Vocal Coach/Opera Singer REACTION & ANALYSIS Nightwish + Floor Jansen "The Poet and the Pendulum" 

You can easily tell how much musical training you have when you can get this much information just from one listen without looking at the lyrics and a quick read at the back story. Indeed the song was inspired by The Pit and the Pendulum and a major depression Tuomas fell into after firing Tarja Turunen from the band in 2005. The five acts are: I.- White Lands of Empathica : All of the first part of the song with just the orchestra and the Soprano child singing, ends right where you made that first pause to comment at 02:05 II.- Home: Starts when the band joins the orchestra (03:50 in your video) and ends when the cello enters 4 or 5 bars after you break to comment at 10:10 III.- The Pacific: Starts with the Cello-led bridge at 11:15 right after you say "next act, I think" (good call there). When you say "Next act? I'm not sure…" when the music changes to the brass and the whispered part "I'm afraid, I'm so afraid…" it's still the second, more agressive part of this act when the character is 3 minutes away from dying and it goes on all the way until exactly 2 bars after your comment break at 15:07 IV.- Dark Passion Play: The act that gave its name to the whole album. It starts after that same comment break, at 16:05 with the aggresive violin part and goes all the way through Marko's growling, Floor's next sung part, the following chorus and the narration ending with the chorus crying "Save me!" and what you accurately said was the slashing noise signifying the death of the protagonist at the pendulum's blade. (21:16, right before you go all Keanu Reeves saying "whoa!") V.- Mother and Father: Starts with the heartbeat at 21:38 and the orchestral section with the Oboe solo. When you say "This might actually be the next act, I might've spoken too soon." it IS the start of the fifth act, the only act change you got wrong was the change from the third to the fourth act. This act goes all the way to the end of the song and as you accurately said with the Oboe=mourning comment it speaks about the protagonist reuniting with his parents in the afterlife, that's why there's a mourning oboe but Floor's voice is more soothing than mourning since she is speaking from the parents' point of view ("Be still my son, you're home…"), comforting their newly deceased son. Another fun little trivia about this song is that there are 4 officially released versions sung by different people: The Demo Version sung in its entirely by Marko since they were in the middle of auditions for Tarja's replacement available in the The Sound of Nightwish Reborn album, the Album version (Dark Passion Play) and the Live version (Made in Hong Kong… And In Various Other Places) sung by the then-vocalist Annette Olzon and Marko and the Live version at Wembley (Vehicle of Spirit) which is the one you just reviewed sung by Floor and Marko. If you compare all three different lineups they all sing and interpret the song very differently, the Demo version even has some different lyrics that are a bit harsher and were then reworked. Now for a couple more reaction suggestions: You've heard Marko growling here but if you want to hear his smoother singing voice I recommend The Islander (any live performance) and if you wanna find out if Floor can still sing after growling I recommend Yours Is An Empty Hope, also from Wembley Arena (the Vehicle of Spirit live show)

Tuomas = the metal Mozart Floor = makes a grown man cry Perfection. ❤️

Tuomas said this about Floor's singing of this song, "Floor puts all the anguish, and hurt, and deep dark feelings i was feeling when i wrote this, she has a way of putting my emotions back into the songs"

