What You Want

From The Evanescence Reference
Revision as of 06:25, 7 May 2014 by Bfdx (talk | contribs) (→‎Chart performance: removing unreliable chart)

Across the Universe*
All That I'm Living For
Anything for You
Anywhere
Artifact/The Turn
Ascension of the Spirit
Away from Me
Before the Dawn
Better Without You
Bleed
Blind Belief
Breathe No More
Bring Me to Life
Broken Pieces Shine
Call Me When You're Sober
Catherine
Cloud Nine
Demise
Disappear
End of the Dream
Erase This
Eternal
Even in Death
Everybody's Fool
Exodus
Far From Heaven
Farther Away
Feeding the Dark
Field of Innocence
Forever You
Forgive Me
Give Unto Me
Going Under
Good Enough
Haunted
Hello
Hi-Lo
If You Don't Mind
Imaginary
Imperfection
Instrumental 1
Instrumental 2
Instrumental 3
Instrumental 4
Lacrymosa
Lies
Like You
Listen to the Rain
Lithium
Lose Control
Lost in Paradise
Made of Stone
Me & You
Missing
My Heart Is Broken
My Immortal
My Last Breath
Never Go Back
New Way to Bleed
Oceans
October
Origin
Overture
Part of Me
Perfect Dream
Say You Will
Secret Door
Sick
Snow White Queen
So Close
Solitude
Spanish
Surrender
Sweet Sacrifice
Swimming Home
Take Cover
Taking Over Me
The Chain*
The Change
The End
The Game is Over
The In-Between
The Last Song I'm Wasting on You
The Only One
The Other Side
Together Again
Tourniquet
Understanding
Unknown Title
Unraveling
Use My Voice
Wasted on You
Weight of the World
What You Want
Where Will You Go?
Whisper
Yeah Right
You Got a Lot to Learn
Your Love
Your Star
* Cover songs


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General information

Written by: A. Lee, T. Balsamo and T. McCord

"What You Want" is the first track and the first single released from Evanescence's self-titled album, Evanescence. It features heavy riffs, strong vocals, and has a theme of freedom. Amy Lee explained how the song was created and recorded in an interview:

Vin1.jpg Tim and Terry and I wrote that song at my house in New York. We were just jamming, like, recording demos, and obviously the song has grown a lot since then, with everyone else. For me, it was — and I need to remember this, so I can apply it in the future — it wasn't trying so hard to be some epic, massive chorus. I was just doodling around on the piano and the guys were like, "Do that. Whatever you just did, that's an awesome melody." And I was like, "Really?" Sometimes you just need your friends to be like, "Do that!"[1] Vin2.jpg


In the same interview, Amy explained what the song is about:

Vin1.jpg It's about freedom — that's definitely a constant theme on the record — but, it's like Evanescence, and me, and my relationship with the music and the fans, and coming to that [realization] of "This is what I'm supposed to do ... I want to do this," and when it says, "Remember who you really are," that's exactly everything you could assume it means.[1] Vin2.jpg


In a track-by-track interview with NME.com, Amy also said:

Vin1.jpg Okay, "What you Want", what can I say about this one, this was a cool writing experience. We were, it was Tim and Terry and I came down at my place in New-York for about a month. And we were just hanging out in my living room, like I was at the piano, they were working on the riff in the verse. I just started playing along and it kinda came together really fast. Like we all knew we were onto something really cool, we were getting really excited about it.

It's funny, we had two studios going, one on the living room and one up on the top level.So i could be working on lyrics and stuff when they were kinda working on the music and we would come visit each other and play around. And I remember being a little embarrassed when I wrote the verse, lyrics and melody, just the melody even. That "Dohoo watchu watchu want" part I was like Oh man, they're gonna make fun of me and think that I'm Janet Jackson or something. But screw it, I'm gonna show it to them anyway and they were like 'No, that's really cool, the hook is what's cool about it.' I'm so glad they feel that way because it's really fun to sing.[2]

Vin2.jpg


A sample of "What You Want" was released at MTV's website on July 11, 2011.[1] The single was released digitally to iTunes on August 9, 2011,[3] and to other digital retailers on August 16.[4] On August 22, 2011, Amy went to Toronto's Liberty Studios to preview 5 mastered songs from Evanescence to a selected crowd of thirty people. "What You Want" was one of the five previewed songs.[5][6] The song was well recieved by fans[7] and critics alike.[8][9][10]

The band premiered "What You Want" live August 8, at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV.[11] They later played it again at the show in Nashville on August 17,[12] and at the 2011 Rock in Rio festival on October 2.[13] The band added the song to the setlist of the Evanescence Tour.[14][15][16]

Versions

Studio versions:

