Showing posts with label Sarah McLachlan. Show all posts

Saturday, January 25, 2003

Evanescence charted with “Bring Me to Life”

Bring Me to Life

Evanescence with Paul McCoy

Writer(s): Amy Lee, Ben Moody, David Hodges (see lyrics here)

Released: April 7, 2003

First Charted: January 25, 2003

Peak: 5 US, 1¹ RR, 4 A40, 11 AR, 1² MR, 1³ UK, 3 CN, 1⁶ AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.)

Sales (in millions): 3.0 US, 1.2 UK, 5.1 world (includes US + UK)

Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 0.7 radio, 1238.17 video, 708.2 streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

Evanescence leaned mostly toward a commercialized form of goth which was alternative-radio friendly, but lead singer “Amy Lee’s powerful voice juxtaposes…[with] guest singer Paul McCoy’s (of 12 Stones) gruffness” ^AZ to give “Bring Me to Life” doses of nu-metal and rap-rock. PopMatters.com’s Adrien Bengrad said it sounded “like a love song between a Lilith Fair girl and an Ozzfest dude.” ^WK All Music Guide’s Johnny Loftus called it “a flawless slice of Linkin Park-style anguish pop” ^AMG and The Boston Globe said the song “conjures visions of Sarah McLachlan fronting Godsmack.” ^WK The orchestral parts and pop leanings have also earned the song genre descriptions such as “chamber pop” and a “power ballad.” ^WK The song didn’t just mix genres but challenged radio station owners who said, “We don’t play pianos and chicks on rock radio.” ^WK

They did after this song became a hit. Initially included on the Daredevil soundtrack, it also served as a launch pad for the group’s album, Fallen. The song was a chart-topper in the UK, Australia, and Italy and went top ten in at least 15 countries. ^WK The song also took home a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance and was nominated for Best Rock Song. It also won the Billboard Music Award for Soundtrack Single of the Year.

Some have interpreted the song’s lyrics as a “a call for new life in Jesus Christ,” but the record company explained that the band was secular and didn’t belong in Christian markets. ^WK The group’s lead singer, Amy Lee, told Billboard she opposed them being identified as a Christian band, although there are many fans suggesting they are a Christian band. ^SF Other fans have suggested the song was an homage to the movie Never Ending Story. ^SF

Lee explained that the song was about recognizing what is missing in one’s life. She said the idea was sparked by a conversation in a restaurant waiting for the rest of the party to show up. Although he was just a friend of a friend, he was perceptive enough to sense her hidden feelings and asked her, “Are you happy?” She told VH1, “I realized that for months I’d been numb, just going through the motions of life.” ^WK She explained to MTV News that, “One day something happens that wakes [you] up and makes [you] realize that there’s more to life…It’s just like, ‘Wow, I’ve been asleep all this time.’” ^WK

Resources:

Friday, December 31, 1999

Lilith Fair: Top 100 Songs

Lilith Fair:

Top 100 Songs

Lilith Fair wasn’t exactly a genre, but a celebration of female artists in the late 1990s. Discouraged by radio programmers and concert promoters who didn’t think it was commercially viable to have two female artists perform back to back, Sarah McLachlan launched the Lilith Fair festival in the summer of 1997. The concept was to feature only female artists or female-led bands. More than 30 dates featured over 70 performers. The festival was successful enough to spawn follow-ups in 1998 and 1999.

The initial list was generated by taking all those artists who performed from 1997 to 1999 and ranking their songs. This included songs by 10,000 Maniacs and ‘Til Tuesday even though they weren’t performers because their lead singers, Natalie Merchant and Aimee Mann respectively, were performers at Lilith Fair.

I also ceated a definition of the Lilith Fair genre that disqualified some of the performers from this list. I decided to focus on artists who broke between 1985 and 1999. That excluded Lilith Fair performers such as the Pretenders and Pat Benatar who emerged in 1979. I did make exceptions for artists like Bonnie Raitt and Lucinda Williams whose careers began prior to 1985 but reached their artistic and commercial peaks in the “Lilith Fair era.”

