SINGER-SONGWRITER REVIEWS PINK FLOYD & NIGHTWISH - High Hopes (Double Review!)

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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!
This is my first double review of the same song! Thanks to KZbin user Brew Swillis for the original suggestion! This also goes out to my friends at the Nightdreamers Reacticide Discord server - thanks for all the help and good wishes!
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. "Fair use" is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use. No copyright infringement is intended, and all rights belong to their respective owners.

[@culturemachines]

One of my fave Marko's performance, also Emppu's soulful tasty soloes. Maaannn~

[@KristiinaBerg]

They nightwished it up and created a masterpiece from ingredients that already existed.

[@andyjonesofficial]

Beautifully put!

[@brewswillis9783]

@@andyjonesofficial I previously used "Disturbed" in describing it but "Nightwished" works equally well.

[@paulolopes5237]

They'r both great versions of the song. I've heard that Nightwish doesn't call this a cover but rather a tribute, and that's how I feel watching their performance. We can easelly see that they've put all their skills, heart and soul, and there was nothing left to give more. The intensity at the end of the song filled completly the concert hall. My fellings ware the same. After this performance they could fell completly fulfilled, and there was yet much concert to happen. Now I'm gonna quote another reactor. "Nightwish doesn't simply play music, Nightwish feels music". (P.S: Sorry for some english mistakes).

[@andyjonesofficial]

Your English is just fine - nothing to worry about there! ;-) Yes, I've heard the word "tribute" used quite a lot in the comments now - and it's very fitting!

[@EyesOfGehenna]

@@andyjonesofficial the thing is that what used to be a cover has now gotten a much wider definition thanks to social media. Not to offend, but every schmuck out there with a guitar playing along with a song uses the term cover nowadays.

[@esterselhorstrutenfrans5041]

Love your reaction but I have to say that i like the Nightwish version so much better and one of Marko's best performances. The guitar solo of Emppu is beautiful.

[@andyjonesofficial]

Many thanks Ester! It's wonderful that we can all connect with one version or the other (or in my case, both)!

[@NickBR57]

Agreed

[@ralfmeyer9086]

Wow, this is hard.i love Pink Floyd sinces the early 70th. In our times ,i am a Member of the Nightwish Family. For me this Song, is a Tribute from one awesome Band to another awesome Band..👍🤗🤗🤗you know, after this show, they fired Tarja..(open Letter).look in the faces, they knew what comes.

[@andyjonesofficial]

Yeah, this is a tough show to watch with hindsight sometimes! But I think you have it exactly right. A wonderful tribute it is!

[@ronjoanne5980]

We totally agree with Andy that your analysis of this being a Tribute from NW to PF is right on target. Each song is wonderful for the band performing it. Andy, your review is awesome. We really enjoyed this. FYI this is our favorite Marco performance with Nightwish, helped by the fact that his three pals were amazing also. Stay safe.

[@ralfmeyer9086]

@@ronjoanne5980 YESSSS, i agree with you 100%.

[@ilesalmo7724]

I think the Nightwish version is more of a Tribute than a Cover. When a band uses their style to do a song of another band. A bit similar to when Johnny Cash did "Hurt" by NIN

[@wannabedane4046]

Love NW cover of High Hopes - love the original and Pink Floyd too. Hope Marko will find his way back on the path to happiness and maybe back to us - but, we're a greedy kind,. As long he gets where he needs to be, that's good enough for me. Emppu always put the music first and I love that about him - although it would be nice to hear more solos like the ones (2) in High Hopes.

[@andyjonesofficial]

Yeah, completely right: the important thing is that Marko finds his way back to himself.

[@dennisweifenbach2647]

Thank You for doing this. An amazing song, by both.

[@clemenstremens1940]

Excellent analysis, thank you!

[@erniedinda509]

For me the best "not" Pink Floyd version of this great song. One great band doing a wonderful tribute to another great band. Agree, Emppu is a very underrated guitar player, certainly one of the top in the business. Thanks for the reaction!

[@kezca]

Great job, loved both versions of this one. Thankyou.

[@ronnyseffinga7950]

thx for the great reviews and the shout out to the discord !! cant wait for your next vid.

[@gtp1172]

the way Emppu comes out of that solo is strait fire

[@mottonen6964]

What an lovely review, thanks!

[@brendagascoigne7727]

First time I've heard this version, have to say I am rather loving it, much to my surprise. Loved Pink Floyd since the 1960s, never been that keen on Nightwish!

