Carly Smithson–the 2008 American Idol contestant who was also the poster child for the record industry’s problems in a 2002 Wall Street Journal piece–is joining forces with all the dudes fired from Evanescence to form a new band called The Fallen, according to USA Today. (Any resemblance between the band’s name and the title of Evanescence’s 2003 breakthrough album is probably coincidental.)
It’s probably a good fit, all around–the tattooed, world-weary Smithson sang the band’s big hit “Bring Me To Life” on last year’s Idols Live tour, and she can certainly belt out a tune or two. Her journey along the Idol path last year ended too soon in my opinion; while I was certainly skeptical about her major-label past when she first was announced as a finalist, her puppy-like demeanor and undeniable pipes gradually won me over, and I was kind of sad when she got the boot instead of the irritating Syesha Mercado two Aprils ago. Plus, check out this quote she gave to USA Today Idol reporter Brian Mansfield: “The first time we rehearsed, everybody started in on this jam of Iron Maiden. I was like, ‘I’m in a band! I love this!’ ” How can you not like that enthusiasm?
The Fallen [Official site]
“Idol” belter Carly Smithson’s band falls into place [USA Today]
I’m on board with this. Can’t wait.
interview w/ben and carly
Q: How did the plan change?
BM: Our plan was when we first started, before they opened the door, go back to the time period of recording “Fallen” and make that move of going back to the time period of 2003 and move forward musically from that point. But the name The Fallen seemed to be the perfect fit because we’ve all fallen away from our original course somewhere along the way and that record is what set us all up with the platform to do this. And it just seemed right.
“If it’s me and the dudes from Evanescence on bongos, it’s still The Fallen!” – Mark E. Smith
@baconfat: LOL!
You know, When you look and see how many people love Evanescence, You can just imagine people getting very angry when som idiot says “Carly Smithson: The New Amy Lee?” No one, and i mean NO ONE can replace Amy Lee. She is a one-of-a kind person. I like carly, but i’ve been an Evanescence fan from the start, and will always be one. The way i see it, Ben, John and Rocky, gave up, during the middle of tours, Amy has survived as the ONLY original member, and she’s still going. And I find it insulting that they’ve been playing Evanescence’s songs, Yeah, they may have all been in ev at the time of “Going Under”, but that is an Evanescence Song, Not a We Are the Fallen Song. I hope someone can see what i’m saying, and not think that i’m some obsessed Amy Lee/Evanescence Fan
I’m sorry – I’m still not feeling it. Carly does have a great voice – but I listened to her for the first time in “Bury Me” (quite honestly – I don’t watch American Idol) and I guess I was expecting the same intricate detailing and beautiful drama of Amy Lee’s voice – and it just wasn’t there. Maybe Carly would be better suited to a different music genre? I find that she has a peculiar sort of accent/drawl at the end of her voice that I simply don’t find becoming at all. (Granted – that is personal opinion). Also – I don’t really like the song – I find it a bit dull – the cascading chords and variances in the old Evanescence music is missing… (I used to almost feel transported to another realm – it was that beautiful – that powerful – and no – I’m NOT on psychedelics – lol!) Sorry guys, (i.e. Ben Moody and supporting clan) but if you think you’ve left the band and you’re going to somehow outdo Amy Lee and politely “compliment” her in public as if you’re the “better band members” that got booted – think again. They say there’s no competition, but let’s get real here – and as far as I’m concerned – Amy Lee wins… and always will… the girl’s got talent and good luck finding someone to measure up to that voice… it’s incredible. Musicians – though these particular ones are indeed talented – there are many – but finding someone blessed with an incredible voice is a task – it’s something you are not just taught or “gifted” AT – as in the differences in nuances of – let’s say – an original pianist – someone else COULD pick up the sound if they were gifted that way , a piano doesn’t change in it’s construction, but a VOICE inherently is ONLY yours – every one is unique…. But I understand the desire for the left-behind band members to find another outlet to play – I surely do –musicians crave people of like mind to share in the experience – it’s powerful when everyone clicks… >> … but as far as this band is concerned – I still miss Amy Lee… they should have just taken a completely different path rather than this obvious and futile attempt at mimicking the old success. I still remember the first time I saw “Bring Me To Life” on MuchMusic with Amy Lee – I bolted out the door to the store and back and had the CD within an hour playing in the house – I still remember the day – very impacting – but this “We are the Fallen” with “Carly” – I was all ready to hear this amazing new band they’d formed to pacify their woes and help the fans along – all the publicity – and I heard it and kind of “Meh….? That’s it?”….
I believe that the band’s members were fired and started “we are the fallen” because they want to show Amy that THEY were a part of the band…and THEY were also what “made” Evanescence what it is today…but Amy believes it’s her band…no one else’s.
I believe I saw a comment of her’s saying that she IS Evanescence…and that she was in the “band” before Moody even joined….psychotic? or just stupid?
