@@nickforell1 ...and when the time is right (in other words, further down the rabbit hole), you will encounter the name selected by the person your reply was addressed to. Can't wait to see you there.
Hab sie in Hamburg gesehn im Mai. Fands schade für sie,das sie Aufgrund des schlechten Vorverkaufs in die kleinere Location umziehen mußte. Andererseits war das ein richtig geiles,kleines Konzert😍🥳🤘
New subscriber here, of course. Thanks for the shout-out, but especially because you decided to continue exploring this real treasure of good music that is Nightwish. As you well noticed, the lyrics are poetic and full of metaphorical meanings. This is mostly due to the main composer of the band, Tuomas Holopainen (on keyboards), in the opinion of many of us - one of the greatest composers of these times. You will discover in time that all his compositions are different from each other, but instantly recognizable. I await your next reactions with great curiosity, because I like your "fresh" approach. Greetings from Romania!
Gabriel, thank you again for the help so far. So far its been fun to see the dynamic between the crowd and band, it seems so wholesome yet insanely fun. Can't wait to continue the journey
So glad that you are enjoying Nightwish so much. Tuomas leaves the lyrics a bit vague because he likes to see everyone interpret the songs in their own way. There is no right or wrong meaning, it's what the song means to you.
I would like to say: that is precisely the essence of this song. A young man grew up, grew up and lost his dream world. That boy was Tuomas (keyboards, band leader, poet, composer of 95% of Nightwish songs) but could be me or you too. 'Song of Myself' is also that kind of song that makes you look back on your life up to that point. Was it worth it? Do you also see less fortunate people (human or animal)? Did it hit you too? Do you also give them your love? What did you contribute to humanity and/or nature, the universe? Greetings from the Netherlands.
@@stpfs9281 went to Amsterdam and Vienna, setlist was slightly different and of course we had Henk Poort in Amsterdam as a guest for ‘Phantom of the Opera’❣️
Is it just me or I saw your eyes tearing up a little?😉 Congrats man, you're one of us already!😊🎉 That's the power of Nightwish! Tuomas' writing (music to FEEL and poetic lyrics) plus Floor soul-reaching voice (your inner walls have no chance: when she start to sing, she's already there!😵), plus the energy/power/love for music of the band members equals you have no way to escape, lol! 😁 To me the "empty crib of Peter Pan" line doesn't mean he's grown up: imo it's when Peter discovers the power of his imagination and starts to fly towards Never Never Land and its adventures! The tears in the audience's eyes are of pure joy, the same kind of joy you feel as a little child when you dream on "a soaring kite against the blue blue sky": all this song is about is to make you remenber those times and that innocence! Another banger by Nightwish on the recovering of your inner child is "I Want my Tears Back!": i suggest the Buenos Aires venue for that reaction because it's the best rendition for me.💥🤘😆🤘💥 Can't wait for the next one! Greetings from Italy!👋🇮🇹🖖
Some random thoughts: I think this is a "spiritual" sequel to Snowman story. They do have their version of it called Walking in the Air with the og singer Tarja (beautiful rendition). Someone proposed Storytime is about story itself, as if story was an entity, and what it thinks of the world ("I am the journey I am the destination I am the home The tale that reads you"; and when it's done, it'll "Searching heavens for another Earth"). Whatever the meaning is, it's a fantastic piece of music. Your face at that moment is us, Nightwish fans, still, even after all the daily listening. Great drug.
I also wanted to point out "Walking in the Air", but you were faster. This is an excellent opportunity to get to know Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's original singer: th-cam.com/video/9icKP1b44TA/w-d-xo.html
@@nickforell1 please be aware that Walking In The Air is a cover of a song originally performed by a boy chorister for the animated film " The Snowman". Tuomas did write for a film called Imaginaerum which is almost a darker version of The Snowman and features the second singer Anette Olzon and the rest of the band.
I grew up with Metal music.. I've seen many of the 'legends' 70 /80 90's (until they started growling anyway). Then diversified into pretty well every other genre of music you can imagine. I stumbled on 'Nightwish' ~6 yrs ago and rediscovered everything I used to like in metal music, condensed, refined and served up by the most prodigiously talented band and the genius of Tuomas Holopainen..with Floor. I don't listen to much else these days. Why bother?
Jukka is so much more than just a mind-numbing drummer. He dances with that kit like Baryshnikov, a complete show by himself. His fills are incredible and so tasty you could serve them at a 5 star restaurant. I understand that his drum kit got a restraining order after this tour, though. Most pro tennis players don't have an overhand smash like his.
If you want to see Floor in full Valkyrie mode, have a look at any of the songs from their Buenos Aires 2018 performance. I recommend "Devil and the Deep Dark Ocean" and "Slaying the Dreamer". To start.
@@nickforell1 I found them about 3 years ago. Changed my musical world. I was able to see them live in Minneapolis( long trip from Texas lol) and it was a wonderful experience!
@@nickforell1 hey Nick, it's a good idea to include in video tittle thats its Live from Wacken 2013 :) cheers, btw pro reactor tip: after a pause please try to go back a bit b4 resuming for song continuity & so none of the many transitions NW is known for will not be missed, your viewers will appreciate it :)
Another great reaction. For me it's the riff in this song that hooked me, it's awesome. The lyrics are whatever someone reads into it (is what Tuomas always says) but I think it's about the happiness that stories bring us as a child, as well as being able to escape the adult world. (The empty crib of Peter, just fly away from it all) To the innocent child the whole world is open to explore without any limits. Tuomas gets a lot of inspiration from his very free childhood. But that's what I think, the truth might be a whole different ballgame😂 🖤
I'm really glad you're enjoying them and continuing this deep dive. There's a couple tracks that are deeply personal to Tuomas (keyboards/ their composer) that I'm really excited to see you get to, but having better context into the band and their history before digging into "Dead Boy's Poem" or "Poet and the Pendulum" is definitely a good idea. Suffice to say, I started this snowball down hill, so I'll be here for each video. =)
@@nickforell1 Poet and the Pendulum is just incredible I liked it when Annette (previous singer) sang it then Floor just takes the song to a whole new level. That and Greatest show on earth probably the two best live videos. Both are much darker than the ones you reviewed so far though, but musically they will bow you away.
Great reaction! Love this song and performance. Possibly my favorite from them, but it doesn't mean there aren't other amazing things from them as well.
It's great that you came back to Nightwish and gave them your time. It warms my heart when I see how much joy you have in their music. Of course I know Gabriel's list and of course I know which song will coming next - that's why I also recommend 'Romanticide'. Btw - I think you're going to sweat a bit cu soon,Kelsea 👋
Welcome to the Army Private Nick .....ive seen them 2 times in NYC back in 2017 and last year and saw Floors 1st band After Forever back in 2007 also in NYC and seeing Nightwish/ Floor live is an experience youll never forget .
"Follow the madness, Alice, you know once did"! So many references from the childhood of Tuomas. The "Snowman" song is "Walking in the air", with the first singer, Tarja (soft "J": Tarr-yah). Jukka (Yukka), was phenomenal, he is like an athelete (he needs to be, their set can be up to two hours). This was at Wacken Open Air Festival (Vacken), Alice Cooper was the previous band, so not all the fans were ready for the relatively new singer Floor.
Once again, thank you for your thoughtful and candid reaction. I loved your smile at just the right appropriate times and was that a little "stank face" at that first drop I noticed? I do agree with you there is sort of a dark element inside an otherwise playful song. Being a child and having to "grow up." Why? Why do we have to grow up and lose our innocence to the fantasy world? I'm 62yo and still haven't grown up (thank goodness). Great reaction, Nick. Thanks so much.
