Everybody's Fool
{{Short description|2004 song by Evanescence}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Everybody's Fool
| cover = Evanescence - Everybody's Fool.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Evanescence
| album = Fallen
| released = {{start date|2004|5|31}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Nu metal
| length = 3:15
| label = Wind-Up
| writer =
| producer = Dave Fortman
| prev_title = My Immortal
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title = Call Me When You're Sober
| next_year = 2006
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|jhC1pI76Rqo|"Everybody's Fool"}}}}
}}
"Everybody's Fool" is a song by American rock band Evanescence from their debut studio album, Fallen. Wind-up Records released the song on May 31, 2004, as the album's fourth and final single. It was written by Amy Lee in 1999 about the promotion of unrealistic and hyper-sexualized ideals of perfection in the music industry, with detrimental influence on the youth's expectations and self-image. Guitarist Ben Moody and David Hodges also share songwriting credits on the song, which was produced by Dave Fortman.
Critical reception towards "Everybody's Fool" was generally positive, with critics highlighting the song's concept and Lee's voice. The accompanying music video was directed by Philipp Stölzl, and features Lee portraying several characters depicting behind the scenes struggles and perfected, glamorous images promoted on screen. The song is performed by Evanescence on their first live album and DVD Anywhere but Home (2004).
Background and release
Lee wrote "Everybody's Fool" about the lie of pop stardom life and unrealistic, over-sexualized images that warped the youth's expectations.{{cite news |url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1488307/06102004/evanescence.jhtml |title=Evanescence's Amy Lee Hopes To Get Into Film, Rages Against Cheesy Female Idols |work=MTV News via VH1.com |first=Corey |last=Moss |access-date=November 7, 2006 |date=June 10, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040623023634/http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1488307/06102004/evanescence.jhtml |archive-date=June 23, 2004}} In a 2004 VH1 interview, Lee explained how the song came about: "My little sister was really getting into these, I don't want to offend anyone, but like really fake, cheesy, slutty female cracker-box idols, and it really pissed me off. She started dressing like them and she was like 8 years old. So I gave her the talk and I wrote a song." She said it is not about a specific person, but about a collective of the industry that promotes detrimental images and ideals of perfection while "nobody looks like that. It's all fake and it's really hurting a lot of girls' and women's self images."{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/29/1091080366430.html |title=Evanescence looks to future |work=The Age |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=July 29, 2004 |access-date=October 16, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929190043/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/29/1091080366430.html |archive-date=September 29, 2008 }}{{cite web |url=https://loudwire.com/evanescence-amy-lee-wikipedia-fact-or-fiction/|title=Evanescence's Amy Lee Plays 'Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?' |work=Loudwire |last=Hartmann |first=Graham |date=October 26, 2016 |access-date=March 3, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322081835/http://loudwire.com/evanescence-amy-lee-wikipedia-fact-or-fiction/ |archive-date=March 22, 2017}}
Songfacts stated that the song's concept "seems like it's always relevant". When asked about the song in 2016, Lee said that she wrote it as "an angsty teenager" about her "frustration with fakeness" that sprung at the time from all the "bubblegum pop acts" that were "put together like products" influencing young people, including her younger siblings.{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2016/12/05/evanescence-amy-lee-stories-behind-songs/|title=Evanescence's Amy Lee reveals stories behind the songs|work=Entertainment Weekly|date=December 5, 2016|accessdate=November 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024102436/https://ew.com/article/2016/12/05/evanescence-amy-lee-stories-behind-songs/|archive-date=October 24, 2021|url-status=live}} She said she also acknowledged that "you never know what's going on inside anybody, no matter what they seem like", and that it is a song she has "disconnected" from over the years.{{cite web|url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/amy-lee-of-evanescence|title=Amy Lee of Evanescence|publisher=Songfacts|date=October 13, 2016|first=Dan|last=MacIntosh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420040249/https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/amy-lee-of-evanescence|archive-date=April 20, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/amy-lee-evanescence-the-bitter-truth-2902372|title=Does Rock ‘N’ Roll Kill Braincells?! – Amy Lee, Evanescence|work=NME|date=March 19, 2021|accessdate=November 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605101201/https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/amy-lee-evanescence-the-bitter-truth-2902372|archive-date=June 5, 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/evanescence-fallen-amy-lee-bring-me-to-life-going-under-my-immortal-interview-anniversary-cover-story|title=Evanescence: “I’m so grateful for Fallen. It is something bigger than me”|work=Kerrang!|date=November 15, 2023|first=George|last=Garner|access-date=November 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121044525/https://www.kerrang.com/evanescence-fallen-amy-lee-bring-me-to-life-going-under-my-immortal-interview-anniversary-cover-story|archive-date=November 21, 2023|url-status=live}}
