Vocal Coach reacts to Valley of the Queens from Ayreon Universe 

Thank you so much for reacting to this, and for your kind comments Bethany! 🥰

Anneke van Giersbergen = The Godmother of Dutch symphonic Metal Vocalists! 🤟

I think Marcela is one of the most under appreciated singers in Metal - she is a complete professional

Anneke is world famous for her smile, and if not, she should be.

Anneke is Floor's musical godmother. And Marcela is an unbelievable great singer and such a beautiful person. I am one of her Patreons, and I'm proud of that! ❤️

Anneke was a great inspiration to Floor, and one of her idols, she (Anneke) has one of the most beautiful voices, she sings in a band called The Gathering plus she's doing solo stuff as well... Definitely worth checking out more of

All three ladies are just so special and worthy of further investigation. Vocal bliss. As for the Ayreon universe be prepared for as many vocalists as you can handle!

Anneke was a huge inspiration for many female symphonic metal singers including Floor and Simone Simons. You must check out more of her!

They are all so good together. As you point out, Marcella, mainly in a harmony role here, is brilliant at attenuating her timbre to match Floor and Anneke. They are all wonderful singers.

Anneke is a veteran. Marcela is quite underrated. She’s an amazing vocalist who has also been around the music scene for a long time.

Arjen chose 3 Queens to sing about "their valley"...what an excellent choice! Marcela, Anneke and Floor nailed that one for the centuries to come...🙏

Young Floor knew she could sing very high and she loved metal. She just didn't know how to combine the two until she heard Anneke van Giersbergen with her band The Gathering. So you could say Anneke was a huge influence/inspiration to Floor's career path in music.

Arjen is a master in taking you places. Diving into his discography is quite the journey, I'd describe it as an audio book series where the music paints the landscape

Marcella really stood out to me. I enjoy lower female harmony vocals, so hearing her change her placement and colours to match her duet partners is a great sign of control, and then she has that forward head voice. Great singers all three are! Control for miles! Anneke has a beautiful forward tone and of course Floor has her warm expressive head voice able to use more breathy sound effectively. Full props to the musicians as well. They provided the wind on which the voices gently soared.

Marcela Bovio was (and still is) responsible for arranging all the backing vocals and joint performances of female duos and trios of Arjens projects where she is a part of.

Arjen Lucassen is always very open to interviews. So, give it a shot. Anneke van Giersbergen was a great inspiration for Floor to go as a female into metal. Anneke is the queen of Dutch metal. But, she did a lot of other things as well.

For me this is one of the most perfect performances i’ve ever seen❤️ and Arjen Lucassen, the Mastermind behind it all, is a true genius!

This was Anneke's song and you can feel Marcela set to support her and in this arrangement carry that support to Floor who then diverges. Marcela holds the piece together as the Queen to Anneke's Queen Mother and Floor's Crown Princess. It is a stunning enhancement of the piece.

I'm not going to talk about Aneke who is one of the OG godess but Marcella is such a great vocalist I've heard her as backup vocal, in her own project or in collabs with other artist and she always bring her magic to the piece, very under apreciated artist imo.

I would recommend the duo Anneke and Sharon Den Adele Within Temptation and the Metropole Orchestra - Somewhere - an incredible duo

Marcela is the queen of blending, Arjen has used her extensively in both lead and backing roles across various projects of his. Anneke is the inspiration in a lot of ways for the other two as frontwoman for The Gathering and does a lot of work with everyone's favourite male performer Devin Townsend!

Ohh if you go down Anneke's music, her old band The Gathering had a revival a few years ago. They performed "Travel", in Doornroosje (Dutch for Cinderella) 'm sure you'll love this song😍 I've seen her with The Gathering, Aqua de Annique and during a very intimite livingroomconcert❤️ She is soooo sweet and humble.

