Ayreon - Valley Of The Queens (REACTION) with my wife

[@RonniePeterson]

Marcella Bovio deserves recognition with Anneke and Floor. Wishing Floor well.

[@trokoshea1]

Stream of Passion (the group of Marcella) just released a new song and video on KZbin: The Hunter. That would be a great way for you both to "discover" her frontwoman capabilities. 🙂

[@antoniocarlin5026]

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

[@noneofyerbeeswax8194]

She most definitely does. What I like about her, however, is that while being insanely talented, she has never strived after mainstream recognition - unlike, let say, a certain other _former_ metal singer.

[@stamasd8500]

Marcella's cover of Sleeping Sun by Nightwish is exquisite.

[@Richardtv1968]

Love your funny, surprised and flabbergasted reaction …….. you both know quality when your heart and see it!! Thanks!

[@RossNixon]

Beautiful harmonies. I always love this performance.

[@eTraxx]

It is said that Anneke was the reason that Floor followed into metal as her muse

[@richardwest6358]

So did many female singers from the Netherlands

[@antoniocarlin5026]

same Floor said it...!!

[@albertkassenaar7735]

Fun fact Floor is a fan of the gathering the band of Anneke when she was 17 the start of her career !!!

[@dAmion2306]

Marcella Bovio recently published a cover of Nightwish's - Sleeping Sun on her KZbin channel. Absolutly beautiful. For more Anneke listen to Within Temptation feat. Anneke van Giersbergen - Somewhere (live) which is probably one of the best metal duets ever.

[@renskevanderhaagen5813]

I concur!

[@cwes6404]

Yes that whas beautiful

[@pdutchie4924]

This song is sooooo beautiful with superb harmonies ❣️ Love Marcela btw, she is so good.

[@TimoArula]

The Lovely singers are Floor Jansen, who you know. Anneke van Giersbergen (who you also know) - Floors inspiration and pioneer of Female Metal in Netherlands and Marcela Bovio (Star One, MaYaN, ex-Stream of Passion, ex-Elfonía), an Ayreon regular and Talent from Mexico. The song is off 'The Electric Castle' Album. The Performance is from the 'Ayreon Universe' Concert - This concert is pretty much a 'Best Of', which makes it an excellent introduction to the whole Ayreon Concept. The Valley of the Queens is a site in Egypt, where the wives of pharaohs were buried in ancient times. It was known then as Ta-Set-Neferu, meaning "the place of beauty". It was most famous for being the burial site of many wives of Pharaohs. Pharaohs themselves were buried in the Valley of the Kings. So, Real Place !!! All the best to our Valkyrie Goddess (Resting and getting spoiled by Hannes). NWSU/FloorFan 🤘😎🤘.

[@joslauwers7960]

For the record Arjen wrote this song for Anneke, but for the live show he re-arranged the song for these 3 Queens. Floor participated with her sister Irene at the 1st Star One with Arjen in 2000. Star One is another project of Arjen.

[@JariJuslin]

I am not sure he wrote it *for* Anneke, I think he comes up with the story and characters first and then picks people to play them. But yes, on album Anneke sung this herself.

[@tapio7133]

Marcelas harmonies makes this song so beautiful. She is in many Arjens songs so she is good....

[@alastairmcintyre4752]

Anneke van Giersbergen is the godmother of Dutch rock and one of the purest voices of the past 30 years . As others have doubtless said you should check out her work with The Gathering - I'd start with " Strange Machines "from Pinkpop in the 90s and then perhaps " Travel " , " Waking Hour " and " On Most Surfaces " from their 25th anniversary show . Marcela Bovio doesn't always get the credit she deserves in Ayreon songs - it's her harmonies and adaptability that brings this whole glorious song together . Watching you both act like lovestruck teenagers whenever Floor appears in anything is always a joy !

[@YESTERWYNDE]

Saw Anneke and Floor this year at Floors solo tour stop in Vienna. That was a wonderful experience

[@noneofyerbeeswax8194]

The queens singing about the valley of themselves.😊 So, you know Anneke van Giersbergen from her collaborations with Devin Townsend, but not from The Gathering? Check out "On Most Surfaces", "Travel" or "Waking Hour" (TG25: Live at Doornroosje). Marcela Bovio is an excellent singer, but she's not well known to the broader audience. She has her own band Stream of Passion and a project Dark Horse White Horse, apart from a massive amount of collaborations within the Dutch metal scene. She just did a cover of "Sleeping Sun" (Nightwish) a couple days ago.

[@antoniocarlin5026]

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

[@erickvermeulen9734]

I loved that cover of Sleeping Sun that Marcela posted on her KZbin channel.

