The Evanescence Hoax

[The Newswire]

I used to watch music videos and just feel the mood they were trying to evoke. I'd believe that the peformers really were that cool. It was all so sexy and exciting. I just wanted to pass through that TV screen into a cooler and more passionate world.

Given that I kind of did manage to live my life...

Read the full article

[VoldtaEngler]

I first heard of Evanescence with their self titled debut album and their Origin album, before they were on the radio and MTV. A friend of mine let me borrow the albums which pretty much sounded nothing like what they are today. It mostly reminded me of a Enya meets Mazzy Star kinda deal, which was pretty decent for a Christian rock band. I actually enjoyed it.


During their early days..

Then one day a few years later I hear them on the radio and was like...huh...so heavier riffs - the prettyness = radioplay?

It's most likely a producer telling them who to be, as they have pretty much "Evanescenced" their own way of thinking.

[Amelia G]

I first heard of Evanescence with their self titled debut album and their Origin album, before they were on the radio and MTV. A friend of mine let me borrow the albums which pretty much sounded nothing like what they are today. It mostly reminded me of a Enya meets Mazzy Star kinda deal, which was pretty decent for a Christian rock band. I actually enjoyed it.


During their early days..

Then one day a few years later I hear them on the radio and was like...huh...so heavier riffs - the prettyness = radioplay?

It's most likely a producer telling them who to be, as they have pretty much "Evanescenced" their own way of thinking.

Are they Christian rock?

[VoldtaEngler]

yeppers. At least according to some interviews during their Fallen album era that Amy Lee said they were.

Then again theres always this http://www.notachristianband.com/ which makes me wonder again if maybe a producer had something to say about "Um..we cant label you a goth band if your christian...so dont admit it k?".

[Amelia G]

yeppers. At least according to some interviews during their Fallen album era that Amy Lee said they were.

Then again theres always this http://www.notachristianband.com/ which makes me wonder again if maybe a producer had something to say about "Um..we cant label you a goth band if your christian...so dont admit it k?".

Ironic that that site makes the case that Evanescence is an aggressively Christian band, far more so than I've seen it made elsewhere. Interesting that a band which is marketed as Gothic but also very Christian can sell such huge numbers and be in heavy rotation on MTV.

I'm in no way opposed to religion, but, by the same token, I am opposed to religous prejudice and I sort of have to wonder how much of a part religious intolerance might play in a band like Evanescence getting airplay which others can not. The support they got seemed so disproportianate and no one I know seems to know them that it seemed odd to me. I guessed band manufacture, but I suppose religious preferential treatment and discrimination could account for the same thing.

[Lady Alias]

She has now repeatedly rejected the "Christain" genre in all her recent interviews. The reason that was attached initally was because they met at Christaion camp, or something along those lines.
I'll read have to read the article in full later, I'm very interested, but for now it's time to get to class.

[evilstonermonkey]

i use the track 'eternal' of Origin to help me sleep from time to time. rain and thunder cracks with soft musicals... very relaxing. not a big fan, but i dont hate em either. my sisters went to see them live just the other week actually. if you like them, i would recommend you check out Within Temptation (or is it without temptation?) a new band signed by roadrunner that is very similar.

and now back to your regular programming...

[LoraLie]

I'm a big Evanescence fan have been for . . . sheesh I dont know how long . . . . I have just about every song that I know of of theirs. (Oh & I love Within Temptation too)

In all my old Evanescence knowledge days I probably could have answered this a bit more
but that was long ago

-.-

Plus I dont know htem personally so yerrrp

But to my knowledge . . . . they did not label themselves as a christian band but a few of their songs did make reference to . . . things of that nature. I remember reading or seeing an interview that said that . . . but yeah . . . I may just be a douche bag . . . I"m not 100% sure.

I am not sure if they call themselves goth either.

Damn . . . . *runs off to find out for sure.*

[LoraLie]

I think Ben did a lot of the writting . . . and he left . . . .

[Lady Alias]

Evanescence was essentially the band who got me to explore music of the "goth" genre, because I thought that they were, and I fell in love with the sound. And I still respect that they offered me the window to expand my music taste. Yeah, I now know that they're rock, but I don't care. And I'll be honest. This last album..I was kind of disappointed. Whether it was the whole "hollywood-bearing-down" thing or not, I don't know, but a lot of the tracks sounded too much alike. And yeah, Ben did write a lot of the lyrics originally. I don't know who did them for this album. As for the clothes, I recall in their DVD from when they were touring that she would sometimes just make her own. I know that's not at all what your real idea was, but I just felt like mentioning that. XD As for your main point...I'd just like a band to be honest. If I care enough to look up and learn about the members, I don't want to be deceived. How much is actually being controlled...that's just a frightening concept to me. And a very depressing one.