I'm 74 and this is my favorite female and band performance in the history of music. No other band in the history of music has a better song and live performance like Storytime from Wacken 2013. Nightwish Wacken 2013, best concert in history. At my celebration of life party after I die, I have told everyone, you don't have to talk about me, just put Wacken 2013 on a big screen and enjoy. LOL
Nightwish Army Switzerland here, it's fun to watch how Nightwish/Floor got you! I'm sure you will still experience a lot of amazement, joy and surprises. Nightwish is really something very special.
Greetings from the UK. New subscriber. Really enjoyed both your Nightwish reactions and look forward to enjoying watching your journey with this amazing band. As for the meaning of the lyrics, I've always felt that it bemoans the loss of that childhood innocence and wonder as we grow into adulthood. Stay safe 🤘 ✌️
It is so contagious to see people like you,reacting so enthusiastic for the first time to this particulair song,that i instantly get the same feeling.👍 🤘
Great to see you give Jukka some love. Very few reactors pick up on what I think is an incredible contribution to this concert's impact not just by drumming like a metronome and like the drums owe him money at the same time, but also by his body language and facial expressions. I just love watching that guy making mincemeat of his set. Don't have a bad word to say about his successor, the brilliant Kai Hahto, but Jukka's just something else.
Great reaction! To me this is an ode to imagination, but as others have pointed out, it's left to the listener to find their own meaning in most of their songs. The empty crib of Peter Pan, to me, is a symbol of fantastical adventures. If he's not in the crib, he must be off to never never land and we can only imagine what he's up to.
This song is Tuomas (the composer and lyric writer) telling you basically what it is like to being an artist. A musician, poet, writer... painter. It's very personal song. As the songs states, "Writer by the fire, imagined all of Gaia" it's that moment when something just clicks and you see the whole story unfold front of your eyes. Every artist knows that feeling and has had those moments. "Childman's heart"... to be an artist, you never want to grow up. Thus references to Peter pan, Alice in wonderland etc.
NightWish Army Wisconsin Chapter here. Glad you did this song as it is my Favorite song by them, followed closely by Poet and the Pendulum and Greatest show on earth. Make sure you do the research on Poet and the Pendulum before reacting to it, as there is an important factor to the vibe. Enjoy your ride my friend ❤️🤘
She's a beautiful Giant. The musical Queen of these days. The Voice is at the top of everything, the best. And of course, the Musical Genius, Composer, Songwriter of this band. It makes the best band of these decades. Discover them just 3 years ago, instantly a fan for live. A humble conclusion of 60 years listening to music. Greeting from the Netherlands🇳🇱
Come for the music. Stay for the lyrics. The melodies are what pull me in, but the lyrics are what brings me back again and again. The keyboardist, Tuomas Holopainen, is the founder and composer genius of Nightwish. 95% of everything comes out of his mind. Floor is an empath and portrays the song meaning to perfection. Jukka(you-kah) is the solid driving beat, along with bassist Marko's solid bass lines, and Emppu's guitar riffs and fills and solos, when needed for the song(and only when needed). And you haven't even seen Troy, the multi instrumentalist, as of yet. Glad you are enjoying this!! So are we!!
I saw them 5 times, last time in Amsterdam 6 months ago (Floor's home concert :D ) YES she is this good live. Flawless. The whole band sounds exactly like this. They are a true live band, you will not see many studio recordings with video clips (except during Covid time) I love this band so much. From heavy trash to beautiful folk songs
NW Army reporting from S. FLOORida lol the way Floor goes from Operatic to full belting in one section is so incredibly amazing!!! I discovered NW w/ Floor in 2018 and I've been HOOKED ever since!!! Not a day goes by I don't listen to Floor's voice whether in Nightwish or her first band After Forever, or her 2nd band ReVamp or her side project Northward or her solo stuff!!!! Continue in the rabbit hole, there are SO MANY goodies!!! Hugs, S. FL
As you have discovered, Floor is an Enchantress. (And I, like you, are VERY susceptible to her particular type of magic.) The exploration of Nightwish is a journey that will enthrall you like no other. There is so much variety and so many nuances to their music ... and their live performances are, in my opinion, simply breathtaking. Listening to, and especially watching Nightwish, I'm usually either grinning like a Cheshire Cat or wiping a tear out of my eye. No recommendations from me, you can't go wrong following Gabriel's advice. Enjoy the journey, as a new subscriber I will watch on with interest, and I look forward to you discovering the all the songs that I love so much.
Peter Pan ran away from home so he never had to grow up and Tuomas is, self-admittedly, jealous!!! Tuomas is the poet, the dead boy (not literally dead but because the boy he was had to grow up against his will), one of the lost boys, one of the lost ones and an ocean soul - in his own words. Nightwish Army, Blue Mountains Corps, Australia.
I've discovered this band some years ago and I'm totally hooked with them. I've had the privilege to see them live as well and it is an unforgettable experience. Not to mention I'm absolutely destroying my eardrums listening to them at full blast while driving. 😅
It's awesome that you found nightwish. You will never look at music the same way again. A real heavy song by nightwish is romanticide. I would try that one next. We, members of the nightwish army greet each other by saying " how's the heart. The acoustic version of that song is probably the most beautiful song I've ever heard. When they did it at the concert I attended I was so moved that I wept. Anyways. Welcome to the incredible world of nightwish.
I think the song is just about the wonders of storytelling and all its aspects. It's the first thing that seperated humans from animals, the ability to tell stories 😊
Floor is a mesmerizing Goddess, she is the G.O.A.T. for real. I can't wait until you hear Marko sing with her, or on his own. He is totally underrated as a singer. This one got you my subscription! I'm in North Carolina.
The song is basically about creativity, especially writing/story creation and the things that inspire it (e.g "a soaring kite against the blue, blue sky"). It's nothing sinister. If you want one that does have that 'luring people to their doom' vibe, try the excellent Ghost River from the same concert, where both Floor and Marko try to do just that! I believe it's on Gabriel's list for the link. Great reaction - from the UK Division.
Nightwish Army here from New York. I love watching new NW followers. Jump on down that rabbit hole, you won’t be sorry. There are other concerts that will be in your journey. Wembley, Tampere and Buenos Aires to name a few . Welcome!
I am 65 years young....and I am an old heavy metal/hard rock lover since I was a kid in the 1960's. I discovered Nightwish back in January of 2019...and I have been hooked since then! And yeah...being I was born and raised in Texas....I do listen to some country music every now and then...mainly Dwight Yoakam from time to time! Mostly it's Nightwish! Glad you are liking Nightwish! As for the drummer, Jukka....he is not the drummer anymore, as he had been suffering from chronic insomnia, and was getting next to no sleep! Which is dangerous.... I know, as I suffered from severe, chronic sleep apnea, and I was getting less than 20 minutes of REM sleep every night, which was causing me to hallucinate during the day when I was working. I have been using a Bipap machine to help me breathe regularly since 2001. So...I kind of understand what he was going through. He is still with the band in a managerial position! Well...Nightwish Army, Austin, Texas Regiment signing out!!!
SW British Columbia, Canadian division reporting. Gabriel is your guide but can't go wrong with anyone's advice in the Army. The band is going on a well deserved hiatus next year but hoping for a return in 2025 (and praying to Odin it is with Marko)
Reacts to Joelma when he was a member of the band Calypso live in the Amazônia (Brazil) in 2004. And then he reacts to Joelma in his solo career live in the Amazônia in 2022 (Block 1 and Block 2). She is considered the greatest performer in Brazil, and one of the few who don't use playback, her face is swollen because she contracted Covid 4 times and her blood was clotting, but even so she managed to record this DVD, like almost 50 years. From Rio de Janeiro!
