After the child voice says 'Now I have three minutes and counting'... three minutes later, Tuomas was swiping his hand across his own throat.

@JenniferGlatzhofer

2 ай бұрын

Wow😱

@572Btriode

2 ай бұрын

@@JenniferGlatzhofer We might have told you already but it might help you to know Tuomas uses several pseudonyms to refer to himself in various Nightwish songs which he writes from experiences, observation or imagination, he says he is a man with a boy's heart, a grown-up Peter Pan, and you will see that directly in places even when he uses boy narrators sometimes in place of himself. He is speaking to you directly in effect.

Such a powerful, gut-wrenching performance, and then Floor’s tender “thank you” at the end. 🥹 what a roller-coaster of emotions.

@JenniferGlatzhofer

2 ай бұрын

Right?!

@nicod1361

2 ай бұрын

@@JenniferGlatzhofer was a boy soprano at opening

When Nightwish wants to go dark, there is no safety brake.

This song deals with Tuomas deep depression after Tarja was fired from the band.He said he kills himself in this song,so he didnt have to do it real life 😒and as usual,,,,,great reaction 🤘🤘

@JenniferGlatzhofer

2 ай бұрын

Oh there’s so many levels😱

@nicod1361

2 ай бұрын

not true, he has said emphatically that was not the case,the song is not about Tarja 's firing or how Tuomas felt about that,it's about the fans and media blaming and hating on him and his reaction to that

@vogel2280

2 ай бұрын

@@nicod1361 cause and effect...

There are a couple of songs with Marko in the lead for the whole song: - The Islander - While Your Lips are Still Red - High Hopes

After Tarja was fired, Tuomas 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 (7 minute mark), it's exactely 3 minutes (10 minute mark) that you see him slash his throat with his hand and commit suïcide in the song. A rollercoaster MASTERPIECE from Tuomas🤯❤💥💯

@nicod1361

2 ай бұрын

the song is not about Tarja 's firing or how Tuomas felt about that,it's about the fans and media blaming and hating on him and his reaction to that

@louisminten7889

2 ай бұрын

You are wright. Just forgotten to ad that to my comment. @@nicod1361

@louisminten7889

2 ай бұрын

you are right about that. Just forgot to ad it at my comment@@nicod1361

@andrewrossgowan

2 ай бұрын

I have always felt this Nightwish 's equivalent to Wish you were here by Pink Floyd

@tobimobiv1

20 күн бұрын

​@@nicod1361 I've seen this comment twice here now. And while I agree with you. None of the two comments said it was because of Tarja's firing, they said it was after Tarja's firing. That does not mean they say it's because of firing Tarja. They might think it is, but it's not what they're saying. It would be great if they added in the media and fan backlash in their comment though.

That boy soprano in the beginning is now a pretty famous tenor, called Guy Elliot. Second Child voice is Tom Williams. Nightwish symphonical instruments are played by the London philharmonic orchester. This whole song or musical performance is about various thoughts before the suicide. The part ”mother and father” has the actual words from his mother, which helped him to recover from this depression and anxious feelings. He wrote this song at first only to himself, but later other band members were suggesting that they actually get this song on their album.

@terryhunt2659

2 ай бұрын

I sometimes wonder how deeply it must have moved Floor to be singing the words of Tuomas' parents who, by then, she must have come to know personally.

@ArchitectB

2 ай бұрын

@@terryhunt2659 Yes, very good point. There is no telling, How close to end Tuomas went personally. However we are lucky that his parents has been wise and strong in the times when some others could have been without listening and out of words. It is not easy to be stronger one, when you feel sad and desperate, because of one you wish to help.

This is the deep dark side of Nightwish. Just love it ❤

Watching this is the highlight of this Monday.😊

Jen, this song is so much a work of auditory art, that it is the most accurate depiction of what depression feels like emotionally and mentally -- and how depression feels as if it both is chaining or caging, restraining the person suffering. Add to it how desperation and frustration enters into the mix, and it becomes clear why anyone would choose to take their own life, rather than what I, or Tuomas, would choose to do, in choosing to live. For the record, I am chronic depressive, and when I first saw this video, I cried. I bawled like a baby. This video wrenched my heart and soul, because I _understood_ Tuomas. Even now, sometimes, I still cry, because of how everything comes together in this song. This song, lyrically, also shows how many people with depression feel as if they are alone, and how they feel as if they are forced to wear a mask in the world -- hence the lyric, "I have but two faces/one for the world/one for God, save me." For many, this is more accurate than they would admit. And in case it need be said, E.A. Poe was a depressed alcoholic. In one year, he lost his mother, his wife, and his sister all to typhus -- and ended up drinking himself to death. The story "The Pit and the Pendulum" is very much about how Poe felt trapped, and very much was waiting to die, as he believed he had no reason to live. Despite his writing genius -- Poe was the father of the modern detective story, after all -- he was a very tragic individual who had a very tragic end. And it is this tragedy, despite flashes of brilliance, that I believe Tuomas made the better decision: To use what he was going through as a catharsis, to let the pain go, and to keep living life. In so doing, he would avoid the fate of Mr. Poe, and live to create many more works of artistic genius.

@nicod1361

2 ай бұрын

not true, Tuomas has said emphatically in more than one interview that was not the case,he never ever considered "suicide"

@isaiahwelch8066

2 ай бұрын

@@nicod1361 : It wasn't a literal suicide. For Tuomas, it was the suicide of Nightwish, because at the time so many people thought Tarja was irreplaceable. Read the Open Letter; Tarja said as much. Because the fact is, with all of the allegations levied in the Open Letter, Tarja never denied them. Not once. Besides: As someone who suffers from depression, I can say Tuomas did consider it -- there's no way he didn't. Just because he didn't follow through with it, doesn't mean he didn't think about life without him in it. The pain would have forced that mental conversation to take place.

