To make it clear, this song is not about afailed romance! (you should have read the open letters at first). Tuomas was never in love with Tarja (her husband set these rumours, he is the evil guy and the reason for all of this), She was his muse and inspiration, nothing more. The whole band were Schoolmates. Tarja was fired by the all the bandmembers, but Tuomas took all the blame. And many people jumped on him and treated him very nasty, because Tarja was the Face and Voice of the Band and everybody`s Darling. (being raped again and again) Tuomas was afraid to fire a friend , and eventually he would be forced to shutdown the band, his Child (infanticide). He felt depressed about it all, and this Song was his mental healing and Therapy.

@joedanis2889

2 жыл бұрын

Tarja and her husband were very vocal in their belief that Tarja was Nightwish, and without her there would be no Nightwish. The arrogance on her part was off the scale.

@nicholew350

2 жыл бұрын

@@joedanis2889 That’s not true. If she believed that, she wouldn’t have offered to help find a new singer when she told them she was going solo. There are two sides to every story.

@korvkioskshelvete

2 жыл бұрын

@@nicholew350 It is true. My best friend was a roadie to Nightwish in the early -00:s. Tarja traveled alone, didn’t show up to rehearse and acted like a total bitch towards the crew.

@kirsij1634

2 жыл бұрын

@@joedanis2889 Then after she was fired from the band, her husband offered to "be less involved" if they just would take her back. I guess Tarja and her hubbie were not so sure about the solo career after all. This detail is mentioned in the first Nighwish book. The same book which was then sued by Marcello with hefty ask for money (finnish legal system does not work that way, so he lost the case).

@karljensen6768

2 жыл бұрын

I've heard that, when Tuomas asked Floor to join the band in '12, she called Tarja to ask her if she was okay with her participation with Nightwish. She also refuses to sing bye bye beautiful, because Tarja and Floor knows eachother 🤗

just hearing FLOOR saying thank you at the end gets to me

@bigmw

2 жыл бұрын

The saddest "thank you" I ever heard.

@frankmerris8821

2 жыл бұрын

@@bigmw it does go thru you doesnt it

@bigmw

2 жыл бұрын

@@frankmerris8821 indeed

here is THE letter Dear Tarja, It's time to choose whether the story of Nightwish ends here or whether it will still continue an undetermined period of time. We've been working with this creation for nine years and we are not ready to give up yet. Nightwish is a way of life, something to live for, and we're certain we can't let it go. Equally certain is the fact that we cannot go on with you and Marcelo any longer. During the last year something sad happened, which I've been going over in my head every single day, morning and night. Your attitude and behavior don't go with Nightwish anymore. There are characteristics I would never have believed to see in my old dear friend. People who don't talk with each other for a year do not belong in the same band. We are involved in an industry where the business-side of things is a necessary evil and something to worry about all the time. We are also a band which has always done music from the heart, because of friendship and the music itself. The mental satisfaction should always be more important than money! Nightwish is a band, it's an emotion. To you, unfortunately, business, money, and things that have nothing to do with those emotions have become much more important. You feel that you have sacrificed yourself and your musical career for Nightwish, rather than thinking what it has given to you. This attitude was clearly shown to me in the two things you said to me in an airplane in Toronto: ”I don't need Nightwish anymore.” and ”Remember, Tuomas, that I could leave this band at any time, giving you only one day's warning in advance”. I can't simply write any more songs for you to sing. You have said yourself that you are merely a ”guest musician” in Nightwish. Now that visit ends and we will continue Nightwish with a new female vocalist. We're sure this is an equally big relief to you as it is for us. We have all been feeling bad long enough. You told us that no matter what, the next Nightwish album will be your last one. However, the rest of us want to continue as long as the fire burns. So there's no sense in doing that next album with you, either. The four of us have been going over this situation countless times and we have realized that this is the thing we want to do in life. It's all we can do. In December 2004, in Germany, you said that you will never tour again for more than two weeks at a time. You also said that we can forget about U.S. and Australia because the fees and the sizes of venues are too small. In interviews I've mentioned that if Tarja leaves, that would be the end of the band. I understand that people will think this way. Nightwish is, however, a scenery of my soul and I'm not ready to let go because of one person. A person who wants to focus her creativity to somewhere else, a person whose values don't match mine. We were never bothered by the fact that you didn't participate in writing/arranging songs, you never in 9 years came to rehearse the songs with us before going to the studio. Not the fact that while on tour you always wanted to fly, separately from us with your husband. Not the fact that you are an undisputable front image of the band. We accepted and felt ok about everything except greed, underestimating the fans, and breaking promises. It was agreed by the five of us that Nightwish would be the priority in everything that we do during 2004-2005. Still so many things were more important to you. The ultimate example being the already sold-out show in Oslo, which you wanted to cancel because you needed to rehearse for your solo concerts, meet friends and go to the movies. Those were the words Marcelo used in an e-mail explaining the cancellation. This being just one example of so many. I couldn't think of a worse way of being selfish and dismissing our fans. Nightwish is a way of life and a job with many obligations. To each other and to the fans. With you we can't take care of those duties anymore. Deep within we don't know which one of you drove us to this point. Somehow Marcelo has changed you from the lovely girl you were into a diva, who doesn't think or act the way she used to. You are too sure of your irreplaceableness and status. It's obvious that you blame your stress and misery on us four. And you think we don't respect or listen to you. Believe us; We have always had the uppermost respect towards you as a wonderful vocalist and as a friend. And very often during the past couple of years the plans were made according to your decisions only. You were always the only one who wanted more money from the shows. This ”compensation and more money from everything” -attitude is the fact that we are most disappointed of! We wish that from now on you will listen to your heart instead of Marcelo. Cultural differences combined with greed, opportunism and love is a dangerous combination. Do not wither yourself. This decision is not something we are especially proud of but you gave us no choice. The gap between us is too wide. And the decision is made by us four unanimously. We are beyond the point where things could be settled by talking. All the best for your life and career, nightwish.fandom.com/wiki/Open_Letter_to_Tarja_Turunen

@Davidkiser13

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this. Been hearing rumors of these letters and here’s to one of them thanks. Also I am falling hard for Floor Jansen as a singer and starting to love nightwish more and more. Sabaton and nightwish forever in my heart.

@WardDorrity

3 ай бұрын

There could have been no other choice. The gulf separating the Tarja-husband team and Nightwish had become unbridgeable.

When Floor sings the line “All you need is to feel my love.” I always can’t help but feel like she is saying that personally and empathetically… almost as a family member… directly to Tuomas …and to Nightwish… and to all of her brothers and band mates and road crew and staff… and to all of the fans. It’s almost like Floor was pre-destined to sing those very lines… before it was even ever known that she would ever sing them. They were meant for her. She helped to heal the hearts and the spirits of Tuomas, the band, the Nightwish team, and the fans. Outstanding reaction Tom! 👍🏻

@christinaalgate4899

2 жыл бұрын

I love it whenever I watch the video

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the time between the first spoken part claiming "I only have 3 minutes left" and when Tuomas uses his hand to slash his throat is EXACTLY 3 minutes long. Amazing composer.