What You Want

  • Recording date: February 2011 - July 2011
  • Status: Released
  • Released on:
Evanescence (track #1) – the first single off the album
All "What You Want" single editions (track #1)
  • Length: 3:40

What You Want [Elder Jepson Remix]

  • Processing date: 2011
  • Status: Released
  • Released on:
"What You Want" digital 2-track and German CD single (track #2)
Evanescence (iTunes deluxe edition) (track #17)
  • Length: 3:18


Live versions:

What You Want [Live]

  • Performing period: August 8, 2011 - November 9, 2012
  • Examples: War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville (August 17, 2011); Manchester Arena, England (November 6, 2012)

Lyrics

Album version

Do what you what you want
If you have a dream for better
Do what you what you want
'Til you don’t want it anymore
(remember who you really are)

Do what you what you want
Your world’s closing in on you now (it isn’t over)
Stand and face the unknown
(got to remember who you really are)

Every heart in my hands like a pale reflection

Hello, hello, remember me?
I’m everything you can’t control
Somewhere beyond the pain
There must be a way to believe
We can break through

Do what you what you want
You don’t have to lay your life down (it isn’t over)
Do what you what you want
'Til you find what you’re looking for
(got to remember who you really are)

But every hour slipping by screams that I have failed you

Hello, Hello, remember me?
I’m everything you can’t control
Somewhere beyond the pain
There must be a way to believe

Hello, hello, remember me?
I’m everything you can’t control
Somewhere beyond the pain
There must be a way to believe

There’s still time
Close your eyes
Only love will guide you home
Tear down the walls and free your soul
Till we crash we’re forever spiraling
Down, down, down, down

Hello, hello, its only me
Infecting everything you love
Somewhere beyond the pain
There must be a way to believe

Hello, Hello, remember me?
I’m everything you can’t control
Somewhere beyond the pain
There must be a way to learn forgiveness

Hello, Hello, remember me?
I’m everything you can’t control
Somewhere beyond the pain
There must be a way to believe
We can break through

Remember who you really are
Do what you what you want

Elder Jepson remix

(Do what you what you want)
Hello, hello remember me?
I'm everything you can't control
(Do what you what you want)
Somewhere beyond the pain there must be a way
to believe we can break through

(Do what you what you want)
Hello, hello remember me?
I'm everything you can't control
(Do what you what you want)
Somewhere beyond the pain there must be a way
to believe we can break through

Hello, hello remember me?
I'm everything you can't control
Somewhere beyond the pain there must be a way
to believe we can break through

Do what you what you want, you don't have to lay your life down
(it isn't over)
Do what you what you want till you find what you're looking for
(got to remember who you really are)
Every heart in my hands like a pale reflection

Hello, hello remember me?
I'm everything you can't control
Somewhere beyond the pain there must be a way to believe
Hello, hello remember me?
I'm everything you can't control
Somewhere beyond the pain there must be a way to believe

Do what you what you want, your world's closing in on you now
(it isn't over)
Stand and face the unknown
(got to remember who you really are)

There's still time
close your eyes
only love will guide you home
Tear down the walls and free your soul
(spiraling, spiraling...)

Hello, hello remember me?
I'm everything you can't control
Somewhere beyond the pain there must be a way to learn forgiveness
Hello, hello remember me?
I'm everything you can't control
Somewhere beyond the pain there must be a way
to believe we can break through

Do what you what you want
Do what you what you want

Music video

"What You Want" video

On Wednesday July 27th, Amy sent out a tweet saying:

Vin1.jpg Calling all fans in the NY area- We want you to be in our new video!! Go to evanescence.com for details.[17] Vin2.jpg


On July 30th, 200 fans were chosen to participate in the first day of the video shoot on a volunteer basis and will appear as the audience of the band's performance in the video. This video shoot took place in Brooklyn, New York. Directed by Meiert Avis. The video editing was concluded on August 23.[18]

In an interview with MTV, Amy described the inspiration behind the club in the video:

Vin1.jpg This video is sort of, like, the history of the band. This club [set] is emulating old shows we used to play in the beginning — we used to play this club called Vino's in Little Rock [Arkansas] — it's sort of like back then, the gritty, dirty club, sweaty. And basically, it's also [about] New York, where I've been, [and] where [bassist] Tim [McCord] lived in the past few years since we've been gone. And it's sort of about escaping New York and ... coming back out into the world.[19] Vin2.jpg


Amy said in another MTV interview that her sister, Carrie Lee, has the credit for the basic concept of the video:

Vin1.jpg Lee actually invited her sister, Carrie, to the recording studio for a few fresh ideas. "She's a writer, so I was like, 'Would you just sit here with me and listen to the song a couple times and just tell me what you see?' " Lee recalled. "She just started saying things that were right on. She was like, 'This should be in New York. You guys need to do something different, this song feels different.' And she started talking about running across the Brooklyn Bridge, and it being where I live, and I was like, 'Oh my God, this is great.'"[20] Vin2.jpg