@northof4912

2 ай бұрын

@@nicod1361. Seems like you’re just on here to contradict everyone?

@nicod1361

2 ай бұрын

@@northof4912 when someone is saying something inaccurate about the band,song etc those of us who know better should what ? just let it be said ?

@northof4912

2 ай бұрын

@@nicod1361 Have you considered your delivery? Far more confrontational than educational.

So many intricate layers to this performance. Nightwish are truly masters when it comes to the fusion of sight and sound. Great reaction, Jen.

Empuu and Marco standing by Tuomas during the performance is actually them checking up on him to see if he's okay, because of how emotional the song is for him. As far as I've understood he's actually not able to hear the vocals for that specific reason during this song. In general he's not very interested in performing this song because it rips up old wounds every single time. As far as I know this was the last time it was performed for that exact reason.

"Mother and Father" always get me and then Floor starts to hit harder. Every time, even after dozens of listens.

If you want to hear Marko watch Nightwish’s tribute to Pink Floyd High Hopes.

“The day is finally here.” Yay.

One of the things I truly appreciate about your analysis is that you tend to bring in the fact of the actual stamina and health aspects of a touring professional and that those considerations will impact musical choices.

"I love the drama!" said about a sing written about the consequences of drama. Fair.

Emppu at 8:28 is not jesting with Tuomas, but checking on him as the song was very emotional for him. In the last minute of the song you can see Marko joining the two as they are the band members that were part of the 2005 drama. After this venue it was never played again.

@nasujii

2 ай бұрын

It has been played after that as well =)

@ar47yrr4p

2 ай бұрын

and I'm sure the other members of the band would have joined as well if their performance didn't require them elsewhere at the time :)

@northof4912

2 ай бұрын

@@ar47yrr4p. I don’t think they would have if they could. I think they respected the space. However, you can see both Floor and Kai turn towards Tuomas the at the end as well.

For sure some comments may give off the impression that it was the firing of Tarja itself that effected Tuomas depressive mood (he was never suicidal though, as he said in countless interviews). What inspired this masterpiece of a composition though, had more to do with the backlash from the NW fanbase aimed at him as the main person responsible. So it's a story told by one of the main "victims" in the dramatic aftermath of the rather unceremonious booting out of their trademark songster. No one, I mean absolutely no one vocalist other than Floor could've told his side of the story like she did here. A truly magnificent performance and a prime example of how to "live" the tale to be able to relate it tt audience. This band circa 2015 was peak-Nightwish, at least going by live concerts like Wembley and Tampere (the cradle of civilization!). Cheers from Amsterdam! 🤘

@nicod1361

2 ай бұрын

very well said

@ArsRegnandi

2 ай бұрын

*push*

@tobimobiv1

20 күн бұрын

I disagree. Jukka > Kai. Nothing against Kai he's great, but I don't feel his drumming as I did Jukka's.

Nice to see you again Jennifer!👍👍🤘🤘

Every time Floor and Nightwish take us to a beautiful world. Awesome.

Hi Jennifer. I enjoyed watching your reaction, as usual. So much to unpack. Vocally, as you've done, but certainly also lyrically. Regards from the Netherlands.

@BrendonChase_2015

2 ай бұрын

Nice to see you're still around Martine. Groetjes!

@martine3293

2 ай бұрын

@@BrendonChase_2015 Hoi 😁 I am still around, but a bit less than before. Hopefully I'll soon have a bit more time to watch and comment on videos. Groetjes!

@jaskau2462

2 ай бұрын

Ciao there. ...And she´s saying before starting the reaction she´s about to focus more on the musical aspect this time...🙈💥😹 Hope you´re doing fine over there(?)...Where ever she may roam...😋🙃 Greets from the freeeeezing Finland. 🤘😎💙🎶💯💥

@martine3293

2 ай бұрын

@@jaskau2462 Hey! I'm doing fine. Very busy; the reason why I haven't been very active on YT lately. At home in the Netherlands at the moment, but I was in Finland a month ago. Went to Kai Hahto's gig in Helsinki and Altamullan Road's show in Kouvola. Very different, but both awesome. Will be enjoying summertime temperatures soon, when I'm travelling to Curaçao. I hope Spring will be around the corner for you soon🌺☀

@jaskau2462

2 ай бұрын

@@martine3293 Magnificent Martine... That you're around on this magical Utuub universe, every once and a while. "Keep it Cool!" in Curaçao. 😋 🙃 The spring indeed is knocking on doors here in Northern Sawonia(🇫🇮) ✌️😎🇫🇮💙💯💥

So beautiful and touching, always tearing up at the end 🥺

Those whispers you hear in the behinning are actually the "three minutes and counting" part played backwards. That´s pretty cool

In 'Dark Passion Play' I like that you mention Marko's demanding vocal part while playing an equally complex bass pattern. That must take some doing!

More Nightwish, Jen.. 😊 Thank you for this one.. 🌺

thank you for this Jenn .. good reaction .. one of my favorite songs by Nightwish

This was in Wembley, a very iconic concert. It had this song, a very special version of The Greatest show on Earth (with Richard Dawkins as guest) and the lovely Marko-sung While your lips are still red.

Hi Jen, greetings from Reading, UK Great to see you back reacting to Nightwish 😊

The true master mind behind Nightwish is Tuomas Holopainen (keyboards) our metal Mozart, our national treasure (yes I am from Finland). His lyrics, melody, song writing, composing...he is absolutely genious. I have all Nightwish albums since 1996 and I telly you, Tuomas is very rare person in this world who can write and compose this beautiful music 🤘

@k.l.7788

Ай бұрын

Another finn here to concur. 😊 Met him few years ago, such a nice man. ❤

Thank you for taking the time to check out this long-ass song and share your insights with us. Floor's simply a marvel.

