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{{Song Infobox
Lacrymosa is a song recorded by American rock band [[Evanescence]] for their second studio album, ''[[The_Open_Door|The Open Door]]'' (2006). The song was composed by [[Amy Lee]] and [[Terry Balsamo]] and produced by Dave Fortman. "Lacrymosa" incorporates the ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacrimosa_(Requiem) Lacrimosa]'' sequence from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Requiem_(Mozart) Mozart's ''Requiem''] (1791) throughout the song and Lee said that its main inspiration is the film ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadeus_(film) Amadeus]''. The song is influenced by genres such as alternative metal, gothic rock, and post-grunge. Set in slow tempo, it was originally written in the key of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D_minor D minor] but Lee and Balsamo transposed it into [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_minor E minor].
 
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|title = "Lacrymosa"
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|image = [[File:The_Open_Door.jpg]]
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|artist = Evanescence
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|type = Alternative rock
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|span = 3:38
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|previous = "[[Snow White Queen (song)|Snow White Queen]]"|next = "[[Like You (song)|Like You]]"|Image = <tabber>
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The Open Door = [[File:The Open Door.jpg|250px]]
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|-|
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Synthesis = [[File:Synthesis.jpg|250px]]
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</tabber>|Date = September 25, 2006 ''(The Open Door)''<br>
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November 10, 2017 ''(Synthesis)''|Length = 3:38 ''(The Open Door)''<br>
  +
3:42 ''(Synthesis)''|Label = [[Wind-up Records]]|Title = <i>[[The Open Door]]</i>|Last song = "[[Snow White Queen (song)|Snow White Queen]]"|Next song = "[[Like You (song)|Like You]]"|This song = "'''Lacrymosa'''"|Producers = [[Dave Fortman]] ''(The Open Door)''<br>[[Will "Science" Hunt|Will Hunt]], [[Amy Lee]]
  +
''(Synthesis)''|Type = Song}}"'''Lacrymosa"''' is the seventh track from Evanescence's second studio album, ''[[The Open Door]]''. An alternate, more orchestral version of the song is also included on ''[[Synthesis]]''.
   
 
==Background==
The song was praised as one of the best songs on ''The Open Door'' by critics, who particularly complimented the backing choir. According to Lee, "Lacrymosa" was originally written for the soundtrack of the movie ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia:_The_Lion,_the_Witch_and_the_Wardrobe 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 Open Door Tour]]. The title of the track, lacrymosa, means "related to sadness."
 
  +
"Lacrymosa" was written by [[Amy Lee]] and [[Terry Balsamo]], produced by [[Dave Fortman]], and recorded in a chapel near Seattle, Washington. In a number of interviews, Lee revealed that everyone asked about a collaboration between her and Mozart.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/05/AR2006100500542.html</ref> 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."<ref>http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/amy-lee-gets-it-off-her-chest/2006/10/15/1160850802401.html?page=2</ref> In an interview with VH1 News, Lee further explained the inspiration behind the song: "I saw ''[[wikipedia:Amadeus_(film)|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."<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20070204065218/http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1540914/story.jhtml</ref>
==Background and Recording==
 
"Lacrymosa" was written by [[Amy_Lee|Amy Lee]] and [[Terry_Balsamo|Terry Balsamo]] and produced by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Fortman Dave Fortman]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Campbell_(composer) David Campbell], who has previously arranged music for the band and worked with them at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Music_Awards ''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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle Seattle], Washington.<sup> </sup>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 ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadeus_(film) 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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Tools Protools]. Terry wrote some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riff riffs] and turned it into this awesome metal epic."
 
   
  +
When the song was re-recorded for ''Synthesis'', Amy explained it was a natural choice to do it on the orchestral album:<ref>Evanescence (December 7, 2017). [https://www.facebook.com/Evanescence/posts/10154906131261786 "Here's four more songs off the new album"]. ''Facebook''.</ref>
   
  +
<blockquote>The original was based on Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ and the movie Amadeus, which is why it was a natural choice to include. It was something I’d wanted to do for a long time before we did it on The Open Door album. ‘Lacrymosa’ is one of my favorite pieces of classical music. I’ve always been proud of the song. To do it now, and get to pump up the orchestra and classical music aspect of it, feels really good. I threw in a little bit of opera in there instead of the choir in the original. I feel like it’s a cool piece of who I am. Not on a corny level, just a teeny-tiny taste.</blockquote>
==Compostion, Music and Lyrics==
 
