Housewives react to NIGHTWISH preforming the masterpiece: The Poet and the Pendulum.

[@marcelrenes2435]

Greeting from The Netherlands! I'm 51 years of age and I still cry at the last part. I've lost my mother and father but they always loved me. No mather what. This is Tuomas' masterpiece. ❤

[@frenkwd1]

Hello 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

[@scottosborne2915]

i can see a copy and paste from a mile away cause i was going to do the same you saved me the time thanks

[@rg8829]

Nightwish have that bad habit of creating those spine chills….and Floor…well….there is a word that has been created by the Army regarding those chills we experience when she sings…Floorgasm…😊

[@Garbox80]

Or good habit... 😁

[@christomashofski9160]

Marco Hietala (HEE-etta-la) January 14, 1966. This was 2015, so age 49. This is a very gut-wrenching roller coaster ride for the emotions. It was the song in which Tuomas (the keyboardist/composer/poet) committed suicide in the song so he wouldn't have to do it in real life. Notice it begins with "the end," a matter-of-fact report on the virtual suicide under Poe's blade, and ends with "the beginning," the start of a new life for him after the suicide was finished. He needed to kill off the "old him" in order to start anew. Quite a few years before this release, you will find another song he wrote, "Dead Boy's Poem," which was for practical intents and purposes a suicide note written in advance and held in abeyance in case he ever needed it in the future (He often refers to himself as the "child" or the "boy," i.e., the child inside all of us, the one with a pure, innocent heart, suffering through the pain of the loss of that innocence wrought by adulthood.). I strongly, strongly, strongly recommend using the 2018 Buenos Aires performance from the Decades World Tour for Dead Boy's Poem simply because Floor puts so much emotion into the lyrics, the impression is unmatched by any previous.

[@RuthlessBiscuit3]

This track is beautifully composed by Tuomas. It takes you on a very personal journey that he experienced after Tarja Turunen's departure from Nightwish. Absolutely sublime.

[@aartosalo2623]

Nicely said, "after departure of Tarja". She was fired, thrown out of the band.

[@ralfmeyer9086]

Tarja was fired. From the whole Band. And Tuomas become all the hate

[@RuthlessBiscuit3]

@@aartosalo2623 I know Nightwish history very well. PATP is a wonderful piece of music. Why people feel the need to bring up the senario 20+ years later is ridiculous.

[@RuthlessBiscuit3]

@@ralfmeyer9086 Music is an expression... You either like it or you don't. Whatever happened, happened.... move on.

[@MegaDog555]

love ya Tria

[@nevermore5168]

This was the first song I heard from them while I was in the hospital. Didn't have a TV to watch so I got my phone out put it on KZbin to watch a movie and this video came up first and the rest was history. I can honestly say that this band saved my life and gave me hope!🌹

[@ytcag2007]

Greetings. Nightwish is just all around a wonderful experience. If playing the show was all, but Nightwish is the only band that I know of to finish the set, leave, and then come back to let the fans feast their eyes on the members setting up for their thank you bow.... like a curtain call after every single performance. It can be quite an emotional moment and why not? After they take you through 2 hours of such an emotional roller-coaster and to finally be able to take a moment and appreciate the 6 individuals that pulled all those emotions out of you for 2 hours and thank their fans for being there with them, toss their picks and drum sticks, and then bow, and no, that's not the end..... They then take multiple photos that will eventually include the sea of fans in the background. Those photos will usually appear on the CD and DVD if it was recorded as such. I don't know if it is European bands in general or just Nightwish, but they seem to need to have a very close relationship with their fans. It's like the fans are a part of what they do and they show their appreciation very clearly. Like Floor... She has her own KZbin channel and she doesn't just post for her sake, but for the fans. Constantly tells you what she's up to, she is about to have a baby, she collapsed at the end of the last Nightwish performance of the tour, her home life, her horses, her dog and cat, her husband, Hannes Van Dahl, their daughter Freja, boredom, frustration, they need to be connected or to them It's all for nothing. I don't know of any other band, in my 52 years of life, that seeks that kind of connection with their fans. From the music, to their gratitude, it's just magical! So, The Poet and the Pendulum..... The short version of this story is that keyboard player, Tuomas, used this song as an outlet to express his feelings, including his own suicide, as a result of the events that took place in 2005. Singer, Tarja Turunen, was fired from the band leaving fans and media pointing their finger at Tuomas as the cause of the issue. Their fanbase dropped considerably and Tuomas was afraid for the future of the band. So much so that hel fell into a deep depression entertaining thoughts of suicide. After he "kills himself" and the heart stops beating, you hear part of the conversation he had with his mother. That was the talk that lifter his head as well as his spirits and encourages him to keep on going. That is Part V: Mother and Father. Part I: White Lands of Empathica Part II: Home Part III: The Pacific Part IV: Dark Passion Play Part V: Mother and Father Many more things to find out about this song but I'll let the Army fill you in. And just in case... Floor brings so many emotions back to Tuomas on this song that he has to ask his engineers to turn off the vocals in his in-ear monitors so he doesn't hear her sing. Her voice and emotion on this song was that painful to him. So thank you for the video, reaction and comments. Stay safe and stay blessed. 😊❤️🤘🤘

[@randymarple9830]

You should check out The Warning. They have a fan base equal to NW. 3 sisters from Mexico who love Rock&Roll. My two favorite bands? Nightwish and The Warning. Why? because of their music, lyrics, and fans...and how they treat their fans. See their Teatro Metropolitan CDMX 2022 concert If you watch 30, minutes you will be compelled to finish the 1hr 45min show. It is well worth it.