P.S. Since Within Temptation was suggested for a "If you like this, then you'll like this," list, I will add The Gathering, After Forever, and Night Wish

[dirty_lil_bitch]

i love them, i dont consider them goth, they are hard rock,and her voice is soooo beautiful.

[CherryCola]

its kind of off subject i guess but ive never liked them so i really couldnt care about where they are coming from

[badkittyamy]

i like the music i've never really cared who actually wrote the songs what they do in real life etc. I don;t really think it should matter. I don't enjoy a piece of art because a certain artist did it. And I don't care what process they used to come to the end result as long as that final piece of art is something i enjoy.

In fact I find that sometime when i know who and what an artist does in real life i find myself liking their work less so i try to avoid the situation.

[funkatron]

They *definitely* were very active in the xian music scene -- I mastered a track of theirs for a compilation CD that was packaged with a xian industrial/gothic magazine called Automata. I never got the impression that they were "aggressively" Christian though. I'm not privy to their particular beliefs, but it's certainly the case that there is a wide range of thought within artists who work in the xian scene. I was one of those artists for several years, and I certainly wasn't doing altar calls and shit.

There is *absolutely* religious prejudice in both the xian and secular music scenes, but I think that the more significant reason you don't see crossover from xian bands into secular channels is that the xian market is quite large and profitable, and record labels/distributors/marketers who work in that scene simply make little attempt to break into the secular market. There's little motivation for them to most of the time, because the xian audience will tend to eat up whatever they're served (as long as it's not too controversial).

[bert_tv]

Well I work concert security in Houston and got to escort miss lee. I even got a couple of pics with her, lol. Look, I have been around the goth scene, and have met some really cool people, "even though I'm not a goth kid". The one thing I love about it is a genuine spirit. They are tired of societies lies, so they tend to express them selves in there truest form, through hair color, cloths, make up, music choice, externalizing internal feelings of non compliance to societies rules of dress and what society deems as beauty, and conforming to what is supposedly "normal". The punks show how punk they are and scream about Green Day selling out, and the metal heads are like we are so brutal so watch out kid, I listen to Slayer and I will eat your babies. I see the fans as being so true to themselves but the artist tend there first love for the scene. They start of as fans, later to give voice to a movement, but what happens is they are shoved back stage and are buffered from society, night after night, city after city, and the things they use to fight, be it parents, government, society in general are gone now and like a soldier who has not gone home and has been in battle without letters from home and an occasional leave for home time they tend to forget about civilian life, life back home, true life and forget that real life is the inspiration for the grinding out music and tours night after night. I've been around Manson, Reznor, and Rob Zombie just to name some a few in the goth rock / industrial movement. And I guarantee you they started out as fans first but with wilder dreams and visions of doing something different and impacting the scene even to the point of reinventing the scene altogether. Then along comes corporate America and says, wow, "this is the new shit" pun kinda intended, but we can't market Manson and have him on heavy rotation and he won't let us water him down, so lets look for "goth type with talent" Amy and tell them OK here is the template, all of the sudden you have a hungry artist that appears out of nowhere. But what people fail to remember is zombie was not born zombie, and Manson was not born Manson, they took a while to create because it was self discovery. Now corporate America gets in and says OK lets look for a goth type kid, fan of the goth scene, take her and mold her into a payday. Amy is the real deal, just as real as any other goth kid I've met but the machine has shown its teeth by how much money is thrown at this band. kids wise up and rebel against Amy because society tells me she is cool I resent being spoon fed my scene. PBS has a show called frontline which at times is pretty good. One particular show which was an eye opener was an episode called "The Merchants Of Cool". Google it to watch the full hour for free on the PBS website, I'm new here so apparently I'm not allowed to post the link. I think its safe to say Evanescence doesn't get credit like there predecessors because they didn't reinvent the wheel as there goth predecessors did, but I hate the fact that they catch shit for that. What every band is supposed to create a new musical genre. But what kills a band like Evanescence and any popular band is that they are overplayed, If I was a big rock band, (and by the way I am a musician that's why I'm passionate about this discussion), and I heard my song for the 10th time today ten weeks after the single released I'd kill myself, because I'd know the label is going to squeeze all the juice out, soon I will become like Creed, liked at first then loathed by the time its all said and done, middle ground is where longevity lies. Manson and Reznor are smart because they can't over play them, they are not society friendly, but Evanescence, well they will play the shit out of her. Look I have been around the rock scene a long time and can tell you Live, they just kick ass. The real deal yes, reality has less to do with the artist and more with public opinion. Evanesce is a genuine talent like it or not, but if they want to survive after being targeted for the blatant over commercialization they will, at this point have to reinvent the wheel. Damn that's pressure, especially after not being true innovators of the genre and building upon the success of the architects of goth rock. Quick side note Amy is a sweetheart.