The instrument was a low whisle. The same instrument Troy plays in various Nightwish songs. Normally it is tuned to D.

for more live annake i always recommend the gathering's 25 yr anniversary version of "waking hour" (live at doornroosje) ... or in a different but beautiful duet live with within temptaion for "somewhere"

THAT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL, I COULD LISTEN TO THEM ALL DAY LONG. WOW. PERFECT COMBINATION OF VOICES AND INSTRUMENTS. THE MAN ON THE FLUTE DID A PERFECT JOB. ALSO THE GUITAR, FANTASTIC. BILLY BOY

Yes all three ladies are amazing singers. Floor and Anneke are both Dutch and Marcela is Mexican but has lived and worked in The Netherlands for many years now. I heard that Arjen Lucassen has said that he could not imagine trying to do a Aryeon project without Marcella because of her amazing singing abilities but also because of her ability to arrange harmonies. I can see that. Like Floor from 2019, Anneke was on the Dutch TV show, Beste Zangers in 2021.Where she sang the other artist music and music that had meaning to them and in turn the other artist sang Anneke's music to her on her day to be the center of attention. So much great music from several great Dutch artist. But I suggest listening to Anneke sing "Sobevivire", "Sing, Sing, Sing" or "White Roses" from Beste Zangers 2021. It's a real treat in seeing her and hearing her sing outside of her normal genre. Great reaction as always young lady and your excitement is catching. Just keep doing what you are doing so well.

As others have echoed, this song is the tip of very large universe of music. Soon you'll be diving deep into Ayreon and Arjen Lucassen's amazing composing with some tracks having 11 main singers. Anneke is called the Godmother of Dutch metal because she was the driving force in a band called The Gathering and lead the way for female fronted bands in general. Marcela has been on the dutch metal scene for while and collaborates with many bands including Epica and Arjen Lucassen's various projects. Marcela's solo band is Stream of Passion (which she originally started with Arjen). And Floor... she also fronted two amazing bands before Nightwish. She also loves working with Arjen Lucassen (a fellow dutchie). So much to explore.

You enjoyed that! The last note with the 3 ladies singing together is quite magical. 🎵 ✨

You’ve heard the crowd… we Dutchies are so proud of singers like Floor, Anneke and Simone. It was magical to be there!

That final harmony always pulls my heart straight out of my chest, gives it a little kiss, and puts it back. It's so gorgeous.

Marcela! mi favorite. She is not only a great and versatile singer, but an amazing composer with unparalleled passion. She has several songs that could be worldwide hits, but for some reason she is heavily, brutally under appreciated.

These three angels can be devilish in their own right! Growling and grunting... Music by Ayreon is very divers. The Universe concert is a selection of his works, life performed, from many albums. Of course Anneke van Giersbergen, Marcela Bovio and Floor Jansen get your attention, but the flutist is Jeroen Goossens, who contributes to almost every album of Arjen Lucassen. There is a lot to discover by these artists...

So lovely! I could listen to them all day. The instrument, if I'm not mistaken, is the Irish Low Whistle. Loved your reaction!

Thank you for that reaction! What a great way to start the new year! Ayreon have many great live videos on youtube, if you want to be blown away check out "Everybody Dies" live. Arjen himself have uploaded it on his youtube page.

Few songs move me to tears when the lyrics, the context, the singing delivery and also just the stage presence the singers bring. Floor is smiling and having such a great time but when she sings she just sounds so melancholic and heartbroken and conveys the lyrics so well, like she herself is the Egyptian princess at the end of her life crossing over to the Valley of the Queens aka the afterlife. Same as Anneke, her tone is so distinct and controlled and emotive. Ugh so good! I came for the metal on the album this song is from, but I stayed for the sheer musical mastery of the instruments and singers and lyrics just bringing everything together so well!

Anneke has such a unique voice, and is such a legend. I love this song, it feels like a lullaby!

The rule is simple: I see "Valley of the Queens" I click.

Anneke did a great solo album in 2021, 'The Darkest Skies Are The Brightest'. Not at all heavy, or metal, but very soothing. I heard it was inspired by some marital problems she was working through at the time.

listening to ayreon growing up was a treat and mind opener

It truly is a mesmerizing performance.

Anneke did not only inspire Floor to start singing, she's also a prominent figure on the European prog and symphonic metal scene and has collaborated with several other artists. I first heard her when she was the vocalist of The Gathering many moons ago. She seems like a very likable person who became friends with Floor. Marcela is a great singer too and was introduced to me through what started as another one of Arjen's projects, Stream of Passion. Arjen left the band after a couple of years to allow the remaining members to continue on their own, something that had been his intention right from the start.