Nightwish isn't just a band. Nightwish is a lifestyle. Old wise soul. Mixed with a child's mind and the genius of Einstein. A ever longing heart mixed with a lover's sweet embrace.
Michigan Chapter member here, I discovered NW through a single reaction video I stumbled on 2 years ago and I've been hooked ever since. "Is there some darkness to this"... nope, no darkness, just the magic!
What you described at the beginning sounded like the song ( walking in the air) Sung by their first singer Tarja. Good song very beautiful. About 20 years ago.
Glad you continued on this journey…another great reaction. New sub for more Nightwish. I think you basically got it in the end…the child is grown, but those childhood stories are still part of who we’ve grown to be. One note about lyrics and meanings: Tuomas (keyboardist who writes the vast majority of the music and lyrics) often writes very personal, introspective lyrics, the meaning of which can often be a bit elusive. He has said many times that, rather than try to explain his lyrics he is happy for the listener to interpret them in whatever way they might provide meaning or emotions to that particular listener. I think his lyrics are often more about emotions than specific ideas or truths. That is, I think, what makes this band so effective…Floor is able to feel whatever emotions Tuomas has injected into his lyrics, and then sing them in a way that evokes those emotions from the listener. I’ve seen many reactors cry while listening to one of their songs and they can’t really explain why…it’s the emotion in the lyrics and in Floor’s performance, sometimes more so than the specific lyrics.
Storytime is from the album Imaginaerum, which is also the film music for the film of the same name. The band can also be seen there with their second singer Anette. The song describes the main character of the film. A composer who creates new worlds without taking his environment into account. Since this is the tour for the album / film, there are more songs to come. This will be the last tour for Jukka. When they want to record the new record, he has to give up shortly after the start due to chronic insomnia. He asks his friend Kai to step in temporarily until he recovers. He will be the temporary assistant for four years and then his successor. There is also a solo from Kai on the first tour: Nightwish - Weak Fantasy - Vehicle of Spirit Live at Wembley (2015) Floor is a workolic. She only stops practicing when every note is spot on and it sounds effortless. This is the Disney version of Vikings. The "real Vikings" are in Folk Metal: ELUVEITIE - Aidus (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) Heilung | LIFA - Krigsgaldr LIVE More symphonies? VISIONS OF ATLANTIS - Pirates Will Return (Official Live Video) | Napalm Records Within Temptation - Wireless (Visualizer) Blackbriar - Mortal Remains (Official Music Video)
Hi Nick. Great reaction. You have to bear in mind that Wacken sells out a year in advance, when Floor wasn’t in the band. I wouldn’t want to put Anette, the previous vocalist down, but she didn’t have the stage presence or live vocal ability of Floor. Just seeing the crowds faces and their happiness let’s you know what we all felt about the ‘new girl’ ❤️
Nice reaction and greetings from Finland! You have a nice Nightwish journey going on and you seem to enjoy it, so here's a little story about how they started working with Pip Williams when they made the Once album (2004). Ghost Love Score can be found on the album and Pip became the band's good friend and reliable partner who has worked with them on every record since then. Here's a clip from their book and timeline is year 2003-04. ---------------------- From the very start, Tuomas had a strong feeling that Once had to have an orchestra, come what ever may. After finishing the recording of backing tracks, the process continued in London with the legendary producer Pip Williams at the helm. Known for his work for the likes Status Quo and Uriah Heep, Williams was responsible for the orchestrations on the album. When the Nightwish guys heard what orchestra they would be working with, their jaws hit the floor. "As Ewo and I traveled to London at the end of November to meet Pip Williams, we had no clue about the orchestra he'd gotten for us", Tuomas says. "The only thing we knew was that Williams himself would do the arrangements and that through his connections, he would hook us up with an orchestra and a choir. The first time we visited Phoenix Sound Studio, Rick Wakeman (the keyboard player of the legendary progressive rock band Yes) opened the door for us. That's when we realized we're onto something big. As we were having coffee in the studio, Pip dropped the bomb: the orchestra in question had played on The Lord of the Rings, as well as on many other Hollywood soundtracks - all recorded in this studio!" It seems that Pip Williams wanted only the best for a band he held in great respect. "I have followed the band for some time, and it's been interesting to see how they have developed. Of course Rock bands like Deep Purple have previously used orchestras, but I really feel that Nightwish have combined the best of both worlds most successfully. They are a classic Metal band with strong classical and movie-score influences in their music." "It was important for me that it would not be just about over-dubbing a few orchestral parts on top of a Rock band", Williams continues. "Tuomas' compositions were brilliant also in the sense that choir and orchestra could be added naturally, so that they don't sound pretentious or contrived. This is of utmost importance. The songs must be structured so as to allow the orchestra enough space. In the end, the results were quite emotive. Also, let us not forget just how good all the musicians in Nightwish are. They are perfectly sympathetic to Tuomas' vision. And Tarja's (1st lead singer) wonderful voice has done the songs great justice." Williams knew his orchestra well. "I have worked with most of the players on different sessions for many years. Gavin Wright is a sensitive and authoritative orchestra leader, and together with Isobel Griffiths, the orchestral contractor, we were able to secure just the right musicians for each song. Anthony Pleeth, who has the lead cellist and played solo cello on 'Kuolema tekee taiteilijan', is one such example. These guys have done many, many big movie scores, as have the wonderful Metro Voices choir, and I thought this project required the kind of grandiose performance one would find on movie soundtracks by, say, Howard Shore." Tuomas could not have been more excited about the situation. "Using the orchestra was an earthshaking experience. I only had to lie on the studio couch for two days, listening to these amazingly talented people. During the first takes, someone said into the mike, 'Are these guys really serious?'. When we began 'Ghost Love Score', a positive kind of bewilderment took over the orchestra. That, as well as 'Dark Chest of Wonders', were the first ones we recorded." Williams was equally happy with his orchestra. "These musicians are such brilliant sight readers that it wasn't necessary to do more than a couple of rehearsals. Then we'd have a take or two of each song. It all went very smoothly. After the takes, I would check that Tuomas was happy, and then we would move on. If there was anything he wanted changed, it would be dealt with in a very short time. I must say, however, that we had prepared very well - I had been constantly on the phone with Tuomas when I was writing the arrangements. Yes, I ended up making a huge phone bill! But the groundwork paid off, as only a few small alterations were necessary." Tuomas and Pip Williams immediately hit it off on a personal level. "Tuomas is sensitive, caring, very observant - he's what the English call a musical sponge", Williams commends. "It means he is always willing to try new ideas and absorbs the musical influences around him like a sponge. Tuomas always wants to learn more about music, its origins and sound. He has very firm ideas of what he is trying to achieve, but he also leaves space for those working with him to express themselves. He is humble, appreciative and approachable, one of the most talented musicians or composers I have ever worked with. I really think he would make an original and effective movie score composer, and I definetely want to collaborate with Tuomas again in the future - in fact, we're already talking about the next venture. I would also love to collaborate with him on a movie score at some point." "Many times the players would come into the control room afterwards to listen to the takes, and according to Pip, that's something that doesn't happen very often," Tuomas says. "They're usually not that interested - they just do their job and leave, but now they actually listened to the songs. At the end of the last day, as I went down to thank the orchestra, they started applauding, standing up from their seats. It was one of those great moments in life." According to Williams, a Pop or Rock artist rarely receives a standing ovation. "The musicians respected the quality of the songs and the challenge of playing such intricate and well structured music. You must remember that these guys also do simple pop sessions, songs that are very easy to play. With Nightwish, they were able to play stuff that was often as demanding as many of the classical pieces they had trained on. This was so much more than just simple 3-chord songs in 4/4 time. And let's not forget that they also had great respect for people that were prepared to take such a huge musical and financial risk, all for the sake of art! Remember, these were very expensive sessions. I'm very satisfied with my own reward for the arrangements, too." "There is alwas a degree of compromise when mixing a Metal band with a large orchestra, as it's such a huge sound, but all in all, I'm really pleased with the end result", Pip reflects. "The main thing is that we have established a great identity with Nightwish and the orchestra, and our cooperation could be even better in the future. Seriously, Once is one of the most enjoyable projects in my career, and I've done this for 35 years!"