The meaning of the final scene in the video, according to Amy in the same interview:

Vin1.jpg That was my real part, I kind of came up with the ending; I feel like it's a representation of us coming back to the world. We have a pretty large international fanbase, so I always think about us going on tour, and so much of touring for us is going overseas. But it's a little more than that; it's us heading into the unknown, coming into a new world, coming back after a long time; you've seen the past in the rest of the video, and that's the unknown future.[20] Vin2.jpg


A teaser for the video was released on Evanescence's YouTube channel on September 8th. The music video was released September 13, 2011.[21]

The video can be watched on YouTube here. The screenplay for the video can be read here.

"What You Want" lyric video

Lyric video

The official lyric video of "What You Want" was uploaded on Evanescence's VEVO Channel on August 18, 2011, about a month before the official music video came out. It can be watched on YouTube here.

Commercial release

Exquisite-kfind.png Main article: What You Want Single

The "What You Want" single was digitally released on August 9,[3] and the CD single was released on September 9, 2011 in Germany.[22]

Tracks released with the single include:

  • What You Want
  • What You Want [Elder Jepson Remix]
  • What You Want [Video] (promotional only)

Chart performance

On the week ending of August 14, 2011, "What You Want" debuted at number 68 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with first week digital sales of 78,000 copies.[23][24] The song also debuted at number 55 on the Canadian Hot 100.[25] The song stayed on both of the charts for one week. The song reached the Digital Songs chart at number 47, Rock Digital Songs at number 4, Hot Rock Songs at number 11, Mainstream Rock Songs at number 8, and Alternative Songs at number 14. It stayed on the Digital Songs chart for one week,[26] Rock Digital Songs for four weeks,[27] Mainstream Rock Songs for 22 weeks,[28] Hot Rock Songs for 21 weeks,[29] and Alternative Songs for 20 weeks.[30] "What You Want" debuted at number 72 on the UK Singles Chart and stayed on it for one week.[31] The song also peaked at number 1 on the UK Rock Chart.[32] On the German Singles Chart, "What You Want" peaked at number 84 and was on the chart for three week.[33]

Chart (2011–12)
Peak
position
Canada (Billboard)[25] 55
Germany (Media Control AG)[33] 84
Japan (Billboard)[34] 52
South Korea (Gaon Chart)[35] 59
UK Rock (Official Charts Company)[32] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[31] 72
US Billboard Hot 100[36] 68
US Digital Songs (Billboard)[26] 47
US Mainstream Rock Songs (Billboard)[28] 8
US Rock Digital Songs (Billboard)[27] 4
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[29] 11
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[30] 14
Venezuela (Record Report)[37] 183