The backstory is this. It is essentially the feelings of Tuomas leading up to and through the firing of the original singer, Tarja. He said in an interview that he killed himself in the song to avoid killing himself in real life, his depression was that deep. This song is essentially a suicide note. Act 1, Empathica: begins with the end. Tuomas’ death. He wanted to believe that ending it all would lead to peace and the restoration of innocence, penance. Act 2, Home: This is the feelings of knowing that he was going to have to fire Tarja. He was tortured knowing that it was going to happen and feared that it would mean the death (end of the band) He compares it to a medieval torture device called the pendulum. (A blade that swings back and forth over a person strapped to a table and lowers with every swing until the person is cut in two. Usually in many passes. Not a good way to die) Act 3, The Pacific: The calm before the storm. The band was unanimous that Tarja should be fired (minus Tarja, although she said it was mutual) But she wasn’t officially fired until the end of “The End of an Era” world tour. According to reports Tarja was not aware of this until later, though I have my doubts. (The tour was called the “End of an Era” for God’s sake). There was relief for Tuomas but he knew that it was the calm before the storm. This act ends with the firing of Tarja and the 2nd monolog about the fan backlash of rape, gunfire and “friends’” betrayal. This is also the first reference to suicide, but to avoid the confrontation instead of waiting for the blade to fall. Act 4, Dark Passion Play: Not a lot of depth here, the fans call for Tuomas’ death and celebrate his gruesome passing. (Side note not all the fans felt angry, but it’s fair to say all were hurt and confused by Tarja’s firing) I also feel that the friend that is betraying him here is Tarja. Act 4 ends with Tuomas’ death and regret at the cutting short of his career and the songs he felt he would have written. Act 5, Mother and Father: At the height of his depression, he did go home. And were it not for his mother he might really have killed himself. Chorus note, the band is who he normally would have sought for support but the band was reeling as hard as he was over this and Tuomas had to be strong to keep the band together. (I cannot cry because the shoulder cries more) Sorry for the long explanation.

Tuomas is an incredible composer & songwriter. He deserves more recognition in the wider musical community 💙

The only person on RU-vid who reacts appropriately to how intense and deep this song and the lyrics are. She actually listens to the words being sung. GREAT REACTION.

In my opinion Floor Jansen is one of the most versatile vocalists out there.

I'm a piano teacher and have often expressed that the great metal bands understand classical very well. I love this genre mix.

Ghost Love Score: +25min The Poet and the Pendulum: +35min the Greatest Show on Earth: +45min Nightwish is getting better and better to listen too each time with you 🤘🏻😍

Floor Jansen the swiss army knife of vocals.

The great thing about this premiere system is I know exactly how long I have to wait. The bad thing about this premiere system is I know exactly how long I have to wait.

"How many floorgasm can you have in 14 minutes?" Elizabeth: hold my headphones :D:D:D

Her: oh let's go back a little more *starts the video all over again* Audience: yes

Honestly what I feel is often overlooked, is Tuomas' songwriting capability. That man is a treasure to mankind.

*Composed by tuomas (Keyboard) after he fell into depression in 2005 when they had to fired Tarja. *Inspired by "the pit and the pendulum" by edgar allan poe (talks about betrail and judgement of the character by the inquisition) *Song was divided in 5 parts: White lands of emphatica, Home, Pacific, Dark Passion Play and Mother & Father. *[White lands of emphatica]: fantasy place described in "the dark tower" by Stephen King (place where the habitants are known by their power to feel empathy and share those feelings) *[Home]: "i cannot cry 'cause the shoulders cries more" (Must endure, even if the burden in his shoulders are too much), "i cannot die, i, a whore for the cold world" (he cannot end his life as he sees his earthly suffering as a way to reach to others). *[Pacific]: revelation that the poet is gonna die in 3min (and 3min later you can hear the pendulum killing him), the whisperings in the beggining (if you play them backwards you can hear 1:"again and again", 2:"i know i will die alone", 3:"long enough to see", 4:"long enough to hear the sound of guns", 5:"give me a death i always longed for" wich are all part of the lyrics in this part of the music. *[Dark Passion Play]: dark reference to "The Passion of the Christ". "2nd robber to the right of christ" he puts himself in his position (the one to the right who accepted his penitence), and "cut in half- infanticide" (the death of his innocence). all references here points to the "inquisitors" as in the song title (wich feed, judge and rejoice in all the repercussion of the case) *[Mother & Father]: Return of the poet to his loved ones, as they warn him that "the blade will keep descending" as the cruel wont stop.

One of the most incredible (and in my opinion, underrated) things about Nightwish is the fact that while they are on international tour, the orchestral music is all prerecorded backing tracks, since it's not really efficient to travel with a full orchestra. Which means that the band has to walk a bit of a tightrope in order to stay in synch with the track. If they miss it, it would become very obvious to notice. And they nail it. Every. Single. Time.

Floor has one of the most powerful female voices I've ever heard

You are wearing the perfect shirt for a reaction to Nightwish's 'the Greatest Show on Earth' and 'Shoemaker'. Both will blow you away.