[VoldtaEngler]

Welcome to the forum. Currently having a hard time reading everything without paragraphs on the tv..ill give it a go when i get to the comp though

[Rocco]

First Milli Vanilli NOW Evanescence???????????

Is no one trying to keep it real anymore?

Where is the Justice?

That being said I really liked them....

[bert_tv]

Welcome to the forum. Currently having a hard time reading everything without paragraphs on the tv..ill give it a go when i get to the comp though

My apologies, I don't do the forum thing, I do the tivo thing kid, Usually forums don't talk about anything I'm passionate about. I would erase my post, break it up and maybe cliff note it up a bit for you if I could, I realize I write the way I think, I'm silent and observant, think of the best possible answer and let it rip kid, blah style. By the time I realized my error the forum told me I have to get with the administrator. Thanks for the heads up.

[Amelia G]

My apologies, I don't do the forum thing, I do the tivo thing kid, Usually forums don't talk about anything I'm passionate about. I would erase my post, break it up and maybe cliff note it up a bit for you if I could, I realize I write the way I think, I'm silent and observant, think of the best possible answer and let it rip kid, blah style. By the time I realized my error the forum told me I have to get with the administrator. Thanks for the heads up.

Don't worry about it. Paragraphs make it a bit easier for the eye to follow, but it is no big deal. I read everything you wrote.

I think it is really interesting that you mention The Merchants of Cool as I was obsessively trying to memorize the (now outdated) chart of who owns what on the day when I wrote the Evanescence article. Kinda nifty that you picked up on the Douglas Rushkoff influence there.

[VoldtaEngler]

My apologies, I don't do the forum thing, I do the tivo thing kid, Usually forums don't talk about anything I'm passionate about. I would erase my post, break it up and maybe cliff note it up a bit for you if I could, I realize I write the way I think, I'm silent and observant, think of the best possible answer and let it rip kid, blah style. By the time I realized my error the forum told me I have to get with the administrator. Thanks for the heads up.

Nah, dont worry about it. Just at the time i was surfing the net on my PS3 since my roomy was playing games on the computer, and the font on it was screwing with my eyes on the tv.

Anyways, you should stick around for this forum. Best around. No low lifes, trolling been kept to a 1% minimum and tons of great people and interesting topics.

[llama-face]

no no no no no no no no no no NOOO they are the biggest posers and they have no talent what so ever i hope they stop recording

[edlphotographics]

I have to admit I like her voice. But my experience with meeting the band was not all that fun. I called Windup Records to get a pass to shoot their concert here in Denver at the Ogden theater and was given permission to shoot the 1st 3 songs without flash. But when I got to the venue I was denied entrance. They wouldn't let me bring my Nikon F-100 in. They would let me bring a point and shoot. I was pissed, but made the best of it.

Then Amy Lee came outside after the show to meet fans and sign autographs. I went and got my Pro camera and shot the warm up band, and Amy signing autographs. It was very apparent that she is very controlled in what she is allowed to do. I was basically chased away by security guards because I was shooting with my pro camera and must have upset them somehow. A couple of people asked me to photograph Amy with them, which I did before Joe the guard told me to leave. And it seem that she was surrounded by about 5 handlers at all times. You can see the images on my site. Since I don't have enough posts it wouldn't let me embed the images. Under special events and famous people.

It was nice to see she was connecting with fans, but I'm sure that was just good marketing.