Glad you came back, you have somehow got two songs crossed over walking in the air was originally by Alex Jones a choir boy from the uk, and storytime which is about fantasy in general Peter pan, Alice in wonderland, no worries though as, long as you enjoyed it. Nightwish are very diverse they can do everything very hard metal ballads and folk metal, you haven't met the sixth band member yet Troy Donnekly from the uk a multi instrumentalist whose speciality is the Uilleann pipes a sort of Irish bagpipe. When you do I want my tears back the Buenos Aires is the one to go for the crowd participation is mad. I'm from the UK so we are proud to have one of our country men in this band. Thank you for coming back, hope you continue your journey 😊🇬🇧
This is our Valkyrie Goddess for you. And you witnessed first hand a "Dutch Windmill" , and to finish you off, The Operatic "Cruise Missile" !!!! Floor has 3 distinct styles. Head banging(straight forward, then back), hair whip(almost like cracking a bullwhip) and the Windmill(continuous 360 degree revolutions). Why Windmill? Well she is Dutch. The Drummer: Jukka "The Pirate" Nevalainen is the former drummer in the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish (left for health reasons, but is still a member behinde the scenes). He Is famous among Nightwish fans for wearing a bandana on his head, even during shows, his energetic drumming style, and for his spinning of his drumsticks. Joined Nightwish at the age of 17. Awesome tune , although it is kind of a popish sound (originally sung by Anette, the second singer of Nightwish), but Floor gave it soooo much POWER !!! Including this "Operatic" part, what was originally done by children's choir because vocal limitations on their second singer (Great singer also, I might add), but Floor has none of that "Limit". Nightwish lyrics are often a bit interpretive, and not as "straightforward" as many other bands, because Tuomas ( The Metal Mozart Tuomas Holopainen: founder, leader, keyboardist, songwriter and the main composer for Nightwish.) prefers people to put their own interpretations and life experiences into the lyrics. you connect with songs on a personal level when there is something there that relates to things you have gone/are going through, and you may even find new connections later on in life when you have gone through other big events/emotions. there might be songs you are quite indifferent about (oh, nice song) and then you go through something big and all of a sudden it makes you break down in tears because now you relate to something in the lyrics you didn't before, and see it from a whole new perspective. imagination and life experiences are powerful, and Tuomas has great appreciation of this. So,....Nightwish Shadow Unit from Estonia Will accompany you on your journey (New Subscriber)!!!!!! NWSU/FloorFan 🤘😎🤘.
Really enjoying your journey and analysis. Keep it up!! The keyboardist- Tuomas- writes all the lyrics, composes the symphonic elements and writes most of the melodies. He has been called the metal Mozart! Floor is hands down, the most versatile female vocalist of all time!!! She has had training in so many vocal styles and her raw talent is simply outstanding. Follow Gabriel’s guidance- so many more great live performances to see!! The bassist, Marko, also has a great voice and they harmonize extremely well- check out Song of Myself from the same 2013 Wacken show. U got my sub.
Would like to see you give Kamelot a try … maybe ask your subscribers which song they prefer you reacting to … if you love Nightwish, you’ll love Kamelot too! Cheers
It's really nice to be able to vicariously discover these videos for the first time again by watching reaction videos. I really recommend that you check out the official live video from Buenos Aires of The Devil and the Deep Dark Ocean. There you get to here Marco, the bass player, display his vocal abilities to and the back and forth between them in that performance is amazing.
Our Valkyrie queen has stolen another soul. Welcome to the family brother
Thank you Michael!
I just love watching people discover Nightwish. They are truly something special. Great reaction Nick
Laudato thank you for that, I'm glad you are enjoying! I'll definitely continue the journey :D Thank you for being here!
@@nickforell1 ...and when the time is right (in other words, further down the rabbit hole), you will encounter the name selected by the person your reply was addressed to. Can't wait to see you there.
@@ankangas Haha! I didn’t see it at first. Then when I read how Nick’s reply was addressed, I was like, “wait a minute”. Lol!
Same here:)
She is really that good live. Saw her solo in May in Germany and was blown away by her power! My fav female vocalist ❤she is incredible
Hab sie in Hamburg gesehn im Mai. Fands schade für sie,das sie Aufgrund des schlechten Vorverkaufs in die kleinere Location umziehen mußte. Andererseits war das ein richtig geiles,kleines Konzert😍🥳🤘
New subscriber here, of course. Thanks for the shout-out, but especially because you decided to continue exploring this real treasure of good music that is Nightwish. As you well noticed, the lyrics are poetic and full of metaphorical meanings. This is mostly due to the main composer of the band, Tuomas Holopainen (on keyboards), in the opinion of many of us - one of the greatest composers of these times. You will discover in time that all his compositions are different from each other, but instantly recognizable. I await your next reactions with great curiosity, because I like your "fresh" approach.
Greetings from Romania!
Gabriel, thank you again for the help so far. So far its been fun to see the dynamic between the crowd and band, it seems so wholesome yet insanely fun. Can't wait to continue the journey
Cheers from Canada Gabriel, will buy you a beer if we are ever in your country
So glad that you are enjoying Nightwish so much. Tuomas leaves the lyrics a bit vague because he likes to see everyone interpret the songs in their own way. There is no right or wrong meaning, it's what the song means to you.
Well said Gaye! I'll definitely continue the journey :D Thank you for being here!
Listening NW for almost 20 years and never head of that. Very nice to know
The song that made me a fan for life.
Yupsky- me too
I would like to say: that is precisely the essence of this song. A young man grew up, grew up and lost his dream world. That boy was Tuomas (keyboards, band leader, poet, composer of 95% of Nightwish songs) but could be me or you too. 'Song of Myself' is also that kind of song that makes you look back on your life up to that point. Was it worth it? Do you also see less fortunate people (human or animal)? Did it hit you too? Do you also give them your love? What did you contribute to humanity and/or nature, the universe?
Greetings from the Netherlands.
I concur.
Has been my ringtone for 14 years ;-)
Imaginaerum is their best album.
Just went to two of their concerts, felt the happiest girl alive, they lift me up anytime❣️
They are magical!
Which two did you get tickets for?
Was the set list different?
Floor and Troy sometimes try the home language.
@@stpfs9281 went to Amsterdam and Vienna, setlist was slightly different and of course we had Henk Poort in Amsterdam as a guest for ‘Phantom of the Opera’❣️
Is it just me or I saw your eyes tearing up a little?😉
Congrats man, you're one of us already!😊🎉
That's the power of Nightwish!
Tuomas' writing (music to FEEL and poetic lyrics) plus Floor soul-reaching voice (your inner walls have no chance: when she start to sing, she's already there!😵), plus the energy/power/love for music of the band members equals you have no way to escape, lol! 😁
To me the "empty crib of Peter Pan" line doesn't mean he's grown up: imo it's when Peter discovers the power of his imagination and starts to fly towards Never Never Land and its adventures!
The tears in the audience's eyes are of pure joy, the same kind of joy you feel as a little child when you dream on "a soaring kite against the blue blue sky": all this song is about is to make you remenber those times and that innocence!