I love how much emotions Floor puts when she sings ❤ And her technic is flawless, so impressive. I’m jealous of her breath control ahahah I love your videos Elizabeth!

The cool thing about this song is in the first spoken part it says "I have 3 minutes left to live" and exactly 3minutes later in the song is when the pendulum falls/slices, song writing genius!

Elizabeth's facial expression tells a lot!

Without a doubt, one of the most comprehensive and professional interpretation/reactions I’ve seen. You are much more than a Vocal Coach. You understand the orchestral elements and you even identified the Oboe ( I’m retired from the Navy Band... Oboe). The pendulum as envisioned in this composition is an ancient swinging blade that descended by inches on each swing. It was a horrifying instrument of execution. Ugh!

Man Elizabeth was almost in tears when Floor went full soprano.

53 years and Crying, so powerfull 😌

My new favorite nightwish reaction channel!

Please please please please please please, for the love of all that is holy and musical, keep doing Nightwish reactions! You have the perfect blend of emotional and mental reactions to their music. You have the passion and love to experience the complicated emotions, as well as the technical education to appreciate the complex compositions. These are the best Nightwish reactions that I have seen! Please keep going, I will watch whatever song you choose to react to. I could obviously give you a list a mile long, but the rest of the army has done that for me. You are truly awesome. Keep up the great work!

Huge thanks to The Charismatic Voice for introducing me to Nightwish and Floor! The reaction for ghost love score started it all for me. The entire band is so incredibly talented

Floor is a powerhouse and Marco hits like a freight train. This band is so metal 🤘

You should listen "The islander" live at Tampere to hear Marco "The screamer" singing!!😉

"Can they sing afterwards the growl".. Try Yours is an empty hope of them and listen to who is the growler..

I always cry when I hear this song. The pain and emotion that Tuomas pours into it is overwhelming. Then when he sings at the end with Floor, waterfalls. I'm happy that he had music to help him get through that time. It always warms my heart at the end when Emppu and Marko stand up next to Tuomas to sort of make sure he is ok. For me it also signifies the original members from the band when Tarja was kicked out, coming together to heal at the end, but that's just my take.

You can see other members trying to comfort Tuomas throughout the song. Then a close up of him crying.

Watching your facial expressions while reacting to Floor has been absolutely amazing. A true Floorgasm if I've ever seen one.

In the end when Emppu and Marco go and stand whit Tuomas is to support him like a real friends do !!

I always cry like a baby during this performance. I just can't handle it even after all these times hearing it.

Whilst Floor is a power of nature....listen to Marko who keeps up with Floor effortlessly. What an amazing duo. 🙏🇦🇺

You should listen to Sancta Terra by Epica (featuring Floor Jansen). Another symphonic metal band with an excellent vocalist, Simone Simons.

Elizabeth, watching you try to balance the analytical breakdown and your love of music was great!. Fantastic reaction to an intense Nightwish song

The final part always gets me. As a father, I couldn't imagine the feeling of one day finding out your child has lost their soul, lost their love of life, lost their will to live... "become so cold".

Her change of power in voice from “silent summerbreeze” to a “hurricane” is amazing

Your T-shirt would be perfect for reacting to another Nightwish masterpiece: "The Greatest Show on Earth".

You are one the few reactors where the artist and his song is in the middle of the video. Most other want to put themselves in the middle of the show. Thanks for this recognition of the artist and his piece of art.

I love how the length of the song enables it to take listener through a really complex story, it is an epic journey and emotional ride you cannot experience with short songs.

Did you know, when they say "Now I only have three minutes and counting" it reallyis 3 minutes to the blade come down? you can check that out

Your reaction is one of the best. I prefer educated reactors like you that have intelligent things to say and can give us a better appreciation of what is going on with the singers/ musicians and the music. I appreciate your emotional reaction as well. You have real reasons for your impressions.

who dislike it before watching?! 😠 that's madness! She’s great, I love her reactions 🤗

It is something blessed when the composer manages to convey true emotions in the words and melody. Tuomas have a gift.

