E-minor by Lee and Terry Balsamo. The instrumentation in the song is provided by piano, guitar, violins and drums. Lee's vocal range from the low note of B3 to the high note of E5; the SATB choir vocals range from the low note of B2 to the high note of E4. In 2017, Evanescence revisited Lacrymosa with an full symphony orchestral version with an electronic background for the 4th studio album, Synthesis. Lee went on to leaving out the choir and did all the operatic vocals herself in both backing and front vocal. According to 'Gauntlet' writer Claire Colette, "Lacrymosa" has a "violin intro, synth worth of a Nine Inch Nails album, and Omen-esque choral sections that are very haunting." It then goes on with a pinon-themed melody before the "power guitar section" joins in. Lyrically, the song speaks about a break-up, as illustrated in the verse "And you can blame it on me / Just set your guilt free, honey / I don't want to hold you back now love".
Rob Sheffield from 'Rolling Stone' said that "Lacrymosa" features Lee "sobbing hysterically over a grand piano". According to the IGN reviewer, Ed Thompson, the song "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'.". Danielle Baudhuin from The Oshkosh West Index noted that "Lacrymosa" was musically similar to "Haunted" from the band's debut studio album 'Fallen', noting how "creepy background choir vocals and violins send listeners into a gothic Cathedral-like setting". Jim Farber from the 'Daily News' said that "Lacrymosa" will remind older listeners of the 1970s art rock horror band Renaissance. Andree Farias from 'Christianity Today' observed that the song had no connection with the movie 'Narnia' whatsoever classifying it as "just another bitter break-up anthem".
'Lacrymosa' is a corruption of the Latin term 'lacrimosa', which means "tearful". The track title is also the scientific name for a species of moth known as 'Catocala lacrymosa', also known as the "tearful underwing". The species of moth are featured throughout 'The Open Door's cover booklet and on the cover of the "Sweet Sacrifice" radio promotional CD. A clip of "Lacrymosa" was used in the video teaser for 'The Open Door'.
Critical reception
"Lacrymosa" received positive to mixed reviews from music critics. Ed Thompson from IGN called "Lacrymosa" the "most memorable track" in the whole album. Don Kaye of the website Blabbermouth.net said that while the song was an "interesting experiment" it came "across as more of a stab at artsiness with its strings and choirs than a real song." Danielle Baudhuin from The Oshkosh West Index stated that "Lacrymosa" is one of the songs on the album where Lee's "astounding classical vocals are displayed". An editor from 'The New York Times' said that "Lacrymosa" is grandiose "even by the album's standards". Sputnikmusic said that the song is the best on the album and gave it 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 musical variation. On Postmedia News it was stated that Lee "achieves stunning notes on 'Lacrymosa', which employs a haunting choir". Jordan Reimer from 'The Daily Princetonian' praised Lee's melodies and said that "Cloud Nine" and "Lacrymosa" were her best two arrangements. John Hood from the 'Miami New Times' made a story, "'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. Joost Melis from the Dutch website FOK! compared "Lacrymosa" to the music of Within Temptation and Nightwish. A writer of 'The Independent' put the song on his list of "Download This" from 'The Open Door'.
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." A reviewer from Altsounds noted 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." Glenn Gamboa from 'The Providence Journal' concluded that "maybe the over-the-top dramatics of 'Lacrymosa' and piano ballad 'Your Star' will be seen as so-bad-theyre-good."
Live performances
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 a purple tank, black skirt and black boots. They also performed the song at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York in 2006. Evanescence played the song live at their secret New York City gig which took place on November 4, 2009. The band played the song during a concert in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on October 4, 2012.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from 'The Open Door' liner notes.
*Songwriting Amy Lee, Terry Balsamo
*Production, mixing Dave Fortman
*Instruments Amy Lee, Terry Balsamo
*Background vocals The Millenium Choir
*Programming - DJ Lethal
*Engineering - Jeremy Parker
*Mastering - Ted Jensen
*Vocals, keyboards, choral arrangements Amy Lee
*Lead guitar Terry Balsamo
*Rhythm guitar John LeCompt
*Bass guitar Will Boyd
*Drums Rocky Gray
References
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