Dude we have all been waiting for this 😃🤘🏻

@kezca

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed its a Masterpiece, looking forward to seeing you do this one.

I can't tell you Tom how much I miss you reacting to Nightwish, great job. I clicked on this the second I saw it pop up. Keep it up Tom.

Yes. The last part is about Tuomas coming to visit his parents and is visibly broken and depressed. Some of the lyrics in that part are actual words his mother said to him.

@silviahannak3213

Жыл бұрын

Didn't know that. Oh my Godness.

I don't know who told you that Tuomas loved Tarja. It is not right. Tarja and Tuomas grew up together and Tuomas loved her voice, but that is it. The real problem was that Tarja wanted a solo career (she announced that about 1 year earlier), she didn't come to the rehearsels on time, didn't travel with the band anymore, her husband Marcelo Cabuli found that she was a diva in this band and wanted more money. It came to a point that the bandmembers couldn't bare it anymore and decided to fire her. After fireing Tarja, the media and fans blamed Tuomas (even when all members agreed) and he fell in a deep depression. He wrote this song in a for him terrible time, but he was so precise that after the spoken words 3 minutes and counting it is exactly 3 minutes when you see him slash his throat with his hand and commit suïcide in the song.

@CasaLua

2 жыл бұрын

I was looking for someone to mention that! Thank you Louis!

@louisminten7889

2 жыл бұрын

@@CasaLua You're welcome

@ortti8397

2 жыл бұрын

Maybe Tuomas loved Tarja (not in sexual way) because that is a thing...

@danielfrei3097

2 жыл бұрын

Wasn't it Tarja who told that?

@silviahannak3213

Жыл бұрын

That Song is really sad. Why blame him if all of them wanted her out? Not only him. What the heck. I can only imagine that he got bad messages from Fans ect. Back then i thought its over and have never read that Letter. Couldn't wrap my Head around it in the late 90ies. He was at a very dark place. Oh my Godness. What was he going through when Marco left cause of other reasons. Even if it was sad for all that she was out..They made the Decision and it was right for them. Sorry but those Allegations are though to read. How respectless not to go to Rehearsals, saying things like .i don't need them and the Greed.oh oh. Diva,Narcisisst it givesme the..Red Flag Alert. They wrote that they were always going her way. If that is the Case..they and he was right to do so. Yes even if you liked her. Get your moral Compass straight.

Empathica is sung by a boy soprano, the song is not particularly about love but the massive depression Tuomas felt after Tarja was asked to leave the band, Tarja and Tuomas grew up together and I don't think they were ever involved romantically. Tarja did not play as active a role in the band as she maybe should have and was already talking about leaving the band when she recieved the letter (it is public as is her response) Floor simply gave the poet and the pendulum a life that Annette never could, it have not been performed live many times and is unlikely to be performed again. Tuomas almost always has the vocals removed from his IEMs, though when you watch him he is singing almost every word. Emppu and Marco do check up on Tuomas several times during the performance. It is one of my favourite songs but always brings me to tears in places

@scray00

2 жыл бұрын

I know it used to be sung by a boy, but I heard that floor does all the orchestral parts now herself.

@billtbodger

2 жыл бұрын

@@scray00 empathica and the spoken parts are still the ones made for the original record, Floor does sing some of the Choral parts that Annette could not sing,

What is always forgotten here is that Tarja had already quit the band, but had agreed to stay on a while longer. However, she didn't live up to the agreement plus her husband was doing his usual gouging of the band for more money, so the band decided to cut their losses. The best analogy for the situation is this: you quit your job and give two weeks notice. The following week, you goof off and your presence is disruptive, so at the end of your first week of the notice period, your boss tells you not to come back for the second week. First of all - just go for the facts: Tarja had publicly announced that Nightwish couldn't fulfill her ambitions, and therefore would leave the band. She did this about 1 year before she got fired. She skipped rehearsals because she prepared herself for her own career instead . She wanted more money for her partisanship, and she wanted to skip the US leg on tours because of the income from these were to poor compared to the other gigs. And she wanted to be on the new album - again because of the income from it - and then leave... All this is stone cold facts - and came from Tarja herself. No sense company or band in the world would be able to accept this behavior - but they did handle the matter immature - and was far to slow in their reaction. Furthermore Marko had ultimated that he would leave if Tarja continued.. Luckily Tuomas and the others learned from all this mess, when they were forced to deal with the Anette situation. I don't believe situations like these would ever occur with Floor because of her mindset - she has been running her own bands and projects, and knows about responsibilities, corporations, priorities etc etc. And they have all grown up since then - business wise... The romance thing is BS. The real drama here is the fan backlash against Tuomas and his resulting depression. Even the prime minister of Finland got in on the act. It was headline news. He didn't know if he could continue. NWSU.

@Garbox80

2 жыл бұрын

AND it was Marko who first said it out loud. That they can't continue with her. He have said it in an interview himself. Tuomas just got most of the flack.

@paulriddle7818

2 жыл бұрын

Tarja said she wanted to do one more Nightwish album then move on leading to the taping of the End of an era taping. Obvoiously the band thought "Why wait?!"

@Garbox80

2 жыл бұрын

@@paulriddle7818 Also (by the rumors) she didn't want to make a NA tour anymore (or Marcelo didn't want it and he was her manager), so I think there was no point in doing that album with her anymore. The open letter part is what they could've chosen not to do. Live and learn I guess.

@paulriddle7818

2 жыл бұрын

@@Garbox80 Yeah the letter was a major mistake... They deserved alot of flack for that error in judgement..... Tarja and NA as a whole didn't mesh. Wishmaster and WIHAA were popular but here theres only so much tolerance for her type of voice. It wears thin. North America preferred Anette over Tarja.

@luxetveritas9196

2 жыл бұрын

Wow, I really sense no bias here at all...

it wasn't a love affair,but an ending of a relationship of a friend and original bandmate.

@helky8

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, lost friendship ❤️ it can heart as much as lost love.

@nietzscheente1271

2 жыл бұрын

@@helky8 I think losing a long time friend hurts even more.

@helky8

2 жыл бұрын

@@nietzscheente1271 might be true 👍

@danielfrei3097

2 жыл бұрын

it wasn't a love affair, but a ghost love (score), as it was always one-sided

"On the shore, we sat and hoped. Under the same pale moon.." is when the Nightwish was formed. Tuomas tells his his idea of the band to Emppu and Tarja at beach, around campfire at night. Tuomas wasn't in love with Tarja. They were just friends.

@KristiinaBerg

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, reminiscing the past. Cleverly done in the music by changing of key, pace and voice.

@nicholew350

2 жыл бұрын

The way he gets emotional during Ever Dream in End of an Era, tells me otherwise. I would go and watch old interviews with them. He says a lot of things that made people assume they were together at the time.

@Stuart_Lonewolf_Holloway

2 жыл бұрын

Whether as friends or something more there is no doubt about Tuomas love of Tarja.