[@veronicaue180]

Nightwish also won me over with this one. Then I listened to their new album and it is amazing, really truly amazing. I was never a fan of them during the Tarja era and I totally missed them with Anette. It's a whole different game now with a fully unleashed Tuomas with Floor who can do everything and it's easy to see how much fun they all have. I suggest you do that, check out their new album "Human nature" from 2020. Enjoy!

[@NickBR57]

Another great review. Thank you.

[@Stargazer221160]

Jukka was suffering from a migraine, just before the first solo you can see Tuomas motion towards Emmpu to check on him. Alittle bit later you can see him jumping down from the drum riser after checking on him

[@barbaravance6774]

Ooohhh! That makes sense. That must suck so badly. The drums vibration going through hos body with every beat. I'm like Jukka and have chronic insomnia. And ir does cause migraines. I feel so badly for him. To achieve your dream and then to have to leave it for your health must be awful. Now Marco too. Breaks my heart for both of them. I do love and appreciate them so very much! I honestly don't know what they will do without Marco. He is such an integral part of the band. Not just hos playing. His vocals are so distinctly Marco. But, I hope he has the time he needs to get better. And maybe they can look into the other issue. Hopefully he will return to us. And if not, I wish him all of the best life has the offer!

[@davidcook482]

Very impressive reaction to these two videos. I just subscribed to your channel.

[@danieldavis1028]

Great video I always thought this was one of their most underrated songs. Its a song about the band from when they were young until the endless river.

[@andyjonesofficial]

That was a rather lovely premiere, I have to say! If you have any requests for further reviews, put them here! And don't forget that "Subscribe" button! ;-)

[@luisotero2606]

Good, good, good review. Congrat.

[@marknathan6699]

The English hold on to their 50 year imperfections to this perfection. Floyd must bow.

[@svvascodagama2546]

The pinkfloyd version,I found Nightwish about a year ago and the frist time I sow pink floyd for the first time was on kralingen in 1970,the first 3 day popfestival in the Netherlands. Been a fan since.

[@petersundqvist5465]

so good , so good ,,take a bow .brilliant

[@pantlessreactions]

NW did more than a tribute with the song... Check out the lights above the stage. They're in A circle like the screen in the Floyd video

[@andyjonesofficial]

Great insight there! Love the channel name, too! ;-)

[@pantlessreactions]

@@andyjonesofficial thanks. Keep up the great reviews/reactions

[@helenooft9664]

I like it that Nightwish has respected the original, i love both versions, but my hart is on the rock version, because i like rock music. And Emppu is a great guitarist his solo's are always great, and i hope that Nightwish will give him more time to play those solo's. And yes, i still miss jukka, because of his agressive and theatrical playing on the drums. Marco as alway's is a great singer, and Tuomas is great as always. I am really sorry, that this song is only on the album with Tara, i am not a fan of here, so i can not buy this record, it is a pitty, i hope that it will come on another album with Floor.

[@barbaravance6774]

I agree 100%!

[@NickBR57]

I prefer Floor almost always but I bought the DVD with this on and there are some very good performances with Tarja. It's nice to have a change sometimes although I find her vibrato overpowering.

[@Hienohomma2]

Ok, this Pink Floyd piece is sacred for some PF fans and yes it is allowed. I just think that the original has it but personally I like more energy and NW is bringing. 👌

[@christinaalgate4899]

I like both versions but a perfer Nightwish

[@thepragmatic6383]

For me, the choice is not too complicated; Nightwish while driving on the freeway, if there is not too much police. Pink Floyd while driving on small country roads to enhance the beauty of the landscapes.

[@andyjonesofficial]

Sounds pragmatic to me!

[@jayewnts2ply2]

Have to see this as an original and a tribute. Pink Floyd's original is mellow with rather weird pictorials featuring a lot of balloons... Nightwish's tribute is more stripped back visually but more intense emotionally... I'm an old guy and I have a long history with both bands... But just a stylistic impression for now. The ethereal but quaint Pink Floyd balloon party gets buzzed by the Nightwish starship... Just saying, both versions are on my playlist. Thanks for your thoughtful analysis! Ciao!

[@paisa20]

thanks

[@proglight3041]

Great reaction! I was wondering if you have listened to Antony Kalugin’s newest solo album Marshmallow Moondust? It’s a symphonic prog album that consists of two 20 minute epics entitled Marshmallow, and Moondust. The album is totally solo with every instrument being played and composed by Antony. Antony Kalugin is also the creative mind behind Karfagen in addition to a few other projects. I’d love to hear you do a reaction on this album, it was probably one of my favorite albums of 2020. I’d recommend checking out the song Marshmallow first. Keep up the great reactions!