[@lananiella]

Well, thanks a lot. Just what I needed. One MORE bottomless rabbit hole! I have been loving Annie for a couple of years now with her songs she does with Devin & her solo stuff, but somehow I had not checked into her The Gathering songs. Now I have because of your post here. I can already tell this is going to be a fun dive catching up on all this. So really, thank you!

[@antoniocarlin5026]

@@lananiella Anneke best Gathering songs: Travel, Nightime Birds, On must Surfaces, Leaves, Monsters, Strange Machines, The May Song, Saturnine, and Amity... enjoy!

[@lananiella]

@@antoniocarlin5026 Thanks! That helps. I wasn't sure what the best songs were.

[@sebastianperez1257]

Those 3 are complete legends with insane talent marcela floor and annekke

[@willem_stapper]

Lovely reaction. Thank you for that.

[@naruto9121983]

the 3d one is marcela bovio. she is also amazing

[@Rackelhane]

This time. Two very happy faces. Love it! Hugs from Sweden.

[@clivematthews5296]

There is also a version of this sung by Floor and her sister Irene at the Star One live 2003 concert. The third singer here is Marcela Bovio from Mexico who has performed with various bands including Stream of Passion and is often one of the three backing singers for Ayreon with Irene Jansen and Lisette van den Berg.

[@antoniocarlin5026]

Marcela!! she´s my friend! from my city: Monterrey, México! since shes have her band ELFONIA ....(she´s Tolkien fan, sings in "elfo") :p PD.- Anneke is the MOTHER of all the female vocals...! the REASON to Floor sings!!

[@madbadhatter]

One of THE most beautiful songs you'll ever hear! Floor and Anneke are two of my absolute favourite vocalists ever! Marcela I wasnt familiar with but am now and she is incredible. These three need to release an album together!!!

[@franshinlopen2166]

The song was originally written for one person, namely Anneke as the Egyptian character in the album Into the Electric Castle. The album version features backing vocals also sung by Anneke. Playing this song live is therefore a problem, unless you use a prerecorded backing track, but Arjen does not do this. Playing this song live needs at least one backup singer. There is an older video of this song on KZbin with Floor and her sister Irene and a Polish flutist. This version has the ladies taking turns at being the lead. I don't know who thought of that.

[@sivsjolander8644]

What a beutiful song.

[@benbermusics]

Generally speaking, Arjen Lucassen knows very well for whom he writes music, singing artists as well as instrumentalists!

[@Mind-your-own-beeswax]

The 3rd lady is Marcella Bovio.

[@alexandersomers21]

Hi guys, 73 years old hippie from The Netherlands ((Floor, Anneke, Marcela(although she's Mexican) & Ayreon country)) reporting in: If you want to enjoy Anneke's voice and almost unchallenged technique, I agree with other comments; Go for "On Most Surfaces", "Travel" or "Waking Hour" (TG25: Live at Doornroosje). Shine on my friends ...🤘

[@lindablair-rk9vr]

Love your reaction. Again, you two are too cute for words!🐢

[@andykereztury1450]

You would love Anneke with Arjen in "Shores of India"

[@Slightly_Mad1335]

This song is a tribute to the sci-fi classic Stargate, which makes it all the more magical because of the lyrics.

[@valeriududau3218]

the lyrics are beautiful also... worth checking them up!

[@hansolo2121]

It is time you reacted to a song from Anneke van Giesbergen with her own band The Gathering. So you can hear the music she made. She was the lead singer of that band from the early 90s until the late 2000s. A very well known song is 'Travel'. The song is about Mozart and what Anneke would say to him if could travel back in time and meet him. It is beautiful!!!! Make sure to check out the (unofficial) live version from TG25 (the 25th anniversary concert from The Gathering).

[@sjeses]

Arjen builds the landscape out of wiggly air, the singers he invites to collaborate with the project get to live in it for a while. It is a mix between writing the song first and working together with the singers and instrumentalists to create something together. Arjen has stated that in the past he was a control freak and wanted to stick to his ideas, but over the years has learned that letting go of that mentality and letting others pitch in with ideas is a gateway to making something much grander. I have previously mentioned that it is very difficult to accurately describe to someone how special Ayreon is, but I think you are starting to understand. A Sci Fi audiobook series on steriods is the closest I think I can get. There is simply nothing else quite like it

[@patchouli2274]

A good one of Anneke with her own band The Gathering: Waking Hour!

[@robtaubman93]

Thanks great reaction!!

