The drug itself, lithium, is typically used as a mood stabilizer to prevent acute manic behavior in patients with bipolar disorder.[5] Lee chose the title as a "metaphor for happiness from a negative point of view": "It's looking at it like, 'I don't want to numb myself and not feel anymore'."[6] She explained that during her process of writing music, she would get into a mood or a "strange low that I ride" that she would try to overcome by telling herself to let go of certain things, change and rejoice again; such experiences also inspired her to write "Lithium".[3] Initially, Lee was indecisive as to which song to choose as the second single from The Open Door, having in mind four different album tracks.[6] "Lithium" was eventually chosen and made available for digital download on December 4, 2006.[7] It was physically released in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2007.[8] "The Last Song I'm Wasting on You", a track originally written for The Open Door and later included as a bonus track on several editions of the album, was the single's B-side.[7]
A music video directed by Paul Fedor was filmed between October 31 and November 1, 2006. During an interview with MTV News, Lee said, "There's the me in all white and it's really wintry, and then there's the all-in-black Amy under the surface of the water of this lake in the forest. So it's the happiness and the sorrow and we're almost singing to each other, trying to figure out how both of us can work."[6] She added that the video was not "so-in-your-face" in order to be made more literal, but expressed her opinion that it's "all about touching somebody and I hope it does that".[6] For the video, fake snow and trees were used along with various other objects which according to the video's scenic coordinator, were supposed to create a "frozen, gothic, cemetery feel".[38] For the scenes filmed in water, a hydraulic lift was used with which Lee could easily sink and the lake water was colored black.[38]
According to Moss from MTV News, the video represents a "literal take on somewhat abstract lyrics".[6] It opens with shots of Lee playing the song on a piano at a snowy forest. At the start of the first verse, the band joins in, performing the song separately. Lee is seen lip-syncing the lyrics to the camera throughout; she dons a white dress, with light pale makeup on her face and a bright red lipstick. Later on, she is also shown laying down, as snow falls around her and the camera focuses on her face and expressions. As the song progresses to its final chorus, the singer is seen slowly walking towards a lake, as black petals start falling around her. During the song's last verse, she eventually submerges herself completely. Scenes of Lee in a black dress and singing the song while floating underwater are also interspersed throughout the entire clip.[6] The music video was available online on November 27.[39] Wind-up also released the video on the band's official website on the same day.[40] The clip managed to peak at number four on TRL's countdown list of the best music videos in January 2007.[41] A behind-the-scenes clip from the filming set of the music video was posted on January 12, 2007 on the band's official YouTube channel.[38]
The video was filmed between October 31 and November 1, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. It features Amy Lee and the other band members performing in a snowy cemetery, and shows Lee representing the emotions of sorrow and happiness, drowning in a pond of black liquid at the end of the video. The setting is similar to that of the music video for AFI's "Love Like Winter".
The music video premiered exclusively to Canadian audiences on MuchMusic.com on November 24, 2006, and was placed on other sites such as YouTube and Myspace afterwards. It was subsequently removed from MuchMusic.com, and restored on December 4. Wind-up initially released the video on the band's official website on November 27. It was available for digital download on iTunes on December 19. Lee made a guest appearance on TRL on December 24 to premier the video on MTV.
You can use the Kripto Video Protector & Media Player to watch music videos with subtitles, listen audio music files with Synchronized Lyrics (.LRC) or with Subtitle (.SRT) file. You can also get subtitles for your movies or TV series automatically with the application.
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