Great song of Tuomas, Floor kills it. Its a big difference, just Floor can do that... Floor meets our heart on a direct line, immediately, unbelievable.

Great reaction! It is not about love but about how the band fired Tarja and an old friendship came to an end. The public turned against Tuomas and he got into a depression. To deal with this he committed suïcide in this song.

This is not about Tuomas being in "love" with Tarja, but about the turmoil going on with the band and the public when Tuomas had to fire Tarja because she was going in a different direction than the band was heading. Considering she was his friend since childhood it was very traumatic for him. There was lots of backlash from the public and he was at the point of killing himself and rather than do it in real life he committed suicide in this song.

@robertcraane7910

2 жыл бұрын

I do not agree. I was once in a band with a female singer, and it was a so called 'professional' relationship, though we always had special feelings for each other. Until she got pregnant by someone else. That killed our relationship, and the band. Unspoken love. We saw each other 60 hours a week, and then none... I even kept her on for a few years, I took care of their kid when she had no money, and I even paid for an abortion when she got pregnant again by the same guy, but they already broke up. Sometimes, being in a musical relationship, singing together, sharing so many emotions evoke more then just friendship. I still miss her. It has been a few years but when I hear this song, it reminds me of her.... Tuomas does not look like a guy to me who really speaks out his true feelings in real life.... I know because I am much like that! But okay, I got some songs too I have written about that situation, and even a novel, so yeah.... We need yhese periods in our life to write, sometimes.....

@marieskavo7159

2 жыл бұрын

What a sorrowful story. But powerful. Thank you for sharing with us.

@chasingbirds3073

2 жыл бұрын

@@robertcraane7910 You are speaking for yourself and your own situation. You know nothing of Tuomas and Tarja's relationship.

@robertcraane7910

2 жыл бұрын

@@chasingbirds3073 True... but I know about feelings and writing, and I am a professional psychiatric nurse.... Nobody will ever write such a song about a drummer or a bass player leaving his band, do they? But yeah, I do not know Tuomas, but if you just want to be right that is ok... I just think there was much more in that relationship then just two people in a band. Trust me, iI have been in the business for 30 years!

@101Mant

2 жыл бұрын

@@robertcraane7910 well as a psychiatric nurse you should recognise projection. You have exactly zero evidence for your conjectures, its all based on your experiences not his. The feelings here aren't just about how he felt about Tarja, its about all the hate he received afterwards and the suicidal feelings he had. If you listen to the lyrics nothing in it is about someone leaving a band, or unrequited romantic love its about someone struggling with themselves and a desire to escape by ending it all.

The most emotional song NW has ever played. I can’t even watch this without tissues handy. After I seen this, I had a new found love for Tuomas. I myself was there at one point in my life. I thought I had the best relationship ever. Here he cheated the entire time. So I felt worthless enough to want to die. I am glad I didn’t do that. I’m also glad my life is MINE again. After Tuomas played this for the last time, his life was his again too!!! 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

@TomTuffnuts

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you are still with us Jen. Youre story and experiences reaches so many! Keep being awesome

@andyl6742

2 жыл бұрын

@@TomTuffnuts The song actually has nothing to do with Tuomas being in love with Tarja. The song is actually about the backlash Tuomas received for firing her. This was kind of unfair as it was a unanimous decision by all the current members at that time, but Tuomas being the face of Nightwish copped nearly all the criticism and hatred from the fans and even his friends.Even the Finnish Prime Minister commented on it at the time for christ sake. That's how big a thing it was. The reason for her firing was because her new husband had become very controlling and was trying to dictate to the band about how things should be done, and of course Tarja took her husbands side and became very distant from the band, basically just showing up for concerts. Tuomas fell into a deep depression because of all the hatred that came his way and writing the Poet and the pendulum where he kills himself in the song was kind of like self therapy for him. Although I've never actually found it anywhere, there is meant to be an interview somewhere, where Tuomas says that he killed himself in the song so he didn't have to do it in real life. I hope this helps you out a little with the true meaning of the song. Keep up the great reactions and stay safe. Hi from Australia 🇦🇺 👍

@ZzKevZz

2 жыл бұрын

@@andyl6742 I think she was just comparing being in that state, not the reason for it.

@annachepiga4159

2 жыл бұрын

@@andyl6742 "there is meant to be an interview somewhere, where Tuomas says that he killed himself in the song so he didn't have to do it in real life." - the interview definitely exists or existed, I've seen it! but unfortunately I doubt I can find it now... :(

@davidstephen6753

2 жыл бұрын

Jen, I'm just so pleased that you found Nightwish, Floor and us in the Army! I love your reactions and, although I've never had depression or the experiences that you have, Nightwish have enriched my life greatly over the last 18 years. We're all here with you, so just keep being your lovely, happy self.

rare are the reactions where people open heart and soul to let split out what they feel. Thanks for sharing.

Today I decorated my home with Christmas decorations. I am watching your reaction to this masterpiece enjoying a glass of wine. Life is good!

@helky8

2 жыл бұрын

Sounds so good! 😍👍

This is just my personal take, but I think this song, along with being a lament by Tuomas, an expression of his sorrow and depression, was also a subtle "fuck you" to those fair-weather fans who were so vicious to him after Tarja's firing. And they were horrid. To a sensitive poet soul like Tuomas, it was devastating. I came to this conclusion after the line "I know I will die alone but loved"; like other celebrities who have fallen out of favor, but after their passing, they're lamented and praised.

@nicholew350

2 жыл бұрын

Well, he did it to himself by the way he went about firing her. He could have easily avoided all of this if he would have done it in a more mature way.

@Rafael-qi9bt

2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately many of the original fans are gone, and apparently few of them follow reaction channels in the English language. The story ends up being told in half by new fans. Most of these new fans just read the letter the band wrote and take it for granted without even looking for other sources. It's strange that most newcomers don't question why the band has received so much hate and lost so many fans in the past. No one would revolt against the band for no reason. If you want to see something beyond what the band wrote and understand a little bit of the origin of Tuomas' unrequited love theory, among other things that have occurred in the past, you can look up my other comment here. Just reading what the band said, in addition to producing a one-sided view of the facts, makes the reaction of the original fans and the media incomprehensible.

@NetAndyCz

2 жыл бұрын

The whole situation was a mess and I think it was in the long run good for everyone they parted ways, but how they went about it was really bad and somewhat immature. Of course some fans were overreacting, especially since they did not see the whole picture, and people are people. Luckily we ended up with this masterpiece as the result and Toumas did not gave up on Nightwish or life. But instead of talking to each other like adults, they let the issues grow bigger and bigger and wrote a letter to Tarja (and made it public as well). When she was sick and just after nailed a concert.

@randymarple9830

2 жыл бұрын

@@nicholew350 The whole band fired her. Tuomas got the brunt of the hate.

@nicholew350

2 жыл бұрын

@@randymarple9830 I know, but the way he did it was terrible. That’s why he got so much hate. If he was professional about it, he wouldn’t have gotten half the backlash.

