SINGER-SONGWRITER REVIEWS NIGHTWISH - The Islander

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Hello! I'm Andy - a semi-professional singer-songwriter from the UK, based in Germany. I'm a solo artist as well as vocalist of a rock band. I also teach English Language at university level, and this semester, due to covid-19 restrictions forcing an online semester on us, I did a special online version of my course "The Language of Songwriting."
Alongside a bunch of songwriting challenges, part of the final project included the option of making a reaction/review video to a song that my students particularly enjoy, discussing what elements of the song(writing) are special to them. I never give out tasks I'm not willing to do myself, so I recorded one of my own (Ghost Love Score by Nightwish, also on my channel). I put it on KZbin for fun to see whether there was interest in this kind of video, and I was really pleasantly surprised at the positive responses! So I've gone ahead and made some more!
In contrast to the many wonderful reactors out there, I'm reviewing a song I already know well. My reactions, therefore, are not as spontaneous or sensational as those of professional reactors ;-) Would you like more? Then put those thumbs up and hit that "Subscribe" button, and comment with what you'd like to see!
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[@phillee2814]

I really love this song, and it is clear that Nightwish do as well. The name they have chosen or the virtual venue where they will be streaming the online concert from in May is, after all, "The Islander's Arms", which will feel a bit strange without "The Islander". I do feel it should really be renamed in the light of Marco's resignation to "The Islander's Rest" - it is just as tradional in form, and would be a great tribute. I very much hope he will be returning in the future, as he hinted at and left the door open for in his letter, but "Rest" works for either retirement or hiatus. Whatever is right for him though - his own health and wellbeing come first. There is a video with subtitles (might be closed caption) in English for when he speaks to the audience, which was I believe about 22,500, although when he starts out there in the midst of them, he describes it as "twenty thousand people here plus change, and only one guy with a guitar, so I suppose I'd better come up with something to keep you entertained". Marco was also usually the first person Tuomas took his roughs to, for making a demo for the rest of the band to work on. He plays drums and keyboards as well as all forms of guitar. And I don't care if I am splitting an infinitive, his voice is more unique than most. He'll be missed just as much as a personality as a musician, which is to say, hugely.

[@andyjonesofficial]

Yes, I wonder how future Nightwish songs will be affected by Marko's absence. I too hope a time will come when he feels able to return. But we also know how good Tuomas' compositions were before Marko joined, so I'm not all that worried about the songs. I do wonder, though, how Marko's huge shoes will be filled on stage from now on. His voice will be missed in so many places!

[@darkiee69]

Markos smile when the rest of the band joins in says it all.

[@andrelglinnenbank2856]

He can't look towards the stage, that would give away that he knows that they should have come back. When they all fall in at exactly the right time there is probably some relief (Emppu is not part of it, so he would not have expected anything else), but also, he knows what the audience will feel at that exact time and he is happy for them. Then later when he walks back he gets a standing ovation from Floor, and Kai, Troy and Tuomas acknowledge him too (less visible and in the last few seconds not shown here). A gentle reminder that making music on stage is about the friendship and experience together and not the money. Which brings us back to Marko and the reason he is taking a year off. We will meet at the Islanders Arms in May and Marko won't be singing this, that makes me so sad.

[@andyjonesofficial]

@@andrelglinnenbank2856 @darkiee69 - I agree very much with both of you. I have my tickets for the Islanders Arms and I'm really sad he couldn't join the band at least for a last show. But he has to put his health first, so we can only be grateful we have footage like this to come back to!

[@MsCatstaff]

You're correct that he's inviting the audience to join in. If I recall correctly, he says something like, "If I sing the chorus, will you all sing with me? You will? Okay, let's do it!" Edited to add, yes, that object is there specifically for Marko to rest his foot on, because the Beast is so large and heavy, he can't actually play the guitar part of it without lifting it up and resting it on his leg.

[@clivematthews5296]

If you had the other version it shows him telling the crowd of over 20,000 that the "weasels" had left him alone to entertain them with subtitles but not in the middle.

[@ericbraun4652]

That is this version. Andy started the clip after all that.

[@andyjonesofficial]

I see! I took the official version from the Nightwish channel, and they seem to have left that bit out!

[@andyjonesofficial]

@Eric Braun It wasn't me, I promise! It's not included in the clip on Nightwish's youtube channel!

[@clivematthews5296]

@@andyjonesofficial That's so strange. I suspect the other version is out there. Worth looking at for your own entertainment. Lol.

[@luisespino6961]

i remeber downloading 'The Islander' back in early 2000's from LIMEWIRE. Every file I choose to download came with a 'Directors comment'. It was kind of weird when i saw the oficial video on youtube without those coments.

[@eddiewinehosen6665]

You're spot on. In that short interlude he asks "If I sing the chorus will you sing along? yeah. You sure? YEAH! Ok let's sing it."

[@AnOldGreyDog]

Possibly Floor's simplest vocal line, in the sense of no flamboyance, no special techniques, no vocal gymnastics, yet still stunningly effective. The simple purity and the way she supports Marko without taking over is perfect. I still well up a bit with the harmonies in the chorus (I would have called that a descant line once, I suppose) and the call/answer section at the end. Sheer joy. It's yet another example that, with this band, the song is everything and everything is in service to the song. (Unlike some other performers I can think of, who seem to view all songs as a vehicle to showcase their own talent.)

[@Wollie1979]

There are not a lot of people who can say....Well...I got Floor as my backing vocal 😎

[@phillippi2]

Tarja actually did take a vocal break in their live performances. That was usually done when they did their instrumentals. They also used their cover of "High Hopes" for it, as well. The only difference is that Tarja did not join in the middle of the song.

[@andyjonesofficial]

Yep, I talk about that in the video! ;-)

[@jcm50jcm50]

Another great review Andy, This is a great live version of a great song. You must also look at Thomas’s solo album and His other project Auri, such great music.

[@andyjonesofficial]

Many thanks, John! Yes, I think I will need to head in that direction sometime soon. I'm planning a live stream when I hit 1000 subscribers here and will review Poet and the Pendulum and do my very first reactions then. Maybe one of those songs could be included in the stream!

[@MWHBowen]

As for the 'effect' on his guitar. I believe to play this song you tune the guitar to something crazy like Drop-G which gives it a very unique twangy sound. He could just have an effect on ot though 😅

[@kezca]

Love this one. Or for more marco you could have done kiss while your lips are still red live from wembley.

[@andyjonesofficial]

Oh, that's on the way too! 😉

[@bwaychick20]

This is one of my absolute favorite songs from Nightwish. They have so many different sounds, but I tend towards their more folky sounds. Marko seems truly irreplaceable the more I learn about his involvement not just in the performances, but in the song creation process. The band will continue, as all great bands do, but things will have to change and be different. New isn’t bad, just different; we the fans will adjust.

[@andyjonesofficial]

Agreed - that's the only course of action worth taking! Gratitude for Marko's wonderful time with the band, optimism and trust in what lies ahead!

[@berndrebhahn4640]

Don't have Idol, Man. A Man with a Idol have no Fantasy. Grandpa (70).

[@richardhall6034]

Unless it's billy idol 😆

[@andyjonesofficial]

Thanks Bernd! I don't remember talking about idols in the video, but certainly good advice!

[@andyjonesofficial]

​@@richardhall6034​ Flesh!

[@erchl54]

yes... it is a real challenge to fill up the huge empty space left by Marco... I guess it will not be filled completly, We will see...