It might have been helpful to know the back story so you could put the song into perspective, I enjoyed this reaction thanks.

Thanks for doing this reaction - been hoping you would for ages! If you want to hear more of Marko, you should see "While your lips are still red" from Wembley, and "The Islander" from the Tampere show - both lovely pieces. Keep 'em coming!

@rnowak85

2 ай бұрын

I would add Endlessness from Human Nature. Such a beautiful song and a fitting last performance for Marko with Nightwish.

Welcome back to Nightwish!🤘🎸

Welcome back. This song is pretty much all the stages of grief and loss people go through from depression, to sadness, to anger, to acceptance. It stems from the firing of their first singer and the public backlash the band and mostly Tuomas went through at the time. It's an emotional rollercoaster piece. The last part is actual words his parents said to him to help him come out of it all. Hope you do more Nightwish - you barely scratched the surface before, and I think did not even do most of the last two or three albums. It's worth checking out. 😊 For Floors amazing ability with distortion, did you do Yours is an Empty Hope yet? The Wembley one is great. Floor can fully do death growls. 😉 Where Emppu goes to Tuomas and is talking to always imagine he said, " hey boss, I have nothing to do." To which Tuomas says, "well, I'm still working here, but just wait" 😉 lol

This is gonna be awesome

Well, there you are. You did this justice from the point of view of Floors vocals. Have you not seen High Hopes (Hartwall Areena 2005), The Islander (Tampere 2015) or While Your Lips are Still Red from this concert? If you want to appreciate Marco, you should Accumulated notes: My no 1 song. A masterpiece. This is a 5-part journey through the emotional turmoil following Tarja's departure. As the founder and guiding light of the band, Tuomas' took much of the flak from those who claimed to be Nightwish fans but we're actually obsessed with Tarja and thought she WAS Nightwish - an idea that the subsequent growth and improvement of the band comprehensively demolished. Indeed there are still people today who call the "Tarjawish" in some vain attempt to make Tarja something she wasn't. (Don't get me wrong, Tarja can be fantastic, but Nightwish is about Tuomas' and his compositions. We are fortunate he now has Floor to exhibit his works.) The parts are: 1. White Lands of Empathica (The End) - the end of a band as we knew it. Later to become known as the "End of an Era". Sung by boy soprano Guy Elliott (from Guildford IIRC) - see later. 2. Home - the breakup of the band and the wish to find a place, home, to go to and get away from the madness of those who hated. Of course, there is a lot more in here too. 3. The Pacific - as usual, Tuomas' needs to reference the oceans, one of his "grounding" themes. His love of the ocean metaphor is well-docunented. He did, of course, originally dream of becoming a marine biologist. Strange that he should have a gnat named after him! 4. Dark Passion Play - the hate of Tarja fans led him into deep depression. However the band were not in good places so he didn't feel he could "cry on their shoulders" so in the end he went back to see his 5. - Mother and Father (and The Beginning) - the lyrics here reflect what his mother said to him at that time. The beginning of a new era and new line-up BTW, they are not hanging out having a chat as such - see later. Tuomas refers to the ocean frequently - the second album is called Oceanborn, Dead Boys Poem ends with reference to ocean soul and Devil and the Deep Dark Ocean ends with lyrics about setting the dolphins free and "we shall wash the darkened blood red sea, our voices shall echo over the mountains and seas". Tuomas is a very special person and this is, for me, the pinnacle of his work. Nothing surpasses it. For him it is one of the deepest songs. Quotes from the band on the making of the album and the song... TUOMAS: We will never play "Bye Bye Beautiful" or "Master Passion Greed" live again, [sic] because the lyrics are just too unambiguous and personal. There was at least as much gloom behind "The Poet and the Pendulum", too, but it leaves a bit more room for interpretation. It's easily one of our best songs but especially, the "Mother and Father'" part in the end always stirs up such a storm of emotions that it's impossible for me to do it every night. Playing "The Poet and the Pendulum' is a real rollercoaster ride - it makes me feel anxious, blush, laugh, and, in the end, just happy that that part of my life is behind me. My notes: My number 1 Nightwish song and for good reasons. (No 2, Song of Myself, No 3 7 Days to the Wolves.) This is a deeply emotional and meaningful song with which I empathise and it helped me to see that there was a way forward when depression struck. I am not alone in being "saved" by Nightwish, a fact that Tuomas has referred to and said he could not terminate the band because he knows they have meant so much to some fans who feel their lives have been saved by Nightwish. He feels that he has a responsibility to the fans - not your standard rock musician then. Floor is worth watching closely, her facial, hand and whole-body motions reflect the emotions she is portraying. Hands in Mother and Father for example. Tearing her hair in the Dark Passion Play section. Note that when Tuomas talks about "Poet" he is always referencing himself. It happens throughout his ouvre. You will see other cross-references too. Tuomas does that deliberately to give the fans a sort of anchor. Meadows of Heaven is another example - a song in itself and often referenced. For what it's worth, here are are my thoughts and interpretations... End to beginning - death of one era of the band, beginning of a new era. Regarding the end of the first Era, I see no point in the blame game. The band split, that is all we need to know. Whatever the causes there was bound to be emotion on both sides so I leave it at that. But this masterpiece is what came out of Tuomas' emotions. The beginning is a boy soprano, Guy Elliott who also does the spoken parts. The whispering at the beginning is the central spoken section, but played in reverse. Then we get the whole section "Home". I see the "shoulder cries more" as having no shoulder to cry on because the other members of the band - his friends - were equally upset. The "whore for the cold world" I see as the selling of his whole life to the music industry (the metaphorical pimps, hence the "whore" references) which is not interested in the person, only what they can get from the band. The two faces bit is self explanatory; almost everyone will have been in situations where they have to hide their feelings and present a false front to the world. The reference to betrayal is again obvious and there are lots of metaphors in the surrounding words. The altar I think, is the tie to the band - these upheavals in 2004/5 were not the first time Tuomas had felt like ending the band. By the way, note the 3 minutes and counting: exactly 3 minutes later you get the guillotine motion. By the way, Marco made the demo version of this, with all the lyrics sung by himself and with harsher lyrics at this point too. Next we get to the Mother and Father section with Floor, Marco and Emppu all sitting, while Floor sings lyrics reflecting the words from his mother when he went back home for a break in the middle of all this turmoil. These are the words of love and then of advice, that he was given. Floor here is using her finger movements to accentuate emotion. This whole section and the way Floor sings it, is packed with those damned Onion Ninjas. Marco's harmonies are wonderful. We end with the final ethereal notes from Floor and here is another tingle-factor moment. Then a gentle piano ending, the calm after the emotional storm. Here, as in Sparkle my Scenery, the choir on the original album is replaced by Floor who wanted to sing them herself (and proved completely capable of it) which Anette could not have done - she could probably get the notes but the emotion is there in the choral original and is amplified when Floor sings it. The low brass used in many places is really effective. On the performance itself: When Emppu goes over to Tuomas and later both Marco and Emppu go over, it is a sign of moral support. They both know how difficult this is for him - eventually he had the vocals turned off in his in-ear, so he didn't have to listen to them because Floor put such emotion into them. At the end, she does not say "Thank you" immediately, as she does normally. Instead she looks over for a few seconds to check on him from her position. BTW, I have never bought the theory that Tuomas was "in love" with Tarja. Those who say he asked her to join the band because he knew her from school - she was suggested by Emppu who had known her as an acquaintance at school. Tuomas' did know her of course and his mother was for a while her piano teacher, but it was Emppu who suggested her.