My opinion is that everything has become commercialized that if you want to be famous you have to sell out. There was a movie along those lines. Can't remember the title but I believe it starred Marky Mark and Jennifer Aniston where Marky Mark was a fan of a rock group, he also played in a tribute band, and one day got a chance to replace the singer of the band he was a fan of. When it was time to do a new album, Marky Mark wasn't allowed to write any songs or try anything ifferent. Unfortunately I think this is a little to true. The companies control everything and the masses are too easily manipulated or don't care.

edlphotographics

[Amelia G]

Here you go. We just have it set so someone has to have a participating post count before they can link stuff in order to prevent spammers and such. Cialis and Hoodia salesmen tend not to hang out long enough to have conversations

[edlphotographics]

Thanks Amelia,
I completely understand. Oh come on you know you need that Cialis Right. I hate spammers too. Thanks again.

[keiko]

amy actually swung into PornStar Karaoke at Sardo's in urbank one night about 2 yrs ago. But I think she just had to use the bathroom cause she wasn't there very long. Mighta had something to do with yours truely rocking her songs harder than she did.... But she looked fabu in a green dress and she is a real person for the record. i dunno how real, but if not thats a damend good animatronic.

Average Lavigne was in with her boy toy from sum41 once too for like a whole 20 min. and Corey from Slipknot stayed and sang Funky Cold Medina and hung out with ppls... was dating Kiki Diare at the time. And the guys from Survivor (the band) have nothing better to do than cover my tab for some reason. (i know this tangent is just name dropping but it's also offer legitimancy to Amy Lee stopping into the bar).

K

[One Eyed Cat]

So what changes would you make to contract law for these follies of youth? It does suck that 7 corps call the shots. Unfortunately, "the people" do not seem to agree with us. The term "goth" has been served and vollied on a lot of stuff one might consider silly. Manson? It doesn't matter though. As far as Evanescence, they make my top 300-400 lists generally. I have never seen an Evanescence video nor do I know anyone who has met any of them (I do in a lot of other instances). I don't know what category they fit into. They are not a groundbreaking band, but have some decent tunes.

I often wish I knew less about certain musicians. If they irk me, I will be less likely to listen to em. I'll have to check on Evanescence as I don't recall listening to em in ages.

OEC

[styggian]

The only thing I have ever heard about them that made me think they were anything more than just another band out there that is trying to straddle too many genres at once was a bit of an article I read where there were these two dumbasses at the show who were doing the inevitable "Show us your tits!" thing and as soon as the guy heard this he took a big bottle of water or something and chucked it right out them and told them to leave or something.

[One Eyed Cat]

Evanescence was essentially the band who got me to explore music of the "goth" genre, because I thought that they were, and I fell in love with the sound. And I still respect that they offered me the window to expand my music taste. Yeah, I now know that they're rock, but I don't care. And I'll be honest. This last album..I was kind of disappointed. Whether it was the whole "hollywood-bearing-down" thing or not, I don't know, but a lot of the tracks sounded too much alike. And yeah, Ben did write a lot of the lyrics originally. I don't know who did them for this album. As for the clothes, I recall in their DVD from when they were touring that she would sometimes just make her own. I know that's not at all what your real idea was, but I just felt like mentioning that. XD As for your main point...I'd just like a band to be honest. If I care enough to look up and learn about the members, I don't want to be deceived. How much is actually being controlled...that's just a frightening concept to me. And a very depressing one.


P.S. Since Within Temptation was suggested for a "If you like this, then you'll like this," list, I will add The Gathering, After Forever, and Night Wish

There's nothing wrong with that. Me and my friends have come up with an entire theory of "gateway bands". The gateway band is kind of intro to a new "genre". They may or may not have a message. From there, we hope people will explore further right down to the microcosm of our own local bands
I've liked the same stuff since well .... jellybeans and cold wars. I can get into metal and electronica stuff for a bit, but I always go back to basics. I think we can take both the "fake rockstar" and this bullshit about having to like certain stuff both a bit too far. You dig what you dig as you dig it. Nothing else matters. If Evanescence starts getting annoying, u just find something different to evoke the same ambience.

OEC

[Mindgames]

.. and of course the discussion is now academic as the band imploded three weeks ago.

[Kidthorazine]

.. and of course the discussion is now academic as the band imploded three weeks ago.

I don't think that matters too much about the band members, Amy Lee is the only original member anyway if I remember correctly.

[Glork]

Legit or not, I just plain dont like them. The music does nothing for me. It almost souinds cliche to me. I dont think Amy lee is hot, or pretty, or even slightly attractive. just my opinion.

[One Eyed Cat]

.. and of course the discussion is now academic as the band imploded three weeks ago.