The start is not floor but an English choirboy. In the original with Anette he also sings the last minute and in the middle with his choir und Anette (pacific). Here Floor takes over everything except for the beginning and the spoken parts.

@amygoodson-catlady

2 жыл бұрын

The boy's name is Guy Elliott.

Thank you this one! Please keep going with Nightwish, I love your reactions! ❤️ I think the meaning of "try to save them all, bleed no more" is referring to his bandmates. His mom is saying that he need to keep going with Nightwish becouse it's important to all his bandmates and it gives food to table for all of them. Not forgetting crew etc. Like Tuomas has said Nightwish is more than just six of them. They are one big family with the crew. And his mom is saying that he still has so much to give for... Thank god he listened ❤️

As already mentioned, this song isn't about Tarja and his feelings for her. See, this song is part of what could be called a break-up trilogy, with "break up" meaning dismissing Tarja and moving on as a band. Tuomas has 3 songs that deal with that on this album: Bye, Bye Beautiful, which is his message to Tarja; Master Passion Greed, which is directed at Tarja's husband, whom the band blamed for the change in Tarja as well as wanting more money and such from the band, and The Poet and the Pendulum, which is Tuomas' feelings regarding the entire situation and backlash coming from the fans after they found out that Tarja had been dismissed. For this song, the backlash from their fans was so much and so intense that even the government in Finland (I want to say the major of Kitee) got involved. Tuomas took all of this head-on, even though it was a decision made by the entire band at the time. It did lead Tuomas to a serious state of depression where he wanted to kill himself, but it was not because of love for Tarja; He, Emppu, and Jukka had lost their friend and schoolmate from this. So instead of suiciding in real life, he decided to kill himself in a song, so he wouldn't have to do it in real life. For that, he looked to one of his favorite authors: Edgar Allen Poe. This is his take on his short story, The Pit and the Pendulum. In that story, a person is strapped to an altar and is recounting his life as the pendulum keeps slowly singing lower and lower until it kills him. In Tuomas' case, he took that story and wrapped the debacle of Tarja's dismissal and his feelings into that story, and put himself (The Poet) onto that altar. He even added in a bit of The Last Supper and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ into it, as a reference to how the fans turned their backs on him after letting Tarja go, even though letting her go was the right thing to do, for the sanctity of the band. And to top that off, he even wrote his own eulogy into the song. However, it was the words that his mother spoke to him that carried him on to continue in life. In Nightwish's songs, there are a lot of references used to refer to Tuomas; among them are The Dead Boy, The Poet, and The Oceanborn. Tarja was his muse, which could have been referred to as Beauty. As mentioned in the chat, the ocean is one of Tuomas' safe havens. So when his mother was speaking "Search for beauty, find your shore. Try to save them all, bleed no more. You have such oceans within, in the end, I will always love you".. so if you think about it, search for beauty means "find a new muse; find something else to be that source of inspiration for your writing". Try to save them all is simple: try to save those fans that were upset. "bleed no more" It's okay if they don't come back; that's on them, as you have what you need to continue. You have such oceans within is also simple. You have many more safe havens that will be there for you should you feel upset again. The last line needs no explanation. You're right that the song starts at the end; it is composed in retrospect, where the end is after the old poet.. the old Tuomas died.. or when the old Nightwish (the Tarja era) died. At the end of the song, you have "The beginning", which is the new Nightwish at that time, that begins the era with Anette. That said, back to the trilogy. Floor is friends with Tarja.. in fact, Marko is as well now, and even Tuomas is cordial with her, especially when it comes to business. Because of that, Floor has told them that she refuses to ever sing Bye Bye Beautiful, and they have never nor will ever perform Master Passion Greed live. However, I would suggest to react to them, and especially Master Passion Greed. You want to see Tuomas on the Angry Pills, that is the song to listen to, especially seeing who it is directed at.

It's a slight pity that the only background you did know was the rumour (although if we're being honest probably with some elements of truth in it) about the unrequited feelings Tuomas supposedly had for Tarja. The rest of the backstory about his depression and hate he took for firing her, and the fact he had no one to turn to because everyone he COULD have was was also hurting (I cannot cry cos the shoulder cries more), is very heartbreaking. When even your country's Prime Minister gives you grief for it you can only feel that the whole world is against you. I have a theory that at the end when Floor says a very quiet, understated, "thank you" she isn't talking to the audience but rather saying thank you to Tuomas for only ending his life in the song and not in reality, and years after the fact giving her the opportunity to perform such an emotional piece of art for her friend.

@matzek.3220

2 жыл бұрын

Good explanation Ian, afaik the love of Tuomas has never been confirmed by anybody. So that has to be seen as a rumour or even a myth. Given they grew up in the same town and went to the same school there he might have had a (teenage?) crush on her, but that was a minor part of what let to his depression (if at all). As you said, it was the hate and anger from fans and media that hit him the most. Personally I believe the fans loving him (and Nightwish) at a high level during a concert and the same fans now turning towards him with an equal level of hate made him write the line "I a whore for the cold world".

@101Mant

2 жыл бұрын

@@matzek.3220 he was also with his wife at this point so entirely baseless speculation he was in love with another woman is kinda gross.

@matzek.3220

2 жыл бұрын

@@101Mant You're right. That's why I mentioned the teenage years so a time before Nightwish as a possible origin for the existence of these speculations. The media loves to dig in somebody's life to find these "old stories" and bring them up again, despite being totally unrelated.

@WoodyNWUK

2 жыл бұрын

@@matzek.3220 I was sure I'd seen or read somewhere about Tarja herself accusing him of those feelings, hence my use of "some elements of truth". As usual, I can't find it now when I need it Typical I don't however think there was anything behind her firing other than the fact she had by all accounts not been part of the band in her own eyes for some time, and the time just felt right to make the break This song for me is just wonderful in its composition and the way Floor expresses all the emotion and pain. Goosebumps every time at the Mother and Father act, and Floor and Marko's vocal harmony on that last part is just outstanding.

@MoMoMyPup10

2 жыл бұрын

In reality, if it was true Tuomas would have to be one sick person. And people would know. The band would know. And I doubt they would've been in full support of the letter if there was some demented long term infatuation on Tuomas part.

Absolutely LOVE your reaction!! This song always hits deep into my soul each time I hear it. You did a GREAT JOB!!!

This is Tuomas' the most impressive song ever. The last part of the song is actually a letter from his mother to him. This song starts with "The End" and ends with "The Beginning"

@Garbox80

2 жыл бұрын

Not sure it was a letter or spoken words when he was visiting them. But her words yes. The interpretation on the end-beginning is up to the listener, but I feel like that he felt like it was the end and then found a new beginning. After her parents' words and after Tony (Kakko) had told him that Tuomas has too much unwritten songs in him that it'd be a waste to end it there (they were on one of their hiking trips I recall).

"If you don't love Nightwish ................... seek medical attention immediately!" I don't laugh too often these days, but you made me chuckle. Thank you!! Also, I love watching your so very expressive face. And when you pause, make no comment, then start the video again ..... isn't it amazing how much you can say when you don't say anything?