I also decided to limit the list to artists who fit more into an alternative-rock or folk-rock vibe. That excluded rap and R&B performers at Lilith Fair such as Missy Elliott and Erykah Badu. In addition, acts generally considered country, such as the Dixie Chicks or Mary Chapin Carpenter, were excised from the list. Again, however, this is subjective as I decided to keep k.d. lang in the mix since she was a traditional country artists but found an audience in the early ‘90s along the lines of other Lilith Fair artists.

I also added artists such as the Cranberies, Melissa Etheridge, Alanis Morissette, and No Doubt, that met my criteria but weren’t actually performers at Lilith Fair.

Finally, I imposed one last restriction. I decided not to feature more than four songs by any artist since some acts, like Sheryl Crow and Alanis Morissette, threatened to overwhelm the list and keep lesser-known artists from appearin on the lists.

Click here to see other genre-specific song lists.

Spotify Podcast

Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode Lilith Fair: The 25th Anniversary which references songs on this list. Premiered September 6, 2022.

Spotify Playlist

You can listen here to a Lilith Fair Spotify playlist that includes the songs below and more.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990)
2. No Doubt “Don’t Speak” (1996)
3. Natalie Imbruglia “Torn” (1997)
4. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” (1995)
5. Tracy Chapman “Fast Car” (1988)
6. Alanis Morissette “Ironic” (1995)
7. Sheryl Crow “All I Wanna Do” (1993)

DMDB Top 2%:

8. Alannah Myles “Black Velvet” (1989)
9. The Cranberries “Zombie” (1994)
10. Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories “Stay (I Missed You)” (1994)

11. Jewel “You Were Meant for Me” (1995)
12. Suzanne Vega “Luka” (1987)
13. Tracy Chapman “Give Me One Reason” (1995)
14. Shawn Colvin “Sunny Came Home” (1996)
15. 4 Non Blondes “What’s Up?” (1992)
16. Joan Osborne “One of Us” (1995)
17. Sixpence None the Richer “Kiss Me” (1997)
18. Sarah McLachlan “Building a Mystery” (1997)
19. k.d. lang “Constant Craving” (1992)
20. Alanis Morissette “You Learn” (1995)

21. Jewel “Foolish Games” (1995)
22. The Cardigans “Lovefool” (1996)
23. The Breeders “Cannonball” (1993)

DMDB Top 5%:

24. The Cranberries “Linger” (1993)
25. Elastica “Connection” (1994)
26. Macy Gray “I Try” (1999)
27. Bonnie Raitt “Something to Talk About” (1991)
28. Divinyls “I Touch Myself” (1991)
29. Alanis Morissette “Head Over Feet” (1995)
30. Indigo Girls “Closer to Fine” (1989)

31. Dido “Thank You” (1999)
32. Hole “Doll Parts” (1994)
33. Meredith Brooks “Bitch” (1997)
34. Sinéad O’Connor “Mandinka” (1987)
35. Bonnie Raitt “I Can’t Make You Love Me” (1991)
36. Paula Cole “I Don’t Want to Wait” (1996)
37. Tori Amos “Silent All These Years” (1991)
38. Veruca Salt “Seether” (1994)
39. Sarah McLachlan “Angel” (1997)
40. The Sugarcubes “Birthday” (1987)

41. Sheryl Crow “If It Makes You Happy” (1996)
42. Suzanne Vega with DNA “Tom’s Diner” (remix, 1990)
43. Jewel “Who Will Save Your Soul?” (1995)
44. No Doubt “Just a Girl” (1995)
45. Mazzy Star “Fade into You” (1993)
46. Garbage “Only Happy When It Rains” (1995)
47. Edie Brickell & New Bohemians “What I Am” (1988)
48. Sheryl Crow “My Favorite Mistake” (1998)
49. The Cranberries “Dreams” (1992)
50. Tori Amos “Cornflake Girl” (1994)