[@littleraven28]

I went to see Ayreon 2 weeks back and they also did the bow. I like it, it's like their thank you to the audience for supporting them. Nightwish is a band with people that have both feet on the ground, it's all about the music and having a good time, not about being a star. I saw them f.i. in 2022 at PinkPop, Metallica was the closing act for the Friday (Metal day) and Kai was standing in the crowd about 3 rows behind me to watch the show.

[@ytcag2007]

@@littleraven28 Wow, I bet that was awesone!!!!! 😊❤️🤘🤘

[@littleraven28]

@@ytcag2007 hahaha yeah. It made it hard to either watch in front of me or behind me 😂 He was definitely enjoying the show.🖤🤘🏼

[@terrytheoldgoat]

I think Marco was in his late 40's when this was recorded. The opening vocal was performed by a boy chorister.

[@Antti79]

Yup, Marco was born in 1966 and the concert was in 2015.

[@Pertit-t1k]

The Gandalf was in 2015 only 49 years old. Probably due to the appearance, the most respected Nighwish singer in Finland. By the way, the same gentleman has won Finland's Masked singer.

[@tubelious]

Marco also was the singer of one of the 1st succesful heavy rock bands in Finland during the '80 - Tarot. Tarot: Wings of Darkness (1986) kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJrQoJqMgpicb7s&ab_channel=mchn10

[@jaketzi8816]

And 2nd in "Kuorosota". (Finnish version of Körslaget / Clash of the Choirs).

[@saranodamnedh56]

Gandalf 😆 I love that.

[@akkusta]

... there are vocalists, and there is Floor Jansen ...

[@Meine.Postma]

The girl in the middle without glasses really feels the song

[@benbermusics]

My idea, she's good for the balance. The first to get caught in the web of the darker emotional layers and the beautiful storytelling. But the two party girls left and right certainly followed soon enough. They will grow into Nightwishes many coloured performances... sometimes fun, sometimes angered criticism, sometimes love of nature and science, and sometimes expressing pain or loss. The music will take them to the fitting vibe....

[@penkakicheva-peeva8319]

I think she already knows what's going on. She is plotting her besties, imo. Just look at her, she doesn't look surprised at all, just observes.

[@Meine.Postma]

@@penkakicheva-peeva8319To me she is soaking it up and getting very emotional at the last part of the song

[@fredschepers5149]

💯 what I thought...

[@jaywolford3898]

One cool thing missed by most reactors to this song is during the spoken part around 7 minutes mark she says I have 3 minutes and counting. 3 minutes later at the 10 minute mark you hear the blade drop, and heart slow. It's really cool touches that make them layered then some people may realize. The band says they will never play this song again live. I am so glad I got to see the Decades tour and see this live. Throughout the video you can see the band members check on Tuomas. If you ever get the chance to see Nightwish take it. I have seen them once with Tarja, twice with Anette, and twice with Floor. I enjoyed every show.

[@clivematthews5296]

Tuomas on the keyboards is the main composer and wrote this about the depression he felt after the sacking of the first singer Tarja Turunen caused so much hate from the "fans" directed at him. Worth watching with subtitles.

[@JWNanaimo]

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. Amazing!🤘🤘

[@robwoolley6010]

Floor is married to Hannes Van Dahl who is the drummer of Sabaton( another band you should check out) and they are expecting their second child to go with their 6 year old daughter Freja

[@valksyvalksington6155]

There are 3 of these longer tracks - Poet and the Pendulum, Ghost Love Score, and The Greatest Show on Earth - that are almost like miniature Broadway. There is a story with different scenes and different moods or flavours and they all feel like a journey. Even if you don't know the backstory it should be obvious that Poet is a tale of a very distressing and difficult time in the band's life, with the composer Tuomas, having his mental health degrading as a consequence. The movement that begins after Floor's deceptively gentle soprano solo beginning with a thunderstorm and escalating into crisis as Marco comes in with a scream voice is very much an illustration of Tuomas reaching breaking point. The sound of the pendulum falling, and the gesture Tuomas does to indicate it hitting him, is him telling us what he went through. Without the final act, the Mother and Father sequence, I think this song would be too distressing. There is a cry of "save me" and the needed comfort of home to bring someone back to safety and the song ends with the phrase "The Beginning" to say that there has been a rebirth with a new vocalist and a new story to be told.