Another banger by Nightwish on the recovering of your inner child is "I Want my Tears Back!": i suggest the Buenos Aires venue for that reaction because it's the best rendition for me.💥🤘😆🤘💥
Can't wait for the next one!
Greetings from Italy!👋🇮🇹🖖
Exactly how I feel. Greetings from Ohio, USA
Hey Flavio, yes I definitely was getting the onion eyes a bit. I am sooooo impressed with this band. Looking forward to more
Some random thoughts:
I think this is a "spiritual" sequel to Snowman story. They do have their version of it called Walking in the Air with the og singer Tarja (beautiful rendition).
Someone proposed Storytime is about story itself, as if story was an entity, and what it thinks of the world ("I am the journey I am the destination I am the home The tale that reads you"; and when it's done, it'll "Searching heavens for another Earth"). Whatever the meaning is, it's a fantastic piece of music.
Your face at that moment is us, Nightwish fans, still, even after all the daily listening. Great drug.
I also wanted to point out "Walking in the Air", but you were faster. This is an excellent opportunity to get to know Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's original singer:
th-cam.com/video/9icKP1b44TA/w-d-xo.html
Goran thank you for laying that out for me. Insights like this let me digest the song properly after. Cheers!
@@nickforell1 please be aware that Walking In The Air is a cover of a song originally performed by a boy chorister for the animated film " The Snowman". Tuomas did write for a film called Imaginaerum which is almost a darker version of The Snowman and features the second singer Anette Olzon and the rest of the band.
I grew up with Metal music.. I've seen many of the 'legends' 70 /80 90's (until they started growling anyway). Then diversified into pretty well every other genre of music you can imagine. I stumbled on 'Nightwish' ~6 yrs ago and rediscovered everything I used to like in metal music, condensed, refined and served up by the most prodigiously talented band and the genius of Tuomas Holopainen..with Floor. I don't listen to much else these days. Why bother?
Classical music and Nightwish are all I need :)
@@FromG2eminor Hvman :||: Natvre, disc 2!
Jukka is so much more than just a mind-numbing drummer. He dances with that kit like Baryshnikov, a complete show by himself. His fills are incredible and so tasty you could serve them at a 5 star restaurant. I understand that his drum kit got a restraining order after this tour, though. Most pro tennis players don't have an overhand smash like his.
Haha Nadal doesn't stand a chance again Jukka
If you want to see Floor in full Valkyrie mode, have a look at any of the songs from their Buenos Aires 2018 performance. I recommend "Devil and the Deep Dark Ocean" and "Slaying the Dreamer". To start.
Arizona chapter of the Nightwish Army reporting in. Next you have to listen to "Ghost River". It is another mind blower!
Thank you Stephen! Shout out to Arizona
So happy to join your journey of discovering Nightwish!
Same here! Thank you Rachael
@@nickforell1 I found them about 3 years ago. Changed my musical world. I was able to see them live in Minneapolis( long trip from Texas lol) and it was a wonderful experience!
@@nickforell1 hey Nick, it's a good idea to include in video tittle thats its Live from Wacken 2013 :) cheers, btw pro reactor tip: after a pause please try to go back a bit b4 resuming for song continuity & so none of the many transitions NW is known for will not be missed, your viewers will appreciate it :)
Another great reaction. For me it's the riff in this song that hooked me, it's awesome. The lyrics are whatever someone reads into it (is what Tuomas always says) but I think it's about the happiness that stories bring us as a child, as well as being able to escape the adult world. (The empty crib of Peter, just fly away from it all) To the innocent child the whole world is open to explore without any limits. Tuomas gets a lot of inspiration from his very free childhood.
But that's what I think, the truth might be a whole different ballgame😂 🖤
Little Raven thank you for that insight! I'll definitely continue the journey :D Thank you for being here!
Lots of childhood references in his songs,
a gem I found: "Do as you would be done by", from the story "The Water Babies", Ocean born?
I'm really glad you're enjoying them and continuing this deep dive. There's a couple tracks that are deeply personal to Tuomas (keyboards/ their composer) that I'm really excited to see you get to, but having better context into the band and their history before digging into "Dead Boy's Poem" or "Poet and the Pendulum" is definitely a good idea. Suffice to say, I started this snowball down hill, so I'll be here for each video. =)
Mike, thank you so much for the amazing insight. I can't wait to continue down the road and hear more
@@nickforell1 Poet and the Pendulum is just incredible I liked it when Annette (previous singer) sang it then Floor just takes the song to a whole new level. That and Greatest show on earth probably the two best live videos. Both are much darker than the ones you reviewed so far though, but musically they will bow you away.
Great reaction! Love this song and performance. Possibly my favorite from them, but it doesn't mean there aren't other amazing things from them as well.
I enjoyed it so much Eric, thank you!
It's great that you came back to Nightwish and gave them your time. It warms my heart when I see how much joy you have in their music. Of course I know Gabriel's list and of course I know which song will coming next - that's why I also recommend 'Romanticide'.
Btw - I think you're going to sweat a bit
cu soon,Kelsea 👋
Kelsea thank you for that insight! I'm so glaf you enjoyed watching. I'll definitely continue the journey :D Thank you for being here!
No turning back now 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🔥🔥🔥🔥
Welcome to the Army Private Nick .....ive seen them 2 times in NYC back in 2017 and last year and saw Floors 1st band After Forever back in 2007 also in NYC and seeing Nightwish/ Floor live is an experience youll never forget .
Thank you Silver! Jealous you've seen them so many times. Maybe that will be me soon
"Follow the madness, Alice, you know once did"!
So many references from the childhood of Tuomas.
The "Snowman" song is "Walking in the air", with the first singer, Tarja (soft "J": Tarr-yah).
Jukka (Yukka), was phenomenal, he is like an athelete (he needs to be, their set can be up to two hours).
This was at Wacken Open Air Festival (Vacken), Alice Cooper was the previous band, so not all the fans were ready for the relatively new singer Floor.
Once again, thank you for your thoughtful and candid reaction. I loved your smile at just the right appropriate times and was that a little "stank face" at that first drop I noticed? I do agree with you there is sort of a dark element inside an otherwise playful song. Being a child and having to "grow up." Why? Why do we have to grow up and lose our innocence to the fantasy world? I'm 62yo and still haven't grown up (thank goodness). Great reaction, Nick. Thanks so much.
My pleasure Frances, I definitely had the stank face. Such a wonderful rabbithole
I'm 74 and this is my favorite female and band performance in the history of music. No other band in the history of music has a better song and live performance like Storytime from Wacken 2013. Nightwish Wacken 2013, best concert in history. At my celebration of life party after I die, I have told everyone, you don't have to talk about me, just put Wacken 2013 on a big screen and enjoy. LOL
Nightwish Army Switzerland here, it's fun to watch how Nightwish/Floor got you!
I'm sure you will still experience a lot of amazement, joy and surprises. Nightwish is really something very special.
Hello Peter! I really can't wait to go farther down the rabbit hole
Thank you, loved your reaction greetings from Finland
Kerstin, hello to Finland! Thank you so much for the support
Greetings from the UK. New subscriber. Really enjoyed both your Nightwish reactions and look forward to enjoying watching your journey with this amazing band. As for the meaning of the lyrics, I've always felt that it bemoans the loss of that childhood innocence and wonder as we grow into adulthood. Stay safe 🤘 ✌️
Brian, thank you so much for the support. Glad you enjoyed. I've having the time of my life with them
It is so contagious to see people like you,reacting so enthusiastic for the first time to this particulair song,that i instantly get the same feeling.👍 🤘
Aw thank you Stra! Yeah its like lightning in a bottle
Nightwish (Floor) mau făcut un om mai bun!Respect.😇🤟🤟🤟
Welcome to the NW Army! New subscriber from Neolithic England. Loved your reaction and want to accompany you on your fall into the 'Rabbit Hole'.
