SINGER-SONGWRITER REVIEWS NIGHTWISH (Live stream review) - The Poet and the Pendulum

[@pdutchie4924]

Thanks Andy for a beautiful review. 🙏🏻 What touches me most every time is the way they all keep checking up on Tuomas during the whole song.

[@NickBR57]

If you watch Floor right at the end, she doesn't look out at the audience as usual. For several seconds she's looking cross-stage to see that Tuomas is ok, even though she couldn't go across with the others because she was singing.

[@pdutchie4924]

@@NickBR57 yes that’s what I mean ❣️

[@petebateman143]

The Whitelands of Empathica is an almost purgatorial arctic wasteland where there lives a emotion sucking vampire that nearly kills all of the principle characters before they finally understand what it's doing...

[@Flyboyuk40]

Great breakdown and interpretation of this masterpiece. I have two observations of my own that I rarely (never) see mention of. Firstly, I just love Marco's bass playing in this composition particularly. The punchiness and tone is superb along with his skill in playing some of the bass riffs and particularly while he is singing. It adds power to the whole piece. Secondly after the pendulum strikes there is a heartbeat which continues on for a few seconds then eventually stops to signify the actual death. Actually there is another thing, I've yet to find the significance of the very first pendulum noise at the end of the '3 minutes' recital (at about 26'40 on your review). Thanks for doing this piece justice.

[@AnOldGreyDog]

I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to cry. "Sparkle my scenery-" WAAAAAHHHHH!!! Seriously, it makes me tear up every time. One of the things that makes this so amazing is that there's no one definitive interpretation of the lyrics. I've heard at least three differing takes, all of which seem reasonable, even if I don't particularly agree with them all. There is one video by someone (I can't remember who, unfortunately) who had been through a similar suicidal episode. He almost couldn't finish the song, as he said it perfectly portrayed the emotions he went through. Day-um, Tuomas is bloody genius.

[@Dianen65]

it was a pleasure watching your analysis on this haunting beautiful masterpiece.

[@tootsie9988]

I do not totally agree with you, but there are always more interpretations possible of course. I think the depression started when the fans really took their anger out on Tuomas. He was the bad guy, even though it was a unanimous band decision, the fans blamed Tuomas for what had happened. That is what drove him in his depression, and that’s mostly what the song is about. He felt abandoned and betrayed by the fans. He wrote beautiful music that the fans loved so much, but in difficult times they dropped him like a stone. The Dark passion play part says it all. Of course there was the greeve of firing YTarja, but he wrote another song about that: bye bye beautiful Second robber to the right of christ can also be judas at the last supper!!

[@andyjonesofficial]

I talk about this later on in the review when looking at the Dark Passion play part. I remember the situation in 2005 well. So much anger on both sides and the fans were divided too. Honestly I was just sad without blaming anyone because I didn't know the whole story behind the scenes. I do feel that the lyrics (especially those in the original demo with Marko singing) point to the loss of Tarja's friendship but I'm sure that a double meaning directed at the haters is possible too.

[@BibsBPunkt]

This is the best reaction to TPATP i've ever seen! Thank's for it 👍👍👍

[@istvanwinkler2128]

Thanks for this heartfelt analysis. You gave so much texture to this composition, one could imagine that just by listening to you it would spring alive. If there is anything I missed is an overall impression. Beyond the wonder- and artful details, what does this song evoke in you? I ask you, because as much as I appreciate and even like so many parts of P&P, I have to admit that this is one of the few Nighwish songs I don't even like. (I can of course make many theories of what rubs me in the wrong way - from the popish musical aspects to the dark mood, none of which seems to be a general turn-off. But in arts, in general, no cognitive explanation will change your heart.) Anyway, I would rather be interested how you relate to this song, as a whole.

[@vlinder6329]

SO BEAUTIFULL❤ GREAT REACTION 🤘 THANK YOU SO MUCH🔥💥

[@retrospect6904]

Toumas requested certain parts to be taken out of his ears because the pain that came from the memories. Also marko and impue regarely check on him during this performanc. Floor also stated she never turned to look at toumas because she would if lost it

[@VXGaming]

Good to see you noticed the song is in reverse, not many notice.

[@gillandianyt3920]

I just spotted the boy saying "Save me" (subtitles, difficult to hear), at the chop!

