Released February 14, 1991 Recorded Spring 1990 Length 5:47 | Format CD, Vinyl, Cassette Genre Progressive Rock Label EMI America | |
"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 and at #1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. The song was composed by lead guitarist Chris DeGarmo. Queensryche 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. The song did not win the Grammy; it did however win the "MTV Viewer's Choice Award" for its music video.
Contents
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 paramental form. If you persist in your efforts, you can achieve dream control."
The song was recorded with sweeping orchestrations. Often the orchestra is not relegated to the background but instead is very prominent such as during the second half of the instrumental section (timestamp 3:16 - 3:51).
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."
Single track list
- "Silent Lucidity" – 5:49
- "The Mission" [Live] – 6:17
- "Eyes of a Stranger [Live] – 8:03