Silent Lucidity
{{Infobox song
| name = Silent Lucidity
| cover = Queensryche - Silent Lucidity cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Queensrÿche
| album = Empire
| released = February 1991
| recorded = Spring 1990
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Progressive rock{{cite web|last=Boehm|first=Mike|date=June 27, 1997|title=Metal and Its Byproducts : Queensryche Upgrades the Machinery Without Undergoing a Retrofit or Total Conversion|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-27-ca-11177-story.html|access-date=February 24, 2021|website=Los Angeles Times}}
- heavy metal{{cite web|last=Jurek|first=Thom |date=August 20, 1990 |title=Queensryche - Empire - Album Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/empire-mw0000052350|access-date=September 18, 2023 |website=Allmusic}}
- progressive metal{{cite web|last=Criblez|first=David J.|date=November 11, 2016|title=Three lead singers take LI solo flights|url=https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/chris-robinson-geoff-tate-scott-stapp-all-play-long-island-1.12604745|access-date=June 28, 2021|website=Newsday}}
- {{nowrap|art rock}}{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=Queensrÿche {{!}} Biography & History|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/queensr%C3%BFche-mn0000315339/biography|access-date=February 2, 2021|publisher=AllMusic}}
}}
| length = 5:47
| label = EMI America
| writer = Chris DeGarmo
| producer = Peter Collins
| prev_title = Best I Can
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title = Jet City Woman
| next_year = 1991
}}
"Silent Lucidity" is a power ballad{{cite web|date=February 14, 2015|title=The 40 Greatest Power Ballads|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-40-greatest-power-ballads-playlist|website=Classic Rock}}{{cite web| website= VH1.com| url= http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/66390/episode_countdown.jhtml |title= Greatest Power Ballads| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061113051936/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/66390/episode_countdown.jhtml| archive-date= November 13, 2006| publisher= MTV Networks | access-date= August 7, 2020}} by the band Queensrÿche from the 1990 album Empire. The song, which was composed by lead guitarist Chris DeGarmo, was the biggest hit for the band, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100{{Cite magazine|title=Billboard Hot 100|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/queensryche/chart-history|access-date=2021-06-25|magazine=Billboard}} and at #1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.{{cite book| author-link= Joel Whitburn |last= Whitburn| first= Joel| year= 2004| title= The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits| edition= 8th | publisher= Billboard Publications| page= 514}} "Silent Lucidity" was also nominated in 1992 for the Grammy Awards for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.{{cite web |url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1992/grammys.htm |title=34th Grammy Awards — 1992 |access-date=May 7, 2012 |publisher=Rock on the Net.com }}
Background
Guitarist Chris DeGarmo was inspired to write the song by the 1974 book "Creative Dreaming" by Patricia Garfield, which explained how to tap into one's subconscious to experience a lucid dream.{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/top-of-the-progs-queensryche-silent-lucidity|title=How a book on dreams inspired Queensryche's biggest ever hit single |last=Dome|first=Malcolm|website= Louder |date=June 15, 2022 |accessdate=June 8, 2023}}
DeGarmo noted in an interview that the average person spends 4 1/2 years of their life in a vivid hallucination state during dreaming. During that time, they can do superhuman feats like flying and walking through walls, as well as experience incredible physical sensations. "We created a very real dreamlike landscape for this song. Everything from the vocal delivery to the orchestration, to the melody, the instruments, it’s all trying to create this very lush landscape. It’s a huge-sounding track," he said.{{cite web|url=https://www.metaledgemag.com/archives/queensryche-build-an-empire|title=Queensrÿche build an empire |last=Miller|first=Gerri|website= Metal Edge |date=December 1990 |accessdate=June 8, 2023}}
The song was originally only acoustic guitar and vocals, but additional instrumentation was added during the last week of working on the album. The album's producer was adamant that the song should not be included on the record, but the band members pushed for its inclusion.{{cite web|url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/queensrche-founder-geoff-tate|title=Queensrÿche founder Geoff Tate : Songwriter Interviews |last=MacIntosh|first=Dan|website= Songfacts|date=November 29, 2012 |accessdate=June 8, 2023}}
The song was featured in the final season of Cobra Kai,{{Cite web |last=McIntyre |first=Hugh |title=Queensrÿche Scores Another Hit And Reaches A New All-Time High |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/03/03/queensrche-scores-another-hit-and-reaches-a-new-all-time-high/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Forbes |language=en}} and in the CW series Supernatural’s season two episode ”Heart.” It was also featured in the Season 1 finale of “Nine Perfect Strangers.”
Track listing
=Original 1991 release=
- "Silent Lucidity" – 5:49
- "The Mission" [Live] – 6:17
- "Eyes of a Stranger [Live] – 8:03
Chart performance
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1991–92) !Peak |
| Canada RPM{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.1540.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - June 8, 1991| website= collectionscanada.gc.ca}}
|align="center"|7 |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|18|artist=Queensryche|access-date=February 21, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|9|artist=Queensryche|access-date=February 21, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|1|artist=Queensryche|access-date=February 21, 2021}} |
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1991)
!Position |
|---|
| align="left"|Canada Top Singles (RPM) |
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)
| style="text-align:center;"|82{{cite magazine |date=December 21, 1991 |title=1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles |page=YE-14 |magazine=Billboard |volume=103 |issue=51 | publisher= Nielsen Business Media}} |
Personnel
- Geoff Tate – lead vocals, keyboards
- Chris DeGarmo – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Michael Wilton – rhythm guitar
- Eddie Jackson – bass, backing vocals
- Scott Rockenfield – drums
Additional personnel
Accolades
| class="wikitable" |
| Publication
! Country ! Accolade ! Rank |
|---|
| Classic Rock
|US |The 40 Greatest Power Ballads |align="center"|36 |
| Glide Magazine
|US |Favorite Hair Metal Power Ballads{{Cite news|title=The B List: Favorite Hair-Metal Power Ballads|url=https://glidemagazine.com/133653/the-b-list-favorite-hair-metal-power-ballads/|access-date=2023-06-07|newspaper=Glide Magazine|date=4 January 2007 |last1=Bernstein |first1=Scott }} |align="center"|6 |
| VH1
|US |align="center"|21 |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhat-xUQ6dw Video clip on YouTube].
- {{Discogs master|70741}}
{{Queensrÿche}}
{{MTV Video Music Award – Viewer's Choice}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:EMI America Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Peter Collins (record producer)