It’s moving isn’t it? 😢 32:16 -“Try to save them all” - - Tuomas still feels that deeply 💔

I think you got some bad information because this is not about unrequited love. It is speculation by fans that were mad a Tuomas for firing Tarja despite no evidence to back up their gossip. The song is about the backlash by Nightwish fans against Tuomas after the whole band decided to fire Tarja after them drifting farther and farther apart and them no longer being able to work together. Despite the decision being made by the whole band Tuomas received most of the hate from Nightwish fans. It was this hate that drove Tuomas into the deep depression that almost resulted in his suicide and the composition of this song. See the open letter's by the band and also Tarja's response to get a better understanding of the situation.

The whole being in love with tarja thing was a rumour spread by her husband. Its kind of hard to be in a band with someone who won't rehearse, wont tour with the band. I read the open letter the only reason it was done that way was because tarjas husband basically flew her out straight after the end of an era show, and made it impossible to do so in private

As magnificent as this song is musically, there's so much going on here in how it's staged, too. I don't know if it's Marko and Empuu checking on Toumas or intentional staging, but the fact that Floor is alone center stage when she says "The beginning", and the three remaining members who lived through this pain are together for the last notes is super symbolic. Man. Every last detail is thought out.

You got the backstory wrong, it wasn't about unanswered love, but rather that Tarja was preparing for solo-career and the band felt they had to drop her to be able to move forward. Others will surely fill in more of the details.

@treintje1001

2 жыл бұрын

Her starting a solo carreer wasn’tthe problem. It was her attitude.

@Gibbetoo

2 жыл бұрын

i hate it when people give bad information for these guys who does reactions, especially with this song. telling them that Tuomas had crush on Tarja while he was already with his wife Johanna. just stupid.

@MsCatstaff

2 жыл бұрын

@@Gibbetoo Tuomas didn't get into a relationship with Johanna until 2009, at least according to her Wikipedia page. However, I agree that he didn't have romantic feelings for Tarja, the pain was for the severed friendship and the worry that the band wouldn't survive the change - and of course, the added pain of the fans turning on him because he dared to fire their princess.

@Gibbetoo

2 жыл бұрын

@@MsCatstaff you are right, i don't know when they started to be together, but what you say about losing friend is correct.

welcome to the roller coaster of emotions , a masterpiece anywhere. Greetings from Portugal 🤘🤘

Good response. The first 2 times I watched the video, I couldn't get past the part when Tuomas started singing.

You have done absolutely the right thing This song means so so much to Tuomas and also the Nightwish fans Well done Tom 🤟🤟🤟🤟

It's not a lovesong,it's about firing Tarja,and taking and getting the blame for it by the fans. That's what drove him into the depression.

@nicholew350

2 жыл бұрын

This is not a love song, but he definitely was in love with Tarja.

@pro-v7500

2 жыл бұрын

@@nicholew350 sounds like fan fiction, unless you have something that can corroborate that claim.

@nicholew350

2 жыл бұрын

@@pro-v7500 Again, here you are. Why so bitter and angry? Why do Floor fans hate this so much? It is personal for you? Does it somehow take away from Floors talent, or her standing in Nightwish? It doesn’t make sense. Why do people feel threatened by Tarja? She’s not ever coming back to Nightwish. Toumas adores Floor. He would never screw her over like he did Tarja and Annette. This doesn’t hurt or diminish Floors legacy at all. Nightwish had a long history before Floor joined the band. That’s just the way it is.

@phillee2814

2 жыл бұрын

@@nicholew350 And there you go, blaming Tuomas for a BAND decision he was the LAST to agree with. It isn't about Floor. She wasn't even in the band when this was released (and in fact, when it was written, neither was Anette). It is about your spreading of false rumours, seemingly originating in Marcelo having jealousy issues.

@nicholew350

2 жыл бұрын

@@phillee2814 Yeah. It’s how the new Floor fanatics act like Tarja’s history in the band somehow threatens Floor. I was making the point that it doesn’t. It was definitely a band decision to fire her, but it was a stupid decision for Toumas to make that letter public. There’s a reason why she’s mended relations with everyone in the brand but Toumas. They should have had a PR manager to handle the situation.

[I. White Lands Of Empathica] The end The songwriter's dead The blade fell upon him Taking him to the white lands Of empathica Of innocence Empathica Innocence [II. Home] The dreamer and the wine Poet without a rhyme A widowed writer torn apart by chains of hell One last perfect verse Is still the same old song Oh Christ how I hate what I have become Take me home Getaway, runaway, fly away Lead me astray to dreamer's hideaway I cannot cry 'cause the shoulder cries more I cannot die, I, a whore for the cold world Forgive me I have but two faces One for the world One for God Save me I cannot cry 'cause the shoulder cries more I cannot die, I, a whore for the cold world My home was there 'n then Those meadows of heaven Adventure-filled days One with every smiling face Please, no more words Thoughts from a severed head No more praise Tell me once my heart goes right Take me home Getaway, runaway, fly away Lead me astray to dreamer's hideaway I cannot cry 'cause the shoulder cries more I cannot die, I, a whore for the cold world Forgive me I have but two faces One for the world One for God Save me I cannot cry 'cause the shoulder cries more I cannot die, I, a whore for the cold world (Whore for the cold world Whore for the cold world) [III. The Pacific] Sparkle my scenery With turquoise waterfall With beauty underneath The Ever Free Tuck me in beneath the blue Beneath the pain, beneath the rain Goodnight kiss for a child in time Swaying blade my lullaby On the shore we sat and hoped Under the same pale moon Whose guiding light chose you Chose you all "I'm afraid, I'm so afraid Being raped again, and again, and again I know I will die alone But loved You live long enough to hear the sound of guns long enough to find yourself screaming every night long enough to see your friends betray you For years I've been strapped unto this altar Now I only have three minutes and counting I just wish the tide would catch me first and give me a death I always longed for." [IV. Dark Passion Play] 2nd robber to the right of Christ Cut in half - infanticide The world will rejoice today As the crows feast on the rotting poet Everyone must bury their own No pack to bury the heart of stone Now he's home in hell, serves him well Slain by the bell, tolling for his farewell The morning dawned, upon his altar Remains of the dark passion play Performed by his friends without shame Spitting on his grave as they came Getaway, runaway, fly away Lead me astray to dreamer's hideaway I cannot cry 'cause the shoulder cries more I cannot die, I, a whore for the cold world Forgive me I have but two faces One for the world One for God Save me I cannot cry 'cause the shoulder cries more I cannot die, I, a whore for the cold world (Whore for the cold world Whore for the cold world) "Today, in the year of our Lord 2005 Tuomas was called from the cares of the world He stopped crying at the end of each beautiful day The music he wrote had too long been without silence He was found naked and dead, With a smile in his face, a pen and 1000 pages of erased text" Save me [V. Mother and Father] Be still, my son You're home Oh when did you become so cold? The blade will keep on descending All you need is to feel my love Search for beauty, find your shore Try to save them all, bleed no more You have such oceans within In the end I will always love you The beginning

I really understand why both Floor and Tuomas are proud of how well they managed to get the right depth and emotions in this song - it is a masterpiece of a performance. I don't know of any other singer that are able to even come close to this. *** And still - Tuomas says that Floor's performance in Procession are even better... and he has a point there. Floor is even better now than when she did this.

