Use My Voice
{{Short description|2020 single by Evanescence}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Use My Voice
| cover = UseMyVoiceEvanescence.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Evanescence
| album = The Bitter Truth
| released = August 14, 2020
| recorded = 2020
| studio =
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Alternative metal{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2020/08/evanescence-use-my-voice-song/|title=Evanescence Recruit Lzzy Hale, Taylor Momsen, and More for Empowering New Song "Use My Voice"|author=Spencer Kaufman|date=August 14, 2020|accessdate=April 12, 2023|website=Consequence}}}}
| length = 4:02
| label = BMG
| writer = {{hlist|Evanescence|Deena Jakoub}}
| producer = Nick Raskulinecz
| prev_title = The Game Is Over
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title = Better Without You
| next_year = 2021
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|1KAa5woluuM|"Use My Voice"}}}}
}}
"Use My Voice" is a song by American rock band Evanescence. It was released on August 14, 2020, by BMG as the third single from the band's fifth studio album, The Bitter Truth.{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/use-my-voice-single/1524982789 |title=Use My Voice - Single by Evanescence |publisher=Apple Music |access-date=August 21, 2020}} It was originally intended as the first single, but "Wasted on You" was released first due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|last=Kaplan|first=Ilana|date=August 19, 2020|title=Evanescence's Amy Lee on the Band's New Album, 'The Bitter Truth'|url=https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/a33590771/evanescence-amy-lee-new-album-the-bitter-truth/|access-date=September 21, 2020|website=Marie Claire}} It was nominated for the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video in the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards.
Background
The song was written 'to celebrate the power of speaking out in order to promote a more just world'. In a press release, Amy Lee said, "This is an era of awakening, and full of powerful beauty. I hope to inspire others to seek truth, find their own voices and use them as I step up to use mine. Don't let anybody speak for you. Only you can do that."{{cite news |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/amy-lee-lzzy-hale-taylor-momsen-new-evanescence-single-use-my-voice-2727728 |title=Amy Lee, Lzzy Hale, Taylor Momsen and more unite in new Evanescence single 'Use My Voice' |work=NME |first=Anna |last=Rose |date=August 14, 2020 |access-date=August 21, 2020}} In order to reinforce the message of the song, Lee was also accompanied by vocals delivered by other fellow musicians such as Within Temptation's Sharon den Adel, violinist Lindsey Stirling, Halestorm's Lzzy Hale and The Pretty Reckless' Taylor Momsen, as well as some of Lee's personal friends and family members. The band also worked with registration organisation HeadCount as a way of encouraging people to register and vote on the 2020 United States presidential election.{{cite news |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/evanescence-recruit-lzzy-hale-sharon-den-adel-and-more-for-new-single-use-my-voice |title=Evanescence recruit Lzzy Hale, Sharon den Adel and more for new single Use My Voice |work=Metal Hammer |first=Scott |last=Munro |date=August 12, 2020 |access-date=August 26, 2020}}
In an interview for CBS This Morning, Lee stated that the first thing that inspired her on creating a song regarding public and political issues was a moment during the Stanford University sexual assault cases trial in which a victim said to her abuser that the only thing he could not take away was her voice. After that, Lee considered that it had been hypocritical of her remaining silent about things that affect the world and decided to work on both the song and being more explicit about politics.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.com/shows/cbs_this_morning/video/wOJJ98_wdX_QkVlhKwT7lh90UaZv5v64/evanescence-singer-amy-lee-on-new-music-getting-political-and-encouraging-fans-to-get-out-to-vote/ |title=Evanescence's Amy Lee on politics in new song |publisher=CBS |date=August 26, 2020 |access-date=August 26, 2020}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.{{Cite web|title=Credits / Use My Voice / Evanescence – TIDAL|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/149812314/credits|access-date=August 21, 2020|website=Tidal}}
- Evanescence – composer, lyricist, associated performer
- Amy Lee – vocals, piano, keyboards, additional programming
- Deena Jakoub – composer, backing vocals
- Lzzy Hale – backing vocals
- Carrie Lee – backing vocals
- Lori Lee – backing vocals
- Sharon den Adel – backing vocals
- Lindsey Stirling – backing vocals
- Taylor Momsen – backing vocals
- Amy McLawhorn – backing vocals
- Jen Majura – backing vocals
- Tiago Nunez – Programmer
- Ted Jensen – mastering engineer
- Nick Raskulinecz – mixing engineer, recording engineer
Charts
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| United States
| August 14, 2020 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | rowspan="2"| BMG |
|---|
| August 25, 2020 |
| scope="row"| Italy
| September 4, 2020 | Sony | style="text-align:center;"| {{Cite web|url=https://www.earone.it/news/evanescence_use_my_voice_radio_date_04_09_2020_44458218/|title=Evanescence - Use My Voice (Radio Date: 04-09-2020)|last=Pagura|first=Chiara|date=September 2, 2020|website=EarOne|language=it|access-date=January 3, 2021}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Evanescence}}
{{Authority control}}