Elizabeth looks like the most beautiful Disney princess come to life, but incredibly well adjusted 😁 One of the smartest and more in depth reaction RU-vidrs around.

Fun fact: When the whispering voice says "All I have left are three minutes and counting", it's exactly three minutes until the blade falls in the song.

Wow. I've seen the Poet and the Pendulum many times. It is very emotional. How come it's even more emotional when you react to it? Definitely far away the best reaction I've ever seen. Not only the explanation but also your facial expressions.

If Beethoven and Mozart were alive today, THIS is what they would listen to.

your passion about music and vocals alone make your channel so interesting. i love nothing more than listening to people nerd out and get really excited about what they're passionate about

You should react to Epica sancta terra with guest floor jansen its amazing

Can we stop for a while and appreciate how beautiful Elizabeth is? So glad I found her ;)

"Under the same pale moon, whose guiding light chose you." I love that line.

In Germany we have a word for this 'look' you gave Floor and her presence, it is 'anhimmeln' , meaning you are so amazed and hypotised by her, that you give her heavenly properties. In other Words, if you seem to be so amazed, that you rate your expirience as out of this world.

"The Greatest Show on Earth" is the third epic along with Ghost Love Score and Poet and the Pendulum by Nightwish that they have performed live with Floor Jansen, would love to see your reaction to that one too. It celebrates science and the significance of life in an otherwise empty universe, taking you from the Big Bang to the distant future through music.

I would love to see you react to Floor Jansen singing "Winner" on Beste Zangers. Makes me cry every time.

The brilliance, nuance and mastery of Tuomas’ songwriting lyrics and composition never ceases to amaze me. 3 minutes exactly from where he says “I have 3 minutes and counting “ is when he simulates with his hand the pendulum cutting his throat.This is just an amazing piece of music art!🤘🤘

I have listened to this song easily over a thousand times lol

The whispers at the beginning are kind of like hearing someones thoughts. There is a lot of psychological angst developed throughout this song. Remember, there are no violent sexual acts portrayed in this song. All references are used as imagery and metaphors. Act 1 - The White Lands of Empathica - is the beginning taped intro with the young choir boy singing. This talks about THE END - The songwriters dead. After the breakup which was initiated by Tuomas and the rest of the band, he feels he is dead inside and has lost his inspiration to compose as well as his muse (Tarja). This anguish sends him to the White Lands of Empathica, of Innocence (Home to Finland) to find empathy for what he has caused and the outpouring of hate and criticism he is enduring from all of the fans. His family and friends will surely understand and support him in his time of depression and guilt. Act 2 - Home - This begins when the full band kicks in. This is where Tuomas' depression and guilt start to turn into rage and anger for what Tarja has caused within Nightwish. Tuomas can rationalize how she forced him to fire her due to how she had changed and no longer felt and performed his compositions with the emotion necessary to bring these songs to life. As well as her ego allowing her to feel above the rest of the band, because after all she was the face and the voice of Nightwish. They needed her and she did not need them. A boy friend (Now husband) helped to create the rift by filling her head full of new ideas. Most of the words in the verses are metaphors for Tuomas' inner thoughts and feelings. All leading to the chorus in which he expresses his feeling of whoring himself by working so hard at his compositions just to have them unappreciated by Tarja. She even threatened to leave after the next recording and Tuomas could not go on knowing this. He decided to end it and try to move on without her. See my link for "THE OPEN LETTER to TARJA" this will explain it in Tuomas' own words. Act 3 - The Pacific - This part starts at the end of the 2nd chorus as it goes to the slow operatic part. Tuomas has a penchant for all things water. He find comfort in the ocean and waterfalls and flowing water in general. In this section he longs to sooth his anguished soul with images of a sparkling waterfall whose flowing waters are ever free from the cares of the world. It washes it all away with the flow. Then he thinks about how easy it would be to drown his anguish in a less painful death beneath the blue. The swaying blade his lullaby. Remember in "The Pit and the Pendulum" the protagonist is mentally shifting between terror and angst of his pending and horrific doom, and then mentally moving beyond the present to a more wonderful time and scene within his mind. Act 4 - Dark Passion Play - This part begins after the whispered words about being "Raped again and again", which once again is a metaphor combined with his feelings of being a "Whore to the Cold World". He feels he is selling his soul and his passion for composing music just for money and not as an artistic expression. This part brings back the anger and the anguish in his soul which he is desperately trying to evade without success. Marco's vocal part is what he feels from all of the fans piling guilt upon him for his transgression and destruction of Nightwish, which they all passionately loved. Act 5- Mother and Father - Is the ending section that leads to a new beginning. This was the opening song on the next Nightwish recording with the new singer Annette Olzon. Funny thing is Floor does an amazing job on this song and was not even in the band at the time or the original singer of this song. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rbkpMgqq8pU.html - Nightwish Open Letter to Tarja Wonderful analysis and reaction video to this epic masterpiece. Well done lovely lady.