Check out more of not only Floor (of course) & Anneke but Marcela Bovio as well. She is a breathtaking opera singer with the most beautiful voice imaginable, who, like Floor can do absolutely anything. Check out her RU-vid channel or just do a search & be prepared to be amazed. I will never stop championing this overlooked vocal goddess. A (non-operatic) live song on her YT channel you might like, "Marcela Bovio - Here to stay live (October 23, 2022 at Tivoli Vredenburg)"

In the Netherlands we have a culture with the Flute. Lot of children, even my own children learn to play the Flute on school

Have you heard Anneke sing with Sharon of Within Temptation? The song "Somewhere" is considered one of the absolutely most touching of duets.

Anneke van Giersbergen is something of a legend in European metal - I'd suggest a well known duet with a band called Within Temptation filmed during their Black Symphony concert in 2008 with the Metropole Orchestra - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IR_mBh5mqok.html

Anneke is my favorite vocalist even above the amazing Floor. She has been putting out great music since the mid 1990's. You may find youorself falling into a rabbit hole with her as she has done so many great guest vocals and her time with The Gathering she had many great songs as well. Many would suggest Travel but here is one from their 25 year reunion show called Waking Hour. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-pUKBV8M_XXE.html

Anneke did a lot of work with Devin Townsend. That was her on the background track for Your Kingdom reaction

"I love different duet combinations". Haha, these 3 really perform a special duet. LOL

Anneke has collaborated with Devin Townsed a lot, they're amazing together! Now that we know how you feel about Devin I'm sure you'd be interested in hearing these two sing together :) For a sweet duet I recommend Ih-Ah! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cN6fHdPvEu0.html For something a bit heavier, Numbered! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1a9_X2lbNV0.html

Every one comments, and rightfully so, how achingly beautiful this song is but it also possesses the saddest lyrics I've ever heard. I'm always melancholic after I hear it.

Enjoyed as always your reaction, especially your play backs, & I laugh a lot, understand, & appreciate them. You seem embarrassed...don’t! I love Floor especially, but all three are great singers. You asked about another from Ayreon, such a special composer, & producer. The must do for you is “The Day the World Breaks Down”. It features 11 different singers in this genre, men & women. Think of all the beautiful voices for you to listen to. Ayreon is special, you will see him all through it playing fabulous guitar. Can’t wait for you to hear this masterpiece.

An uplifting song about dying with acceptance and grace.

Short but sweet

Happy new year! Not much to comment otherwise, others have said it all! Each of these 3 women has a catalogue which is a rabbit hole of its own. I could spend all day listening to their respective performances. 🖤🤘

Anneke is sorely underrepresented in the reaction world. I'm as much of a fan of Floor as anybody, but Anneke will always take the #1 spot for me. The two most popular songs of hers to react to are usually Travel and Waking Hour from her time with The Gathering. She's worked with a ton of different artists as well, including a lot of great stuff with Devin Townsend.

3 legends imho , Anneke was a huge inspiration to Floor and Marcela is so underrated , shes very much like Floor as far as versatility , she can do it all . ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Y46Lft_BZxo.html React to this by The Gathering ( Anneke's Band) Marcela Bovio ....stream of passion ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FtGk3TqBdW0.html

Jeroen Goossens on flute (or is it a whistle), Maaike Peterse on cello, Ferry Duijsens on guitar and Joost van den Broek on keyboards. Jeroen also plays flute and didgeridoo in the concert. Joost is so talented

Anneke was a part of beste zangers 2021 and My favourite is: Sobrevivre : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TJygKpPYUzI.html Another must react, IMO, is strange machines live at pinkpop 1996 : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1HUMwinV2AQ.html