[@andyjonesofficial]

Hi there! Glad you enjoyed it! I'm not familiar with him but who knows, maybe something for when I get into doing reactions as well as reviews! Thanks for the tip!

[@proglight3041]

@@andyjonesofficial of course! I’d love to see you react/review it one day! Your videos are the best :)

[@SimoneJaegerFrauPanPan]

I somehow love to believe, that performing this song at this very show must have been dedicated to Tarja in some way. It was their last show together, they knew by then, but she didn't. The lyrics just seem so fitting to the letter the guys had written for Tarja beforehead. Musicially I actually do prefer the Nightwish Cover over its original Version, because of the tense and emotions brought to it by them. The Pink Floyd Original to my taste just seems not to have the deep, devastated feelings musicially matching to the lyrics. It just gets me as well every time. And perhaps I will add this brillant cover/Tribute to the soundrack of my very own funeral . Just because it had suxh an emotional impact on me and perfectly reflects some very important parts and stations of my life. Thank you for your analysis. 💕🤘

[@andyjonesofficial]

Hey Simone! It's always special when a song becomes so meaningful to someone, so I'm glad High Hopes found you! Nightwish played the song in the Once Upon a Tour setlist for pretty much all of 2005, so I'm not sure we can put the whole thing down to Tarja (unless they knew throughout the whole tour that this would happen at the end of it). But you're right that it somehow looks back wistfully on a more beautiful time, so it's fitting to the occasion!

[@pdutchie4924]

Love your reactions as a Floor and Nightwish and Ayreon fan, subscribed. Hope you will do Ayreon soon with ‘The day that the world breaks down’. Ayreon is a project by Arjen Lucassen, he write’s rock opera’s and then invites musicians he admires to join the project, I’m sure you will love it as well. 🙋🏼‍♀️

[@andyjonesofficial]

I've had Ayreon recommended a few times now - I think this might have to become one of my first reaction videos sometime soon! And if you have time, join me at 9p.m. for the premiere of my next Nightwish review (Dead Boy's Poem)!

[@pdutchie4924]

@@andyjonesofficial it will be midnight for me here in Abu Dhabi but I’ll wait for it because Floors version is one my favorite Nightwish songs.

[@gsparkman]

Late to the party, but loved your comparison here. I loved this song off The Division Bell, but I have to say that since I first heard the Nightwish tribute version the original now sounds maudlin. The energy and passion NW put into their version, while obviously showing the greatest respect for the original, just grabs my musical sensibilities more. In a world where I could choose only one version to listen to for the rest of my life I’d have to pick Nightwish.

[@user-vi3sg2wo8k]

You the best 💪👏👏👏👏

[@jeannettesimpson9778]

The trouble with making suggestions is not knowing if they're liable to blocking. (I think there are ways around some of the blocks, so it's handy if you can be in contact with someone who's had experience.) As for singer-songwriters, I'd love a reaction to my home boy Richard Hawley. Something like "Baby, You're my Light" or "There's a Storm a' Comin' ", but it's all good. Evergrey have a video out in advance of a new album called "Where August Mourns" - the name of the track not the album. That's been reviewed a few times, but I'm certainly not going to tire of hearing it any time soon. ETA I forgot to mention that I saw "The Wall" at Earls Court in 1981 complete with flying pig.

[@andyjonesofficial]

Wow on "The Wall"! I keep meaning to look into Evergrey more... don't let me forget ;-) And happy to check Richard Hawley out if I get into doing actual reaction videos!

[@jeannettesimpson9778]

@@andyjonesofficial I'm just listening to Richard Hawley and he just moves me so much. Would you listen to the first song on this video, just to get a feel of how great he is - to me, at least. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmrHppShq7mmmtk

[@robing6796]

WTF, you nailed it. Good job man, 🤐

[@brewswillis9783]

Great comparison Andy! If one were to watch this on mute, it'd be pretty obvious which you found more enjoyable. (and I agree wholeheartedly!) Thanks and looking forward to your next NW track, especially one you haven't heard yet...how about Noise? Cheers!