Let's make another one. Then, 5 years from now, we'll point to this thread and say NYAAAAAAH! Then, we'll both get book deals hahaha.

OEC

[Lacrymosa]

I'm a huge Evanescence fan, and I have been for a long time. Im not even sure how that started. Could have been because I was a symphonic metal-esque/operatic metal-esque fan to being with.

the band imploded. So Amy is the only original one left, but she and Terry wrote the new album (The Open Door) and she and Ben Moody wrote the former albums. It is written by them and not a product of a record label. Im not sure if the same can be said about the image. I still enjoy them, musically of course, regardless of their "poserness" or whatever the fuck people say about them.

they are shunning the "christian rock" and "goth" labels, however. Amy is christian, but their music doesn't have anything to do with it. and I do believe that the former members met each other at a christian band camp or something like that. they aren't a christian band. the only really christian song they had was "Tourniquet", which was written by the drummer's (rocky's) former band. That was probably openly christian. and Bring Me To Life had guest vocals by that Paul McCoy from "12 Stones", who are a very christian band.

Who really cares if it's christian or not if you like the music.

[Nightingale]

I like them, or at least some of the songs, but consider them pretty much on the outskirts of Goth. A good introduction for youngsters who aren't too sure; if they like this then lead them on to that and so on.

[Seraphynth]

I'm partial to them. Mainly because since 9th grade, I've been told I look so much like her. For a while people who didn't know me would call me "That Amy Lee Girl".
I dunno, I feel like she's prettier than I am though. xD
I don't care what they're labeled as, I like Amy Lee and I like their music, although I'm not a huge fan.

[Mindgames]

Let's make another one.

Can't - the moment has gone. Ev were able to cash in on being the first in a very carefully-engineered niche that fitted pre-911 industry goals, and you only get to do that once. Now the artists either side of the brand slot are frantically promoting how unlike Ev they are/were/intend to be, instead of claiming them as an influence. Tiffany did the same - it was cool to get your break by playing every mall in the continental USA, but only once.

My loyalties lie with ex-members but not because of the music so don't expect me to cry over the implosion... it clears some percentages, beyond that s'not mah prawblem.

[One Eyed Cat]

Can't - the moment has gone. Ev were able to cash in on being the first in a very carefully-engineered niche that fitted pre-911 industry goals, and you only get to do that once. Now the artists either side of the brand slot are frantically promoting how unlike Ev they are/were/intend to be, instead of claiming them as an influence. Tiffany did the same - it was cool to get your break by playing every mall in the continental USA, but only once.

My loyalties lie with ex-members but not because of the music so don't expect me to cry over the implosion... it clears some percentages, beyond that s'not mah prawblem.

I was joking mG. I wouldn't know what was marketable after seeing it on a cereal box Do they lose points on future sales now?

OEC

[Mindgames]

I was joking mG. I wouldn't know what was marketable after seeing it on a cereal box Do they lose points on future sales now?

OEC

knew you were - nobody can set out to construct a mall goth band, it has to happen by accident. An all-miming girl group though.. that's a different question. Blue Blood Idol anyone?


As to who gets the mechs for the albums, it's way more complex than just having people leave - deals were done in strange ways and strange places. They'll lose on futures but.. well you don't leave a band uness you've already seen your income stream strangled.

[One Eyed Cat]

knew you were - nobody can set out to construct a mall goth band, it has to happen by accident. An all-miming girl group though.. that's a different question. Blue Blood Idol anyone?


As to who gets the mechs for the albums, it's way more complex than just having people leave - deals were done in strange ways and strange places. They'll lose on futures but.. well you don't leave a band uness you've already seen your income stream strangled.

haha I'm all about the mimes. I see what you're saying on the rest. I figured that was probably the case.

OEC

[VoltaireBlue]

Here you go. We just have it set so someone has to have a participating post count before they can link stuff in order to prevent spammers and such. Cialis and Hoodia salesmen tend not to hang out long enough to have conversations

no offense, bujt I don't think she's that hot.... There are girls on BB (fetus!) that are 100 times hotter. I could say 1000 times hotter, but that would be exagerating. I never really got that band. I don't dig them. never have. I don't even like most new goth bands.... but in all honesty, evanescence is like marilyn manson to me.... marketable music. I don't really dig manson either. but at least he was good for making me money to dance to when I was still stripping...................... not a fan of either... really not a fan of amy lee's... she sucks.