As the lead single from Evanescence’s eponymous 2011 album, “What You Want” marked a departure from their previous material. Lyrically, the song was inspired by frontwoman Amy Lee’s relationship and experience with fans of the band, and finding her place as a musician. In an interview with Reuters, Amy Lee added that the song was also inspired by her own life:

That song is me talking to myself about not being afraid and coming back to this thing and living the life I was born to live. Sometimes, it takes a lot to do this. And I do love it very much, but there is always that fear of putting yourself under the microscope.

Following its release, “What You Want” was praised by critics as an album highlight – the track generated positive reviews for its instrumentation, hauntingly powerful vocals, and musical hook. In a review which awarded the single five-out-of-five stars, Rick Florino of Artistdirect concluded:

At the heart of this epic, Lee relays another personal story that impacts intensely, especially as the song breaks during the bridge and her voice takes flight like never before.