[@andyjonesofficial]

Thanks Brew Swillis, especially for the idea for this video! I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a NIghtwish track I haven't heard before ;-) I do prefer using live versions, though, and we don't have that for the Human:Nature album yet. I'm undecided as to whether to review album versions there or whether to wait for some live shows to take place and then use those versions!

[@brewswillis9783]

@@andyjonesofficial I’m with you on that. How about Unleash the Archers? Halestorm is awesome too. Guess I have a thing for female lead vocals since I got hooked on NW last year. LOL

[@andyjonesofficial]

@@brewswillis9783 Halestorm are great! Not encountered Unleash the Archers... yet! ;-) Tonight: Dead Boy's Poem!

[@tommyjohnson9175]

I don't consider this a cover, when I think of covers I think someone doing a song in the same or similar style as the original.. Nightwish don't do covers, ever... Some say a tribute... yea, ok, lets go with that.. But really, they redo songs to fit their style. Some parts may sound slightly like the original, but the vast majority of the song sounds almost nothing like the original.. I absolutely love Pink Floyd playing "High Hopes", have for.. well, lets just say many more years than most of these kids here. When I was a young teen I bought "Dark Side of the Moon" on LP when it came out... Nightwish "High Hopes" might as well be a completely different song.. Your basically comparing apples and oranges guys...

[@marknathan6699]

I watched you get hooked on the grass, which is the greener.

[@Solaris-ig7hh]

👍👍👍👏👏👏

[@johannessilver8653]

So pity that Marco decided to step out from musical performances and NW. I miss his awesome singing in NW and in his solo project and naturally bass playing plus his performance in general there. NW did so grand tribute version of this PF original here.

[@EyesOfGehenna]

Jukka was/is suffering from Insomnia. That's why he stopped being their drummer eventually. He still works for Nightwish in the background and is doing well all things considered. I suppose the stress with Tarja was at an all time high during this tour and that couldn't have helped.

[@MrDijaru]

I love PF but for me the NW version are better,

[@mnewm21]

much more of a contrast than a compare for me as I love them both. Pink Floyd's is more melancholy and whistful about the loss. Nightwish's is more angry and frustrated at the same loss. Two sides of the same coin. In life you would be angry and frustrated before the inevitable acceptance then the melancholy settles in and the whistful takes over.

[@gerryweed7697]

Both are very good .. but for me Pink Floyd is the best band of all times .. and David Gilmour is the best 😎👍🎸 but i'm also a fan of Nightwish since Tarja Turunen ..😎👍

[@istvanwinkler2128]

Thanks for the choice! Pink Floyd has been my first favorite band, and I like Nightwish' version a lot. They made it into a great rock song. Which it wasn't meant to be. I wish you spent some time telling about the lyrics. (You will definitely need to do this when you tackle the Poet and the pendulum or The greatest show on earth.) The restrained performance from David Gilmour is not simply a preference of style. This is a song about getting older, which Nightwish, being much younger at the time probably did not really relate to. They made it into a defiant rock song, whereas the original is full of the very English mood of resignation - what you call dream-like. It is ironic that Nightwish, who are so good at getting across their message, combining music, singing style, background images, etc., has just turned what Gilmour wanted to express to its very opposite. Still, I very much like the Nightwish cover, although it is not true to the original in a very important sense. A few tidbits: 1) The movie playing behind Pink Floyd during the song is from the official clip, again relating to the message and the mood. 2) If my memory serves me right, it was Marko, who had a bad case of diarrhea just before the End of an era concert, and he played through the whole concert with medication. 3) In the old-time Nightwish concerts, Tarja needed a break during the show, so the band played a song that did not need Tarja (before Marko came in, they usually played the instrumental Devil and the deep dark ocean). Later, they used High hopes for the same purpose. (I heard both on Nightwish concerts several times.) This is why High hopes was typically played close to the middle of the setlist. 4) I know that Finnish names, like Hietala, but even Tuomas are not easy for English speakers. You could ask Finnish members of the army to help you. (A hint: Finns typically pronounce ever letter they write down and have some diphtongs to cap it.) Anyway, thanks for this review. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@andyjonesofficial]