Guitarist Ben Moody and David Hodges also share songwriting credits on the song, produced by Dave Fortman.{{cite AV media notes|title=Fallen|others=Evanescence| date=2006|type=liner notes|publisher=Wind-up Records}} The Millennium Choir performed background vocals. According to the sheet music published by Alfred Music Publishing at the website Musicnotes.com, "Everybody's Fool" is written in the key of D Minor, set in a time signature of common time and performed in a tempo of 92 beats per minute. Lee's vocals in the song range from the note of A3 to the note of D5.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0047204|title=Evanescence – Everybody's Fool – Sheet Music (Digital Download)|date=July 12, 2004|publisher=Musicnotes.com. Alfred Music Publishing|access-date=October 29, 2011}}
When the label planned for a fourth single from the album, Lee wanted the song "Imaginary" to be the single,{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1483876/evanescence-soldier-on-without-ben-moody.jhtml |title=Evanescence Soldier On Without Ben Moody, Look Forward To Recording |publisher=MTV News. MTV Networks |author1=Wiederhorn, John |author2=reporting by Cornell, Jeff |date=October 23, 2003 |access-date=October 24, 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712101206/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1483876/evanescence-soldier-on-without-ben-moody.jhtml |archive-date=July 12, 2012 }} but the label chose "Everybody's Fool"; it was released as Fallen{{'}}s fourth and final single on May 31, 2004, in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Reception
"Everybody's Fool" received generally positive reviews. Scott Juba of The Trades graded the song an A, writing that it depicts "the stinging betrayal of deception and the refusal to become blinded by deceit any longer", and a "defiance" in Lee's voice gives it a "bold edge" while its "heavy drums and soaring guitars further enhance the strong sound."{{cite news |url=http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=2666 |title=Music Review: Evanescence, "Everybody's Fool" |work=The Trades |first=Scott |last=Juba |date=August 2, 2004 |access-date=October 16, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424003510/http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=2666|archive-date=April 24, 2008}} Adrien Begrand of PopMatters concluded that the song "take[s] things to a more over-the-top, theatrical level."{{cite news|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/evanescence-fallen |title=Evanescence: Fallen |publisher=PopMatters |first=Adrien |last=Begrand |date=May 23, 2003 |access-date=October 15, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011172653/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/evanescence-fallen |archive-date=October 11, 2011 }} Simon Cusens of ABC Online gave the song 3 out of 5 stars calling it "a cold, sad and angry song that I would only like to listen to without it being repeated again."{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/splatt/review/s1174854.htm|title=Everybody's Fool by Evanescence: Review|publisher=ABC Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation|first=Simon|last=Cusens|date=December 8, 2004|access-date=October 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930164856/http://www.abc.net.au/splatt/review/s1174854.htm|archive-date=September 30, 2008|url-status=dead}} MTV News' Joe D'Angelo said that the lyrics "rail against idealistic, media-constructed images" and Lee's "disembodied" voice in the song "resonates"." Sam Law of Kerrang! wrote, "Fittingly, the song itself is an epic substantial showcase of Evanescence's raw power that requires no dressing-up".{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-evanescence-songs-ranked|title=The 20 greatest Evanescence songs – ranked|work=Kerrang!|date=August 21, 2020|accessdate=October 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010225754/https://www.kerrang.com/the-20-greatest-evanescence-songs-ranked|archive-date=October 10, 2022|url-status=live}} Johnny Loftus of AllMusic classified "Everybody's Fool" as a nu metal song.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/fallen-mw0000020727|title=Fallen Review|publisher=Allmusic. Rovi Corporation|first=Johnny|last=Loftus|access-date=September 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024095625/https://www.allmusic.com/album/fallen-mw0000020727|archive-date=October 24, 2022|url-status=live}}
The song peaked at number 36 on Billboard{{'}}s Alternative Songs chart on May 8, 2004.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/song/evanescence/everybody-s-fool/4426235 |title=Everybody's Fool – Evanescence|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=July 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106044727/http://www.billboard.com/song/evanescence/everybody-s-fool/4426235#/song/evanescence/everybody-s-fool/4426235|archive-date=November 6, 2012|url-status=dead}} On June 13, 2004, "Everybody's Fool" debuted and peaked at number 23 on the Australian Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.australian-charts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=s&year=2004&date=20040613 |title=Australian Singles Chart |date=June 13, 2004 |publisher=ARIA Charts. Hung Medien |access-date=October 16, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022070959/http://www.australian-charts.com/weekchart.asp?year=2004&date=20040613&cat=s |archive-date=October 22, 2012 }} It spent five weeks on the chart appearing at number 42 in its last week on July 11, 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.australian-charts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=s&year=2004&date=20040711 |title=Australian Singles Chart |date=July 11, 2011 |publisher=ARIA Charts. Hung Medien |access-date=October 16, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016051611/http://www.australian-charts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=s |archive-date=October 16, 2011 }} On the UK Singles Chart, the song debuted at number 24 on June 12, 2004, which became its peak position.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Everybody%27s%20Fool|title=The Official Charts Company – Evanescence – Everybody's Fool|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=October 20, 2011}} The following week, it dropped to number 40,{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20040613/7501/|title=Archive Chart|date=June 19, 2004|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=October 20, 2011}} and last charted on June 26 at number 49. It also charted in other European countries upon its release.