Thanks for this reaction and greetings from Finland🇫🇮

Thank you for this profound reaction. It's a pleasure when the emotional swings of the song reflect on your face because you're so deep in the music. And, by the way, I really like your dialect too, not just the British one of the boy from the boys' choir :-) It sounds very pleasant

You need to react to Marko and the band doing The Islander live in Tampere...;o)

Fun fact, There is a demo version of this song which MARCO sings entirely.

@elisakallokoski801

2 ай бұрын

WHAT, what!?! We need to hear that!

FL❤❤R...my favorite song Deep Dark...

This is a masterpiece ❤

Strong references to Edgar Allen Poe - The Pit and the Pendulum. You even hear mid-song the clanking of the chain hanging the pendulum as the Pendulum is lowered while it swings over the poet on the "alter".

Thanks

For vocal coaches, Floor Jansen, the gift that keeps on giving. I would also recommend reacting to Floor pre-Nightwish, where she had other fantastic vocal performances, the best ones being. After Forever (Floor's 1st band) - Dreamflight Live ProgPower USA VIII (2007) kzread.info/dash/bejne/aWdhwahyoNXeZKw.html ReVamp (Floor's 2nd band) - Disdain Live at Graspop (2010) kzread.info/dash/bejne/m4KHyJhtfZzbcZM.html

Hello Jennifer. The song "The Poet and the Pendulum" is a 13 Minute journey through the mind and turmoil of Tuomas Holopainen after the year 2005. It was in that year the band parted with their long-time singer Tarja Turunen and had a personal falling out with her. The pain of the separation was big on both sides, and shown in this song. There is the responsibility that the band and Holopainen had to show towards the fans,. It was the End of an Era for them, and reason for Holopainen being lost as described in these lyrics. We can only of course to a certain degree suppose how much of these are truly Holopainen's feelings, wishes and pains - but we do know that the lyrics of Nightwish have been up to then very personal. Other songs on the album also digest this separation and falling out of the members with Turunen. This is one of the interpretations and i know lots of fans do not agree, they just need to read the open letter that was given to Tarja by the whole band at her last concert with Nightwish, where they fired her. And the main reason that Tuomas went through a depression was that specially the Tarja fans where furious and showed that in the media and everyone was blaming Tuomas. (the fans spit on his grave). He felt the whole world was against him. However personal and "real" these thoughts are, I feel like this song definitely takes us not only on a journey with Holopainen but also into ourselves. The music underlines the emotional gravity of the song extremely well. And I believe a lot of people can actually relate to a sense of guilt and being overwhelmed that all they desired for is the safety of home and innocence. While being personal, the song can still ring true to it's listener. That's a quality Nighwish possesses in many, many more songs. The emotional journey is one we can all share and very few bands know how to put that journey into song and especially into sound as well as Nightwish does. The band remains through all it's shores and Oceans, one of my main favourites and I hold special place for the band in my musical heart. I hope you have enjoyed reading my analysis and share some of my thoughts. If you do have any comments, please feel free to let me know. And remember the beauty of interpretation is that it is subjective; we can see all and feel different things in the same song and continue to love it endlessly. Lyric analysis by Annika Hausen Greetings from the Netherlands

I'm a huge Nightwish fan and have been for many, many years. I have not ever seen you or your videos (sorry!) but for some reason this was at the top of my recommendations. It's fun watching you react to Nightwish and you do a great job with your analysis! It's a very depressing song and very difficult for Tuomas to play live (watch for Emppu coming to him for emotional strength) because of the strong associations with a very dark time in his past when he almost took his own life and his parents ended up talking him out of it. Anette gets a lot of hate from some Nightwish fans but I really enjoyed Dark Passion Play, although Floor just absolutely kills it here (and Marco and the rest!) Thank you for your reaction video even though hearing this song has me cutting onions 100% of the time.

I can't belive this reaction came only now! I was sure it was done years ago or this was in my head 🤟💙💛

Poet and the pendulum is a Floor masterclass in breath control.

