{{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<ref>{{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}}</ref>}} | 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''.<ref name="iTunes">{{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 |archive-date=September 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909050637/https://music.apple.com/us/album/use-my-voice-single/1524982789 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was originally intended as the first single, but "Wasted on You" was released first due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Louder">{{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}}</ref>
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.<ref name="CBS">{{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}}</ref>
==Critical reception== Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic called the song a "rallying cry" and one of personal awakening and female empowerment.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |last=Yeung|first=Neil Z.|title=Evanescence - The Bitter Truth|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-bitter-truth-mw0003459334|work=AllMusic|access-date=2 May 2026|date=26 March 2021}}</ref>
==Commercial performance== "Use My Voice" achieved moderate commercial success, appearing on several charts across the English-speaking world. In the United States, "Use My Voice" peaked at number 44 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart by ''Billboard''.<ref name="usrock" /> In Australia, the single peaked at number 45 on the Australia Digital Tracks on 24 August 2020.<ref name="aria" /> In Scotland, it managed to attain a position of 50 on the country's singles chart in the week of 21 August 2020.<ref name="sc" /> It fared slightly better in the UK, where it peaked at numbers 40 on the UK Singles Chart and 39 on the digital downloads chart.<ref name="uk" /> Elsewhere, it managed to peak at number 8 on the Modern Rock chart in the Czech Republic.<ref name="cze" />
==Personnel== Credits adapted from Tidal.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Credits / Use My Voice / Evanescence – TIDAL|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/149812314/credits|access-date=August 21, 2020|website=Tidal}}</ref> * 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== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ Chart performance for "Use My Voice" ! Chart (2020) ! Peak<br/>position |- ! scope="row"| Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)<ref name="aria">{{cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 24 August 2020|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|issue=1590|page=9|date=27 September 2021}}</ref> | 45 |- ! scope="row"| Czech Republic (Modern Rock)<ref name="cze">{{cite web|url=http://hitparada.ifpicr.cz/index.php?a=titul&hitparada=21&titul=165921&sec=fd959fdb60492140d894a1ebcb6908e0|title=CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock - Evanescence - Use My Voice|publisher=IFPI Czech Republic|access-date=January 4, 2021|language=cs}}</ref> | 8 |- !scope="row"| France Sales (SNEP)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chartsinfrance.net/Evanescence/Use-My-Voice-s51874.htmll|title=Use My Voice - Evanescence|publisher=Pure Charts|language=fr|date=August 17, 2020|access-date=May 19, 2026}}</ref> | 180 |- {{single chart|Scotland|50|date=20200821|rowheader=true|access-date=August 21, 2020|refname="sc"}} |- ! scope="row"| UK Singles Sales (OCC)<ref name="uk">{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-sales-chart/20200821/7509/|title=Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=August 21, 2020|access-date=December 3, 2021}}</ref> | 40 |- {{single chart|UKdownload|39|date=20200821|rowheader=true|access-date=August 21, 2020}} |- {{single chart|Billboardrockairplay|44|artist=Evanescence|rowheader=true|access-date=November 20, 2020|refname="usrock"}} |}
==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 | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="iTunes"/> |- | August 25, 2020 | Active rock radio | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allaccess.com/rock/future-releases |title=Rock Future Releases |website=All Access |access-date=August 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822164750/https://www.allaccess.com/rock/future-releases |archive-date=August 22, 2020}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| Italy | September 4, 2020 | Contemporary hit radio | Sony | style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{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}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Evanescence}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2020 songs Category:2020 singles Category:Evanescence songs Category:American political songs