Thanks for taking the time to give me all this feedback and info! Yes, I know that with some NIghtwish songs, the context of the lyrics is really important. With this song, I realise I didn't say all that much about the lyrics. I have to admit I was just so enveloped by the music (which happens pretty much every time I listen to it!) and focussed on the atmosphere that I forgot a little that there were also lyrics ;-) Great insight on the background to the different atmospheres of the two versions! And tidbit 1) helps with that! On 2) So now I've heard that Tarja, Marko and Jukka were all ill for End of an Era! Lucky that Emppu and Tuomas seem to have been spared ;-) Now if Marko was sick for that performance, again, just mindblowingly good! Having seen Nightwish live on the Once tour (with the High Hopes break!), I knew about 3). And on 4), I asked in the premiere chat about the Finnish names and got the feedback that I was doing "better than most" - probably because I also have knowledge of a few other European languages. But I know there's probably room for some improvement there - I'll keep working on it! ;-)

[@paulolopes5237]

Please let me offer another point of view. When David Guimour compose this song, he was 48 years old, and when Tuomas made the tribute he was 29 years old. The way both acknowledge the phenomenom of getting old whould be quite different. For David, in his midle age, would be a reality happening at the moment, they didn´t release new albuns (exept a Best off) and that was their real last tour, but for Tuomas there was still to much to come, so when Marco sangged "Encumbered forever by desire and ambition, There's a hunger still unsatisfied" it was much more meaningfull. I believe that Tuomas understood very well the message, but approached the theme on his own point of view, like the rest of the band.

[@istvanwinkler2128]

@@paulolopes5237 Hi Paulo, I think that we say similar things. Whether Tuomas et al. deliberately turned around the message of Gilmour's song or simply saw its potential as a great rock song and did not delve deep into what Gilmour wanted to express , I don't know. Thinking of how careful Tuomas is when composing/constructing his own music, you might be right. My point was simply that Nightwish turned around the mood of this song. Reinterpreting art in order to express something different than the author happens quite often - e.g., directors often express ideas by reinterpreting some Shakespeare drama. Perhaps, Gilmour should be proud of writing a song, which is deep enough that different people can use it to express different messages. Anyway, I think we are in agreement regarding the main point.

[@paulolopes5237]

Hi István. As I stated, I was offering a different point of view and by no means claiming to be right one. We all agree that both songs are great enough to make so many people analysing and commenting them.

[@jaakkokontu6992]

Its maid another,iglu ppeinted!!

[@Nikioko]

The Division Bell was one of the very first CDs I bought myself as a teenager in the 90s. Therefore Pink Floyd has a special place in my heart and no cover can compare to that. And Emppu can't compare to David Gilmour who is along with Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana one of the best guitarists in rock history.

[@andyjonesofficial]

I completely get where you're coming from, but I also wouldn't compare Emppu directly with those guitarists. All the ones you list are absolute guitar legends! None of them play(ed) metal, though, and in terms of the emotional connection, Emppu is tough to beat as metal guitarists go!

[@Nikioko]

@@andyjonesofficial Yes, Emppu and Marko did great jobs. It wasn't my intention to debase that. I just wanted to emphasize that some people of the "Nightwish army" tend to overestimate them (which fan doesn't?). Nightwish is a great band and one of the best metal bands in the world (although some black metal fans would strongly deny that) but not the non plus ultra of music as some people might believe. Talking about Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb live in Pompeii 2016 has 91M clicks and one of the best guitar solos. Wouldn't that be worth a review?

[@fabbe2975]

@@Nikioko well said

[@stevejohnson9234]

He does more than compare he is as good

[@Nikioko]

@@stevejohnson9234 Please don't be silly. David Gilmour is one of the best 20 guitarists in the world and Emppu Vuorinen isn't. In fact, he isn't even in the top 100: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-guitarists-153675/ But that doesn't change the fact that Nightwish is a great band.

[@duncanwyer2460]

Nightwish tribute not a cover and they even had the lighting in a circle .

[@andyjonesofficial]

Yes, I have to admit I don't watch the lighting so much, but that was a great tribute! Tuomas touchingly called it a tribute, which is great, but by all definitions of the word it's also a cover :-) It's an addition rather than a contradiction, I'd say.

[@4211234]

we dont deserve david gilmour

[@marknathan6699]

You won't bow to perfection. Gilmore is fantastic and nightwish is perfection

[@boramsey5122]

Tara inspired great music.. Anette sang great music... Floor has members leaving the band....

[@andyjonesofficial]

And none of them are in this video... But I offer the following: 1. Sami left when Tarja was there. 2. First guest of "Floor Finds"? Marko. His leaving is not because of her. Also see his statement on why he left. 3. Floor and Tarja are friends. See their Instagram talk on Tarja's KZbin channel. 4. I appreciate all members past and present. You won't get me into a singer vs. singer debate.