Silent Lucidity
"Silent Lucidity" is a single by the American progressive metal band Queensrÿche from the 1990 album Empire. The song was the biggest hit for the band, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100[2] and at #1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.[3] The power ballad[4] was composed by lead guitarist Chris DeGarmo. Queensrÿche performed the song live at the Grammy Awards of 1992, for being nominated in the category of "Best Rock Song", and featured a supporting orchestra.[5] The song did not win the Grammy; it did however win the MTV Viewer's Choice Award for its music video. Directed by Matt Mahurin.
"Silent Lucidity" | ||||
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Single by Queensrÿche | ||||
from the album Empire | ||||
Released | February 1991 | |||
Recorded | Spring 1990 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 5:47 | |||
Label | EMI America | |||
Songwriter(s) | Chris DeGarmo | |||
Producer(s) | Peter Collins | |||
Queensrÿche singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
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Empire track listing | ||||
11 tracks
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Because of the lyrical content, and the title of the song, it is assumed to be based on the subject of lucid dreaming. During the middle eight, a distorted voice even explains a method for this: "Visualize your dream. Record it in the present tense. Put it into a permanent form. If you persist in your efforts, you can achieve dream control." [6]
The song was recorded with sweeping orchestrations. Often the orchestra is not relegated to the background but instead is prominent such as during the second half of the instrumental section.[7]
At the end of the song (5:26), a cello or double bass plays the theme from the traditional Brahms' Lullaby — the typical English translation words being "Lullaby, and good night, go to sleep, little baby".
"Silent Lucidity" is ranked #21 on VH1's list of Greatest Power Ballads.[8]
Track listing
Original 1991 release
- "Silent Lucidity" – 5:49
- "The Mission" [Live] – 6:17
- "Eyes of a Stranger [Live] – 8:03
2013 Silent Lucidity: Greatest Hits EP re-release
"Silent Lucidity" was the lead song on a 4-track extended play release on April 22, 2013, subtitled "Greatest Hits".[9] It was accompanied by two other tracks from Empire plus fan-favorite "I Don't Believe in Love" from Operation: Mindcrime,[9] all four tracks being among the group's six most-frequent tracks when playing live.[10]
- "Silent Lucidity" (Re-recorded) - 5:45
- "Empire" (Re-recorded) - 5:24
- "Jet City Woman" (Re-recorded) - 5:22
- "I Don't Believe in Love" (Re-recorded) - 4:26
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Chart (1991–92) | Peak |
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U.S. Mainstream Rock | 1[2] |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 9[2] |
Canada RPM | 7[11] |
UK Singles | 34[12] |
UK Singles (reissue) | 18[12] |
Year-end charts
Chart (1991) | Position |
---|---|
Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 69[13] |
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard) | 82[14] |
Use in pop culture
- Several lines are sampled from Hellbound: Hellraiser II (the female voice "Help me", "Don't be scared of me" and the doctor's voice "How are we feeling today, better?")
- This song was used in the episode "Heart" of the second season of Supernatural.
- This song was used in the first episode of the television show The Hat Squad.
Personnel
- Eddie Jackson – bass, backing vocals
- Chris DeGarmo – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Scott Rockenfield – drums
- Geoff Tate – lead vocals
- Michael Wilton – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Additional personnel
References
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Queensrÿche | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- "Chart History for Queensrÿche". Billboard.com. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (8th ed.). Billboard Publications. p. 514.
- "The 40 Greatest Power Ballads". Classic Rock. February 14, 2015.
- "Greatest Hits". Queensryche.com. Queensrÿche. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
- "Silent Lucidity". queensrycheofficial.com. Queensrÿche.
- Queensrÿche. "Silent Lucidity".
- "Greatest Power Ballads". VH1.com. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on November 13, 2006. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- "Silent Lucidity - Greatest Hits - EP". Amazon Music. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- "Queensrÿche Tour statistics". Setlist.fm. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
- "RPM Top 100 Singles - June 8, 1991" (PDF). collectionscanada.gc.ca.
- "Queensrÿche". officialcharts.com. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
- "1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 103 (51): YE-14. December 21, 1991.