Neolithic england, I love it! More to come and glad you're here with me
Thanks Nick. I live a few miles from Stonehenge, surrounded by Longbarrows, standing stones and Ley lines. Looking forward to watching your next....
Hello Nick. I'm from Bulgaria. I'm fan on Nightwish 15 years ago already. The most amazing band ever. Thank you for your reaction
Rock on!
Great to see you give Jukka some love. Very few reactors pick up on what I think is an incredible contribution to this concert's impact not just by drumming like a metronome and like the drums owe him money at the same time, but also by his body language and facial expressions. I just love watching that guy making mincemeat of his set. Don't have a bad word to say about his successor, the brilliant Kai Hahto, but Jukka's just something else.
Yes mincemeat is an excellent way to describe his conquering of the song!
He's such a passionate drummer, I love it
Great reaction! To me this is an ode to imagination, but as others have pointed out, it's left to the listener to find their own meaning in most of their songs. The empty crib of Peter Pan, to me, is a symbol of fantastical adventures. If he's not in the crib, he must be off to never never land and we can only imagine what he's up to.
John thank you for that insight! I'll definitely continue the journey :D Thank you for being here!
She is 🔥
One of the most astonishing bands of all time, and at their very best performing live!
This song is Tuomas (the composer and lyric writer) telling you basically what it is like to being an artist. A musician, poet, writer... painter. It's very personal song.
As the songs states, "Writer by the fire, imagined all of Gaia" it's that moment when something just clicks and you see the whole story unfold front of your eyes.
Every artist knows that feeling and has had those moments.
"Childman's heart"... to be an artist, you never want to grow up. Thus references to Peter pan, Alice in wonderland etc.
NightWish Army Wisconsin Chapter here. Glad you did this song as it is my Favorite song by them, followed closely by Poet and the Pendulum and Greatest show on earth. Make sure you do the research on Poet and the Pendulum before reacting to it, as there is an important factor to the vibe. Enjoy your ride my friend ❤️🤘
Okay Kevin, I'll make sure to look into it beforehand. Thank you!
She's a beautiful Giant.
The musical Queen of these days.
The Voice is at the top of everything, the best.
And of course, the Musical Genius, Composer, Songwriter of this band.
It makes the best band of these decades. Discover them just 3 years ago, instantly a fan for live.
A humble conclusion of 60 years listening to music.
Greeting from the Netherlands🇳🇱
Come for the music. Stay for the lyrics. The melodies are what pull me in, but the lyrics are what brings me back again and again. The keyboardist, Tuomas Holopainen, is the founder and composer genius of Nightwish. 95% of everything comes out of his mind. Floor is an empath and portrays the song meaning to perfection. Jukka(you-kah) is the solid driving beat, along with bassist Marko's solid bass lines, and Emppu's guitar riffs and fills and solos, when needed for the song(and only when needed). And you haven't even seen Troy, the multi instrumentalist, as of yet. Glad you are enjoying this!! So are we!!
I saw them 5 times, last time in Amsterdam 6 months ago (Floor's home concert :D ) YES she is this good live. Flawless. The whole band sounds exactly like this. They are a true live band, you will not see many studio recordings with video clips (except during Covid time) I love this band so much. From heavy trash to beautiful folk songs
Whatever life throws at you, if you can keep some of that childhood wonder within, it will serve you well. 😊
Yes, Nigel! Well said
NW Army reporting from S. FLOORida lol
the way Floor goes from Operatic to full belting in one section is so incredibly amazing!!! I discovered NW w/ Floor in 2018 and I've been HOOKED ever since!!! Not a day goes by I don't listen to Floor's voice whether in Nightwish or her first band After Forever, or her 2nd band ReVamp or her side project Northward or her solo stuff!!!! Continue in the rabbit hole, there are SO MANY goodies!!! Hugs, S. FL
As you have discovered, Floor is an Enchantress. (And I, like you, are VERY susceptible to her particular type of magic.) The exploration of Nightwish is a journey that will enthrall you like no other. There is so much variety and so many nuances to their music ... and their live performances are, in my opinion, simply breathtaking. Listening to, and especially watching Nightwish, I'm usually either grinning like a Cheshire Cat or wiping a tear out of my eye. No recommendations from me, you can't go wrong following Gabriel's advice. Enjoy the journey, as a new subscriber I will watch on with interest, and I look forward to you discovering the all the songs that I love so much.
Peter Pan ran away from home so he never had to grow up and Tuomas is, self-admittedly, jealous!!! Tuomas is the poet, the dead boy (not literally dead but because the boy he was had to grow up against his will), one of the lost boys, one of the lost ones and an ocean soul - in his own words. Nightwish Army, Blue Mountains Corps, Australia.
Great reaction again...please keep going with Nightwish and Floor's recent solo work (as well as the previous bands).
Thanks! Will do!
every time i listen to this song, i always have tears of happiness going down my cheek.
I've discovered this band some years ago and I'm totally hooked with them. I've had the privilege to see them live as well and it is an unforgettable experience. Not to mention I'm absolutely destroying my eardrums listening to them at full blast while driving. 😅
Goosebumps! All you can say about it...
yes JM, major goosebumps
It's awesome that you found nightwish. You will never look at music the same way again. A real heavy song by nightwish is romanticide. I would try that one next. We, members of the nightwish army greet each other by saying " how's the heart. The acoustic version of that song is probably the most beautiful song I've ever heard. When they did it at the concert I attended I was so moved that I wept. Anyways. Welcome to the incredible world of nightwish.
Nightwish is something else. Its like they are from another planet
I think the song is just about the wonders of storytelling and all its aspects. It's the first thing that seperated humans from animals, the ability to tell stories 😊
Yep, Nightwish is my favorite band 😁Hello from France ! 🤘👍
Hello to France Jerry!
Floor is a mesmerizing Goddess, she is the G.O.A.T. for real. I can't wait until you hear Marko sing with her, or on his own. He is totally underrated as a singer.
This one got you my subscription! I'm in North Carolina.
The song is basically about creativity, especially writing/story creation and the things that inspire it (e.g "a soaring kite against the blue, blue sky"). It's nothing sinister. If you want one that does have that 'luring people to their doom' vibe, try the excellent Ghost River from the same concert, where both Floor and Marko try to do just that! I believe it's on Gabriel's list for the link. Great reaction - from the UK Division.
Mouse thank you for that insight! I'll definitely continue the journey :D Thank you for being here!
Nightwish Army here from New York. I love watching new NW followers. Jump on down that rabbit hole, you won’t be sorry. There are other concerts that will be in your journey. Wembley, Tampere and Buenos Aires to name a few .
Welcome!
Thank you so much Jamie, I'm having a blast!
This song is perfect lyrically, I can't believe that human being could actually write something like this. Thanks for the reaction!
I am 65 years young....and I am an old heavy metal/hard rock lover since I was a kid in the 1960's. I discovered Nightwish back in January of 2019...and I have been hooked since then! And yeah...being I was born and raised in Texas....I do listen to some country music every now and then...mainly Dwight Yoakam from time to time! Mostly it's Nightwish!
Glad you are liking Nightwish! As for the drummer, Jukka....he is not the drummer anymore, as he had been suffering from chronic insomnia, and was getting next to no sleep! Which is dangerous.... I know, as I suffered from severe, chronic sleep apnea, and I was getting less than 20 minutes of REM sleep every night, which was causing me to hallucinate during the day when I was working. I have been using a Bipap machine to help me breathe regularly since 2001. So...I kind of understand what he was going through. He is still with the band in a managerial position!
