Editing Bring Me to Life (section)

== Composition and recording ==
Lee wrote "Bring Me to Life" at age 19,<ref name="free">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/get-free-amy-lee-on-artistic-independence-the-future-of-evanescence-55877/|title=Get Free: Amy Lee on Artistic Independence, the Future of Evanescence|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016070109/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/get-free-amy-lee-on-artistic-independence-the-future-of-evanescence-55877/|archive-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref> after a then-acquaintance (who later became her husband) asked her if she was happy; Lee was in an abusive relationship and in turmoil, and was shocked the person saw through her facade as she felt she "was completely outwardly acting normal". "I felt like he could just see straight into my soul. That inspired the whole song", she explained.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="bp8215">{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/events/state/documents/03148215.asp |title=Amy Lee on bringing Evanescence's 'Bring Me to Life' to life |work=[[The Phoenix (newspaper)|The Phoenix]] |last=Carioli |first=Carly |date=September 12, 2003 |access-date=February 27, 2007 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226063000/http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/events/state/documents/03148215.asp |archive-date=December 26, 2008}}</ref><ref name="dazed"/> The song is about "open-mindedness" and "waking up to all the things you've been missing for so long". After the moment that inspired her to write it, she "realized that for months I'd been numb, just going through the motions of life."<ref name="vh1058">{{cite news |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |title=Evanescence: Fallen To the Top |url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1472058/20030523/evanescence.jhtml |access-date=June 30, 2013 |publisher=[[VH1]] |date=May 29, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824024116/http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1472058/20030523/evanescence.jhtml |archive-date=August 24, 2007}}</ref><ref name="mtv1471139">{{cite news |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/nrngv2/evanescences-frontwoman-leads-rock-into-fem-friendly-new-frontier|title=Evanescence's Frontwoman Leads Rock Into Fem-Friendly New Frontier |work=[[MTV News]] |first1=Joe |last1=D'Angelo |first2=Meridith |last2=Gottlieb |date=April 8, 2003 |access-date=October 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101111620/https://www.mtv.com/news/nrngv2/evanescences-frontwoman-leads-rock-into-fem-friendly-new-frontier|archive-date=November 1, 2022|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2022, Lee noted that she was finding her voice lyrically while making the album, realizing "how the more honest I was, the more powerful I felt"; the song was "in a broader way about breaking free from something I knew I had the power to if I was brave enough", and represented "true desires, unspoken frustrations and fears, standing up to the bullshit around me [that] I was just on the cusp of being able to defeat".<ref name="dazed"/> It expressed a "cry for help", while "[[Going Under]]", which she wrote after "Bring Me to Life", was the next stage of her "coming to the realization that I was going to stand up for myself and make a change."<ref name="Rev 23">{{cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/amy-lee-evanescences-fallen-20-we-fought-lot|title=Amy Lee On Evanescence's 'fallen' At 20: "We Fought For A Lot"|work=[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]]|date=November 14, 2023|access-date=November 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115132356/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/amy-lee-evanescences-fallen-20-we-fought-lot|archive-date=November 15, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="K 23"/> Moody and David Hodges share writing credits on the track.<ref name="windupbook" />

With pressure from the label to refine its production, Evanescence ultimately made around 10 demos of the song, which included changing the synths for the opening piano part, and the addition of real strings by [[David Campbell (composer)|David Campbell]], an "expense" Lee "fought hard for over a less expensive synthetic alternative".<ref name="dazed"/><ref name="Rev 23"/> Most of the song was recorded for the ''Daredevil'' soundtrack at [[Ocean Productions|Ocean Studios]] in [[Burbank, California]].<ref name="mix" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Clients Quotes |url=http://oceanstudiosburbank.com/Ocean_Testing/quotes.html |publisher=Ocean Studios Burbank |access-date=June 5, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006151431/http://oceanstudiosburbank.com/Ocean_Testing/quotes.html |archive-date=October 6, 2016}}</ref> It was mixed by [[Jay Baumgardner]] in his studio, [[NRG Recording Studios]] in [[North Hollywood, Los Angeles|North Hollywood]], on an [[Solid State Logic|SSL 9000 J]]. A 22-piece string section was recorded by Mark Curry in Seattle, and mixed at the Newman Scoring Stage and Bolero Studios in Los Angeles.<ref name="mix">{{cite news|url=http://mixonline.com/recording/interviews/audio_evanescence_enduring_sound/ |title=In The Recording Studio With Evanescence: Recording Fallen |work=[[Mix (magazine)|Mix]] |first=Bryan |last=Reeseman |date=August 1, 2003 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805032221/http://mixonline.com/recording/interviews/audio_evanescence_enduring_sound/ |archive-date=August 5, 2011}}</ref>

