Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity” charted

Silent Lucidity Queensrÿche

Writer(s): Chris DeGarmo (see lyrics here) Released: February 1991 First Charted: January 26, 1991 Peak: 9 US, 15 CB, 13 GR, 15 RR, 11 AR, 18 UK, 7 CN, 1 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 54.4 video, 67.09 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: The progressive heavy metal band Queensrÿche formed in 1982 in Bellevue, Wasington. After two gold albums, the band’s third release, Operation: Mindcrime was a platinum-selling concept album buoyed by the album rock hits “Eyes of a Stranger” and “I Don’t Believe in Love.” Still, the band had yet to crack the top 40 in the United States with one of their albums. That changed with 1990’s Empire, a triple-platinum release which reached #7 on the album chart. At first it appeared it would follow a similar trajectory as its predecessor. “Empire” and “Best I Can” were both top 30 hits on the album rock chart, but didn’t dent the Billboard Hot 100. However, the album’s third single, “Silent Lucidity,” propelled the band into new territory. Not only did it top the album rock chart, but it became the band’s first (and, so far, only) Hot 100 hit – climbling all the way to the top 10. The power ballad was sung by the band’s lead singer, Geoff Tate, with an emotive quality that recalled Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.” It was written by the band’s guitarist Chris DeGarmo, who wrote or co-wrote most of the songs on Empire. He was inspired by the book Creative Dreaming, which explains how to tap into one’s subconscious mind. SF Tate said that even though he didn’t write it, “I love that song. I think it’s a beautiful, beautiful piece.” SF The song was a departure from the band’s more metal leanings, even incorporating cello. It was built on vocals and acoustic guitar with other instrumentation only being added in the last week the band worked on the record. The producer, Peter Collins, initially didn’t want to release it because he didn’t think it was developed enough. SF The song received Grammy nominations for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Queensrÿche SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 12/22/2022.

Queensrÿche charted with title cut from “Empire”

Empire Queensrÿche

Writer(s): Geoff Tate, Michael Wilton (see lyrics here) First Charted: September 22, 1990 Peak: 22 AR, 61 UK, 17 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 7.0 video, 9.33 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: The progressive heavy metal band Queensrÿche formed in 1982 in Bellevue, Wasington. After two gold albums, the band’s third release, Operation: Mindcrime was a platinum seller buoyed by the album rock hits “Eyes of a Stranger” and “I Don’t Believe in Love.” It became one of the most celebrated concept albums in heavy metal history. Still, the band had yet to crack the top 40 in the United States with one of their albums. That changed with 1990’s Empire. The band opted for “a more song-oriented approach that is more art rock and less metal.” AMG The result was a triple-platinum release which reached #7 on the Billboard album chart, propelled by six top-30 entries on the album-rock chart. The first of these was the title cut, which reached #22 and also was the first of four chart entries on the UK chart. It became the band’s second-most played song in its setlist history, only behind “Eyes of a Stranger.” WK The song “is a lot more thoughtful than its explosive introduction leads one to believe.” SF It “warns of a foreboding and unstoppable ‘Empire’ of drug trafficking within the United States and its related crimes, that will inevitably lead to the breakdown of civility in American society.” WK In other words, it is the country’s underground drug empire that will lead to the demise of the American Empire. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Queensrÿche AMG All Music Guide SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 1/19/2023.