Well...Nightwish Army, Austin, Texas Regiment signing out!!!
SW British Columbia, Canadian division reporting. Gabriel is your guide but can't go wrong with anyone's advice in the Army. The band is going on a well deserved hiatus next year but hoping for a return in 2025 (and praying to Odin it is with Marko)
Thank you Roland, I definitely read everyones advice and hopefully can take guidance from everyone
Nightwish is the best experience you can have live ❤
That moment when you realise Floor is an operatic soprano 😅
Yes ahaha, instant shock
Reacts to Joelma when he was a member of the band Calypso live in the Amazônia (Brazil) in 2004. And then he reacts to Joelma in his solo career live in the Amazônia in 2022 (Block 1 and Block 2). She is considered the greatest performer in Brazil, and one of the few who don't use playback, her face is swollen because she contracted Covid 4 times and her blood was clotting, but even so she managed to record this DVD, like almost 50 years.
From Rio de Janeiro!
Great to see that Nightwish transports emotions to the people. Keep on smiling! 🤘
Thank you! Will do!
Love youre previous reaction and this one,enjoy the ride😊
Thank you Cecielle, its gonna be a fun ride!
Nightwish isn't just a band. Nightwish is a lifestyle.
Old wise soul. Mixed with a child's mind and the genius of Einstein. A ever longing heart mixed with a lover's sweet embrace.
Boom! Gotcha! 🤣😂🤣
Welcome to the sights, sounds, talent, euphoria that is Nightwish❤
Welcome to the world of Nightwish!! Greetings from France !!
Thanks for the reaction, thanks for continuing with Nightwish
More to come Leonardo!
Every song of this show is worth listening. Greetings from Italy!
Michigan Chapter member here, I discovered NW through a single reaction video I stumbled on 2 years ago and I've been hooked ever since.
"Is there some darkness to this"... nope, no darkness, just the magic!
Floor is a full package for a metal frontwoman.
Every time you think, they can't get better can they, can they? Every time!
Only heard one Floor/Nightwish song and already you have the silly grin right from the beginning. Welcome to musical Paradise.
ILLINOIS. here, one of the greatest bands I’ve heard. I’m 73 and been a rock fans for most of those years.
Well ROCK on Harold! they are awesome
What you described at the beginning sounded like the song ( walking in the air) Sung by their first singer Tarja. Good song very beautiful. About 20 years ago.
Glad you continued on this journey…another great reaction. New sub for more Nightwish. I think you basically got it in the end…the child is grown, but those childhood stories are still part of who we’ve grown to be. One note about lyrics and meanings: Tuomas (keyboardist who writes the vast majority of the music and lyrics) often writes very personal, introspective lyrics, the meaning of which can often be a bit elusive. He has said many times that, rather than try to explain his lyrics he is happy for the listener to interpret them in whatever way they might provide meaning or emotions to that particular listener. I think his lyrics are often more about emotions than specific ideas or truths. That is, I think, what makes this band so effective…Floor is able to feel whatever emotions Tuomas has injected into his lyrics, and then sing them in a way that evokes those emotions from the listener. I’ve seen many reactors cry while listening to one of their songs and they can’t really explain why…it’s the emotion in the lyrics and in Floor’s performance, sometimes more so than the specific lyrics.
I have been NW fan since forever. I love how NW did rise even higher with Floor. Greetings from Finland.
One more nice reaction. Thank's for it 🤘☺️
No problem Bibs!
Storytime is from the album Imaginaerum, which is also the film music for the film of the same name. The band can also be seen there with their second singer Anette. The song describes the main character of the film. A composer who creates new worlds without taking his environment into account. Since this is the tour for the album / film, there are more songs to come.
This will be the last tour for Jukka. When they want to record the new record, he has to give up shortly after the start due to chronic insomnia. He asks his friend Kai to step in temporarily until he recovers. He will be the temporary assistant for four years and then his successor. There is also a solo from Kai on the first tour:
Nightwish - Weak Fantasy - Vehicle of Spirit Live at Wembley (2015)
Floor is a workolic. She only stops practicing when every note is spot on and it sounds effortless.
This is the Disney version of Vikings. The "real Vikings" are in Folk Metal:
ELUVEITIE - Aidus (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
Heilung | LIFA - Krigsgaldr LIVE
More symphonies?
VISIONS OF ATLANTIS - Pirates Will Return (Official Live Video) | Napalm Records
Within Temptation - Wireless (Visualizer)
Blackbriar - Mortal Remains (Official Music Video)
Thank you for this reaction, i'm counting days to saturday when i'm going on the Nightwish concert where i live. Greatings from Finland.
Have fun Carola!
GHOST RIVER is what you were describing in the lure of the dark side and to come across. Also in this same concert.
Not just fans from around the world ... fans from 8 to 80. (I'm an old rocker from waaay back, and these guys are the best I've ever heard.)
Hi Nick. Great reaction. You have to bear in mind that Wacken sells out a year in advance, when Floor wasn’t in the band. I wouldn’t want to put Anette, the previous vocalist down, but she didn’t have the stage presence or live vocal ability of Floor. Just seeing the crowds faces and their happiness let’s you know what we all felt about the ‘new girl’ ❤️
Enjoy your Nightwish journey!!
Greetings from the Netherlands
Romania Present !!! Hugs and all the good wishes from Timisoara ! Oh... Fantasy ? Tuomas.... is the fantasy child man ! You gotta stick around !!!
Nice reaction and greetings from Finland!
You have a nice Nightwish journey going on and you seem to enjoy it, so here's a little story about how they started working with Pip Williams when they made the Once album (2004). Ghost Love Score can be found on the album and Pip became the band's good friend and reliable partner who has worked with them on every record since then. Here's a clip from their book and timeline is year 2003-04.
----------------------
From the very start, Tuomas had a strong feeling that Once had to have an orchestra, come what ever may. After finishing the recording of backing tracks, the process continued in London with the legendary producer Pip Williams at the helm. Known for his work for the likes Status Quo and Uriah Heep, Williams was responsible for the orchestrations on the album.
When the Nightwish guys heard what orchestra they would be working with, their jaws hit the floor. "As Ewo and I traveled to London at the end of November to meet Pip Williams, we had no clue about the orchestra he'd gotten for us", Tuomas says. "The only thing we knew was that Williams himself would do the arrangements and that through his connections, he would hook us up with an orchestra and a choir. The first time we visited Phoenix Sound Studio, Rick Wakeman (the keyboard player of the legendary progressive rock band Yes) opened the door for us. That's when we realized we're onto something big. As we were having coffee in the studio, Pip dropped the bomb: the orchestra in question had played on The Lord of the Rings, as well as on many other Hollywood soundtracks - all recorded in this studio!"
It seems that Pip Williams wanted only the best for a band he held in great respect. "I have followed the band for some time, and it's been interesting to see how they have developed. Of course Rock bands like Deep Purple have previously used orchestras, but I really feel that Nightwish have combined the best of both worlds most successfully. They are a classic Metal band with strong classical and movie-score influences in their music."
"It was important for me that it would not be just about over-dubbing a few orchestral parts on top of a Rock band", Williams continues. "Tuomas' compositions were brilliant also in the sense that choir and orchestra could be added naturally, so that they don't sound pretentious or contrived. This is of utmost importance. The songs must be structured so as to allow the orchestra enough space. In the end, the results were quite emotive. Also, let us not forget just how good all the musicians in Nightwish are. They are perfectly sympathetic to Tuomas' vision. And Tarja's (1st lead singer) wonderful voice has done the songs great justice."