"Bring Me to Life" is stylistically a [[nu metal]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=1220 |title=Top Ten Nu-Metal Bands |work=[[Stylus Magazine]] |first=Andrew |last=Unterberger |date=September 10, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012143351/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=1220 |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[rap rock]] song.<ref name="mtv030813">{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1476773/evanescence-cold-play-chicago.jhtml |title=Evanescence Make Understatement Of The Year At Chicago Sweat Factory|work=MTV News |first=Blair R. |last=Fischer |date=August 13, 2003 |access-date=July 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805035551/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1476773/evanescence-cold-play-chicago.jhtml |archive-date=August 5, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Billboard Summer 2003">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/beyonce-ashanti-2003-summer-songs-7897976/|title=Beyoncé, Ashanti, and More—Tracks That Take You Back To Summer of 2003|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|author=Billboard Staff|date=August 23, 2017|accessdate=July 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119231052/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/beyonce-ashanti-2003-summer-songs-7897976/|archive-date=January 19, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> In order to market it, the label forced them to add the male rapping vocal, which Lee did not want, or the song and album would not be released.{{refn|<ref name="vh1058"/><ref name="Scuzz">{{cite interview|last=Lee|first=Amy|interviewer=Terry Bezer|publisher=|via=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbcgsjmNzO4&t=931 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319144353/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbcgsjmNzO4&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=March 19, 2013|title=Scuzz Meets Evanescence |work=[[Scuzz|Scuzz TV]]|date=March 13, 2013 |access-date=December 29, 2013}}</ref><ref name="fact-or-fiction">{{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}}</ref><ref name="OH">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ive0Nqv3p4A|title=The Oral History of Evanescence ft. Amy Lee|work=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|date=March 29, 2021|accessdate=October 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417170412/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Ive0Nqv3p4A&feature=youtu.be|archive-date=April 17, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>}} The male vocal was a compromise after the label originally demanded they include a rap on eight of the songs on the album.<ref name="K 23">{{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}}</ref> During an interview, Lee stated: "It was presented to me as, 'You're a girl singing in a rock band, there's nothing else like that out there, nobody's going to listen to you. You need a guy to come in and sing back-up for it to be successful.'"<ref name="guardianuk">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/nov/22/captionherethepop? |title=Female rock stars not wanted in the UK. Apparently |work=The Guardian |first=Trevor |last=Baker |date=November 22, 2007 |access-date=November 14, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006023425/http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/nov/22/captionherethepop |archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref> Lee wrote Paul McCoy's part.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-story-behind-bring-me-to-life-by-evanescence|title=The story behind Bring Me To Life by Evanescence|work=[[Louder Sound]]|date=February 14, 2018|accessdate=November 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512231801/https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-story-behind-bring-me-to-life-by-evanescence|archive-date=May 12, 2022}}</ref> On the chorus, Lee sings the lines "'Call my name and save me from the dark' over "surging guitars",<ref name="therapy">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/13/Weekend/_Music_is_my_therapy_.shtml |title=Weekend: 'Music is my therapy' |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |first=Brian |last=Orloff |date=May 13, 2004 |access-date=August 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020075920/http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/13/Weekend/_Music_is_my_therapy_.shtml |archive-date=October 20, 2012}}</ref> and McCoy raps the lines "Wake me up/ I can't wake up/ Save me!".<ref name="mtv030813" /> The song is set in [[Time signature|common time]] and performed in a moderate [[tempo]] of 95 beats per minute. It is written in the key of E minor, and Lee's vocal range for the song runs from the low note of [[A (musical note)|A<sub>3</sub>]] to the high note of [[D (musical note)|D<sub>5</sub>]].<ref name="sheet">{{cite web |url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0047198 |title=Evanescence – Bring Me To Life Sheet Music (Digital Download) |website=Musicnotes.com |date=July 12, 2004 |access-date=August 2, 2011}}</ref>