[@alanfoster6589]

4th one: Beauty of the Beast.

[@jeffreyphipps1507]

The opening singer is a young boy... This (like most NW songs) was written by keyboard player (Tuomas) after firing the first singer. It wasn't because he loved her - nothing in the song suggests that and Tarja never says that. It's about how he was treated after he fired her (though it was partially his own fault because of how he did it). Still, as mentioned in the song, many of his friends betrayed him. Not mentioned in the song was that one of the members of the Finnish parliament condemned him publicly. Fans of Tarja also were unhappy (he did fire her publicly and humiliated her in the process - just calling her into the office would have been better). Tarja planned to leave anyway. This song was written to represent the suicidal feelings he felt at the time. This is not a trivial song. Floor brings gravity to the song with her voice. When Marco is singing, you feel the anger in the emotions. Essentially, between Floor and Marco coupled with the music you feel the full weight and stages one passes through on their way to death. At the beginning you hear whispers - the voices in your head. So many times there are highs and lows here to convey anger and sadness. When the song mentions three minutes, that's how long it is until you see Tuomas slice across his throat.

[@Tarkus_]

You're both right. Floor is a total bad-ass on stage, but very sweet and humble off stage. And yes, a wife and mother, living on a ranch with animals and enjoying nature.

[@MrTjonke]

Yeah she lives like 5 min by bike from me, see her and her daughter in the supermarket all the time. Never gotten up the courage to go say how much I enjoy her

[@Tarkus_]

@@MrTjonke That's awesome, and I would probably be the same (while also respecting her privacy).

[@brettpadgett9930]

I have met a few “star” types and have never been the one to engage first … they are just people but man it would be so exciting to see her lol

[@ronaldderooij1774]

@@MrTjonke On Dutch TV, Floor said she speaks Dutch to her daughter. Did she? Just curious.

[@FromG2eminor]

​@MrTjonke I'm not a celebrity-loving-crazed fan of anyone. But seeing Floor in person would make me weep and pass out. 😅 I would respect her privacy but I would want to slip a note to say how wonderful she is as a singer and as a person. 😊

[@GwenTripleG1967]

That is not Floor at the beginning.

[@richardwest6358]

It is a 12 year old choirboy

[@no_onein2024]

Some Interesting Facts about the song: 1 The song was released on 2007’s “Dark Passion Play” CD w/ 2nd singer Anette Olzon 2 Written by Keyboardist & NW Founder Tuomas Holopainen 3 Song concept inspired by Poet Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Pit and the Pendulum” 4 The song/composition is divided into 5 sections, each w/ different themes & styles applied: I. White Lands of Empathica II. Home III. Pacific IV. Dark Passion Play V. Mother and Father. 5 The song/composition starts with Part I “White Lands of Empathica” sung by a Boy Soprano. 6 “Mother and Father” is inspired by Tuomas’ parents and things they said to him. 7 There is a demo version by Marco Hietala, with even darker lyrics. 8 The song is a metaphorical suicide. 9 After a concert in the Hartwall Arena (Helsinki, Finland) on October 21, 2005, recorded for the live DVD End of an Era (released June 2006), Nightwish band members expressed their decision through an open letter which was given to Tarja by Tuomas, and afterwards posted on the band's website. It was written by Holopainen and signed by all four band members. (included below) 10 The song was written about the backlash from the fans, the public and the media of the band firing their first singer Tarja Turunen and how it was done by an open letter online. They didn't even call Tarja or have a sit down or a meeting. Tarja found out like everyone else: ONLINE. The BACKLASH that it brought Tuomas, in particular, was BAD!!! This caused SUCH a deep deep depression that Tuomas went to a dark place. He wrote his feelings down into lyrics that would tell a metaphorical suicide. 11 The song starts with the phrase “The End” referencing the End of an Era w/ Tarja. The song ends with the phrase “The Beginning” ending the song w/ the hope of the bands continuation (w/ Anette, and then later Floor) 12 When the Boy Soprano later says, “Now I only have 3 minutes and counting” is the start of a literal 3 minutes before the pendulum makes its devastating death stroke. 13 The fifth part "Mother and Father" is about Tuomas' parents' support to him during this time 14 Floor's final Wail of The Siren is my favorite part! :)

[@Braze77]

This song alone is absolutely amazing and a masterpiece. But if you ad the background it gets so much more. Some even say it was life saving for Tuomas to write the song because he thought of real suicide in that time and "converted" it in this metaphorical one. Even in the 100+ times I´v listened to it it touches me every single time

[@scottosborne2915]

i cant help but cry for this song cause i know its meaning Marko Hietala is 57 now

[@PaulOutdoors]