Another great reaction, another Nightwish masterpiece ! Love the channel.

the story of this song is not about love, it's about broken friendship to an old friend and to a very important band member. They did a bad mistake to release this open letter and Tuomas felt very bad after this.

@joedanis2889

2 жыл бұрын

Tom should have taken the advice of the fans to study the back story of this song before jumping in. You missed so much believing this was a love song and not a song of betrayal among life long friends.

when the boy reads 3 minutes to live,exactly 3 minutes later Tuomas cuts his head off,masterful composing.

In the beginning it is a recorded boy choir ..listen carefully that. It is also the same on the album in the beginning of Anette era. Yes, this is a transition song from the innocent first era to the next era (Anette era). Tuomas committed suicide here in order to avoid it in real life. They all put so much emotion here in this performance. Check the details carefully. Every summer they organize KIMAF summit in Kitee...international fans go together and do NW covers and other art there. You can meet Tuomas and others as well there ... he is like ordinary person among all, easy going feet on the ground person. Maybe you can go to sauna with him. Yes the last part is called "Mother and Father" and those loved Tuomas...unfortunately his father passed away just recently. Just a detail is that Tarja directly contacted Tuomas via e-mail with condolences because his lost and Tuomas was very moved because of that. Keep in mind that Tarja knew his parents well too cause they were long time friends already before NW.

This is one hell of a song describing a decent into madness... Being powerless to do anything about it. Things just fell apart and the whole world came crashing down on Tuomas in the aftermath. There was literally no shoulder for him to cry on. Things got so bad he had to fire his love & muse... And it effectively erased the thousand pages into nothingness... But it was either that or the band blowing up. Well, the band almost blew up anyway and there was next to nothing left. But Tuomas did what Tuomas does... Turned to his music and poured out his heart and soul into these lyrics and tunes... And it takes a toll on the man and it is the reason why they won't play this again... Anytime soon at least. Tuomas has often times asked to block Floor's lyrics from his headset when they play this so he can get through it... And as you see at the end Marco and Emppu gather around Tuomas in support of their mate. It is extremely emotional and Floor is just perfect here, as she usually is.

this song is way beyond deep.

This song is so awesome and perfect that without the proper background, can transmit so many feelings, it's a Masterpiece..

Those! nice words at the end of the song were actually words of the mother of Tuomas.

Yeah, there you go. I cry every time, it's involuntary. Did you know that she almost cried here and sometimes has cried singing this? ❤️❤️😭😭😭👩🏻‍🎤👩🏻‍🎤👩🏻‍🎤

The aftermath of the break up brought out such strong feelings from Fans, friends, and even the Finnish President weighed in on the topic. Even though it was a band decision, Tuomas took most of the "heat" for the situation. Tom, please read the letters and then revisit this song, it will probably be even more emotionally charged. haha. I love your Reactions, and this one is one of your best.

@k.l.7788

2 жыл бұрын

Prime minister actually. :)

This has nothing to do with Thomas romantic feelings toward Tarja. This is about the fans blaming him for firing Tarja and the depression it caused him. He fired her because of her attitude toward working in band and how difficult she was. Thomas mistake was making it public because fans loved Tarja and was a huge decision to let her go. Tarja husband also created tension in band. This song is a masterpiece. This performance of floor is one of her best . They rarely play this song because very emotional still for Thomas.

I hope you get to listen to this privately, uninterrupted. It's a lot of song to process. Beautiful and magnificent piece!

Dude got the most things wrong, but he felt it, he felt it.

@KristiinaBerg

2 жыл бұрын

True that.

I am so with you, Tom. I absolutely love your genuine reactions to this amazing gathering of geniuses. I suggested you this song months ago and now, that you finally did it, I remember, why I did this . You are so authentic and pure in your reaction...esp. at 14:20...Lots of love, man...

I have been listning to this song more Times then I can count. I still get tears each and every time hearing the words "on this day....." This song is so incredibly emotional - and that's for me, listning to it. Imagine how impossibly hard it would have to be for Toumas writing this masterpiece. In my humble opinion, Toumas is Without the shadow of a doubt a complete musical genious. And for Nightwish ; well... I love them. A lot.

Yeah, my wife is cutting onions as well,.... every time during this song! BTW: Floor and Tarja are very good friends :)

A very very good reaction. Thanks! Nightwish is one of the very, very VERY few bands, where words and sentences needs stronger meaning to them, than exists in our vocabulary, to explain the true beauty, the talent, the craftmanship - how you feel when you listen to this great band!

Yep, part where Floor sings Be still my son, your home. When did you become so cold? Is from his mother's letter to Tuomas, also 1000 pages of erased text usually is referred to mean as someone either forgetting their past, giving up. Or as in this case most likely about Tuomas beeing in verge of suicide.

Listened to this song a thousand times by now. And I´m still getting wet eyes like I´ve chopped a bag of onions....

I cannot take people seriously who think it's Floor singing in the beginning. She is not even on stage at that point

I saw this masterpiece thousand times. I cried thousand times while Floor sing third part - Pacific and thousand times through last part. This is truly the deepest song I've ever heard. Enjoy your feelings and look forward for exploring this song again and again.

*THE* most reactionary reaction video, Tom, bravo. Your face the whole way through said everything, and that was everything that was supposed to be felt, even if you didn't know why. This song tends to hit most NW fans deep, no matter how many times it's heard.

Original approach to this work of art...

32:03 The Most Emotional second of the video when Tuomas throws his head back, makes me cry every time. Now watch the video and song again but forget the romantic love between Tuomas and Tarja, Tuomas has said in an interview very early in the bands history that Tarja was to him like a sister so yes he loved her but not in romantic way. Also think all this suicide thing as a sorrow over the band changing (The End in the beginning) and Tuomas not even trusting it to be able to continue from there. And then seeing the light and understanding that without himself there is no band nor music and somehow they will survive Tarjas absence (The Beginning at the end). Notice also the "3 minutes and counting - the throat slicing" points, Tuomas is very precise with time in his composition.

Hallo Tom, that Masterpiece has nothing to do with love to Tarja. Read the open Letter, and see Tarjas answer. After this a Shitstorm comes specially to Tuomas. It was a terrible time for him. The finnish Prime Minister at this times is the best example (what a a..hole).

@helky8

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, todays cancel culture would be same.

@ralfmeyer9086

2 жыл бұрын

@@helky8 i agree 🤘

@Piia2023

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, he made it actually 10 times worse...It was aful.

@louisminten7889

2 жыл бұрын

Yes he was an a...hole and like Piia Lindqvist said. He maid it worse.