According to the sheet music published by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Music_Publishing Alfred Publishing] on musicnotes.com, "Lacrymosa" is an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_metal alternative metal], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_rock gothic rock] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-grunge post-grunge] song set in a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_signature common time] and performed in slow [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempo 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 instruments in the song are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano piano], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar guitar], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin violins] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_kit drums]. Lee's vocal range from the note of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_(musical_note) B<sub>3</sub>] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_(musical_note) E<sub>5</sub>]; the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SATB SATB] choir ranges from the note of B<sub>2</sub> to E<sub>4</sub>. "Lacrymosa" has a "violin intro, synth worth of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Inch_Nails Nine Inch Nails] album, and Omen-esque choral sections that are very haunting."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-gauntlet_5-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacrymosa_(song)#cite_note-gauntlet-5 [6]]</sup>
 
   
 
==Lyrics==
According to Rob Sheffield from ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stone Rolling Stone]'', in "Lacrymosa" Lee is "sobbing hysterically over a grand piano." According to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IGN 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 stated that "Lee's astounding classical vocals are displayed with songs as the eerie 'Like You,' and 'Lacrymosa'." 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." Jim Farber from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_News_(New_York) nydailynews.com] said that "Lacrymosa" will remind older listeners the '70s art-rock horror [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_(band) Renaissance]. Andree Farias from ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_Today Christianity Today]'' said "[But] the song has nothing to do with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Pevensie Lucy] and her escapades into the land of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aslan 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.'"
 
  +
<tabber>The Open Door={{Scroll box|<poem>Out on your own
==Critical Reception==
 
  +
Cold and alone again
"Lacrymosa" received positive to mixed reviews from music critics. Bill Lamb from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/About.com About.com] put the song in the list of Top Tracks on ''The Open Door'' alongside with "[[Sweet_Sacrifice|Sweet Sacrifice]]", "[[Call Me When You're Sober]]", "[[Your Star]]" and "[[Good_Enough|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." Ed Thompson from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IGN IGN] called "Lacrymosa" the "most memorable track" in the whole album. Don Kaye of the website [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blabbermouth.net 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."
 
 
Can this be what you really wanted, baby?
   
  +
Blame it on me
An editor from ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times The New York Times]'' said that "Lacrymosa" is grandiose even by the album’s standards. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnikmusic Sputnikmusic] said that the song is 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. Simon Cosyns from ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sun_(United_Kingdom) The Sun]'' concluded 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''". On [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmedia_News Postmedia News] it was stated that Lee "achieves stunning notes on 'Lacrymosa', which employs a haunting choir".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-canada_17-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacrymosa_(song)#cite_note-canada-17 [18]]</sup> Jordan Reimer from ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Daily_Princetonian The Daily Princetonian]'' praised Lee's melodies and said that "Cloud Nine" and "Lacrymosa" were her best two arrangements. John Hood from ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_New_Times 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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FOK! FOK!] compared "Lacrymosa" with song of the bands [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Within_Temptation Within Temptation] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightwish Nightwish]. A writer of ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Independent The Independent]'' put the song on his list of "Download This" from ''The Open Door''.
 
  +
Set your guilt free
  +
Nothing can hold you back now
   
  +
Now that you're gone
Brendan Butler from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_Blend 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 ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Providence_Journal The Providence Journal]'' concluded that "maybe the over-the-top dramatics of 'Lacrymosa' and piano ballad 'Your Star' will be seen as so-bad-they’re-good."
 
  +
I feel like myself again
==Controversy and usage in media==
 
  +
Grieving the things I can't repair and willing
In a 2004 interview with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV_News MTV News], Amy Lee revealed that she was composing music for the film, ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia:_The_Lion,_the_Witch_and_the_Wardrobe The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]''. She also revealed that the producers of the movie 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 was mysteriously not included. However, according to producers, neither Lee or the band were approached to compose music for the film. Another song was also written 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]".
 
   
  +
To let you blame it on me
  +
And set your guilt free
  +
I don't want to hold you back now, love
   
  +
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
   
  +
And you can blame it on me
The word lacrymosa means "related to sadness". The track title is also the scientific name for a species of moth known as ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catocala_lacrymosa Catocala lacrymosa]'', also known as the 'Tearful Underwing'. The species of moth are featured throughout ''The Open Door''<span style="padding-left: 0.1em">'</span>s cover booklet and on the cover of the "[[Sweet_Sacrifice|Sweet Sacrifice]]" radio promo CD. A clip of "Lacrymosa" was used in the video teaser for ''The Open Door''.
 