[@jrgenervik9977]

The official story between the song was tarja,s boyfriend wasn,t on board of nightwish playing small gigs. so he adviced tarja to aim for the big arenas and eventuly his interference was enough for the band to make a decision and that was to let her go. After wards both published difrent takes on the story. Might have missed something and phrased it poorly but thats the main gist

[@andyjonesofficial]

I remember reading both statements back in 2005. That's certainly what the band considered the main catalyst. Though I consider this mostly background information that informs the song rather than the essence of the song itself.

[@frenkwd1]

This song is so beautiful but also so sad. I always get 2 different feelings with this song.

[@Ithirahad]

The Marko demo for this track had some sections that were MASSIVE hits (better than Floor/Anette in some places) and also some massive misses. Maybe if he did a proper studio release it would've come out better, but overall I'm thankful that they got Anette for the album and then later Floor to do this definitive live rendition.

[@ralfmeyer9086]

You know, Floor has a hard Depression too. Why, you think ,she is so emotional?

[@andyjonesofficial]

Yes... though I know singers with depression who are nowhere near that level of empathy in their performances. And I know singers without depression who are so good at portraying emotion. So there can definitely be a connection there but I'm trying not to make too many assumptions.

[@ralfmeyer9086]

@@andyjonesofficial yes, there you are right. Greetings from northern germany

[@hamohamo8270]

@@andyjonesofficial Floor was often bullied at school. Floor joined the later very successful Dutch Metal Band After Forever at 16 years of age as a backing singer, She was however soon made the lead vocalist, and remember Metal then was dominated by male singers, and there were very few female front Metal vocalist around then, So Floor use to get a lot of horrible abuse from males in the crowed back then, like throwing condoms at her on stage, shouting at her to get her boobs out etc, etc. On one occasion at a concert, Floor got so fed up with one person giving her abuse, She stopped the show and offered the abuser to come on stage and say to her face what he was shouting out to her, he picked up his belongings and left, Floor then got a reputation as a tough lady not to be messed with.

[@hamohamo8270]

​@@andyjonesofficial Floor is actually a very sincere, shy, humble person with a big heart. She wrote many songs when her mother was seriously ill, she wrote the song STRONG for her mother, when she listens to this song or sings herself, she cannot hold back tears.I have not seen anyone as close to their fans as Floor.

[@sarahmason4589]

I love this video, however in regards to the comment of a child being a recurring theme in the lyrics, harvest was written by Troy.

[@andyjonesofficial]

Thank you! But although Troy sang it, Tuomas wrote it according to the album credits: genius.com/Nightwish-harvest-lyrics

[@justlittleoldme]

Floor is the perfect storyteller

[@clivematthews5296]

Yes Floor is the perfect singer for this song as she sings with such empathy. Unfortunately the live version by Annette is awful as so poppy and off key at times.

[@paulolopes5237]

I've lesson to Annette's live version and sounds so popy that removes most of the tension, the pain, and the darkness of the song. Doesn't even close shows Tuomas feelings. Marco's Demo version is very good, but this Wembley version with Floor is perfect, and for me, one of the greatest compositions ever made.

[@clivematthews5296]

@@paulolopes5237 I agree about Marko demo. Very heavy and some of the lyrics are darker but Floor nails it.

[@paulolopes5237]

@@clivematthews5296 I have exactly the same opinion.

[@ugk1106]

As wonderful and fanstastic the singing of Floor is the loss of Marko has a bigger impact than a leaving of Floor would have - just 2 cents.

[@andyjonesofficial]

I can understand that view. I also know how good Nightwish were before Marko joined (e.g. From Wishes to Eternity) but now there's a huge gap that will be hard to fill. We can but wait and trust.

[@hamohamo8270]

Ghost Love Score shows Floor sings better, without Marco's vocals Floor changed the song and made it his own song, which just got cooler. It was Floor who made this song so famous. It is her version that everyone gets a reaction to, and views prove that Floor version is the best.

[@hamohamo8270]

Since you are so rude then I, too, vocal Floor is so good and varied that vocal Marco didn't even need to be in the nightwish. when Floor came to nightwish Marco prevented Floor from fully opening up to sing at full would be better if she sang alone so that she would be free and could sing in full force.

[@TheGrannyNut]

Tuomas uses every tool in his musical kit-box to show the confusion, anger, desperation of depression/suicidal thoughts and does it so well that a few friends of mine actually can't listen to this track at all.

[@soundocean3765]

This is so relatable. (In my case not constantly, luckily, but there have been moments I couldn't stand this one either...) So yeah, another genius work.

[@drinkbeetlejuice]

I love this song, but I always skip the pre-recorded spoken parts. I find them overly melodramatic.