Williams knew his orchestra well. "I have worked with most of the players on different sessions for many years. Gavin Wright is a sensitive and authoritative orchestra leader, and together with Isobel Griffiths, the orchestral contractor, we were able to secure just the right musicians for each song. Anthony Pleeth, who has the lead cellist and played solo cello on 'Kuolema tekee taiteilijan', is one such example. These guys have done many, many big movie scores, as have the wonderful Metro Voices choir, and I thought this project required the kind of grandiose performance one would find on movie soundtracks by, say, Howard Shore."
Tuomas could not have been more excited about the situation. "Using the orchestra was an earthshaking experience. I only had to lie on the studio couch for two days, listening to these amazingly talented people. During the first takes, someone said into the mike, 'Are these guys really serious?'. When we began 'Ghost Love Score', a positive kind of bewilderment took over the orchestra. That, as well as 'Dark Chest of Wonders', were the first ones we recorded."
Williams was equally happy with his orchestra. "These musicians are such brilliant sight readers that it wasn't necessary to do more than a couple of rehearsals. Then we'd have a take or two of each song. It all went very smoothly. After the takes, I would check that Tuomas was happy, and then we would move on. If there was anything he wanted changed, it would be dealt with in a very short time. I must say, however, that we had prepared very well - I had been constantly on the phone with Tuomas when I was writing the arrangements. Yes, I ended up making a huge phone bill! But the groundwork paid off, as only a few small alterations were necessary."
Tuomas and Pip Williams immediately hit it off on a personal level. "Tuomas is sensitive, caring, very observant - he's what the English call a musical sponge", Williams commends. "It means he is always willing to try new ideas and absorbs the musical influences around him like a sponge. Tuomas always wants to learn more about music, its origins and sound. He has very firm ideas of what he is trying to achieve, but he also leaves space for those working with him to express themselves. He is humble, appreciative and approachable, one of the most talented musicians or composers I have ever worked with. I really think he would make an original and effective movie score composer, and I definetely want to collaborate with Tuomas again in the future - in fact, we're already talking about the next venture. I would also love to collaborate with him on a movie score at some point."
"Many times the players would come into the control room afterwards to listen to the takes, and according to Pip, that's something that doesn't happen very often," Tuomas says. "They're usually not that interested - they just do their job and leave, but now they actually listened to the songs. At the end of the last day, as I went down to thank the orchestra, they started applauding, standing up from their seats. It was one of those great moments in life."
According to Williams, a Pop or Rock artist rarely receives a standing ovation. "The musicians respected the quality of the songs and the challenge of playing such intricate and well structured music. You must remember that these guys also do simple pop sessions, songs that are very easy to play. With Nightwish, they were able to play stuff that was often as demanding as many of the classical pieces they had trained on. This was so much more than just simple 3-chord songs in 4/4 time. And let's not forget that they also had great respect for people that were prepared to take such a huge musical and financial risk, all for the sake of art! Remember, these were very expensive sessions. I'm very satisfied with my own reward for the arrangements, too."
"There is alwas a degree of compromise when mixing a Metal band with a large orchestra, as it's such a huge sound, but all in all, I'm really pleased with the end result", Pip reflects. "The main thing is that we have established a great identity with Nightwish and the orchestra, and our cooperation could be even better in the future. Seriously, Once is one of the most enjoyable projects in my career, and I've done this for 35 years!"
As a fantasy nerd youd love evenjig and eldenpath
Glad you came back, you have somehow got two songs crossed over walking in the air was originally by Alex Jones a choir boy from the uk, and storytime which is about fantasy in general Peter pan, Alice in wonderland, no worries though as, long as you enjoyed it. Nightwish are very diverse they can do everything very hard metal ballads and folk metal, you haven't met the sixth band member yet Troy Donnekly from the uk a multi instrumentalist whose speciality is the Uilleann pipes a sort of Irish bagpipe. When you do I want my tears back the Buenos Aires is the one to go for the crowd participation is mad. I'm from the UK so we are proud to have one of our country men in this band. Thank you for coming back, hope you continue your journey 😊🇬🇧
This is our Valkyrie Goddess for you. And you witnessed first hand a "Dutch Windmill" , and to finish you off, The Operatic "Cruise Missile" !!!!
Floor has 3 distinct styles. Head banging(straight forward, then back), hair whip(almost like cracking a bullwhip) and the Windmill(continuous 360 degree revolutions). Why Windmill? Well she is Dutch.
The Drummer:
Jukka "The Pirate" Nevalainen is the former drummer in the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish (left for health reasons, but is still a member behinde the scenes).
He Is famous among Nightwish fans for wearing a bandana on his head, even during shows, his energetic drumming style, and for his spinning of his drumsticks. Joined Nightwish at the age of 17.
Awesome tune , although it is kind of a popish sound (originally sung by Anette, the second singer of Nightwish), but Floor gave it soooo much POWER !!! Including this "Operatic" part, what was originally done by children's choir because vocal limitations on their second singer (Great singer also, I might add), but Floor has none of that "Limit".
Nightwish lyrics are often a bit interpretive, and not as "straightforward" as many other bands, because Tuomas ( The Metal Mozart Tuomas Holopainen: founder, leader, keyboardist, songwriter and the main composer for Nightwish.) prefers people to put their own interpretations and life experiences into the lyrics. you connect with songs on a personal level when there is something there that relates to things you have gone/are going through, and you may even find new connections later on in life when you have gone through other big events/emotions. there might be songs you are quite indifferent about (oh, nice song) and then you go through something big and all of a sudden it makes you break down in tears because now you relate to something in the lyrics you didn't before, and see it from a whole new perspective. imagination and life experiences are powerful, and Tuomas has great appreciation of this.
So,....Nightwish Shadow Unit from Estonia Will accompany you on your journey (New Subscriber)!!!!!!
NWSU/FloorFan 🤘😎🤘.
Discovering Nightwish for the first time... you're on an amazing journey my man. Enjoy!
Thanks a ton! I’m enjoying every second of it
so glad you found Nightwish!!
Me too!!
I saw nightwish live in November 2022, it was the best night of my life
hello from finland. this is numero 1 band. thanks for reaction
Thank you too!
Great reaction Nick. Welcome to the Nightwish family 🤟
Thank you!! 😁
Portugal infantry here! Keep up the reactions and we will lead you in a unforgettable ride! Bruno
Best band in the world. great reaction. keep them coming.
Thank you! Will do!
Really enjoying your journey and analysis. Keep it up!! The keyboardist- Tuomas- writes all the lyrics, composes the symphonic elements and writes most of the melodies. He has been called the metal Mozart! Floor is hands down, the most versatile female vocalist of all time!!! She has had training in so many vocal styles and her raw talent is simply outstanding. Follow Gabriel’s guidance- so many more great live performances to see!! The bassist, Marko, also has a great voice and they harmonize extremely well- check out Song of Myself from the same 2013 Wacken show.
U got my sub.
Ladislau thank you for that insight! I'll definitely continue the journey :D Thank you for being here!
Would like to see you give Kamelot a try … maybe ask your subscribers which song they prefer you reacting to … if you love Nightwish, you’ll love Kamelot too! Cheers
Welcome! That's our Valkyrie Goddess!!
It's really nice to be able to vicariously discover these videos for the first time again by watching reaction videos. I really recommend that you check out the official live video from Buenos Aires of The Devil and the Deep Dark Ocean. There you get to here Marco, the bass player, display his vocal abilities to and the back and forth between them in that performance is amazing.
If she’s not the best singer in Rock I don’t know who is!
Damn I love this band!
Can’t wait for you do more of them!
Dark Chest of Wonders is the real kickstart of this show. My favourite. Greetings from 🇫🇮