Natalia Tsarikova, an opera singer from St. Petersburg, Russia, studied in Milan before settling in Finland. There, she launched a popular YouTube channel exploring pop, jazz, and rock, gaining 181K subscribers. Her haunting cover of Evanescence’s “My Immortal” is her second most-watched video with 4.3 million views. Written by Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody with Amy Lee, “My Immortal” tells of someone unable to let go of a lost love.
Evanescence fans are fiercely loyal to Amy Lee, but many were impressed by Tsarikova’s cover. One fan, Walter Legere, commented, “Your version of ‘My Immortal’ was not only brilliant but also very close to the original in every way. You literally killed it.”
Tsarikova’s operatic talent shines through her YouTube covers, including classical pieces like Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria.” Her voice demonstrates powerful, trained operatic skills, avoiding the common pitfalls of over-elaboration.
Evanescence’s “My Immortal” faced challenges during its release. Wind-up Records used a demo version on their debut album, Fallen (2003), much to the band’s frustration. When the song was released as a single, Moody and Lee insisted on a full-band, orchestrated version, which became a top 20 hit in over ten countries, certified gold in the US, and platinum in Australia.
Despite Ben Moody leaving Evanescence in 2003, the band continues to thrive and is set to tour the USA with Muse in April 2023 and play at the Download Festival in the UK in July 2023. Natalia Tsarikova’s cover of “My Immortal” has won over many Evanescence fans, proving her talent and respect for the original.