Weight of the World (Evanescence song)

"Weight of the World" is a song by American rock band Evanescence, from their second studio album, The Open Door (2006). It was released as a promotional single in October 2007 to the country of Colombia. It was written by Amy Lee and Terry Balsamo while the production was handled by Dave Fortman, and Lee wrote it about the pressure fans put on her. "Weight of the World" received positive reception from music critics, who praised the song for its heaviness. The song was added to the set list on Evanescence's The Open Door Tour (2006–07) and Evanescence Tour (2011–12).

"Weight of the World"
Promotional single by Evanescence
from the album The Open Door
ReleasedOctober 2007 (2007-10) (Colombia)
RecordedSeptember 2005–March 2006
(Record Plant Studios, Los Angeles)
Genre
Length3:37
LabelWind-up
Songwriter(s)Amy Lee, Terry Balsamo
Producer(s)Dave Fortman

Background and release

"Weight of the World" was written by Amy Lee and Terry Balsamo while the production was handled by Dave Fortman.[1] It was recorded in Record Plant Studios, Los Angeles, mixed by Dave Fortman at Ocean Way Studios, Los Angeles and mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, New York.[1] When asked about the song, Lee stated that many people thought that the songs on The Open Door would be similar to "My Immortal" (2003) due to the band's line-up changes, but explained that "My Immortal" was former member Ben Moody's song, and that she "was always trying to pull [the band] in a crazier direction".[2] She further explained the inspiration of the song in another interview:

"'Weight of the World' is a song about feeling the pressure of that and I love our fans and I don't mean, get off my back, I don't want this pressure. It's interesting, playing shows and meeting fans after the show and going to the different Web sites, the fan sites and seeing all these personal experiences that people are sharing and all the advice and answers to questions that they are trying to get from me. I do answer sometimes and I do want to go on. I do want to be there for people and tell them what I think but at the same time, I'm not a therapist and I'm not a doctor and I don't have all the answers for the meaning of life. That's the thing about our music is that it's deep and I'm trying to find the answers and I guess in that song I was really expressing that this is kind of a lot of pressure sometimes and I wanted to definitely say to all those fans, I'm not a prophet and I don't have all the answers, so you really need to look within yourself and start that journey on your own."[3]

"Weight of the World" was released to Colombia[4] and Venezuela[5] in 2007 as a promotional single.

Composition and lyrics

According to the sheet music published on the website Musicnotes.com by Alfred Music Publishing, "Weight of the World" is an alternative metal, gothic rock and post-grunge song, set in common time and performed in moderate driving rock tempo of 112 beats per minute.[6] It is written in the key of C# Minor and Lee's vocals for the song range from the musical note of G#3 to C#6.[6] The Courier-Mail's Jason Nahrung concluded that "Weight of the World" "exploits the formula of thumping chorus and gentle verse".[7] Danielle Baudhuin from The Oshkosh West Index wrote, "Pressures of fame and such are present in 'Weight of the World,' with lyrics like, 'Feels like the weight of the world/like God in heaven gave me a turn.' Any faux-depressed teenager can relate."[8] Andree Farias from Christianity Today stated, "the singer tells a needy co-dependent, 'Feels like the weight of the world / Like God in heaven gave me a turn / Don't cling to me, I swear I fix you,' only to tell him a few lines later, 'If you love me, then let go of me / I won't be held down by who I used to be.'"[9]

Reception

While reviewing The Open Door, Ed Thompson of IGN put "Weight of the World" in his "Definitely Download" list, along with "Call Me When You're Sober", "Sweet Sacrifice" and "Lacrymosa".[10] The Washington Post's Richard Harrington wrote that "There's no shortage of soaring, dynamic rockers on 'The Open Door,' including 'Sweet Sacrifice,' 'Weight of the World,' 'Snow White Queen' and 'Lacrymosa.'"[11] A writer for Sputnikmusic wrote that "Lose Control" and "Weight of the World" "are two of the better songs [on The Open Door] guitar wise".[12] The writer also said that the drumming on "Weight of the World" "is pretty much the best stuff [Rocky Gray] does on the album".[12]

Live performances
Evanescence performing during a concert in October 2006.

"Weight of the World" was added to the set-list to support The Open Door (2006–07).[13] Some of these performances include the show at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York in October 2006,[14] and the show in Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island on April 4, 2007.[13] The song was played live at their secret New York gig which took place on November 4, 2009.[15]

"Weight of the World" was later added to the set-list to support Evanescence (2011–12).[16] Performances include the concert at War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee on August 17, 2011,[17] and the concert at Porto Alegre, Brazil on October 4, 2012.[18] While reviewing a concert, Rick Florino of Artistdirect wrote, "Staccato thrashing added an edge to "Weight of the World" as Balsamo and McLawhorn's guitars sliced through a hypnotic hum".[19]

Usage in media

"Weight of the World" was released for download on Rock Band 3, along with "Call Me When You're Sober" and "Bring Me to Life".[20]

Credits and personnel

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

References
  1. The Open Door (liner notes). Evanescence. Wind-up Records. 2006.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Bottomley, C. (September 18, 2006). "Evanescence: Amy Lee Explains the New Songs". VH1. Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  3. "'The Open Door' Purifies Evanescence's Amy Lee". StaticMultimedia.com. October 15, 2006. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  4. "Escuche: 'Weight of the world' lo nuevo de Evanescence". La FM (in Spanish). Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  5. "929.com.ve" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 21, 2008. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  6. "Weight of the World By Evanescence - Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  7. Nahrung, Jason (October 19, 2006). "Evanescence still shining". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  8. Baudhuin, Danielle (October 19, 2006). "Evanescence walks through Open Door to melodic success". The Oshkosh West Index. Archived from the original on October 4, 2007. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  9. Farias, Andree (January 1, 2006). "The Open Door". Christianity Today. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  10. Thompson, Ed (October 6, 2006). "Evanescence - The Open Door". IGN. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  11. Harrington, Richard (October 6, 2006). "Another 'Door' Opens for Amy Lee". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 29, 2006.
  12. "Evanescence The Open Door". Sputnikmusic. September 24, 2006. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  13. Massimo, Rick (April 5, 2007). "Amy Lee cements her status as the core of Evanescence". The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  14. "Evanescence Live In NYC: Amy Lee Headbangs, Serenades Her 'New Hometown'". MTV News. October 10, 2006. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  15. "Evanescence Returns To Live Stage, Taps Finger Eleven Guitarist". Blabbermouth.net. November 5, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  16. Schillaci, Sophie (October 12, 2011). "Evanescence at the Palladium: Concert Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  17. "Evanescence Plays First Show In Almost Two Years; Video Available". Blabbermouth.net. August 18, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  18. Finatto, Paulo, Jr. (October 10, 2012). "Resenha - Evanescence (Pepsi on Stage, Porto Alegre, 04/10/12)". Whiplash.net (in Spanish). Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  19. Florino, Rick (October 12, 2011). "Live Review: Evanescence — The Palladium, Hollywood". Artistdirect. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  20. Hartley, Adam (June 15, 2009). "Classic Spinal Tap tunes on Rock Band". TechRadar. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
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