[@mcpond]

Anneke was on "Beste Zangers", I think the year after Floor. Lots of great performances from her but I would recommend "Jest oldu" ( she sings part in english and part in the original turkish). She's gonna blow you away...

[@dragluian]

All three of these ladies have videos on you tube singing this song by themselves.

[@stevenhopwood8195]

Wow that one really got you excited, you don’t know how fast to push your words out 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@erwinamesz7642]

Thank you SOOOOOO much for doing these Ayreon reactions!!! Please do Ride the Comet by Ayreon!!!!

[@greggkonitski743]

Great choice Yanni!

[@jewfish68]

This reaction was a joy to watch. It's great to see you both so happy. Definitely check out more of Marcela Bovio's work because she is great.

[@geertdelange4785]

Nice to see you again

[@StarStuffGal321]

Nice reaction to a beautiful song! Anneke does a beautiful cover of The Blower’s Daughter!

[@adriaancamambert1971]

I love you guys..

[@Green-Lyon]

In interviews that I have seen Arjen has said that he has singers in mind when he writes most of his songs

[@hansolo2121]

All the musicians and singers are Dutch. Except for Marcela Bovio she is Mexican. But she is married to a Dutchman and has been living in The Netherlands as a Dutch national with her husband for many many years.

[@noneofyerbeeswax8194]

If you mean Johan van Stratum - they're divorced since 2018.

[@hansolo2121]

@@noneofyerbeeswax8194 I didn't know that :) She still lives in The Netherlands though ... right?

[@noneofyerbeeswax8194]

@@hansolo2121 Yes she does.

[@Thorgrim247]

There is also a Valley of the Queens in Egypt. These 3 lovely ladies are the top 3 in the world. IMHO Floor, Anneke, and the very underrated and under appreciate Latin Siren Marcela Bovio. You both know Floor very well. It is time you got to know Anneke and Marcela much better. I have left several suggestions below which I think you will both love. Here are some amazing song performances from Anneke. Several from the Beste Zangers show that Floor did in 2019. As well as one of Anneke's recent solo music videos and a great performance with a previous band kzbin.info/www/bejne/invcmH6mhb6IsKs - Anneke van Giersbergen - Sobrevivirė | Beste Zangers 2021 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIvWZ3eFgNyZqbM - Anneke van Giersbergen - Endless road | Beste Zangers 2021 kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpbXlqFuhsx4n7c - Anneke van Giersbergen - Sing sing sing | Beste Zangers 2021 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKbOpn9plMqGg5Y - Anneke van Giersbergen - White roses | Beste Zangers 2021 kzbin.info/www/bejne/jX7YqqaFabmjjdk - ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN - My Promise (OFFICIAL VIDEO) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHXXc3dqrtF5h7c - THE GENTLE STORM - Brightest Light (Live @ Zoetermeer) featuring Anneke Van Giersbergen kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWKqaZygd7CljtE - Nightwish - Sleeping sun (cover by Marcela Bovio) kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmS3qYKXeL-pZtk - Ayreon - The Theory of Everything (Universe) LYRICS IN SUBS - featuring Mike Mills and Marcela Bovio kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnmxZJ6Zo7xgZ6M - Stream of Passion - Marcela & Diana Bovio Valley Of The Queens Live Rijssen, Netherlands (2006) A.I kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKXVnKOuppiXhaM - Ayreon (Stream of Passion) Out in the Real World Live in Tilburg 2019

[@o_krush67]

Anneke originally sanf the song alone as a character named the Eqyptian. Marecella has sang this alone in concert as well but this performance....mind blown. You should jump down the rabbit hole of all 3. They are worthy and Marcella needs to be better known. I love her voice and versatility.

[@JesperH1967]

Very well spotted (Ih Ah) :-)

[@Richardtv1968]

Anneke van Giersbergen is the godmother of all metal/symphonic vocalists, look how proud Floor looks at her!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/embGm4d-Z9dsnas …… this is anneke doing this song solo!! Just amazing!

[@paulchapman2569]

This is Anneke's song, but taken to another level, Floor is as usual, amazing, but for me the star of the whole "universe" show was Marcella, listening to the final song of the show (eye of Ra), listening to the powerful voices Marcella could be heard above all, amazing singer. No ego happy to lead, happy to be backing singer.

[@strabel803]

Here a surprise with Irene and Floor doing "Valley of the queens"(1e song) and some other songs; kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYjCepV7ataArqM 🤘

[@papaverweg]

The song is older than the version with the three of them. Arjen performed this song live before in "Stream of Passion" - Valley of the Queens - Live in the Real World (2006) kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3vKpZuhm92JoMU This time with the third lady: Marcella Bovio (who is also the violin) with her younger sister Diana Bovio (17yo) on backing vocals. Mind you, this song sounds quite heavier.