Tuomas at 13:44 gets me every time as does Floor, always. This song, this epic live performance, this masterpiece was my introduction to Nightwish and Floor 18 months ago at the age of 56. I'd not heard of them before until a good friend pestered me in to listening to them. I wasn't keen but relented (not then knowing the backstory) to get said friend off my back and OMG I was blown away and have been every day since. Phenomenal band with all members masters of their craft fronted by the best vocalist that I have had the pleasure and privilege to see and hear. Thank you ladies for reacting to this goliath of musical creations and live performances. ❤️😊👍🙏

[@Kezza3451]

Wow - that’s a deep song for your introduction to Nightwish. I started with a Ghost Love Score. I’ve been a metal-head since I was six (MANY years ago) but had never heard of Nightwish until about 18 months ago. First time I heard this song, I thought “hmm yeah, that’s different. I like it even though I don’t fully understand what it’s about”. Something kept drawing me back to this song though (maybe cuz I’ve had depression myself & can relate to the lyrics) but once I learnt the story behind the song & what each chapter of the song represented, the fact that Tuomas dies in the song exactly three minutes after the child’s voice says “I have three minutes & counting” & all those little details, I realised this song is a work of art. Tuomas put sooo much work & detail into it & his little face at the end, belting out what his mother had said to him - I just wanted to give the guy a hug. No wonder he’s known as the Mozart of Metal. Always love to see us older metal-heads discovering these bands we’ve somehow been missing out on 👍🏻

[@Pirate103]

Join the club. The band leaves a hole in my life from the 2013 Wacken concert I never got to see live😢

[@PaulOutdoors]

@@Kezza3451 Wow Kezza a metal head since 6 😳 🙏. unbeknownst to me at the time I jumped straight in at the deep end with and have been buried deep down the rabbit hole ever since. Like with you, this masterpiece keeps calling me back and now that the backstory is understood its impact has risen to another level. Great to hear how your Nightwish journey began 👍😊

This gets me every time - even after possibly 100 times seeing this performance. I cry every time as I know the backstory of how Tuomas felt after the departure from Tarja and the hate he received from fans and media. He figuratively committed suicide in the song to get this out of his system. It's a very emotional song for Tuomas, that's why Marko and Emppu checks on him from time to time during the song and ends the song standing beside him. When You listen and watch this performance again by Your self - try to have this in mind and not to shed a tear. This is one of their masterpieces but You still have the main one - The Greatest Show On Earth to discover. FACTS: Marko Hietala is born 1966 so he was 49 years at this performance.literally

[@tuomaspuumalainen3018]

Not literally. Figuratively for sure.

@@tuomaspuumalainen3018Of course - My bad. Corrected now. Thanks!

[@garycollins1545]

I'm with you. I fight back tears evert time.

[@allenbroscustomdesign]

Such a great track, I’m glad I was able to see them last year in LA.

[@Pksparty2112]

One of my favorite Floor performances

[@lawrence1389u]

Masterpiece. And what's left to say about Floor? No words.

[@2727rogers]

Now I feel old. Marco is like 6 years younger than me so he will always be a kid in my eyes.

[@markclements7767]

Three years younger than me 🤣

[@2501vai]

He's not old though, he's middle-aged. Am I missing something?

[@jerrymail]

Even when the song is sad, Emppu is always happy to be on stage.

[@johannessilver8653]

It was so difficult time in 2005 when Tuomas was about to end Nightwish after Tarja left....fortunately he got spirit to continue.

[@stevehanson2398]

Great reaction, many thanks👍🏻 Tuomas borrowed heavily from "The Pit and The Pendulum" when he wrote this, which is a short story written in 1842 by Edgar Allan Poe. The story describes the psychological torment of a prisoner during the Spanish Inquisition who is publicly tortured and executed for opposing the Catholic Church. The prisoner is trapped in a dark, rat-infested room with slippery, sloped floors leading to a Pit with a swinging Pendulum above. The Pit signifies Death, the Pendulum represents Time and the sloped floors, rats and darkness symbolise Fear. The protagonist of the story opposed the Catholic Church because he was angry with God for taking away his birth mother, adopted mother and wife with plague and disease. I wonder whether Toumas's anguish was NOT due to the fact that he fired Tarja (the original singer) from the band, but because he felt he was being publicly tortured and executed by his so-called fans for doing so. I also wonder whether the song was arranged into 5 parts to reflect the 5 stages of grieving: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. An awesome musical adaptation of classical literature.

[@davidfowler8778]

Ladies get to know the story of this and rewatch it. It means so much and maybe for one of your next Nightwish songs do Weak Fantasy or Song of Myself or Elan. Heck do any they're all worth it.

[@dmj4966]

Fun fact....since this was written by Tuomos about his feelings on the Tarja situation, and Anette, much less Floor was not with the band at that time, Marco sang the entire demo version, all parts except the child soprano in the beginning...a version is out there with his vocals on this song

[@musicfan9291]

I would recommend going back and do a bit of research and reading regarding this song and its meaning. Once you do that watch this again and try to have the one with lyrics. Once you understand the meaning it is an entire different experience. I know you did Ghost Love Score, now you did this. I would ask that you watch "There Greatest Show on Earth" I recommend the Wembly version because that is how they played it when I saw them live. I asl warn that it is about 22 min. long and I ask that you watch it all the way through till it ends. Remarkable.