Guy Elliott was the boy soprano at the start. He was from St Mary's Choir School, Reigate. I love how you put into words the aspects I hear and enjoy but lack the vocabulary to describe and/or explain. "Sparkle my scenery...." was also sung by a boy soprano on the album but Floor said that she could do it and Tuomas agreed! Pacific was inspired partly by the view from the aircraft window as he flew home from South America knowing what was coming at the End of the End of An Era gig - which others have already explained. (Even the PM of Finland put his two cents worth in!) Marko sang most of the demo of this opus - darker, nastier, cruder. (the audio is on YT) Yes, Tuomas is a genius! THE Metal Mozart! The last part is a paraphrasing of what Tuomas' parents really said to him when he returned home. So glad he chose a metaphorical way rather than the other. We need his music! The new, 2024, album has finished mastering! I think TPATP, this version, will remain my favourite Nightwish song.

notice that the swinging pendulums are all knife-edged......this is a symphony in 5 movements, compliments of the Metal Mozart himself, Tuomas Holopainen, sung by Floor, the Valkyrie Goddess, and the amazing Marko Hietala.......

The song was wrote in backwards sense so the last part actually is the frist part of that story and im glad that yoy notice Marko´s ability playing the bass!

Lovely reaction! I loved your detailed analysis of Floor and Markos voices. I can't carry a tune in a bushel basket and a big reason I love your channel is these deep dives into the singers. For me, this is Nightwish's greatest song. Their Magnus Opus. It is Tuomas's most personal and emotional song. It is also very personal and emotional for most fans. In 2005 the band had reached a breaking point with their first lead singer, Tarja. Things between her, her husband/manager and the band had been deteriorating for some time and had reached the point where they could no longer work together. The band decided to fire her, which they did via an open letter, right after the End of an Era concert. Tarja responded with her own open letter explaining her side of things. The backlash against the band, but mostly against Tuomas, was massive and very nasty. Tuomas felt betrayed by Nightwish's fans and sank into a deep depression. He wrote this song as way of expressing and exploring all of the emotions of his depression and grief. Tuomas often uses the poet in his lyrics to reference himself and yes, he does have a great affinity for the ocean. He sees it as a place of refugee. Here he uses elements of Edgar Allen Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum, a story where a prisoner is tortured and then killed by a descending blade swinging back and forth like a pendulum, as the structure for the song's story and also in the lyrics. If you want to do a deep dive into the meaning of this song I highly recommend you read the analysis by the artist Annike Hausen. IMO it is a brilliant, master's level analysis and I think you would really enjoy it. I would provide a link but every time I do the YT algorithms delete my comment. Just google her name and Poet and the Pendulum. A few thoughts on the lyrics. "One last perfect verse but still the same old song." For me this is Tuomas saying I have nothing new to write for my so called fans, which is like death for a poet like him. The line " A thousand pages of erased text" represents all the songs that Tuomas would have wrote for Tarja but now would never be heard. The blade falls (Tuomas making the slashing motion across his neck). The heart beat slows and finally stops mid beat. The original version of Nightwish is dead. The last part of the song, Mother and Father, gets me every time. The lyrics are actual words spoken by his parents during the depths of his depression. Floor perfectly channeling the anguish of a mother who has lost her child. Then the words, In the Beginning, signaling the birth of a new version of Nightwish. For me this song is all about the emotions. Tuomas pouring out his heart and anguish in the music and lyrics. Floor perfectly channeling the anger and pain. It fills me with emotion and lets me connect to Tuomas in a profound way. This song is no longer performed live. Tuomas has said they (him, Empuu, and at the time Marko) are not those people anymore and they have moved on. Performing it just takes Tuomas back to that difficult place emotionally. Emppu and Marko come over and check in on Tuomas through out the song to make sure he is ok emotionally. Tuomas often would have the sound engineers turn off the vocal feed in his in ears because it would make him too emotional. I am so grateful that he chose to write this song and share this part of himself with us. Everything about this song and performance is about making us feel his emotions. I would recommend reading the open letters and Annike's analysis and then listening again for yourself without having to be focused on vocal analysis. I think it will hit you even more deeply.

Love your reaction and analysis❤!!!

Great reaction love the expression on your face .😊

Is it only me that is amazed that thoumas can play the keyboard and talk at the same time..?

Nightwish army Italian Division Present ! 🤘

Hi Jennifer....Every time I hear this song my goosebumps get goosebumps.....it is a masterpiece. I can recommend to listen to The Greatest Show on Earth, Ghost Love Score, Ever Dream and Sleeping Sun....you will cry...😊

Keep in mind that the sexual imagery is meant as a metaphor. Also the emotional changes in the music is meant to mirror the mental anguish as portrayed in Edgar Allen Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum". Only Tuomas and Nightwish would compose a song such as this one.

in English a masterpiece, in Portuguese uma obra prima. Following you from Brazil. 🤩

This song is so so deep!!

another excellent reaction!🤘

If you study the psychology of someone's devolution into self harm, Tuomas follows the downward spiral perfectly, hence the "parts".

I think it would be nice to react to "High Hopes" tribute by Nightwish from the year 2005 End of an Era concert, too. That has only Marko singing and it's very good performance, too.

floor is not only singing a song she is feeling every word and the composition of the peas that's whey this peas makes people cray it hits like a hammer decors most of us haw been there sometime in our life freighting thru depression when thus you have depended your live on bitrade you girl finds best buddy's ore even family and you will properly haw to surges a long time to find enny one making that better than floor

This live Wembley masterpiece was my introduction to Nightwish and Floor just over 2 years ago. I was blown away then and have been ever since. Tuomas at 28:07 gets me each and every time as does Floor always. Thank you Jennifer for a very informative breakdown of this masterpiece, one of so many from this phenomenal band. 🙏😊👍❤️

i get moosebumbs.