51. PJ Harvey “Down by the Water” (1995)
52. ‘Til Tuesday “Voices Carry” (1985)
53. Portishead “Sour Times (Nobody Loves Me)” (1994)
54. Bonnie Raitt “Love Sneakin’ Up on You” (1994)
55. Sheryl Crow “Strong Enough” (1993)
56. Fiona Apple “Criminal” (1996)
57. K’s Choice “Not an Addict” (1996)
58. Bonnie Raitt “Nick of Time” (1989)
59. Paula Cole “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” (1996)
60. Tori Amos “Me and a Gun” (1991)

61. 10,000 Maniacs “Like the Weather” (1987)
62. Tracy Chapman “Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution” (1988)
63. Sarah McLachlan “I Will Remember You” (1995)
64. Hole “Violet” (1994)
65. Concrete Blonde “Joey” (1990)
66. Tori Amos “God” (1994)
67. Billie Myers “Kiss the Rain” (1997)
68. Melissa Etheridge “I’m the Only One” (1993)
69. Loreena McKennitt “The Mummer’s Dance” (1997)
70. Garbage “Stupid Girl” (1995)

71. Hole “Malibu” (1998)
72. Sinéad O’Connor “Troy” (1987)
73. Sarah McLachlan “Possession” (1993)
74. Melissa Etheridge “Bring Me Some Water” (1988)
75. Merril Bainbridge “Mouth” (1994)
76. Tracy Bonham “Mother Mother” (1996)
77. Melissa Etheridge “Come to My Window” (1993)
78. Cowboy Junkies “Sweet Jane” (1988)
79. Sinéad O’Connor “The Emperor’s New Clothes” (1990)
80. 10,000 Maniacs “These Are Days” (1992)

DMDB Top 10%:

81. Sophie B. Hawkins “Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover” (1992)
82. Shawn Colvin “I Don’t Know Why” (1992)
83. Heather Nova “Walk This World” (1995)
84. Natalie Merchant “Wonder” (1995)
85. No Doubt “Spiderwebs” (1995)
86. Tasmin Archer “Sleeping Satellite” (1992)
87. Letters to Cleo “Here and Now” (1995)
88. Indigo Girls “Galileo” (1992)
89. Toni Childs “Don’t Walk Away” (1988)
90. Dido “Here with Me” (1999)

91. Luscious Jackson “Naked Eye” (1996)
92. Tracy Chapman “Crossroads” (1989)
93. Lone Justice “Ways to Be Wicked” (1985)
94. Natalie Merchant “Carnival” (1995)
95. Suzanne Vega with Joe Jackson “Left of Center” (1986)
96. Michelle Shocked “Anchorage” (1988)
97. The Sundays “Here’s Where the Story Ends” (1990)
98. Alana Davis “32 Flavors” (1997)
99. Aimee Mann “Save Me” (1999)
100. Belly “Feed the Tree” (1993)

Resources/Related Links:

Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre/Category Song Lists”
Dave’s Music Database: “Lilith Fair: Top 50 Albums”
Wikipedia: “Lilith Fair”

First posted 6/24/2022; last updated 1/12/2025.

Lilith Fair: Top 50 Albums

Lilith Fair:

The Top 50 Albums

This list was generated by taking all those artists who performed (including groups like 10000 Maniacs who didn’t perform, but front woman Natalie Merchant did) from 1997 to 1999 and ranking their albums. It should be noted that albums by 10,000 Maniacs and ‘Til Tuesday have been included in this list even though they weren’t performers.

Some performers were excluded from this list. Lilith Fair embraced a wide swath of genres but this list is focused on artists who fall into the alternative rock/folk rock vein. As such, acts more typically defined as R&B, rap, country, or pop were excluded. However, artists who did not perform at Lilith Fair (Alanis Morissette, Melissa Etheridge, etc.) have been included because they fit the alternative rock/folk rock label. They are noted with an asterisk (*).

An effort was also made to define the “Lilith Fair” genre as covering a certain era, specifically from the mid-‘80s to the late ‘90s. That means songs before 1985 and after 1999 were excluded. Similarly, artists (such as the Pretenders or Pat Benatar) who performed at Lilith Fair but emerged prior to 1985 have been excluded.

Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here.

1. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995) *
2. Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman (1988)
3. Sinéad O’Connor I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got (1990)
4. Tori Amos Little Earthquakes (1992) *
5. Liz Phair Exile in Guyville (1993)
6. Sheryl Crow Tuesday Night Music Club (1993)
7. No Doubt Tragic Kingdom (1995) *
8. Lucinda Williams Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998)
9. Bonnie Raitt Nick of Time (1989)
10. Dido No Angel (1999)

11. Sarah McLachlan Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (1993)
12. Jewel Pieces of You (1995)
13. Indigo Girls Indigo Girls (1989)
14. Emmylou Harris Wrecking Ball (1995)
15. Sarah McLachlan Surfacing (1997)
16. The Cranberries No Need to Argue (1994) *
17. Garbage Garbage (1995) *
18. Sheryl Crow Sheryl Crow (1996)
19. k.d. lang Ingénue (1992) *
20. Melissa Etheridge Yes I Am (1993) *

21. Tori Amos Under the Pink (1994) *
22. Mary Chapin Carpenter Come on, Come On (1992)
23. Sheryl Crow The Globe Sessions (1998)
24. Bonnie Raitt Luck of the Draw (1991)
25. Suzanne Vega Solitude Standing (1987)
26. Lucinda Williams Lucinda Williams (1988)
27. Melissa Etheridge Melissa Etheridge (1988) *
28. Shawn Colvin A Few Small Repairs (1996)
29. Tori Amos Boys for Pele (1996)
30. Fiona Apple Tidal (1996)

31. The Cranberries Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can’t We? (1993) *
32. 10,000 Maniacs In My Tribe (1987)
33. Bonnie Raitt Longing in Their Hearts (1994)
34. The Breeders Last Splash (1993) *
35. Alanis Morissette Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998) *
36. Joan Osborne Relish (1995)
37. Paula Cole This Fire (1996)
38. Cowboy Junkies The Trinity Session (1988)
39. Tori Amos From the Choirgirl Hotel (1998) *
40. Tracy Chapman New Beginning (1995)

41. Natalie Merchant Tigerlily (1995)
42. Fiona Apple When the Pawn… (1999)
43. Sinéad O’Connor The Lion and the Cobra (1987)
44. Shawn Colvin Steady On (1989)
45. Tracy Chapman Crossroads (1989)
46. Aimee Mann Whatever (1993)
47. Edie Brickell & New Bohemians Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars (1988) *
48. Lone Justice Lone Justice (1985)
49. Toni Childs Union (1988) *
50. Indigo Girls Strange Fire (1987)

Resources and Related Links:

Dave’s Music Database: other best-of-genre lists
Dave’s Music Database: “Lilith Fair: Top 100 Songs”
Wikipedia: “Lilith Fair”

First posted 12/2/2024.

Tuesday, July 15, 1997

Sarah McLachlan Surfacing released

Surfacing

Sarah McLachlan

Released: July 15, 1997

Peak: 2 US, 47 UK, 1¹ CN, 37 AU, 1³ DF

Sales (in millions): 8.0 US, 0.1 UK, 16.0 world (includes US and UK)

Genre: adult alternative

Tracks:

Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to charts.

Building a Mystery (7/5/97, 13 BB, 12 RR, 28 AC, 4 A40, 1 AA, 3 MR, 1 CN, 97 AU, 13 DF)
I Love You
Sweet Surrender (11/1/97, 28 BB, 18 RR, 27 AC, 10 A40, 2 AA, 14 MR, 2 CN, 32 DF)
Adia (3/27/98, 3 BB, 16 RR, 5 AC, 6 A40, 7 AA, 18 UK, 3 CN, 55 AU, 15 DF)
Do What You Have to Do (29 DF)
Witness
Angel (10/24/98, 4 BB, 2 BA, 3 RR, 1 AC, 1 A40, 8 AA, 36 UK, 9 CN, 55 AU, 12 DF)
Black & White
Full of Grace
Last Dance

Total Running Time: 41:14