{{clear}}
Music video
The music video for "Everybody's Fool" was directed by Philipp Stölzl and filmed in Los Angeles, California in mid-April 2004.{{cite news|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/kecj5n/evanescence-eviscerate-consumer-culture-in-dramatic-new-video|title=Evanescence Eviscerate Consumer Culture In Dramatic New Video|publisher=MTV News. MTV Networks|first=Joe|last=D'Angelo|date=May 11, 2004|access-date=October 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118084444/https://www.mtv.com/news/kecj5n/evanescence-eviscerate-consumer-culture-in-dramatic-new-video|archive-date=November 18, 2022|url-status=dead}} The video features Lee in different characters, including a wholesome teenager, a biker chick, a pop idol, and a glamorous spokesmodel. Talking about the filming, Lee said: "There's this one scene with everybody on motorbikes that every time I see it I just crack up. It's the slow-mo scene where I take off the helmet and swoosh my hair and look at the camera, and it kills me. It's so hilarious, it's ridiculous. [...] It's a really different thing for us to do because it's not performance at all. Everybody was laughing at me the whole time. I was just like, 'Please don't laugh at me. Just give me five minutes so I can do this.'"
The message of the video is in the name of the products her character advertises, "Lies". Lee conceptualized the video around the lyrics to the song. She said the video is "more along the lines of exposing the real behind-the-scenes [lives] of some of these people. It's basically showing the glamorous lifestyle and the depressed, selfish misery behind it." She added that the topic was "like beating a dead horse at this point, but at the time [of writing the song] Britney Spears was just coming out. But I still think it's relevant." Lee said a lot of scenes were cut from the video by music-video stations, including a pill-popping scene, and she was happy that at least "the blood stayed in".
Joe D'Angelo of MTV News wrote that the video "comments on the correlation between a phony facade and corroded self-esteem." The scenes end with Lee "contemplating her deeds on the verge of tears", and she "realizes that besides the products, her advertisements were also selling negative self-images". The Montreal Gazette{{'}}s Jordan Zivitz said it is "both an effective statement on impossible ideals of beauty (scenes in which the haggard singer rages in a dingy apartment are contrasted with fake commercials in which she's made up to the nines), and a great satire on picture-perfect videos", while Lee's portrayal has "a ring of truth to it" as she "doesn't have much love for the widely embraced model of human perfection."{{cite news|title=Amy Lee Lets Rip|newspaper=Montreal Gazette|first=Jordan|last=Zivitz|date=July 17, 2004}}
Live performances
"Everybody's Fool" was part of the set list of Evanescence's first worldwide tour, for Fallen.{{cite news|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/4c7yuc/evanescence-show-no-signs-of-slowing-down-at-new-york-show|title=Evanescence Show No Signs Of Slowing Down At New York Show|publisher=MTV News. MTV Networks|first=Joe|last=D'Angelo|date=July 23, 2004|access-date=October 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215173925/http://www.mtv.com/news/1489662/evanescence-show-no-signs-of-slowing-down-at-new-york-show/|archive-date=December 15, 2019|url-status=dead}} A live version of the song from their Le Zénith, Paris concert was featured on their first live album and DVD, Anywhere but Home (2004), along with an acoustic version performed in the behind-the-scenes section of the DVD.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/anywhere-but-home-mw0000266548|title=Anywhere but Home Review|publisher=AllMusic. Rovi Corporation|last=Loftus|first=Johnny|access-date=October 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024010338/https://www.allmusic.com/album/anywhere-but-home-mw0000266548|archive-date=October 24, 2022|url-status=live}} The band also opened a 2016 US show with the song.{{cite news|url=https://clclt.com/vibes/archives/2016/11/16/live-review-evanescence-the-fillmore-11-15-2016|title=Live review: Evanescence, The Fillmore (11/15/2016)|publisher=CLCT.com|first=Jeff|last=Hahne|date=November 16, 2016|access-date=August 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418174323/https://clclt.com/vibes/archives/2016/11/16/live-review-evanescence-the-fillmore-11-15-2016|archive-date=April 18, 2022|url-status=live}} Lee said in a 2016 interview that she had "disconnected" from the song, which is why they rarely play it.
