“Why dont I just do it?
Why does it have to be a guy?”
“We needed to do something to commemorate the milestone of this year,” Lee tells EW.
Evanescence’s Amy Lee.Credit:Frank Veronksy
It’s “Bring Me to Life” in its electronic infancy.
“It’s keyboards and loops and programming and whatever to get the idea going.”
“And that all came true with ‘Bring Me to Life’ in a very beautiful way.
Evanescence’s ‘Fallen (20th Anniversary Edition)'.TRAVIS SHINN
But the most striking deviation on the demo?
The song’s infamous rap is gone.
You know the one.
Evanescence’s Amy Lee.Frank Veronsky
Its the Limp Bizkity interloper shouting “Wake me up!”
and “I can’t wake up!”
between Lees earnest pleas for salvation, culminating in her sharing the bridges real estate with nu-metal huffing.
But that little slice of radio-play synergy wasn’t part of Lee’s vision forFallen’s lead single.
off her singing to appeal to a wider and more dude-bro audience.
Obviously, the move worked in their commercial favor.
For a while, the group would skip the bridge entirely during shows.
But then one day, Lee says, she thought, “Why don’t I just do it?
Why does it have to be a guy?”
“It’s like, ‘No, I’mtakingit.'”
The live recordings are arguably the beating heart ofFallen’s 2023 edition.
In other words, she’s made it hers.
She didnt initially connect to it as much as her own work.
But over the years, the crowds at shows have helped her find new meaning in the track.
I know that’s what other people singing it back with tears in their eyes are feeling too.
It’s just so powerful.
So when I’m singing it, I really am singing about that.”
But Lees emotional connection with Evanescence fans isnt bound to just a song or two offFallen.
She has kept every kind letter and empathizes with their senders.
“Because that’s what I feel.
It’s just a pure thing.
Fallen (20th Anniversary Edition)is out today.