[@okiejohn3925]

Dominica- for a unique look at Anneka, I recommend a solo piece, just her and an intimate audience, singing Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time"...just Anneka and her guitar. She banters a bit with the crowd, and she is so funny and adorable...here's a link... kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4Smeqiqf5xooc0

[@MerchantOfAlba]

Thank you 👍💚

[@TheMateriaalkunde]

Floor is there as a guest, probably because she sung the lead in this song back in 2003 in the project star One. Actually the main song frame is the album/opera Into the Electric Castle. Floor has no part there, and Marcela is one of the three chorus members. Anneke plays the part of the doomed Egyption character. As you can hear in 'Isis and Osiris' and 'Garden of emotions' she is fully desparate because her Gods do not appear. This song is her demise and farewell. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGe8d5Wdgt-ekLs kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWfVc3uXhNKLg9E

[@am_evil]

Anneke ❤❤❤ 🎉🎉🎉 ❤❤❤

[@FromG2eminor]

I hate this song....being soooo SHORT!!! 😅 I want Floor's outfit. They all look and sound superb! I love harmonies so much.

[@MerchantOfAlba]

Agreed 💚

[@TheSeeking2know]

Marcela needs way more recognition as a vocalist. She is obviously worthy of sharing the stage with Anneke and Floor, just needs a breakthrough of realization from the audience, that she's more than just a harmony or backing vocalist.

[@diedzjeeoudshoorn7726]

Sorry, I'm late to this party! Yes, Arjen Lucassen is a fabulous magician. He really is. His music is different, unique, emotional, to the point, and the product of a pure genius. His choise of singers is second to none. In this case these three ladies ...... what can I say other than I am totally flabbergasted. Like you are which is very pleasant to watch and recognizable. The one and only Floor.....The one and only Anneke van Giersbergen, and the one and only Marcela Bovio. All three of them can melt your heart. And do that on a regular basis. This is the upper League of vocals. There are more fantastic ladies from the Netherlands that sing in that League. For instance Simone Simons or Sharon den Adel or Dianne van Giersbergen or Irene Jansen etc etc etc. There are more that should be mentioned but my own knowledge falls short. No pun intended if I did not mention your name. These are fantastic times filled with music discoveries!

[@ronaldderooij1774]

Arjen Lucassen usually writes the songs and searches for the perfect artists. But it also happens that he gives a vague instruction to the artist he chooses and then incorporates what comes back. He prefers to receive artists in his own studio, but many times this is not possible, so he will work via electronic means. For Anneke van Giersbergen in her band The Gathering, prlease see "Travel" written by Anneke, sung by Anneke, the godmother of Dutch metal. It is not for everybody, but it is about Anneke her admiration for Mozart. At the end, all previous singers of The Gathering make an appearance. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2WZfZmqlKeNrtE

[@ralfmeyer9086]

I have a problem with this Song. It is to short 🤘🤗

[@MerchantOfAlba]

Agreed 👍

[@zbygniewprlwytzkofsky6614]

This song is way too short😢

[@dawidslusarczyk6737]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@jamesanderson5268]

It's actually a very sad song. Check out the lyrics.

[@BigzampanoXXL]

Marcela sung nw sleeping sun wonderfull ..on yt

[@albertkassenaar7735]

perhabs you should read the text of the song so sad!

[@ToTheWolves]

Why did you keep restarting it?

[@MerchantOfAlba]

As we kept stopping right at the beginning cos saw and recognised the singers.

[@ToTheWolves]

@@MerchantOfAlba ooohh

[@BibsBPunkt]

One thing I don't like aubout this song: IT ENDS - WAY TO SHORT!

[@MerchantOfAlba]

Agreed 😁

[@felipecampos3045]

So many better ayreon songs...

[@gerardwernerdefrance5962]

They are great songs, and this one is also great! 😊 8:59

[@정광석-i4s]

첫번째.뎃글~일등👍

[@Kelsea-2002]

The song has a huge flaw - it's 2 hours too short! It was great to be able to see Anneke on stage on Floor's solo tour this year (at least at the German concerts) - what a great deal. Two such fantastic singers for the price of one. A composer and songwriter usually has the right voices in mind when composing.

[@noneofyerbeeswax8194]

Did they sing a duet at least once? If not, they've missed a great opportunity.

[@LarsKoehler]

@@noneofyerbeeswax8194unfortunately not, at least in Hamburg. Anneke sung „Valley of the Queens“ and I hoped for Floor showing up. But that didn‘t happen…