My Immortal – Evanescence | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#7) and Adult Top 40 (#1); 2004
Story Behind The Song By Harris Sterling
In 2003, Evanescence released My Immortal as a single from their debut album Fallen. Written by Amy Lee and former band member Ben Moody, the song became one of the group’s most recognizable ballads.
Produced by Dave Fortman, the recording is built around a piano-driven arrangement that highlights Amy Lee’s vocal performance. A later single version added fuller band instrumentation while retaining its restrained tone.
Released in 2004, My Immortal reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped adult radio charts. Its success broadened Evanescence’s appeal beyond the alternative rock format.
The lyric centers on lingering grief and emotional attachment after a relationship ends. Rather than anger, the tone reflects unresolved sorrow and the difficulty of letting go.
My Immortal remains one of Evanescence’s signature recordings and a defining power ballad of the early 2000s.
Produced by:
Dave Fortman
Lyrics Written by:
Amy Lee
Ben Moody
Awards:
No major Grammy Awards were awarded specifically for the single.
Harris Sterling
Independent music label executive Harris Sterling has worked in the music industry for most of his career.
As Executive Vice President for independent music label Madacy Entertainment, he led the strategic marketing and business development for the label, negotiating agreements with the major record labels to release custom music compilations under license with major brands, such as Ford Motor Company, Crayola, Care Bears and Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Harris also led Madacy’s strategy for the licensing of its entire music catalogue to Apple for their launch of the IPOD.
In 2011, Harris co-founded Starting Five Media, a company that specializes in recording and licensing custom renditions of popular songs as well as clearing the rights to the music composition for use by their clients in media projects.
Harris has negotiated publishing and master recording rights for many Top 40 songs for use in various media projects, TV Commercials and more.