This song, for me, is one of the big three ("Ghost Love Score" given us by Tarja, "The Poet And The Pendulum" given us by Anette and "The Greatest Show On Earth" given us by Floor! As a Fan, All Floor for me !!! ), and for Nightwish fans , this song is the most meaningful and one of the most important songs in Nightwish History. This songs backstory is deep and dark , especially for Tuomas (suicide by song). And yet, Floor took this song to a new astral level (originally sung by Anette). Also I recommend to read "The Pit and The Pendulum" by Edgar Allan Poe for extra flavor. The reason for Tuomas’ depression was not the firing of Tarja itself, it was what came after that. The fans idolized Tarja and they could not accept the fact that she got fired. In their heads Tarja was the one that made the band famous and they became really angry and hostile, especially towards Tuomas. They really took it out on him. They called him all kinds of ugly things and a lot of them expressed that they did not care if he would die. These are the things that brought him into depression and these are the things that echo through the lyrics This song has the most emotional impact, at least for me... I was that that "Bastard" who abandoned Nightwish after Tarja left...Never Again !!!! Although I love this song (Especially this version), it is the only song, I can't put to my playlist... because, I break down to tears every single time (Current reaction included...). This masterpiece will remain a reminder to me for my narrow mindlessness. NWSU/FloorFan 🤘😎🤘.

I love the Marko reaction face haha

If there is one Nightwish song that reactors MUST do the research is this one (yet more than half refuse to even when adviced to do so) 50% of this song is the context that led to its composition and hearing the tone deaf comments after not doing the research is genuinely frustrating 😑

@randomman4938

Ай бұрын

Knowing the background certainly helps understand the song even more for sure. But it’s still possible to enjoy the song without it. No need to get so upset about it.

@randomman4938

Ай бұрын

To me, the fact that Floor was NOT the singer for Nightwish when this song was written, yet she just makes this song sound like it was made for her. She is amazing!

The mother & father bit always makes me cry. I left very bad domestic violence & it was such a push to leave that when I finally got to their place after 12 hr in transit I just collapsed. They basically said similar things to me

🇬🇧 Norfolk strapped in 😊 who else but Tuomas could say i only have three minutes and counting then in three minutes to the second the blade falls ? The riff Marco plays in his part without looking mind blowing 🤯 Heavy bass on this one

Personally I think this Tuomas' masterpiece. It's incredible. A metal opera.

Great reaction! Actually, Floor only performed this 20 times ever. Not since 2016. Likely never again. One of my favorite performances ever.

It starts with The end and finnishes with... The beginning. How to greet a new drummer. Well you can sit down at hes feet. NWA Sweden.

Marco's voice in the Dark Passion Play section of this piece reminds me so much of Lemmy from Motorhead.