“Amy Lee” didn’t make the fuckin’ band dudes….the fans did!!
I bet she didn’t pay herself money to go on tour all around the world and become famous…the fans did…..learn the truth Amy….cuz that’s just cruel.
By the way “fans” of Evanescence….I see how loyal you are to the “band”…*cough* amy lee! *cough!*….Learn the truth first.
Don’t assume they are trying to be the “good guys” and Amy is the “innocent flower of the world”.
Celebrities are bitches and assholes.
I really really hate how Carly is the “new Amy Lee”! she is not amy lee! Amy Lee can sing way better then her! And personaly im ticked because its like they are trying to make a new Evanescence. which they can’t!!!! Sorry but im ticked! Carly can sing but it seems like she is trying to sound like Amy Lee. Which is not working out so well! Whatever i support Amy Lee 100%! GO EVANESCENCE!!!
NOOOO NOOO NOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AMY LEE IS WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY BETTER THAN THAT BITCH!!!! CARLYS GOT NOTHING ON AMY. NOTHING AT ALL. I LOVE AMY LEE, SHES MY FAVORITE FEMALE SINGER. AND BEN YOU SUCK! THIS “BAND” SUCKS. IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE EVANESCENCE!!!!!!!!!!
obvio amy lee jamas sera reemplasada, ella es unica gracias a ella se formo una d las mejores bandas y ahora la dejan, no no no esono es d musicos, y esa tal carly jamas tendra la magnifica voz d amy lee, para poder tener esa voz… no nunca pasara xq no es tan buena como amy, nadie es tan buena como amy, ella es unica con su gran voz y su manera d tocar el piano d escribir sus canciones. Evanescence jamas va a morir va a pasar x ensima d todas las bandas, evanescence es amy lee, gracias a ella nos sentimos muy bien xq en sus canciones nos da mensajes y pues d alguna forma nos ayuda. Asi q amy lee no t rindas puedes sacar a evanescence y si necesitas ayuda recuerda q algun fan tuyo d evanescence puede contar contigo y mas yoo jiji en verdad, bueno q esten bien cuidence mucho, amy t mando besos abrasos y todo mi apoyoo.
AMY AMY AMY AMY AMY AMY!!!!!!!
I LOVE AMY LEE
YOU ARE THE NUMBER ONE AND THE BEST
YOU ARE MY SISTER JAJAJAJA
BYE
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
i totally agree with amylee_2010….. amy rocks…. shes better than any singer… i love her soft voice and shes pretty too!!!!! amy has the upper hand here… carly… well shes really good too but most of her songs sound like amy co-wrote them ANYONE can tell she kinda trying to sound like amy… but she really got on my nerves once..when she said she hadnt heard evanescence before…BUT SHE SANG BRING ME TO LIFE ON IDOL!!! plus that vid of we are the Fallen singing going under… a bunch of wanabees going down in flames well one actually (carly)
She is a wannabe Amy Lynn Hartzler. Look at the clothes she wore before We Are The Fallen:
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&biw=1366&bih=677&q=carly+smithson&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g6g-m1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
Now look what she wears:
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&biw=1366&bih=677&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1&sa=1&q=carly+smithson+we+are+the+fallen&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
She wears Gothic clothes now, like Amy. Odd, right? Not at all! What about the band name? We Are The Fallen. What about Evanescence’s album Fallen? I would like her if she wasn’t copying Amy. I’m not just saying this because I love Evanescence. She needs to get her own life! Not copy a true artist’s,
You got the story wrong. The only reason why she is saying that she is evanescence is because she’s the only original member left. And the only band member who got fired was John who was planning on leaving in the first place because he was only in it for the money and when Amy found it she just went ahead of him. Moody left because of and I quote “creative differences” and Rocky Gray quit and was planning on quitting way before Amy fired John. We are the fallen are being children. Fine, get an american idol singer, but don’t go and dress her up like amy and start doing covers SPECIFICALLY from The Fallen album as if to taunt. I’m not saying they’re bad, I’m just saying that to just move on.
And to be real, Amy and Ben were the heart of the band, they wrote the lyrics, the music and everything. Now that Ben is gone, Amy is in essence the one who does most of the work, with the lyrics, with the arrangements and with the music. SHE keeps the band alive. We all fell in love with her voice more than anything, everyone knows that.
http://mrsvengeance.buzznet.com/user/journal/239651/amy-hartzler-amy-lees-wedding/
WTF CARLY IS NOT THE NEXT AMY LEE SHE COPYED HER AND THE WORST PART ABOUT IS SHE USED THE SAME SONGS AMY LEE SANG AND SANG IT IN HER CONCERT BUT THAT PART IS NOT ALL HER FAULT IT IS ALSO BENS FAULT…AND SURE SHE LOOKS LIKE HER BUT DAMNIT AMY LEE HAS THAT SPARK TO HER THAT CARLY WILL NEVER HAVE BECAUSE SHE IS A ORINGAL!!!!