Disturbed is a successful, American nu-metal/alternative rock band.  The Chicagoan quartet, fronted by lead vocalist David Draiman, has amassed an impressive string of five consecutive #1 albums on Billboard’s Top 200. October 2018 saw the release of the band’s new cd, Evolution.

One of the surprises on the deluxe edition of that cd is an unexpected, but quite intriguing, collaboration with David Foster. In a 2017 interview with US magazine Forbes, The Hitman praised the group and especially Draiman’s voice:

“David Draiman, the singer of the band, really moved me with a version he did of Simon and Garfunkel’s… I forget what song it was… ‘The Sound of Silence,’ yes. It moved me so much, I wanted to work with him. We put it out there and my friend Diane Warren wrote a song for them, so I’m in the studio with them.”

The result of this strange yet fascinating pairing is a rock ballad titled “Uninvited Guest.” Co-written by wildly successful songwriter Diane Warren with Draiman and Disturbed’s guitarist Dan Donegan, “Uninvited Guest” is a killer composition that features powerful and evocative vocals. Warren’s trademark melodic strength is maximized by Foster’s fantastic arrangement with acoustic piano and strings plus his superlative production. Even a metal combo like Disturbed create pure ear-candy when their sound gets ‘fosterized.’ “Uninvited Guest” has hit written all over it, yet was probably too big a step from Disturbed’s classic rock feel so the song only found its way to the deluxe edition. Evolution has again brought the group to the Top Ten of charts worldwide.

Lead & Background Vocals: David Draiman

Listen

Lead & Background Vocals: David Draiman
Bass: Sean Hurley
Electronics & Guitars: Dan Donegan
Drums: Mike Wengren
Piano & Keyboards: David Foster
Programming: Jochem van der Saag

Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

Thought I was rid of you
Thought it was over with
Thought I was over it
Thought I evicted you from my heart
Kicked you out of my mind
So nothing left of you
Wouldn’t be left behind

Ooh, but you still take up all my space
You just won’t go away

You stay in my head
Like an uninvited guest, uninvited guest
You still haunt my heart
Guess you haven’t left me yet, haven’t left me yet
Ooh like an uninvited guest

Still see you everywhere
You’re still in every room
Filled you with every move
I can’t go on without erasing you from my heart
Tired of feeling this pain
Seems you’re the only ghost
I just can’t chase away

Ooh, you still inhabit every thought
I prayed that you’d be gone

You stay in my head
Like an uninvited guest, uninvited guest
You still haunt my heart
Guess you haven’t left me yet, haven’t left me yet

I don’t want to fill you around
I just want you, want you out
So please go, please

You stay in my head
Like an uninvited guest, uninvited guest
You still haunt my heart
Guess you haven’t left me yet, haven’t left me yet
You stay in my head
Like an uninvited guest, uninvited guest
You still haunt my heart like an uninvited guest