Next, Nightwish 'Shoemaker' Lyric video from the new album ( because they've not performed it live yet). The ending is sublime 😁 Also 'Greatest Show on Earth' live from Tampere x

I’ve heard this song a thousand times and it hits me in the gut every time

Howfascinating ! You read this complex composition like an open book. Needless to say, I will be spending hours watching your emotional yet professional comments. My new favorite reaction channel.

I just wanna say you've quickly become my favorite vocal coach / singer / reactor. I love to see how enthralled you are by the music, how you seem to feel everything that's going on. I also really appreciate that you pause the songs at appropriate times, and you go back to catch the start of new sections, it just sounds and feels so right. And of course your explanations, they are interesting, easy to understand and full of knowledge. Love your channel, you'll be the only reaction channel I'll subscribe to. ❤️

11:36 - 12:36 best floorgasm ever! The most times I cried in my adulthood was listening to this music. I dont know other music that brings so much emotion in it as this one. A rollercoaster masterpiece. Hugs from Brazil!

She is Floor Jansen. She is a Goddess.

Nightwish with Floor Jansen sounds to me like what I imagine what would happen if a Disney princess got really into metal at an early age.

Please react to "Song of Myself", The greatest show on earth" and "Shoemaker".

I've viewed many reactions to this performance. Yours is on a whole other level. Well done! Floor brings me to tears on the regular.

Back in 1998-99 when I first heard to "Oceanborn", we used to call it Opera Metal. It was sort of revolutionary "bach then".

The pendulum was a medieval torture device where a person was strapped to a table and a blade swung above the victim like in a clock, and would get a little lower with each swing until the victim is cut in two. This was used to represent how Tuomas felt before he fired Tarya. He knew it was going to happen and that it was unavoidable.

Quite possibly one of the best reactions to this song. Bravo Elizabeth, a vocal coach/opera singer who truly knows what they are talking about

Really appreciate your attention to detail when analyzing both vocals and music. You rock!

Gods, you are quickly becoming my favorite vocal reactor! You do research ahead of time, you catch and analyse _so_ much even on your first listen, and by goodness, you truly get _into_ the music! Listening to Nightwish has always been a very powerful, emotional experience for me, and it's a joy to see another person experiencing their music as strongly as myself. 💚

Finally I find someone who can put my feelings for this music into words. I am not musically talented at all, but I certainly am an enjoyer. Thank you so much for doing these reactions!

Can people growl in a healthy way by singing perfectly after?.......ok...Your's is an Empty Hope then (Wembley version)

This is the first reaction of yours I’ve watched...instant subscribe! One of the few who REALLY LISTENS and gets it. Your explanations of the mechanics, not only of the singing, but of the composition, too, were really interesting! As far as the meaning of the lyrics...Tuomas was extremely depressed about the end of the band’s relationship with Tarja, who had been a dear friend. There was a sense of betrayal there, and the fans really gave him a lot of backlash. He felt like he couldn’t talk to anyone because all those close to him were also in pain (“I cannot cry because the shoulder cries more”). The song was his way of committing suicide in a song, rather than doing it in real life. The ending bit, called Mother and Father, was basically composed from the things his mother said to comfort him. I will second someone else’s suggestion for you to check out The Greatest Show On Earth live at Tampere.