  +
Just set your guilt free, honey
==Lyrics==
 
  +
I don't want to hold you back now, love</poem>}}
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|-|Synthesis={{Scroll box|<poem>I can't change who I am
   
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Out on your own
  +
Cold and alone again
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Can this be what you really wanted, baby?
   
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Now that you're gone
Out on your own,<br />Cold and alone again.<br />Can this be what you really wanted, baby?<br />
 
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I feel like myself again
Blame it on me,<br />Set your guilt free.<br />Nothing can hold you back now.<br />
 
Now that you're gone,<br />I feel like myself again.<br />Grieving the things I can't repair and willing...<br />
+
Grieving the things I can't repair and willing
To let you blame it on me,<br />And set your guilt free.<br />I don't want to hold you back now love.<br />
 
I can't change who I am.<br />Not this time, I won't lie to keep you near me.<br />And in this short life, there's no time to waste on giving up.<br />My love wasn't enough.<br />
 
And you can blame it on me,<br />Just set your guilt free, honey.<br />I don't want to hold you back now love.
 
   
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To let you blame it on me
{{Template:Navboxsongs}}
 
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And set your guilt free
[[Category:The Open Door]]
 
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I don't want to hold you back now, love
  +
  +
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
  +
  +
And you can blame it on me
  +
Just set your guilt free
  +
I don't want to hold you back now, love</poem>}}</tabber>
  +
  +
==Videos==
  +
<gallery>EVANESCENCE - "Lacrymosa" (Official Audio - Synthesis)</gallery>
  +
  +
== Trivia ==
  +
* Some parts of ''Lacrimosa'' in the song have already been used in "[[Anything For You (song)|Anything For You]]".
  +
* On early lyrics of the bridge, Amy would sing "there's no time to waste on ''digging up my own grave''" instead of "''giving up- my love wasn't enough''".<ref>Handwritten lyrics of "Lacrymosa" on the [[The Open Door journal|''Open Door'' journal]]</ref>
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==References==
  +
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Navboxsongs}}
 
[[Category:Songs]]
 
[[Category:Songs]]
 
[[Category:The Open Door]]
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[[Category:The Open Door songs]]
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[[Category:Synthesis songs]]

Revision as of 05:49, 2 May 2020

""Lacrymosa""
Released September 25, 2006 (The Open Door)
November 10, 2017 (Synthesis)
Length 3:38 (The Open Door)
3:42 (Synthesis)
Producers Dave Fortman (The Open Door)
Will Hunt, Amy Lee (Synthesis)
Label Wind-up Records
Chronology
"Snow White Queen" "Lacrymosa" "Like You"

"Lacrymosa" is the seventh track from Evanescence's second studio album, The Open Door. An alternate, more orchestral version of the song is also included on Synthesis.

Background

"Lacrymosa" was written by Amy Lee and Terry Balsamo, produced by Dave Fortman, and recorded in a chapel near Seattle, Washington. In a number of interviews, Lee revealed that everyone asked about a collaboration between her and Mozart.[1] 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."[2] 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" [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."[3]

When the song was re-recorded for Synthesis, Amy explained it was a natural choice to do it on the orchestral album:[4]

The original was based on Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ and the movie Amadeus, which is why it was a natural choice to include. It was something I’d wanted to do for a long time before we did it on The Open Door album. ‘Lacrymosa’ is one of my favorite pieces of classical music. I’ve always been proud of the song. To do it now, and get to pump up the orchestra and classical music aspect of it, feels really good. I threw in a little bit of opera in there instead of the choir in the original. I feel like it’s a cool piece of who I am. Not on a corny level, just a teeny-tiny taste.

Lyrics

Out on your own
Cold and alone again
Can this be what you really wanted, baby?

Blame it on me
Set your guilt free
Nothing can hold you back now

Now that you're gone
I feel like myself again
Grieving the things I can't repair and willing

To let you blame it on me
And set your guilt free
I don't want to hold you back now, love

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

And you can blame it on me
Just set your guilt free, honey
I don't want to hold you back now, love

I can't change who I am

Out on your own
Cold and alone again
Can this be what you really wanted, baby?

Now that you're gone
I feel like myself again
Grieving the things I can't repair and willing

To let you blame it on me
And set your guilt free
I don't want to hold you back now, love

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

And you can blame it on me
Just set your guilt free
I don't want to hold you back now, love

Videos

Trivia

  • Some parts of Lacrimosa in the song have already been used in "Anything For You".
  • On early lyrics of the bridge, Amy would sing "there's no time to waste on digging up my own grave" instead of "giving up- my love wasn't enough".[5]

References