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. The song was written by Amy Lee and Terry Balsamo, and produced by Dave Fortman. Lee wrote it about the pressures of fame.

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

Composition and release

"Weight of the World" was written by Amy Lee and Terry Balsamo, with production handled by Dave Fortman.[1] It was recorded in Record Plant Studios, Los Angeles, mixed by Dave Fortman at Ocean Way Recording, Los Angeles and mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, New York.[1] Lee's inspiration for the song was the pressures of fame,[2][3] including the pressure she felt from fans "who feel I can solve their problems". She said she wants "to be there for people and tell them what I think" but she is "not a therapist" and doesn't "have all the answers", noting that she understands "how it feels to be completely alone and helpless" and sometimes "the only thing that seems to really help is that someone else who has felt that low expressing those feelings to you".[3][4][5]

According to the sheet music published on the website Musicnotes.com by Alfred Music Publishing, "Weight of the World" 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 said that the song utilizes acoustic guitar and a "thumping chorus and gentle verse".[7] Andree Farias from Christianity Today opined, "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.'"[8] VH1 writer C. Bottomley described the track as a "relentless rocker with Eastern motifs and distorted vocals".[9]

"Weight of the World" was released to Colombia[10] and Venezuela[11] in 2007 as a promotional single.

Reception

In his review of 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".[12] Edna Gundersen of USA Today wrote that Lee's "operatic wail is lashed to the band's brand of ethereal Goth-metal, a melodramatic mix of hard-core crunch and electronic pop that's especially effective in "Weight of the World"".[13] The Washington Post's Richard Harrington stated, "There's no shortage of soaring, dynamic rockers on The Open Door, including 'Sweet Sacrifice,' 'Weight of the World,' 'Snow White Queen' and 'Lacrymosa.'"[14]

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".[15]

Personnel

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

References
  1. The Open Door (liner notes). Evanescence. Wind-up Records. 2006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. Sheffield, Rob (October 5, 2006). "The Open Door by Evanescence – Album Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 10, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  3. Maerz, Melissa (October 2006). "She sold more than 15 million albums with Evanescence, only to find herself in abusive relationships". Spin. Vol. 22, no. 10. pp. 67–70. ISSN 0886-3032. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  4. Escudero, Nicki (October 2, 2006). "Amy Lee Wants You to Walk Into Her World". The Arizona Republic. Gannett Company.
  5. "'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.
  6. "Weight of the World By Evanescence - Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  7. Nahrung, Jason (October 19, 2006). "Evanescence still shining". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  8. Farias, Andree (January 1, 2006). "The Open Door". Christianity Today. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  9. 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.
  10. "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.
  11. "929.com.ve" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 21, 2008. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  12. Thompson, Ed (October 6, 2006). "Evanescence - The Open Door". IGN. Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  13. Gundersen, Edna (October 10, 2006). "Evanescence, The Open Door". USA Today.
  14. Harrington, Richard (October 6, 2006). "Another 'Door' Opens for Amy Lee". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  15. Hartley, Adam (June 15, 2009). "Classic Spinal Tap tunes on Rock Band". TechRadar. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
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