This is such a masterpiece. I always end up with tears in my eyes.

Hi Elizabeth, Thanks for reacting to this one! Nightwish are a special group, and you dissect them so well. You should look at their songs that you haven,'t seen yet, I would recommend "High Hopes ", or While your lips are still red" from the Wembly concert. All the best from the UK!

Before I liked you. But that science shirt makes me adore you! :D

What an excellent analysis! I don't know much about music theory or vocal techniques - this helped me understand better *why* I like the parts I like (and in addition - pointed out great things I didn't notice before, but will for now). Anyways couple of suggestinos for further analysis (there is of course a plethora to choose from). Floor growling and screaming (in addition to other stuff she does great): ReVamp - Disdain Live at Graspop 2010 (that was Floor's own band before she joined Nightwish). But what I would really see would be: Shoemaker from the newest album Human :||: Nature Here there is also a backstory - the song is about the scientists Eugene Shoemaker - so you could/should keep the same shirt for that :)

One of the more interesting trivia notes about this song is, when they play this, Tuomas has the vocals cut out of his monitors, because of how deeply the lyrics affect him. (It's also quite obvious that most of the band go over and see how he's doing at certain points.)

Your enthusiasm is so infectious - great reaction. Fantastic, thank you

I have to say maybe the best reaction to this song I have witnessed... so many floorgasms that I lost count early on. Also loved your professional enthusiasm and viewing.. you took your time and I sure NW peeps here appreciate it alot! Thank you.

If you want to hear Floor growling, try "Yours is an empty hope".

I love how you always allow Floor and the guys to take you on the emotional journey

Elizabeth, Floor and Poet. What a perfect trio.

So the meaning of this song is sort of complex. The simple explanation is that it's about firing Tarja as lead singer of Nightwish. The more complex explanation is that Tuomas is mourning the loss of someone he adored and cared for, and that he feels responsible for the death of their relationship and friendship. He needed to do it to be free of Tarja's, sometimes, demanding necessities but he hates himself for needing to do it. "I have but two faces, one for the world and one for god." He cant pretend for Tarja. "I only have three minutes and counting..." Then three minutes later the sound of the guillotine falling is heard. He feels so much remorse for 'murdering' his, and the bands, relationship with Tarja he believed the only way he could be free from the guilt was execution. In this song he is metaphorically executed and yet, even after this, when his friends and family come to his grave they still spit on it. He has so much guilt. So much remorse. The cost of freedom was so high. But it was necessary.

I've watched a lot of people that are singer/vocal coaches react to different songs and you are the first I've seen that not only listen to the singer but the entire musical composition and for that I'm hooked on this channel, I mentioned this in my last comment in the Ghost Score video when you commented on the arrangement. For this I have much respect for you and your channel. Happy to have found your channel and look forward to many more reaction! Music is a universal love.

The song is about depression and recovery, going through associated emotions like sorrow, despair, anger, relief and redemption. The intensity is due to it being very personal to the composer of the song, relating to his own feelings at the time of writing. At the end Emppu and Marco go to Tuomas as if rallying round him. In the Mexico city performance they both bump hands with him at the end of the song, to smiles all round. Tuomas has said he's well past those feelings now and "a different person".

I believe your analysis is spot on and credits are bonified. Floor is a dynamo. She so powerful and refreshing like the Heat from a flame then a cool breeze thats not cold but soothing and strengthening full of peace. Nightwish helped me heal.