[@scifimonkey3]

Emotional but then it was inspired by the severe trauma surrounding the split with founding band member Tarja. Which had some fans turning on Tuomas. If you want to understand why check out the open letters sent by the band to Tarja and by Tarja to the band - you can find them online.

[@eddiec1961]

Nice reaction thanks, did you notice from the point she said 3 minutes the guillotine drops is exactly 3 minutes. The greatest show on earth is a really good one look for the one with fireworks

[@brettpadgett9930]

I love a lot of your reactions. And I love how you come in blind with no research. This song, however, deserves some research. There is so much to this on many levels. So the band gets rid of their first singer and the keyboard player who is also the composer and leader of the band(Tuomas) receives a lot of backlash and hate from friends, family and fans. He said that in an interview he was so depressed and that he couldn’t kill himself in real life so he killed himself in this song. Still a fan, but think you missed the MARK on this one. He said many times this song saved his life and you can see the different band members coming to check on him while they’re playing the song. He said in interviews that he often times would turn the lyrics down in his mix so he wouldn’t have to hear them.

[@martinaddison5991]

Well that shut you up once you realised what you were listening to. Thuomas wrote this from his heart and is one of his best. Beautifully sung.

[@wimvank.7463]

Girls... read the story behind this song and then....look at the venue one more time. It will blow your mind another time.

[@markclements7767]

With lyrics 😊

[@jamescoleman8954]

Now, did you see all the Edgar Allan Poe representation in it? There was definitely a lot really cool the way they put it in there.

[@jasonmarshall7572]

I believe that concert was 2015 at Wembley Marko the bass player was 49 then. As we speak he's now 57 years old.

[@petemack5994]

awesome reaction. This piece has a very special place in my life. I know the back story but this piece is also an anthem for those people with mental health issues such as depression with suicidal thoughts, Yep I am one of those! Also in the Pit and the Pendulum Poe talks about the point at which you both give up hope and accept the end, which you really get the sense of in this. If I may I would like to give you my interpretation of the lyrics and what they mean to me. The first part, which you note starts with the words the end!! Is taken from Stephen Kings Tower series, the white lands were the home of a type of vampire that fed on emotions, (empathy), so a person left feeling nothing, empty and without emotion. In the second part, those lines expressing a feeling of futility, all same old same old yet, hating how you feel, then the verse seems to express the effort of trying to pretend to be ok, hence those two faces, one for everyone else and the real one that is private, no one to turn to for help as the people around you seem as upset as you so no shoulder to cry on so you just carry on pretending becoming that whore for the cold world. Then there is the remembering back to when all was good, yet you cannot get there despite everyone telling you “you are ok, it will be fine” till those words just sink you even further into the mess. Then we have the Pacific, oh wow, the wishing and planning stage, the beautiful sea, just wishing it was over, that you could be under the waves, beneath the pain tucked into that beauty., last goodnight kiss and a valentine that ends everything. Then that part that starts with being afraid, being raped, not in the traditional sense but feeling violated, alone and bloody scared, For Tuomas, feeling that those who he felt should have been there for him somehow betrayed him, a not uncommon feeling with severe depression, feeling that even life betrayed you, also again the mention of the tide and drowning, many see it as the perfect death! On a side note here, three minutes and counting, yep exactly three minutes to the point that Tuomas simulates the blade. Here also note how the music becomes chaotic, mirroring the thought process of someone planning their own death, no logic, well there is but only to the individual. Yet also a sense of excitement and of a journey, proceeding the calm. Then the passion play, traditionally passion plays were performed at Easter and were about the death of Christ, and Tuomas plays with us a little here, “second robber to the right of Christ! Well at the crucifixion there was only one robber either side of Christ but in the painting The Last Supper the person second to the right of Christ is Judas!!!!! Then of course the symbolic death and the slowing faltering heartbeat. The beginning or last part of the piece are the words that brought Tuomas back from the edge. In his case words from his parents but many of us will have people who were there at just the right time and who cared enough to be the rock and love us enough to hold on. If there is a message in this work surely it is to be kind, to look out for each other and if you can be there, you never know you may just save a person’s life. As someone did mine.

[@aartosalo2623]

You have not understood the story behind this song. I suggest you google a bit! This is all about what was happened to Tuomas after firing Tarja.

[@petemack5994]

I totally understand the story behind the piece. Having been around for long enough. It is, However, a simple fact that music is meant to have meaning to many. Sometimes different meanings to different people. It is a testament to the skill of Tuomas that his compositions have that effect. Sadly some become so focused on a particulat event that it blinds them to wider meaning@@aartosalo2623

[@TonyPayneUK]

Wow that certainly adds a lot of insight for me, thanks very much, a lot explained.

