Blogocentric Formulations

Bring Me to Life: nu metal vs. Welsh classical orchestra

Written in response to "Note: 48-HOUR CHALLENGE : Media Prompt Deadl..."

                             

Oh goodness, I haven't thought about Evanescence in years.

Evanescence was one of those bands that really affected me way back in the early 2000s, probably in large part thanks to the fact that songs like "My Immortal" and their other hits were prominently featured in all kinds of emo-themed movies and television of that time period, including everything from an episode of Smallville to a dance routine soundtrack on So You Think You Can Dance to their real high bar, which was having not one, but two songs included in the Daredevil soundtrack... the Ben Affleck abomination, not the newer Netflix incarnation. That soundtrack blasted both "My Immortal" and "Bring Me to Life," just in case one wasn't enough. And on the topic of the Daredevil soundtrack, has there ever been a more goth/nu metal soundtrack than the one for that film? Seriously... Evanescence, Fuel, Saliva, Seether, Nickelback, Drowning Pool feat. Rob Zombie, Moby, Chevelle, Hoobastank, Paloalto... it's like a who's who of somber, whining vocals backed up with industrial beats and a few verses of rap-rock lyrics thrown in for good measure.

I actually really loved this band (and this song) for a long time. A lot of bands in this moody, angsty space tend to have raw, scratchy lyrics and all kind of sound the same after a while, but Amy Lee's haunting, melodic voice really made the band stand out from their contemporaries.

As I was doing research for this blog post, though, my new favorite story about this band and this song is related to the cover of it that Welsh classical singer Katherine Jenkins did for her 2009 album Believe. While I don't particularly prefer that cover of the song over the original, she apparently mentioned to her producer that she wanted to do it and he told her he didn't think she was able to perform the song. More determined than ever after being told she couldn't, she reworked the song as a more orchestral piece with stringed instruments substituting for the percussion section of the original, which was a better fit for her voice. You just have to respect someone who is told they can't do something and then goes, "You know what? I can and I will." Here's a link to that cover version if you want to listen to it:

Whichever version you personally prefer, there's no question that Evanescence was at the top of their songwriting and musical production game in the early 2000s when this nu metal crazy was sweeping radio stations and soundtracks nationwide. Listening to their discography again thanks to this challenge was a real blast from the past.