Evanescence

In 2003, when the rock charts were dominated by predominantly male nü-metal and post-grunge acts, a young female-fronted band from Arkansas stood out from the crowd, offering something entirely new. They were Evanescence – and with their debut album, Fallen, they transformed the rock landscape. Led by frontwoman Amy Lee, Evanescence’s cinematic blend of metal and symphonic, piano-driven melodies captured a generation, while Fallen set the band on a path to global superstardom, earning them multiple GRAMMYS®, and becoming one of the highest-selling albums of all time.

Released in the spring of 2003, Fallen resonated deeply with fans, selling more than 141,000 copies in its first week and peaking at No.3 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart, where it spent an astonishing 43 weeks in the Top 10. Within a month, Fallen was certified Platinum by the RIAA, while it was a Top 10 hit in more than ten countries, reaching No.1 in the UK, Canada, Australia, and across Europe. Much of the album’s initial success can be attributed to its stratospheric singles, including “Bring Me to Life,” which broke the Top 10 in more than 15 countries and topped Billboard’s Mainstream Top 40 and Alternative Airplay charts. “My Immortal” was a Top 10 hit in over ten countries, including the US, UK, and Australia.

At the 2004 GRAMMYS®, Evanescence received five nominations, including Album of the Year, Best Rock Album, Best Hard Rock Performance for “Bring Me to Life,” and Best New Artist, taking home the latter two. The following year, “My Immortal” received a nod for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Today, Fallen holds steady as the sixth best-selling album of the 21st century (ranking just behind Lady Gaga’s The Fame and ahead of Coldplay’s A Rush of Blood to the Head) and remains one of the best-selling albums of all time, with more than 17 million copies sold worldwide. In 2022, Fallen received a rare Diamond certification from the RIAA, which recognizes 10 million units in US album sales. As a testament to the album’s enduring appeal, the video for “Bring Me To Life” surpassed 1.2 billion views on YouTube, making it one of the most-watched rock videos of all-time while “My Immortal” follows close behind.