[@faviostone8717]

I'm a simple man, I watch Nightwish or Floor Jansen and I like and subscribe... This is a Masterpiece!!!!

[@rientsdijkstra4266]

Great to see your first reaction ladies. But to really enjoy and experience this piece, you should do some research into the background (it is about the pain and depression of Tuomas Holopainen and the band members after the tumultuous split with their first singer, Tarja Turunen, and the crazy media backlash they got from that, even to the point that he commits suicide in this piece, so as not to have to do it in real life...) Once you know that story the whole thing will have even more depth and power. Actually this masterpiece is one of these songs that you can listen to time and time again, and it only gets better with each time you listen....

[@jacquisampson-marat5277]

I concur

[@ascensionenergetics85]

Uhhhh too late.

[@rientsdijkstra4266]

@@ascensionenergetics85 They can still do that for themselves...

[@Greyhound53200]

Since I know you ladies don't research songs before reacting to them I can only compliment you on the fact that you reasonably quick caught on to fact that this song is very dark. If The Poet and the Pendulum is suggested it nearly always is accompanied by people warning to please research the lyrics and the events they deal with. Why? To avoid that uncomfortable feeling the three of you noticeably had in course of the song. I'm not going into further detail here; many others will do that for me. Please be not shocked if here and there appear very negative comments. A number of Nightwish fans can be very hard-core. Perhaps wait a few days for the reactions, many of them will be explanatory to the lyrics and the events leading to them. Then let everything sink in and perhaps do a second listening session, knowing the backstory. Kind regards from the Dutch Mountains.

[@kentk2215]

A masterpiece! One of my very favorite live performances and songs ever. It is all about the the inner torment and anguish that Tuomas went through after having parted with Tarja and the subsequent backlash. It was a dark depressing period for him, gut his parents helped him recover and move on. They only performed this song 20 times with Floor, who took it it to whole new level, expertly conveying the meaning and emotion of the song. Keep exploring Nightwish!

[@elm6944]

Omg your faces are cracking me up! I love that your personalities ae coming out even more than usual! Great reaction...lots of hidden meanings in this song. I like watching it with the words it helps! Great job guys!!

[@MilaMan]

This is Tuomas' the most impressive and beautiful song writing and composing. He is our modern day metal Mozart. I am so happy to own their all studio albums since 1996 including the rare collector's edition of 1996 album. I was at their live concert 16th June this year and I tell you friends, if you ever have a chance to go seeing them live go!

[@Hegoat]

next must be "the greatest show on earth" live in tampere, you wont be dissapointed

[@TrevisMartin]

This was 2015, so Marko was 49 (Born in 1966)

[@amygoodson-catlady]

Congratulations! You've watched the most important song in Nightwish history...without knowing the backstory...and you were respectful, so thank you for that! Bassist, Marko Hietala (pron: HEE-ah-Tallah) was in his 40s at that Wembley show...and he was born w the beard!

[@MegaDog555]

hey Amy

[@Mischnikvideos]

The song was mainly played on the first tour with Anette. It was also played often on the first tour with Floor. Afterwards, Tuomas banned it from the playlist. With Floor the song reaches its full strength and Tuomas was reminded of bad times too often. We won't hear it live anymore.

[@LiseTremblay1960]

Please more Nightwish, it’s my favorite band now. Also, could you react to a Draconian song called: Sorrow of Sophia. Good song to react with Halloween approaching, you’ll understand what I mean 😉👍

[@Rancid-Jane]

Knowing what the song is about I often weep from 6:20 on.

[@damonbryan7232]

I love when people don't know the backstory. Then get to learn. Then rewatch it. It guts me everytime to see Tuomas singing along. Knowing the backstory.

[@paisa20]

yes, my experience was that way

[@kungsverige1886]

This is masterpiece 🇸🇪🇫🇮

[@Bolo2028]

Floor has “day in the life of” videos on her KZbin channel. She definitely seems very down to earth and genuine. She also has a great video commentary on her performance of Ghost Love Score at Wacken 2013.

[@jamescoleman8954]

One of my favorite songs really, and that middle and end get me every time 😢

[@Lee-70ish]

For me Nightwish is the epitome of symphonic rock. The best exponents of it by far

[@elvwood]

This is part of the genius of Tuomas: he gets depressed and pours all his pain and anguish into his music, producing this masterpiece. Later, he gets happy and pours all his joy into his music, producing _The_ _Greatest_ _Show_ _on_ _Earth,_ another masterpiece! I hope you will react to that sometime. And yes, it is Groot: Tuomas is a huge Disney fan. Some antifans tried to diss NW by describing them as "Disney metal", and Tuomas wholeheartedly embraced the phrase! He has also done a solo album, _Music_ _Inspired_ _by_ _The_ _Life_ _and_ _Times_ _of_ _Scrooge..._

[@johnmc128]

Good one. She's not called a Siren/Angel/Valkyrie for nothing. Floor is able to sing/interoperate what Tuomas writes like no one else..