Great reaction. Here is the backstory to this song I have given to some reactors... The Poet and the Pendulum (TPATP) is the first track from their 6th studio album "Dark Passion Play, which was the first album with the 2nd vocalist of Nightwish, Anette Olzon. It's a brilliant 14 minute composition with multiple parts, right there with "Ghost Love Score" and "The Greatest Show On Earth". It's probably the most personal song for Tuomas, and he doesn't have all the words coming through his in-ear monitors at live. The name of the song is borrowed from Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum, the story of a man who's sentenced to death and tortured by the Spanish Inquisition, using - among other things - a razor sharp pendulum that, swings above him, getting lower little by little, and eventually cut him right in half. TPATP has quotes from that story (and more), so don't be too confused about some of the lyrics. They are metaforically describing Tuomas' feelings. It also has part "Mother and Father", which includes some words that Tuomas' mother said to him. So, TPATP is about Tuomas' dark times after guys fired Tarja (right after their "End Of An Era" concert in 2005). Tarja had already informed guys that she will leave after the next album, but somehow guys ended up humiliating Tarja, and fired her with an open letter. In the letter they told quite private things about the things behind the scenes, and of course it was only their side of the story. Tuomas got huge amount of hate from the fans, and he got really depressed. So the song is very dark. Just for the record (and against some pretty popular believe), Tuomas denies that he had any suicidal thoughts. You should read both of those letters to understand how bad it was, but bear in mind, that it was written by disappointed angry young men (or man). You can find the letter that guys wrote and Tarja's response with some Googling. The whole sound of first era Nightwish was based on Tarja's voice, which is why losing Tarja felt the end of the world for the most fans. Nightwish was founded in 1996, and it was supposed to be only acoustic mood music, just demo or two, maybe even an album, but definitely never live shows. When Tuomas and Emppu went to ask Tarja to sing on their demo, they had no idea that she had started her classical training (and they were a bit shocked when they heard her powerful voice in the studio). The girl they knew from high school had totally different sound now. That was where Tuomas decided that they might want to ditch the acoustic idea and try something else. So on their second demo they switched to electric guitar and asked Jukka to play the drums, and the rest is history. The record company liked that demo and wanted to publish it as it is, so it became their first album "Angels Fall First". About all the drama...you don't want to believe any of that "greedy diva who didn't care about the band or fans" bs you are going to hear. That open letter was incredibly childish and cruel way to handle this situation. I think that the main problems were Tarja's husband Marcelo (which guys didn't like at all), and the fact that Tarja matured faster than boys. She didn't want to travel on smokey bus with bunch of drunken rock stars anymore, nor having a constant after gig parties. Can anyone seriously blame her for that? She also wanted a solo career, which she had trained for (they all have one or even multiple solo careers now, but back then guys wanted 100% devotion). Guys also didn't care about Tarja's needs (like privacy or decent food). They also booked gigs without Tarja's permission, even on dates which Tarja had specifically said she had something else to do, and she had given her schedules several months prior. I'm sure she could have done something better too, but guys were really immature at that time, and they have admitted themselves, that back then Nightwish was everything to them. I'm also pretty sure they all said a lot of things to each other what they really didn't mean. People tend to do that when they are tired, frustrated and/or angry. Any of that doesn't even matter, because the main point is that guys should have kept things clean. Tarja was going to leave after next album in anyway, so guys could have just told her that "ok then, we don't need you on the next album, and we can tell the fans that this was mutual decision". People also need to understand one more thing. Tarja is not only a singer but a great pianist and brilliant composer too. With Nightwish she had no chance to write her own music. So of course she wanted to invest to her own career. And for me it's clear, that guys were asking more from Tarja, than she had never agreed. But like I said, both sides could have done better job how to handle all this...and I'm sure Marcelo did more damage than good, even that he only wanted the best for Tarja. There are always at least two sides of the story. Speaking of which, there was this theory many of us old fans had, that Tuomas was in love with Tarja (or at least had a crush on her), and he was just too jealous to Marcelo. I still believe that this might have been one of the reasons why things went south. If you just think about all the songs he wrote to Tarja (She is my Sin, Ever Dream, Ghost Love Score, Wish I had an Angel, Beauty of the Beast etc etc), and think what he have written after her, there is a huge difference. And the demo version of TPATP has line "for eleven years I have been strapped on to this altar", which could refer that he has been love-sick for the whole time. Otherwise it wouldn't really make any sense. Who knows but Tuomas himself. There is also this line about 1000 pages of erased text, which could refer that he had written more songs to Tarja already, and maybe that was one of the reasons he was so pissed of Tarja's urge to leave. One can only speculate. Yes, I'm an old fan since 1998, and I'm still a big fan of Tarja, so you can think this is just a Tarjaholic talk. But I have watched huge amount of interviews and documentaries, and I've read pretty damn many comments from the people who have actually met Tarja, lived near her etc, and they all say that she is very lovely and down to earth, and she really loves her fans. And that is exactly how I have always seen her. So it is impossible for me to believe those accusations guys made. The reason I wanted to share my version of this is, that so many of these new fans tend and even want to accuse Tarja. It just feels wrong. How would they feel if this same thing would happen to Floor? Anyone can say it's different with Floor, but basically it was the same exact thing when it happened to Tarja. We old fans couldn't imagine something like this to happen, and we were devastated. I had followed their "Cinderella story" for 7 years, read all the articles, seen all the interviews I could, waited for their next albums release several times, and then they ended it in this disgusting way. I was pissed, just like most of other fans. She was the sound of Nightwish I fell in love with, and I will always be grateful of that, and cherish all those old recordings. And any of this is not to say that guys were just lying. They probably felt that she was diva because she didn't want to party and travel with them anymore. And this is not some "bring back Tarja" talk either. I love Floor. I just don't like that some new fans are trying to smash Tarja's legacy, and base their opinion solely on that stupid open letter. One of the accusations is, that she thought that she was bigger than Nightwish. That is also not true. This is solely based on the one quote Tarja had allegedly said during the argue with Tuomas, that she can leave whenever she wants and that she doesn't need Nightwish anymore. If anyone can just point me one single video, where she has done anything that proofs me wrong, please leave a link. Never in any video, concert, interview or whatever, I have seen her acting like a diva. Even on all of their last concerts she seemed very happy and she really tried to interact with other band members. And even at their "End of an era" concert where she was very sick, she didn't let that show out one bit, and she was definitely very moved multiple times. Like after Sleeping sun, you can definitely see her almost bursting into tears. Sorry about this long explanation, but as a new fan, I think you deserve to have a proper background story. Hope this helps to understand why this band has some controversy between old and new fans (and then there are middle fans as well). Luckily there are still many of us who can love all the singers they've had.

@BrendonChase_2015

2 ай бұрын

Hi NWA & ty for this still much needed and well written perspective. I'm really curious now if you've ever come across an article titled: "A Critique of Mape Ollila’s Once Upon A Nightwish"? Would love to hear your thoughts on that one. If you haven't read it yet, it's still online and I warmly recommend it. Cheers from an old fan (of good music) from Amsterdam! 🤘

@petrihartikainen4645

2 ай бұрын

I have never heard or read that any reliable person close to the band said that Tuomas was in love with Tarja. I don't consider Marcello a reliable source.

@NightwishArena

2 ай бұрын

@@petrihartikainen4645 I do not consider Marcelo or any of related reliable, because people tend to tell, what suits best for them. I only said, that it was something many of us old fans thought (mostly because of the lyrics). And why wouldn't he? They always seemed to have fun together in interviews etc. Tarja is very beautiful, funny and talented, I can't see why Tuomas or any single young man wouldn't have fell in her.

@NightwishArena

2 ай бұрын

@@BrendonChase_2015I don't remember that book too well anymore, and I think I have never read this article you linked. It seemed to have some very valid arguments. Maybe I should read both of these, and see if I can find something new...but I'm kind of settled to here where I am now, and I'm not sure if I want to start digging it again. Tarja has moved forward and even making a gigs with Marko, so maybe all of us should just leave it there too.

@BrendonChase_2015

2 ай бұрын

@@NightwishArena Okay, that's perfectly fine (except for the "all of us should" part). Cheers!

The Poet and the Pendulum was written after firing Tarja the original singer. She was the face of Nightwish at the time, and Tuomas (Keyboards) wrote this and 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. Some say Tuomas was in love with her but only Tuomas knows that for sure . All the band members decided together to fire her for acting too much of a diva And her husband & Manager was stepping way outta bounds concerning the band business He always wanted more money , only big paying shows . Tuomas was painted as the devil by many fans, Press and even politicians. He went through a deep depression. He even considered ending the band . He wrote The Poet and the Pendulum at that time, and actually kills himself in the song,at the 7:00 time stamp the song says "I have but 3 min " then at the 10:00 time stamp he killed himself in the song as to kill the pain he was going through . To this day every time he plays it, it takes him back to those feelings, and shows on his face. They no longer play this song . In the last part, Mother and Father, words are said to him that his real mother & Father 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 at the time of this show )were standing with Tuomas at the end in solidarity and love., NOTE : the 1st two words are (The End) and the last two words are (The Beginning) representing the end of the 1st era of Nightwish and the beginning of the next era

beautiful song, sad background story....thank god with a happy ending...