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Montgomery, James (July 11, 2011). "Evanescence's 'What You Want': Hear A Preview!". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1667020/evanescence-what-you-want.jhtml. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  2. "Evanescence 'embarrassed' by new single - video". NME. September 28, 2011. http://www.nme.com/news/evanescence/59472. Retrieved September 29, 2011.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Bylin, Kyle (August 18, 2011). "Taylor Swift Rockets Up Social 50 Chart After 'Sparks Fly' Video Debut". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/467853/taylor-swift-rockets-up-social-50-chart-after-sparks-fly-video-debut. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  4. Grischow, Chad (August 10, 2011). "Evanescence Readies New Album". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/08/10/evanescence-readies-new-album. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  5. Bliss, Karen (August 23, 2011). "Amy Lee Previews New Evanescence Songs". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/amy-lee-previews-new-evanescence-songs-20110823. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  6. Bliss, Karen (August 25, 2011). "Backbeat: Amy Lee Attends EMI Canada's Evanescence Listening Party". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media). http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/community/backbeat/1173093/backbeat-amy-lee-attends-emi-canadas-evanescence-listening. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  7. Montgomery, James (July 14, 2011). "Evanescence Fans Share Their Enthusiasm For New Songs". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1667277/evanescence-amy-lee-what-you-want.jhtml. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  8. Lamb, Bill. "Evanescence - "What You Want"". About.com. http://top40.about.com/od/evanescence/gr/Evanescence-What-You-Want.htm. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  9. "Evanescence "What You Want" Single Review — 5 out 5 of stars". Artistdirect. August 18, 2011. http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/evanescence-what-you-want-single-review-5-out-5-of-stars/9049073. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  10. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Evanescence—Evanescence". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/evanescence-mw0002202537. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  11. Montgomery, James (August 4, 2011). "Evanescence Premiere 'What You Want'". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/679245/evanescence-premiere-what-you-want.jhtml. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  12. "Evanescence Plays First Show In Almost Two Years; Video Available". Blabbermouth.net. August 18, 2011. http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=162133. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  13. Ribeiro, Guilherme (October 2, 2011). "Evanescence Toca O Bom Básico No Rock In Rio" (in Portuguese). MTV Brasil. http://mtv.uol.com.br/musica/evanescence-toca-o-bom-basico-no-rock-in-rio. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  14. Schillaci, Sophie (October 12, 2011). "Evanescence at the Palladium: Concert Review". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/evanescence-taylor-momsen-concert-review-247487. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  15. "Review: Evanescence Melbourne Concert, Rod Laver Arena - 24th March 2012". Take 40 Australia. March 25, 2012. http://www.take40.com/news/30103/review:-evanescence-melbourne-concert,-rod-laver-arena---24th-march-2012. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  16. Finatto, Paulo, Jr. (October 10, 2012). "Resenha - Evanescence (Pepsi on Stage, Porto Alegre, 04/10/12)". Whiplash.net. http://whiplash.net/materias/shows/165121-evanescence.html. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  17. Lee, Amy (July 27, 2011). "Calling all fans in the NY area...". Twitter. https://twitter.com/AmyLeeEV/status/96287989117878273. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  18. Lee, Amy (August 23, 2011). "Finished editing the What You Want video today! You're gonna see it sooooooon". Twitter. https://twitter.com/AmyLeeEV/status/106115456196292608. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  19. Montgomery, James (August 1, 2011). "Evanescence's 'What You Want' Video: Go Behind The Scenes Now!". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1668272/evanescence-what-you-want-video.jhtml. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  20. 20.0 20.1 Montgomery, James (September 13, 2011). "Evanescence Avoided 'The Classic Route' With 'What You Want' Video". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1670690/evanescence-what-you-want-music-video.jhtml. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  21. Montgomery, James (September 13, 2011). "Evanescence Press Forward, Look Back In 'What You Want' Video". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1670632/evanescence-what-you-want-video.jhtml. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  22. "What You Want [Single]". Amazon.de. http://www.amazon.de/dp/B005GMSN1K. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  23. Titus, Christa (October 11, 2011). "Evanescence Returns to an Altered Rock Landscape". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/466221/evanescence-returns-to-an-altered-rock-landscape. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  24. Grein, Paul (August 17, 2011). "Week Ending Aug. 14, 2011. Songs: Not Bad". Yahoo! Music. http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-aug-14-2011-songs-not-bad.html. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  25. 25.0 25.1 "Evanescence – Chart History". Billboard Canadian Hot 100 for Evanescence. http://www.billboard.com/artist/301942/Evanescence/chart?f=793. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  26. 26.0 26.1 "Evanescence – Chart History". Billboard Digital Songs for Evanescence. http://www.billboard.com/artist/301942/Evanescence/chart?f=395. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  27. 27.0 27.1 "Evanescence – Chart History". Billboard Rock Digital Songs for Evanescence. http://www.billboard.com/artist/301942/Evanescence/chart?f=1085. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  28. 28.0 28.1 "Evanescence – Chart History". Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs for Evanescence. http://www.billboard.com/artist/301942/Evanescence/chart?f=376. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  29. 29.0 29.1 "Evanescence – Chart History". Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Evanescence. http://www.billboard.com/artist/301942/Evanescence/chart?f=902. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  30. 30.0 30.1 "Evanescence – Chart History". Billboard Alternative Songs for Evanescence. http://www.billboard.com/artist/301942/Evanescence/chart?f=377. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  31. 31.0 31.1 "Evanescence - What You Want". Chartstats.com (Official Charts Company). Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. http://archive.is/CJjr. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  32. 32.0 32.1 "2011 Top 40 Rock & Metal Singles Archive". UK Rock Chart (Official Charts Company). September 3, 2011. http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/10/2011-09-03/. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  33. 33.0 33.1 "Evanescence" (in German). Media Control Charts (PhonoNet GmbH). http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/EVANESCENCE/?type=single. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  34. "Evanescence – Chart History". Billboard Japan Hot 100 for Evanescence. http://www.billboard.com/artist/301942/Evanescence/chart?f=848. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  35. "Gaon Download Chart – 2011년 11월 2주차". Gaonchart.co.kr (Gaon Music Chart). http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/download.php?nationGbn=E&current_week=46&current_year=2011&chart_Time=week. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  36. "Evanescence – Chart History". Billboard Hot 100 for Evanescence. http://www.billboard.com/artist/301942/Evanescence/chart?f=379. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  37. "Ascensos de la Semana". Record Report (Top 100). Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. http://www.webcitation.org/6C2KKAvO6. Retrieved March 15, 2014.