[@dmj4966]

Fun fact 2....the pendulum fall on Tuomos's neck 3 minutes to the second after the voice over says "3 minutes and counting"

[@jupehe5703]

Voice over belongs to Tuomas's wife.

[@dmj4966]

@@jupehe5703 sweet! Good knowledge, thanks!

[@imrehundertwasser7094]

The character in front of Tuomas' keyboard is the Marvel character Korg. Same name as the keyboard brand Tuomas uses.

[@jaynekavanagh4790]

Definitely need to check some more Nightwish out have a look at Storytime and Phantom of the Opera. Floor the singer is amazing. Check out Sabaton's Christmas Truce Floor is married to the drummer.

[@markclements7767]

@jaynekavanagh4790 They have reacted to Phantom Of The Opera and Storytime 😉

[@jaynekavanagh4790]

@markclements7767 o right I'm new to their channel

[@Kmcgonigle0]

I love Florgasm songs

[@johnsullivan8046]

LADYS NEXT the greatest show on earth

[@Karavyre]

This is one of those songs you need to understand where it comes from before a reaction.

[@pdutchie4924]

Tuomas’ masterpiece sung by the greatest female voice, ALWAYS chills❣️ Actually the stand IS Groot, Tuomas is a big Disney fan.

[@Thorgrim247]

Marko was in his late 40's during this performance. He has been growing that beard for decades. There is a very tragic story behind this song. Floor is about to birth her 2nd child very soon. She also has 2 horses and various dogs and cats. An absolute wonderful badass woman.

[@pete_lind]

Markos beard has got smaller, did see interview , he was in Kuopio where he did a comeback to small stage and he should be in Raskasta Joulua again. 9 December 2023 Tampere , Marko is there , Geoff Tate from Queensryche , Tommy Karevik from Kamelot and Elize Ryd from Amaranthe . Marko also got finally proper diagnosis, when he took time off , he had been medicated for depression for years , but test show he has ADHD . Also Marko lives in Spain "near" Tarja , in next town 🙂

[@Henrik_Holst]

@@pete_lind Great to hear that Marko is doing better!

[@Censeo]

This channel is so wholesome! Vibing with anything

[@raatroc]

Marco Hietala who you call Gandalf had 49 years at the time of this concert. He left the band lately.

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

Bravo for jumping into the tune and working out how you interpret it. Great job.

[@marty6945]

So far, she only picks up one child from school, now she's waiting for another one😊

[@johnbeaulieu2404]

I'm sorry, I think you mostly missed on this one. This is a song where some research would have increased your appreciation of this song. As others in the comments have noted it began when Tuomas and the band reached a decision that it was time for a parting of ways with the original singer Tarja Turunen. The direction she wished to pursue in her career was not the same as the band's. You may or may not be aware that the final concert featuring Tarja was published as "End of an Era", this was not by chance as she was informed of their decision the morning after the concert. After some auditions Tuomas and the band chose to take the sound of Nightwish in a different direction with the choice of Anette Olzon as their new lead vocalist. The song "Bye Bye Beautiful" from the first album in the post-Tarja era sums up Tuomas' decision to make a break with the past. Anette is an excellent singer, but to hear her performance of "Ghost Love Score" live is painful to me.

[@PomLimey]

Two words………A masterpiece.

[@simonhourani5228]

If you want a Halloween one than the Nightwish-Scartale official vid is the one

[@liinukka3109]

This song is Tuomas's personal suicide. At that time, the band had fired their 1st singer (Tarja) and Tuomas got all the anger and rage from the fans, although the decision to fire her was the whole band's. The then president of Finland even took a stand on the matter. So Tuomas considered suicide. Fortunately, he did it in a song that is Masterpiece and we still get to enjoy NW's music. Thx to your reaction of the song ❤.

[@penkakicheva-peeva8319]

You girls are amazing, keep listening to Nightwish! I myself was a housewife when i discovered them. I was listening to them all the time, my ex said he hates Nightwish, because i wasn't able to listen to anything else. I am now happily divorced, but Nightwish are still in my life.

[@Yalltoosoft]

I highly recommend that you ladies react to slaying the dreamer and bye bye beautiful, both songs are by Nightwish.

[@silviaestrella8074]

😂😂😂😂 Grandioso.... Una está a tope, otra está perpleja y la tercera no se entera de casi nada 😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤gracias por la experiencia 😅 Suele pasar con Nigthwish 😂😂😂

[@kevinmurphy65]

Have to do Greatest Show on Earth and Shudder before the Beautiful.

[@thomasshaw8130]

Do some research before watching ladies, and I'll be a subscriber. Nightwish and particularly this song deserves a little extra consideration.

[@MiguelLopez-is9te]

The first time I seen someone do the windmill was Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot, in 1983, at their Denver concert.