I enjoy every one of your reactions to a Nightwish song, especially the deep and detailed analysis of the vocals. Thanks for that! Please react to "The Greatest Show on Earth - Tampere Version" That would be AMAZING!

Wow. You only the third reactor in four years, that picked up on the chromatic descent. Well done ma’am

@thedude6043

2 ай бұрын

I love that I can actually see many other members of The Nightwish Army nodding along with this comment knowing all of us have watched dozens if not hundreds of these Nightwish reactions....LOL. Good Comment Gene.

@gene6690

2 ай бұрын

@@thedude6043 thank you dude. You have no idea how many times i've waited for some reactor to pick up that chromatic piece.....like a cop 😃

@BrendonChase_2015

2 ай бұрын

Yes, a gorgeous nugget that I knew she'd spot. In Ayreon's TDTTWBD there's the line "..when death.. descends" at which point the underlying melody ascends. This POV treat was immediately spotted by Jen in an overall great reaction to that masterpiece. Cheers!

@gene6690

2 ай бұрын

@@BrendonChase_2015 hey thanks for that. I will have to go back now and hear that piece.

My Queen Goddess Floorever!

You can always count on Nightwish to give your emotions a workout, but perhaps never more so than here.

🥲🇫🇮💙🪄🎼✨💯👍 Nightwish playlist?

Jennifer! Ooooh, Nightwish! I haven't heard Poet and the Pendulum yet either! I saw the video was 32:26 and stopped you right there to go make myself a cup of hot herbal tea. Now I'm ready so carry on. 😁 I'm ready for Floor now. At least I think I am ... I might need a drop of something stronger in my tea! Wow ... 13:51 I could listen to this woman sing forever. Yikes! 15:35 Jen sits open mouthed ... for how long ... until 16:04. Yeah I was there with you. Wow what a journey. And Floor ... I'm just wrecked by the end. She amazes me again and again and again with her vocal versatility. Great reaction and analysis as always Jen, though we were just sort of carried along for the journey on this one weren't we!

@JenniferGlatzhofer

2 ай бұрын

Good you got yourself something to drink!! 😊 thank you!

You are magical. ❤

Touching. And in loving memory of Edgar Allen Poe.

Thank you for this Jenn. It's all beautiful.❤

who else cries every time they hear this song?

This song was written was written as a sort of musical suicide by Tuomas. After the firing of Tarja, he came under massive attack in the public. One Finnish parliamentary member criticized him publicly. Some friends (as the song suggests) betrayed him and also criticized him. This song appeared on the album Dark Passion Play. When Anette was a singer for NW, at one scheduled concert date, she lost a custody suit. When she was singing this song at the concert that night, she fell apart on stage and ran offstage crying. This is a tough song to listen to for me as a suicide survivor, but hearing it reminds me that beauty lies in the music and the words. When firing Tarja, it went poorly. They were young, and were fighting. Tarja was already leaving the band. They gave her a letter firing her after the 2005 tour end performance. It should have ended there. Unfortunately, something set the band or maybe just Tuomas off and the letter firing Tarja was published. It humiliated her publicly. She responded in a TV interview and it all went downhill for both the band and Tarja from there. People were split on which side to take. Songs were written that were a veiled attack on each other. One NW song "Bye, Bye, Beautiful" aimed at Tarja, "Master, Passion, Greed" aimed at Tarja's husband (who clashed with the band), and "Enough" from Tarja. The album, Dark Passion Play was a dark cloud hanging over the band. The album "Showtime, Storytime" was supposed to be a fresh break for the band, but the band ended up fighting with Anette Olzon. In 2012, Anette was fired part way through the tour and Floor Jansen was asked to finish the tour. The rest is history.

In Mother and Father, the lyrics basically a letter that Tuomas' Mom wrote to him during the difficult times.

Tuomas Holopainen is behind all this. Good Finland 🇫🇮🔥  

Hello Jennifer, I admire your interpretation and singing technical explanation of what this song shows, thank you for that. Not many can do that and it is definitely an added value in addition to all the other spontaneous and emotional responses, but at the same time I get the feeling that you have not learned anything about the storyline and its details. To be able to follow the song somewhat, it is advisable to read the Edgar Allan Poe story 'The Pit and the Pendulum'. if only because the title is derived from it. Furthermore, it cannot hurt to consider the global developments surrounding the break between Nightwish and their 1st female vocalist. In short, also pay attention to the story, which often explains why the story itself goes the way it does. Floor knows what a song needs and that direct her vouwel choices. Please continue

Please please react to Devil and the Deep Dark Ocean. It will knock your socks off!

What is it that vocal analysts find so amazing about those little drops in Floor’s voice during “Home”. I’m a vocal dummy but Julia and Elizabeth also got super excited and I don’t understand why - to me it’s just Floor singing anything she wants to!

She is vocal coach too❤

Great video, suggestion for a reaction, aurora it happened quiet live, it’s beautiful

You did a fantastic job with analyzing the vocal elements of the song and talking about the choices that Floor makes with her voice throughout. However, if you have some time, look into the story behind this song, and you will understand "why" she makes the choices she does, and it will bring you to tears, guaranteed.

Hi Jennifer, so great to see reacting this song. You might like to watch some videos of the NIGHTWISH - Making of new album 2015; Episode 1: The Cabin (OFFICIAL TRAILER.) kzread.info/dash/bejne/dHZlq9R6aKndorw.html There is 21 episodes, short ones. Ep. 3 is interresting where Tuomas is telling how he composes music.