The sections & their initial lines: I. White Lands Of Empathica: "The End. The songwriters dead..." II. Home: "The dreamer and the wine. Poet without a rhyme..." III. The Pacific: "Sparkle my scenery..." IV. Dark Passion Play: "2nd robber to the right of Christ" V. Mother and Father: "Be still, my son You're home..." I. White Lands Of Empathica: "The White Lands of Empathica" in the Stephen King "Dark Tower" fantasy novel series, is "a snowy tundra located in 'End-World'. The residents of Empathica are known for their abilities to empathize and share other people's emotions" (The Dark Tower Wiki). In cinematic fashion, we begin at the end, before flashing back in time to the start of the story. We are given the point of the tale: to empathize with our songwriter. II. Home: We see "The poet, in his torment. He longs for "Home" a place of childhood innocence and peace. "My home was there 'n then. Those meadows of heaven. Adventure-filled days One with every smiling face. "Meadows of Heaven" is the title of another Nightwish song expressing the purity of that idyllic state of innocence and childhood bliss, before the cares of adulthood force themselves upon us. "Take me home." III. The Pacific Of course there is double meaning here. The Pacific can refer to the ocean, but also refers to a state of peacefulness. It is oddly, but appropriately, ironic that the ocean that goes by that name is often anything but. Oceans and water are an often-used symbol for Tuomas. A image of a sort of "depth" of beauty and truth; a longing. Nightwish's second album is named "Oceanborn" and in the song "Dead Boy's Poem," (a "dead" boy being another oft-used Tuomas metaphor), he has used the term "Ocean soul" alongside "lonely soul", as those who experience deep feelings are often lonely. We get the longing to be "Ever Free", and to be tucked in "...beneath the blue, beneath the pain, beneath the rain". (Interestingly, in the even more brutal demo of this song, the spoken lyrics say, "For eleven years I've been strapped unto this alter," indicating the entire lifetime of the band's existence.) IV. Dark Passion Play: We first get a reference to a "Passion Play" from the vantage point of the "2nd robber to the right of Christ". And in Christlike fashion, many who once considered themselves his "friends", now actively rejoice and participate in his downfall. In this section, Marko takes up the voice of an angry mob celebrating the death of the "Poet," Tuomas's frequently-used term for himself as a songwriter. The "alter" Floor sings of, which in the Poe story is a simple wooden table or board, here is transformed into an instrument of sacrifice. Tuomas has exited a world filled with pain and has a smile on his face, having been freed of the long pressures of music-making, the music having "too long been without silence". The pages have been erased. V. Mother and Father We now get words of comfort supposedly taken from those his parents actually spoke to him during this time. While the circumstances have not ended, ("The blade will keep on descending"), he is reminded that he is and will be loved. There is still beauty to be found and a "shore" to sit and hope upon. The "Try to save them all, and bleed no more" part is, I have heard it said, about keeping the band alive and finding healing. Again we have the familiar Tuomas water imagery: "You have such oceans within," and in the end, we arrive at "The beginning".

The symphonic elements of Nightwish songs are played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Metro Choir. Tuomas composes the music which is arranged by Pip Williams.

Hi Elizabeth, I watched few of your reaction videos, especially the ones on Nightwish songs. This is the first time I actually see you moved by the singing and the song itself. It's a pleasure to know there is still people so sensitive and appreciative about music. Music is one of the reason I'm happy to live in this world and some people really don't get the POWER it has in term of expressivity, what you can do with music you cannot do with any other means. I thank you for that and for sure I'll keep watching your videos and appreciate your work and passion for that. Thanks

I love how expressive you are when you analyze the music. I wish I could hear music the way you do. I can tell you hear things that most don’t. So I love that you post those things out to a layman like me.

Thank you so much for reacting to this performance! I'm looking forward to hearing your comments!

You'll get to hear Marco preform on this one too. Definitely his more aggressive voice. Floor is just amazing all the way through to her "thank you" at the end. So damn emotional.

I just love how Empuu just starts talking to Tuomas in the middle of the song. Best buds just killing it onstage

Thank you very much for taking the time and the effort to do these reaction videos, especially the ones of Floor and Nightwish! Just want to let you know how amazing a singer I think you yourself are! Not that you'd need the verification of someone who has no musical training but yes - I admire you. Now, knowing that you possess such great skills and technique, I am even more delighted to hear your reactions to my favourite singer - Floor, and my favourite band - Nightwish. I've just become more aware of how skilled Floor is and how much effort it takes to convey the emotions and moods of Nightwish's songs - the way they are. I couldn't be anything else but very very thankful to you for doing what you do. To me, you are just enlightening. And, for sure, I am going to be listening to more classical singing thanks to your inspiring professional performance(s). Thank you once again! And - wish you to be healthy and willing to to continue what you do! :)