Use My Voice Explained

Use My Voice
Cover:UseMyVoiceEvanescence.png
Type:single
Artist:Evanescence
Album:The Bitter Truth
Released:August 14, 2020
Recorded:2020
Length:4:02
Label:BMG
Producer:Nick Raskulinecz
Prev Title:The Game Is Over
Prev Year:2020
Next Title:Better Without You
Next Year:2021

"Use My Voice" is a song by American rock band Evanescence. It was released on August 14, 2020, by BMG as the third single from the band's fifth studio album, The Bitter Truth.[1] It was originally intended as the first single, but "Wasted on You" was released first due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] It was nominated for the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video in the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards.

Background

The song was written 'to celebrate the power of speaking out in order to promote a more just world'. In a press release, Amy Lee said, "This is an era of awakening, and full of powerful beauty. I hope to inspire others to seek truth, find their own voices and use them as I step up to use mine. Don't let anybody speak for you. Only you can do that."[3] In order to reinforce the message of the song, Lee was also accompanied by vocals delivered by other fellow musicians such as Within Temptation's Sharon den Adel, violinist Lindsey Stirling, Halestorm's Lzzy Hale and The Pretty Reckless' Taylor Momsen, as well as some of Lee's personal friends and family members. The band also worked with registration organisation HeadCount as a way of encouraging people to register and vote on the 2020 United States presidential election.[4]

In an interview for CBS This Morning, Lee stated that the first thing that inspired her on creating a song regarding public and political issues was a moment during the Stanford University sexual assault cases trial in which a victim said to her abuser that the only thing he could not take away was her voice. After that, Lee considered that it had been hypocritical of her remaining silent about things that affect the world and decided to work on both the song and being more explicit about politics.[5]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[6]

Charts

Chart performance for "Use My Voice"! Chart (2020)! Peak
position
Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)[7] 45
Czech Republic (Modern Rock)[8] 8
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[9] 40

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
United StatesAugust 14, 2020BMG
August 25, 2020Active rock radio[10]
ItalySeptember 4, 2020Contemporary hit radioSony[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Use My Voice - Single by Evanescence . . August 21, 2020.
  2. Web site: Kaplan. Ilana. August 19, 2020. Evanescence's Amy Lee on the Band's New Album, 'The Bitter Truth'. September 21, 2020. Marie Claire.
  3. News: Amy Lee, Lzzy Hale, Taylor Momsen and more unite in new Evanescence single 'Use My Voice' . . Anna . Rose . August 14, 2020 . August 21, 2020.
  4. News: Evanescence recruit Lzzy Hale, Sharon den Adel and more for new single Use My Voice . . Scott . Munro . August 12, 2020 . August 26, 2020.
  5. Web site: Evanescence's Amy Lee on politics in new song . . August 26, 2020 . August 26, 2020.
  6. Web site: Credits / Use My Voice / Evanescence – TIDAL. August 21, 2020. Tidal.
  7. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 24 August 2020. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1590. 9. 27 September 2021.
  8. Web site: CZ - RADIO - TOP 20 MODERN ROCK - EVANESCENCE - Use My Voice. IFPI Czech Republic. January 4, 2021. cs.
  9. Web site: Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. August 21, 2020. December 3, 2021.
  10. Web site: Rock Future Releases . All Access . August 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200822164750/https://www.allaccess.com/rock/future-releases . August 22, 2020.
  11. Web site: Evanescence - Use My Voice (Radio Date: 04-09-2020). Pagura. Chiara. September 2, 2020. EarOne. it. January 3, 2021.