Ciao Bellissima, Felice 2023

The combination of Anneke, Floor, and Marcela is amazing. And yes, Marcela does a great job of blending seamlessly both with Anneke and with Floor. If you want to check out more Marcela, here are a few suggestions: Stream Of Passion - Intro/Monster - Memento (2016) - [the song starts about a minute and a half in] Stream Of Passion - Delirio - Memento (2016) Stream of Passion - A War Of Our Own (Live acoustic version) Dark Horse White Horse - Black Hole Dark Horse White Horse - "Get Out" one take performance by Marcela Bovio Marcela Bovio - Loneliness anthem #2 (live at Sandlane Recording Facilities) Anneke has a long history, starting with The Gathering and then doing both solo and band work over the years: The Gathering - Strange Machines (TG25: Live at Doornroosje) The Gathering - Travel (TG25: Live at Doornroosje) The Gentle Storm - The Storm (OFFICIAL LIVE VIDEO) - [with Marcela on backing vocals] Anneke van Giersbergen (with Residence Orchestra) - Freedom - Rio (without interview/intro) Devin Townsend Project - Higher - Live 2017 - Lyrics Devin Townsend - "Grace" (The Retinal Circus) Official Promo Video Devin Townsend Project - Kingdom (OFFICIAL LIVE VIDEO) I would also suggest Anneke's Beste Zangers performances, especially Jest Oldu, but they seem to now be blocked outside The Netherlands (or maybe just outside Europe).

There's one problem with this performance....it's WAY too short to have three such powerhouses on stage , needs to be several minutes longer!

Stating with Floor Jansen, then you have Anneke van Giersbergen and Marcela Bovio. It also sounds like they have their vibrato synced together.

so soft a little folkie they sound terrific

Anneke's voice is just ❤️ No wonder she was an inspiration to Floor

Anneke did a seison beste zangers. Rocked it ofcourse. Just aldu and sing sing sing a genius. She makes you happy

Saw it live in NL...it is even more impressive live.

Youve probably heard Anneke already singing the “aah-aah” notes at the start of Devin Townsends Kingdom.

Nice reaction!

You need to see Anneke with Devin Townsend perform Grace

For a truly inspirational song, try "Travel" from The Gathering (Anneke singing).

i have goosebumps almost every time i hear Anneke. Three stunning voices, but i love specially Anneke and Floor. I think you will love "Somewhere" from Within Temptation feat Anneke Van Giersbergen. Or if you just want Anneke, go for "On most surfaces" by The Gathering, live at Doornroosje (TG25).

Marcela is the chameleon of these 3… she matches whomever is lead ! She harmonizes Floor and Anneke!!

IMHO Anneke van Giersbergen is one of the most underrated voices of the past 30 years . Floor has often said that Anneke was a big influence on her in the early days - the blend of these 3 particular voices is truly magical with Marcela's ability to adapt being the glue that holds the whole piece together . The Dutch music scene of which I've been a fan since the early 1970s ( through Focus initially ) is perhaps one of the most overlooked in the world ( I suspect because most of the groups sing in English and people don't realize where they're from ) Artists like these three ladies ( Marcela is now adopted Dutch 😉 ) current bands like Epica are continuing a long history of Dutch musical innovation ( which is , I think the word that describes the country's music best ) Worth checking out something by THE GATHERING to hear more of Anneke - doesn't matter what - it's all great !

God, I love Anneke. I really liked her in The Gathering. They did a 25th reunion anniversary show years ago. If you reacted to "On Most Surfaces" with her, it would be amazing! Found it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gX9nHYj95gw.html

The beauty of Females Metal vocalist..

Marcela!! she´s my friend! from my city: Monterrey, México! since shes have her band ELFONIA ....(she´s Tolkien fan, sings in "elfo")

Your too cute I cried it's so pretty there all metal queens sound mystical like in a forest need more