@ralfmeyer9086

2 жыл бұрын

@@louisminten7889 Hello Neighbour. You and Piia are absolutley right with your opinion. A bad example for a Politican. But it is history, and in many years we know who Tuomas was, and he is forgotten..Hope, you and your family are well. Greetings friend

Awesome Tom! But as you are already told there wasn't any love story between Tuomas and Tarja, but they were good friends (and hopefully will be someday again) from childhood. Pacific- and Mother&Father parts has really strong mood. They get in eyes every time, no matter in what mood you are when listening. Even blackhearted metal guy like me. You are sharp. There is a reason for "The end" and "The beginning"...

Wonderful reaction !

Your reaction to this song is basically the same as mine the first time I heard this song. I actually took the time to go research the meaning of the song and it helped me understand what the song meant! And yes...this song is a masterpiece!

Hear this song and everybody around you start to talk how much Tuomas loved Tarja. Did he? Maybe, idk. Did he had a crush on her? Possibly. Why not? Tarja is a beatiful woman. What I know is, they knew each other for long time and were friends. Friendship over love. Break a heart is nothing to compare to beaking a life time friendship.

Oh my god! I can't believe you haven't done this yet. I was actually expecting a re-watch when I clicked the video. I feel like I won the lottery when I realized this was only 16 hours old.

Tuomas's pain is so present in this song, watching him play this music the pain just oozes from him. The chills, is his pain overtaking those watching. He has said he will not do this song again, and if you even feel half the pain in this song, just imagine his! He killed himself with song, so he would not do it in real life!

18:25 If I am not crying by this time I burst out on this part. I agree her voice expression, here, is beyond comprehension.

The whole love story angle is speculation *at best.* It was really about Tarjas personality changing after she got married, her husband having a very negative influence on her and it drove tha band apart. The fact that it had alot to do with Tarjas husband is what started the love story rumors. People on Tarjas side started accusing Tuomas of being jealous cuz he was secretly in love with Tarja.' There is some things supporting the theory that it was Tarjas husband who started the rumors. This was a long time ago so I dont remember all of it but there is one distinct event I remember where Tarja canceled a sold out concert in Oslo (I think) for some really selfish reason, I *think* she wanted to go to the movies or some silly shit like that. Essentially she had become about the money and status while the band was about the fans and creation. Tarja says she does not recognice the person theyre describing but everyone else in the band was of the same opinion. I find this highly unlikely there was ever anything but a love between siblings kind of thing between them as theyve known eachother since childhood, if Tuomas was in love with her that wouldve come out a long time before this happened. There is also the fact that the rest of the band co-signed her resignation letter... I doubt all 4 of them were in love with her. The song is about losing a friend and the sorrow and guilt that comes with having to fire her.

Fantastic. Being speechless is the right reaction.

This for me is one hell of an emotional trip. As you say Tom it is so emotional but beautifully presented. There is nothing wrong with showing your emotions they are honest 🤘🎸🎸

It's hard to pinpoint a favorite song of their's but for me, this is it. It just hits differently than the others.

Perfect reaction Brother 🦌🔥🎸 " Nightwishsoul " Stay Safe and Rock On 💁🏼‍♀️💎🙋🏼‍♀️ love and support from Italy 🇮🇹

Excellent job, this is an example where art can be a release of feelings and emotions not really suited for constant scrutiny. I think it is more Tuomas considered the band as a unit and when Tarja wanted to go solo that unit was in danger and he had serious conflicts (as did the other band members.)

@Rafael-qi9bt

2 жыл бұрын

Everyone in the band had solo projects in the past.

@papaverweg

2 жыл бұрын

@@Rafael-qi9bt but not inflicting or even threatening the band’s future.

@Rafael-qi9bt

2 жыл бұрын

@@papaverweg Tarja never threatened the band's future. In interviews Nightwish has done in the past she was very clear in the sense that it would be a side project. When Tarja decided to leave the band, she informed the group at the end of 2004. After her decision, it was agreed that 1 more album would be recorded and a farewell tour would be done. Tarja intended to focus on her solo career only after leaving the band. It turns out that the group secretly planned a letter of public resignation that ended everything before.

Tuomas is from a creative point of view so infinitely many levels above most of us and out there, that it is no longer imaginable. Metal-Mozart, seems to be a fun nickname at first glance, but let's be honest. He plays in this league, or even above it! And the people who make up this era of Nightwish are no less impressive, because they can also convert/perform the ideas of this genius so wonderfully. And that Tuomas can not only write wonderful songs, but is also fond of detail, can be shown here so wonderfully by an example. Pay attention to the words spoken by the boy at about minute 6-50 of the song. 'For years have I been strapped unto this altar. Now I only have three minutes and counting. I just wish the tide would catch me first and give me a death I always longed for'. Pay attention to what part comes exactly 3 minutes later in this performance. For me, it is completely crazy how much emotion and attention to detail is in this song. I can only say that I'm glad he found this way out of depression and creates such incredible music, not only with Nightwish. 🙏🏻 _____________________ 【 _Our rock never dies ever. Forever!_ 】- from BAND-MAID 'Manners' 🕊️

@WardDorrity

3 ай бұрын

You, sir have the right of it. Tuomas was in a way compelled to form Nightwish as a conduit for the expression of his creative genius. He is a driven man, driven by his thirst for comprehension and his awe of the beauty of the natural world in which he finds himself. It's a geas that rides him and compels him to create and express. Tuomas is a sigma, world-class empath. He feels so deeply of everything and everyone around him. It is both a curse and a blessing as I'm sure you'll understand. Recall these lines from Dead Boy's Poem: "Every thought, the music I write, everything a wish for the night." Tuomas is giving us a small hint of what it is to be Tuomas, an existence that we mere mortals can barely comprehend. And we get a hint of where the name of the band came from. A night wish is after all, a dream. Nothing is left to chance in Tuomas' art. Everything has meaning and often layers of meaning. So we get to the real tragedy behind the the parting of ways with Tarja. She broke Tuomas' instrument. The band has to function seamlessly and with an almost Olympian level of musicianship in order to express Tuomas' creative vision. Tarja's increasing obsession with money was the equivalent of spitting on Nightwish's, and by extension, Tuomas' grave. I hope this makes sense.

Hello Tom :) Great reaction! I won't comment on your interpretation of the lyrics and the story behind them since others have already done that, but I want to point out just how amazing Tuomas' creativity is: Between the moment where the kid says "Now I have but 3 minutes and counting" and the moment when Tuomas slits his throat on stage with his fingers, exactly 3 minutes have passed 🤯

Just here to say I made it to the end with you! Great, I'm glad that you did this the way you did. I like that you tried to figure it out emotionally. No apologies for pausing necessary EVER. Keep up the good work!

Beautiful reaction. Thank you. This was his Magnum Opus.

A 40 minute Poet reaction? Well we already know before even watching it that you did it right 👍 looking forward to the premier

Don't worry, you will understand the song just about the 10th time you listen to it.