''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s Kirk Miller said that the song is stylistically a "case of mistaken identity", dooming the band to [[Linkin Park]] comparisons "thanks to [its] digital beats, clean metal-guitar riffs, scattered piano lines and all-too-familiar mix of rapping and singing."<ref name="roll200303">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/fallen-20030325 |title=Fallen – Album Reviews |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |first=Kirk |last=Miller |date=March 25, 2003 |access-date=October 5, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108135604/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/fallen-20030325 |archive-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref> Blair R. Fischer of [[MTV]] called it a "ubiquitous rap-rock confection".<ref name="mtv030813" /> Richard Harrington from ''[[The Washington Post]]'' described its sound as "crunching metallic".<ref name="washingtonpost">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/05/AR2006100500542.html |title=Another 'Door' Opens for Amy Lee |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Richard |last=Harrington |date=October 6, 2006 |access-date=August 3, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112200454/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/05/AR2006100500542.html |archive-date=November 12, 2012}}</ref> [[Ann Powers]] from the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' said that "with its lyrical drama and crunchy guitars, [the song] branded the band as overdone nu-metal."<ref name="latimes">{{cite news|url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-oct-01-ca-evanescence1-story.html|title = Rock's a hard place -- ask Evanescence|last = Powers|first = Ann|date = October 1, 2006|newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201127170145/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-oct-01-ca-evanescence1-story.html|archive-date = November 27, 2020|accessdate = March 5, 2024|url-status = live}}</ref> "Bring Me to Life" has also been classified as [[hard rock]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/43591/vh1s_100_greatest_hard_rock_songs/franchises/list/|title=VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs|date=January 5, 2009|website=[[Stereogum]]|access-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816063137/https://www.stereogum.com/43591/vh1s_100_greatest_hard_rock_songs/news/|archive-date=August 16, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> [[alternative rock]],<ref name="consequenceofsound">{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2017/07/ranking-every-alternative-rock-hit-from-worst-to-best/|title=Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best|date=July 5, 2017|website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]|access-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006204815/https://consequence.net/2017/07/ranking-every-alternative-rock-hit-from-worst-to-best/|archive-date=October 6, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Blender (magazine)|''Blender'']] writer Nick Catucci described it as a "crossover [[gothic metal|goth-metal]] smash".<ref name="blender030807">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=1169 |title=Evanescence (live concert) |magazine=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]] |author=Catucci, Nick |date=August 7, 2003 |access-date=August 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113092525/http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=1169 |archive-date=January 13, 2009}}</ref> Nick Catucci of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' wrote that "piano tinkles, Lee's breathless keen, dramatic pauses, guitars like clouds of locusts, [and] McCoy's passing-12-kidney-stones guest vocals" characterize the song, which "sounds like church-burning, brain-eating European dark metal."<ref name="sillytitle">{{cite news|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2003-06-03/music/god-goes-goth/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209034538/http://www.villagevoice.com/2003-06-03/music/god-goes-goth/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |title=God Goes Goth |work=The Village Voice |first=Nick |last=Catucci |date=June 3, 2011 |access-date=October 5, 2011}}</ref> Vik Bansal of ''[[MusicOMH]]'' said the track contains "Lee's temptress vocals, pseudo-electronic beats à la Linkin Park, understated but menacing metallic riffs in the background, and a ripping, radio-friendly rock chorus."<ref name="goirev">{{cite news|url=http://www.musicomh.com/singles/evanescence.htm |title=Evanescence – Going Under (Wind-Up) |work=[[MusicOMH]] |first=Vik |last=Bansal |access-date=October 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121031749/http://www.musicomh.com/singles/evanescence.htm |archive-date=January 21, 2012}}</ref> [[MTV]] described it as "an unrelenting paean that begins as hauntingly delicate before piling on crumpled guitar lines and a rap" while "Lee's vocals soar above the whole sludgy mixture".<ref name="mtv1471139" />