You really need to check out more from Anneke and Marcela. Floor, of course is amazing. However these other two ladies are my 2nd and 3rd favorite vocalists, after Floor. See below for a couple suggestions for both. Anneke has a long career with many different bands and projects from Arjen Lucassen. Marcela is on almost all of Arjen's creations due to her extreme vocal versatility. This first one is from a 25th anniversary show with Anneke and hew old band The Gathering. This song is all about a yearning to go back in time to tell Mozart how his music would live forever. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Y46Lft_BZxo.html - The Gathering - Travel (TG25: Live at Doornroosje - unofficial video) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vDtBD4ylFQU.html - THE GENTLE STORM - Brightest Light (Live @ Zoetermeer) - This one of Arjen's creations for Anneke - also featuring Marcela www.youtube.com/watch? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gu_nyQEjQQQ.html - Ayreon - Shores Of India (Electric Castle Live And Other Tales 2020) - featuring Anneke Van Giersbergen v=TJygKpPYUzI&list=PLDQYfE7BLAcoI8YG3XzGiWXrWdiRJCpYM&index=37 - Anneke van Giersbergen - Sobrevivirė | Beste Zangers 2021 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1GXNK1aY4dI.html - Marcela Bovio - Loneliness anthem #2 (live at Sandlane Recording Facilities) - brand new from Marcela ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-iL_P6VBJJH4.html - Tides of Time live at Sandlane with Coen from Epica! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XOT-VdkBA4g.html - Marcela Bovio - Stream of Passion's "Monster" one take live performance - a pandemic home performance. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Rtrkpxq3dOA.html - Ayreon (Stream of Passion) Out in the Real World - featuring MarcelaLive in Tilburg 2019 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-J66kQyVb7JE.html - Stream Of Passion - In the End - Memento (2016)

The harmonizing is just....WOW!!! Absolutely beautiful. 🤗💯💯💯🔥👍

you have the most beautiful smile on earth!!!!!

The wind instrument is a tin whistle, traditional from Ireland and other celtic cultures. In particular, those are low tin whistles - the more usual ones are smaller, about one octave higher than these ;)

You must check "everybody dies" . Is just another level unlocked

great reaction, Happy New Year 2023

Great reaction, you're forgiven for going back to listen again. It is so simply arranged and perfectly sung, just beautiful.

One of her (Anneke's) most stunning songs, a journey, is when she sings in The Gathering: Travel ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Y46Lft_BZxo.html

I saw Anneke a few months ago on her acoustic solo show. She has such a powerful voice. Just Anneke and her guitar. Magic. ❤️ Saw Floor three times last year, always amazing. Still haven't heard Marcela live, maybe some day.

Hi, very beautiful reaction

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NdNmCwHnciI.html , This is also Anneke but without floor with the same song

Wanna hear more from Anneke (and Arjen, the dude who writes the music and plays a couple of instruments) The Gentle Storm, The Moment or The Endless Sea i'd say ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-89l7NGvA3qQ.html

I want this played at my funeral

Arjen has in mind specific things as he writes his compositions. He customizes each piece with particular artists in mind and writes out their parts purposefully. It's just the way he does things to fit the theme of the performances he produces. It's a tin flute, I think. Marcela does a masterful job of matching each of the other two when she harmonizes with them as both have different tibres. Anneke is in the center and when you have a chance, you should check out her duet with Sharon den Adel from Within Temptation perform "Somewhere" here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IR_mBh5mqok.html

This song is SO beautiful. Glad you reacted to this. The ladies together are simply exquisite. For some reason Anneke's voice reminds me quite a bit of Kristin Chenoweth's.

You should definitely (and pleaaase) react to Ayreon - The Day that the World Breaks Down which features 11 singers, all of them being best of the best. You would really like it and I really wonder what you would say about that! Another suggestion from Ayreon would be Everybody Dies - Live version to be exact. You’ll hear some crazy high notes, and Irene Jansen (Floor’s sister) as a backup singer along with Marcela. Then you can move onto Ayreon - The Eye of Ra (Live) which features both Floor and Irene Jansen singing side by side on the stage. The video will surprise you in the end with the amount of talent you might see on one stage! Love your channel and reactions. Greetings from Istanbul!

You know Julia Nixon, a voice coach from Australia, said the same thing of how Marcela changed the way she sang backup vocals depending on the lead soprano. Marcela is an amazing singer.

Brilliance

Marcela is an amazingly wide ranging vocalist. I’d recommend this live show of her with her band Mayan as an example of her versatility ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-u5TQqUD74OE.html

Thanks

It's a sort of Irish tin whistle, the Low Whistle.

Happy new year ! And thank you so much for this reaction and analysis ! 🙂👍 Anneke van Giersbergen (and her band "The Gathering") had a big influence on Floor, Simone Simons and Marcella Bovio. Could you please react someday to The Gathering "Strange Machine" Live at Pinkpop Festival 1996 ? Here is the link : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1HUMwinV2AQ.html Thank you again and have a great day !

Proud to be Dutch ❤