The song is about Tuomas's depression after having ti fire his friend Tarja from the band for diva-ish behaviour and disrespecting the bands fans and members. Tarja was very popular in Finland and Tuomas came in for a lot of blame for the split, making him feel almost suicidal and worried about the future of the band which was his life at the time, so he wrote this song. In some ways, the song is about recovering from depression. The spoken words at the start are "The End", and at the end of the song you hear "The Beginning". Note the "three minutes and counting" words, then Tuomas's throat cut gesture exactly 3 minutes later. If you're going to commit suicide, better doing it in a song than for real! Its also worth noting how Marco and Emppu (the two other members who were in the band at the time) go to stand by their friend Tuomas at the end.

Deep love, yes for his friend, no more than that. At the start it says "the end", after that it was his way of arriving at the end. The last words" the beginning" was new singer and new start.

This is a song I listen to when I'm having a really rough day, because depression and suicidal thoughts are a bitch. But I'm still here. Still fighting. Still, every day, winning the war against the demons in my own head. And I know what it's like to feel like I'm the only one who goes through the things I have. It was seriously an uplifting realization when I realized I'm not in alone, dealing with depression. This is why I tell people: You are not alone. You never were, and never have been. You can get back up and keep fighting, if you're still alive. A permanent solution for a temporary problem is never the correct answer. On the other hand, everybody has days where they need someone to help them, to carry them. "When you can't run, you walk. When you can't walk, you crawl. And when you can't crawl...when you can't do that...you find someone to carry you." ~ Firefly ep. 11, "The Message" This song is what I have gone through in my life, at times: Feeling hopeless, discarded, used. Feeling betrayed, lost, anger, and rage. Feeling like no matter what you do, nothing will change. Yet, tomorrow is a new day, and no storm lasts forever. The thing to understand is, to let go of those things you can't control, have the courage to change the things you can, and have the wisdom to know the difference. This why I use music to express what I cannot in words -- because I know, music saves lives. And music is my weapon. #MusicIsMyWeapon #MusicSavesLives

@KristiinaBerg

2 жыл бұрын

Than you.

I've always felt like this song was a great representation about the "stages of grief" Tuomas experienced after his best friend betrayed him, the world attacked him for it, and he felt like he needed to commit creative suicide. Tarja leaving wasn't just a betrayal, it was the shattering of all of his dreams - which they once shared, and which had already STARTED to come true. Like the entire future he thought he was going to have (as far as he knew) was destroyed in one fell swoop, as was his entire creative identity, which he had built around this band, with Tarja as one of the main components to that. The ground had just been yanked out from under him. To me, as someone with a lot of experience with loss, grief, betrayal, and deep depression, I see it as: White Lands of Empathica - that weird, slow motion, "wait what is even happening" feeling of absolute surrealness when you first discover something terrible, that you are losing something massive. Then Part 2: Home - the tumultuous, uncertain shitstorm of "oh my god, I don't know what to feel" swinging back and forth [like that pendulum] between being crushed and being frustrated -- I feel like that decrescendo (that later "whore for the cold world" is sung over) actually sounds like sobbing, that it sounds like the song is actually struggling to catch its breath like when you cry so hard you can't breathe, which is really amazing to me; The Pacific: The pure, unadulterated, and enormous ocean of depression you feel like you're drowning in once it all finally sinks in, the acceptance that youre "going to die" or that dying is what you "must" do, and the strange calm that comes with the knowledge that it will all be over soon, finally; Dark Passion Play: The rage, the spite, the "fine, fuck them, then" phase, I'll show them, the "how dare you, how could they do this to me"; and then Mother and Father, being comforted and helped by people who truly cared for him, unconditionally, and looking for a light at the end of his tunnel, and the decision to start to rebuild his identity as an artist. I don't know if this is what they "truly" represent in his intent in writing, but that's how they strike me, how they resonate with me.

The Poet and the Pendulum was written after firing Tarja the original singer. She was the face of Nightwish at the time, and Tuomas considered her a muse to many of the songs he had written at that point. They had also grown up in the same city and knew each other since early childhood. All the band members decided together to fire her for acting too much of a diva. According to all the band members, Tarja was missing lots of rehearsals and would not even travel with the band anymore. Tuomas was painted as the devil by many fans, and went through a deep depression. He even considered ending the band and committing suicide. He wrote The Poet and the Pendulum at that time, and actually kills himself in the song. He said he killed himself in the song, as to not do it in real life. To this day every time he plays it, it takes him back to those feelings, and shows on his face. In the last part, Mother and Father, words are sung to him that his real mother said to him at that time of his deep depression. One part that touches me at the end when the guitarist Emppu and bassist Marko, the only other two involved with firing Tarja (that were still active with the band)were standing with Tuomas at the end in solidarity and love.

This is why people are told to read the back story on this song before they react to it!!!!

It's not Floor in the beginning. It's a child boy singing those lines. Spot on! =)

There is some interresting sport going in TV... screw that, can't wait for this one...!

You may not have understood all the lyrics, but you felt the song perfectly.

This song absolutely is Tuomas' masterpiece I think. In my opinion no song before or after has come close to the awesomeness of it, especially with Floor's vocals

best recording of this song. great great work by Toumas

It’s not about love for Tarja… it’s about how deep his love goes for Nightwish.

The boy soprano at the start was Guy Elliott from St Mary's Choir School Reigate, UK. The part "sparkle my scenery..... " was another boy soprano on the album (with Annette) but Floor said she could do it and Tuomas agreed..... Read the words Tuomas wrote/said about the song "Dead Boys Poem"? It states quite clearly that Nightwish is his child and creation and ending it would have been infanticide.

Her voice is unreal and the band is amazing 🤘

Maybe i will sound strange, but I have heard this song on album released after Tarja departure. I was sad she was gone. I thought Nightwish will not recover from this loss. So I started listening to album and this song was the 1st one there. It was an absolute banger but i didnt read the lyrics and didnt really care. What I try to say is that this song is a masterpiece without even trying to understand the meaning behind the text. This song doesnt need description. Of course everyone is free to enjoy any part of the sonf as the music as the lyrics. But I always get confused when people spend so much time tryng to explain every word they hear in a song. For me - the emotion, the music, the vocal line, the composition - is the main feature here. When I heard the backstory and the meaning of the song it didnt give me any new horizons. Because it was already there. You can hear it when you listen. It can be chinese. It can be russian. It can be finish. It can be any language. Just enjoy the SONG ) It has everything you need without trying to detect all the hidden or open text messages...

Good evening from Liverpool,, Great Reaction, loved it...... But, if there is ever a time to listen to the Nightwish Army, then this was it !!!!.... You would of benefited from doing full research into this song ( i agree with you that its usually best to discover the songs by listening & having genuine reaction).. but this is no ordinary song , as you have just learned.... You would probably loved the song even more than you did anyway if you knew full backstory.. That Being said, I loved your reaction anyway... keep em coming sir ..

Tuomas was not in love with Tarja, nor was he rejected by her. This song is about Nightwish and a possible breakup.

For your info: The voice in the beginning is not Floor, but a young trained child choir boy. Remember, when that same boy says: "Now I only have three minutes, counting."? Exactly three minutes later you see Tuomas "cutting his throat". Now that's what I call genius, when it comes to composing and timing.