Track listing
- European & Australian CD single{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/everybodys-fool-australia-cd-r695765|title=Everybody's Fool
[Australia CD] |publisher=Allmusic. Rovi Corporation|access-date=October 15, 2011}}
- "Everybody's Fool" (Album Version) – 3:15
- "Taking Over Me" (Live from Cologne) – 4:06
- "Whisper" (Live from Cologne) – 5:22
- "Everybody's Fool" (Instrumental) – 3:15
Credits and personnel
Credits for "Everybody's Fool" are taken from Fallen{{'}}s liner notes.
{{div col|colwidth=48em}}
- Amy Lee – writing, vocals, piano, keyboards, choral arrangements
- Ben Moody – writing, guitar
- David Hodges – writing, piano, keyboards
- Francesco DiCosmo – bass guitar
- Josh Freese – drums
- The Millennium Choir: Beverly Allen, Dwight Stone, Eric Castro, Geri Allen, Joanne Paratore, Karen Matranga, Lesley Paton, Melanie Jackson, Rick Stubbs, Susan Youngblood, Talaya Trigueros – background vocals
- Dave Fortman – producer, mixer
- Jeremy Parker – engineer
{{div col end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Everybody's Fool" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2004)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Australia|23|artist=Evanescence|song=Everybody's Fool|rowheader=true|access-date=August 20, 2011}} |
| {{single chart|Flanders|35|artist=Evanescence|song=Everybody's Fool|rowheader=true|access-date=August 20, 2011}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia Tip|3|artist=Evanescence|song=Everybody's Fool|rowheader=true|access-date=August 20, 2011}} |
| scope="row"|Bolivia (Notimex){{cite news|url=https://archivo.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/218851.html|title=Paulina Rubio y Alex Ubago, en primeros lugares|language=es|publisher=El Universal (Mexico) |date=April 25, 2004|access-date=May 4, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=May 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501084845/https://archivo.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/218851.html}}
|align="center"| 5 |
| scope="row"| Greece (IFPI){{Cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm |title=IFPI Greece Top 50 Singles |access-date=September 17, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040917031950/http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm |archive-date=September 17, 2004 |url-status=dead }}
| 11 |
| {{single chart|Ireland3|32|artist=Evanescence|rowheader=true|access-date=January 16, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Italy|16|artist=Evanescence|song=Everybody's Fool|rowheader=true|access-date=August 20, 2011}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|35|artist=Evanescence|song=Everybody's Fool|rowheader=true|access-date=August 31, 2015}} |
| {{single chart|Norway|17|artist=Evanescence|song=Everybody's Fool|rowheader=true|access-date=August 20, 2011}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|25|date=20040612|rowheader=true|access-date=August 17, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|35|artist=Evanescence|song=Everybody's Fool|rowheader=true|access-date=August 20, 2011|refname=eur}} |
| {{single chart|UK|24|artist=Evanescence|song=Everybody's Fool|date=20040612|rowheader=true|access-date=August 20, 2011}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|36|artist=Evanescence|rowheader=true|access-date=October 16, 2011}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "Everybody's Fool" ! scope="col"| Chart (2004) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2004|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2004|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=April 4, 2020}}
|31 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|artist=Evanescence|title=Everybody's Fool|award=Silver|relyear=2005|certyear=2025|id=21156-2081-1|access-date=20 June 2025}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
Release history
In popular culture
The song was made available to download on April 3, 2012, for play in Rock Band 3 Basic and PRO mode utilizing real guitar/bass guitar, and MIDI compatible electronic drum kits/keyboards plus vocal harmonies.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.evanescence.com/}}
{{Evanescence|collapse=off}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs about consumerism
Category:Songs written by Amy Lee
Category:Songs written by Ben Moody
Category:Songs written by David Hodges