[@josepsamarrafarre]

I seriously recommend the "Voice of my Father" solo song by Marko Hietala (your Gandalf) because it would be worth these great ladies time (and ours).

[@nicod1361]

Hello Ladies, that was not Floor at the opening ,it was a young boy soprano, fyi this 5 part piece is a reflection of Tuomas state of mind in regards to the unending and harsh backlash from the media & fans following Tarja,s departure and the blame he received.

[@ed5310]

I could tell you knew you were listening to something epic, but once you get the back story it might make you cry to know how tormented Tuomas was during this time. How lucky for us he came out the other side better than ever. You can find various interviews of Floor online, might give you a peak behind the curtain. This one has English subtitles. You would be shocked to learn that she was bullied in High school.

[@TomTomson81]

It's a real shame that the three of them only realize that it's a serious topic when the boy speaks for the first time.

[@R---66---R]

Well, yeah, I get what your saying...but, free interpretation is good and later on, the message 'will' come to them.

[@TomTomson81]

@@R---66---R I claim that nothing was interpreted up to that point, because they didn't pay attention to WHAT was being sung. Like many others. They only listen when the word "rape" is mentioned for the first time.

[@R---66---R]

@@TomTomson81 Yep...so true. Let's hope the ladies will listen more accurately, seriously in more depth and they should've been given the chance to react to TPATP a second time!

[@KaiHellmann]

Keyboard mannen Tuomas Holopainen write this song and composer. He tell this own story…

[@kenraisner9389]

Thank you ladies. Another great performance, The greatest show on earth, same concert. Thanks

[@paisa20]

Thanks, i love this song

[@jacobsnellman1796]

And this composition is probably never going to be played live again by Nightwish.

[@RGP0503]

It will not.

[@giselavaleazar8768]

Inspired by a story of Edgar Allan Poe: The Pit and the Pendulum. And yes, it's a very early gothic horror tale.

[@007chinochef]

At the begining sings a soprano child

[@barrygyles2211]

You get so many Goosebumps that you shed skin.

[@dainguyen9556]

Floor's vocals are just unbelievable....so emotional

[@rnowak85]

I was very nervous about you guys reacting to this song, especially when it became obvious that you didn't know the backstory but I think you did a good job but missed the deep emotional connection so many of us fans have with this song. This is Tuomas's (keyboardist ands man composer) 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. Both letters are on the internet and worth reading to get a feel for their emotions at the time. 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 he also has a deep connection to the ocean. He sees it as a place of refugee. Best analysis of this song I have ever read is by the artist and musician Annika Hausen. @frenkwd1 has included the conclusion section from her analysis but the whole piece is amazing and worth a read. It is a Master's Thesis level analysis that is very insightful. I won't provide a link (YT algorithms delete my comment every time I do) but a google search on her name and Poet and the Pendulum will get you there. For me this is Nightwish's greatest song. Their Magnum Opus. Tuomas pouring out his heart and anguish in the music and lyrics. Floor perfectly channeling the anger and pain. The final section's lyrics are the actual words Tuomas's mother spoke to him during the depth's of his depression. Floor perfectly captures the anguish of a mother who has lost her child. 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. He often would have the sound engineers turn off the vocal feed in his in ears because it would make him too emotional. Read the open letters. Read Annika's analysis and listen once again and I know you will get the full emotional impact and the greatness of this song!

[@rnowak85]

A few easter eggs. The song starts with the lyric "the end" and ends with the lyric "the beginning referencing the end of the Tarja era of the band and the start of a new era. At one point in he song song you see Emppu come over to Tuomas and check on him to make sure he is ok and at the end of the song Emppu and Marko come over and stand with him in support and again to check on his emotional state. During the first spoken word section there is the line " I only have 3 minutes and counting" . Exactly 3 minutes later Tuomas is killed by the pendulum as shown by Tuomas' slashing motion across his throat and the heartbeat stopping mid beat. Genius songwriting. The opening section is a boy soprano singing and is called the White Lands of Empathica which is from Steven Kings Dark Tower series (another of Tuomas' literary influences). The five sections of the song are White Lands of Empathica, Home, The Pacific, Dark Passion Play, and Mother and Father.

[@meedohut7436]

me too. they just don't know how to appreciate and feel the song. Just youtubers

[@AdolfoD]

"Romanticide" live at wacken is another song that you could check! is one of the best examples of the dynamic between Floor and Marko

[@JARHEAD54]

Now you're ready for The Greatest Show on Earth from Tampere

[@R---66---R]

Yesssss....Floor is a real bad&ss and a 100% female....100% 'strong' female......the most talented female singer in the world.....and she belongs to the best band in the world (no doubts here!). Listen to all Nightwish songs and all three your lives will be changed....forever! Just subbed.....good luck/Rich, The Netherlands.

[@richardrebeck4738]

It's a shame. A lot of people in America will go there whole life , and never hear her voice. Not us lol.

[@matthewwareham7229]

Should look into Scaretale for your Halloween theme. And see Annette before Floor.