The Poet And The Pendulum - Nightwish Live @ Wembley 2016 The Wolf HunterZ Reaction

[@sherrylhenning5630]

Tomas is always deep.....an intellectual, a philosopher, a poet.......

[@joguipo]

...And he has an animal species named after him... How cool is that?

[@matthewarms3786]

And a man of refined taste that managed to write an album about Scrooge McDuck that has gravitas.

[@fixxa6455]

Whats the name of the lady with blue hair? I think she totally understood the song. You both did actually, your reviews kick ass. This song is one of my favs. Tuomas was so sad because their original lead singer tarja turunen left the band. Tuomas and his band and crew went through total HELL. Media freaked out. She was the operatic singer. Respect for her but the band is much more metal now with Floor Jansen.

[@teardrop-in-a-fishbowl]

Sherryl,you did a little mistake. His name is Tuomas and yes you are absolutely right about him.

[@joewarren3379]

Amen

[@liefde1911]

This........is a masterpiece. I’m 62 years old. Thought heard everything. And then.......Nightwish........I feel 20 again. Some day I hope to see them live.......

[@firebugjohnnypyro]

51 here. same thing. This band rejuvenates you. :)

[@jeffreygreer]

they are touring the u s this year LA and ny

[@xKasumiChan]

If it wasn't for stupid covid I could see them last december, now I have to wait to another december 😩

[@liefde1911]

@@xKasumiChan you should be happy. Now you still have one concert to Go!

[@xKasumiChan]

@@liefde1911 Yeah but last december Marko would still be with them and I've never see them before..

[@calibadgerdude6082]

One interesting point I don’t think has been mentioned yet, the last movement, “Mother and Father”, is taken from letters his parents wrote to him while he was going through this dark time in his life. I think the reason they hit so many people so hard is because they are real words from real people to a real person in real pain. Such a masterpiece.

[@572Btriode]

Yes. It gets me every time.

[@XOTheHosttt]

Damn so true

[@mauriciohernandez1944]

Tuomas said one time in a interview "I had two options, I kill myself in real life or i kill myself in the song" fortunately for the world he did it in the song.

[@pete70]

As we all know, Tuomas takes the earmonitors off when Floor is singing this song. He could not listen those lyrics singing by Floor...too emotional. Marco and Emppu is going to check him after the song, thats BROTHERHOOD.

[@music2seeconcertphotograph457]

Tuomas was in depression after the split from their first singer Tarja. He was in the position to either commit suicide in real real life or to write a song about it and die within that song. Luckily he choose the latter option. He is the poet, "killed" by the pendulum. And afterwards there is darkness, silence and just a fading heartbeat. It gives me a shiver every time. As this song is so emotional for him all the others have an eye on him. He even had his the vocals turned off in his in ears. One detail showing the ingenuity of Tuoams: Exactly three minutes after the words "Now I have only three minutes and counting" he is "killed" by the pendulum.

[@Thorgrim247]

This song was Tuomas' way of moving past this episode in his life. All sexual references are being used as metaphors. This episode of severe depression was brought on by Tuomas' need to fire Tarja his childhood friend and muse. It was necessary for the band to move forward. However he endured much criticism from fans and friends over the decision, which the entire band agreed was required. Nevertheless, Tuomas felt that all of his hard work and the dream of Nightwish may be over. How can you replace a vocalist like Tarja. She was one of a kind in the metal world. When he finally recovered from his depression he decided to go for a totally different type of vocalist and chose Annette Olzon. Then in 2012 Annette became ill while on tour in America and the decision was made to bring in Floor Jansen on a 48 hour notice from The Netherlands. Floor was going to finish the tour and was such a perfect fit for Nightwish that she was asked to be a permanent member. The rest is Herstory! Peace.

[@faiffull3532]

he did not need to fire her in a defamatory public letter..she was ready to quit and take the blame for the split..he needed revenge

[@OsoAloc]

Nice you mentioned Pink Floyd. Nightwish coverd Pink Floyds "High Hopes" with Marco as the lead singer. You should give it definitly a shot. Thanks for your reaction...its always a pleasure to watch your videos

[@villainouschrisk2709]

rest assured, Tuomas is at peace with the past. happily married, and living his best life. he wrote this in 2007. he's written many happy songs since then. "Elan", "My Walden", and "Alpenglow" from their album Endless Forms Most Beautiful, which also includes "The Greatest Show On Earth". i'm waiting for someone to request some of the stuff from the album Human :ll: Nature that they released in April. "Music", "Harvest", and "Shoemaker" are some of his most beautiful songs.

[@kebobs3727]

Adding to this, because of how emotional it is, they don't regularly play it live. There's another song written about the departure of Tarja they've NEVER performed live called Master Passion Greed. Arguably their heaviest song and allllll Marko

[@primemover1416]

@@kebobs3727 Isn't Bye, Bye Beautiful also about Tarja's departure?

[@coribueno]

Shoemaker is a complex yet incredibly beautiful momento of music. Its an inmense pleasure to listen to it

[@MrTech226]

Yes, you are correct. Tuomas wrote this song after being depressed. Nightwish's original singer, Tarja left the band in 2005. As both of you know that Tarja and Tuomas are childhood friends from Finland. Both of them went Institute in Finland study music. In 1996, Tuomas created Nightwish with Tarja. When she left the band in 2005, Tuomas was getting slammed by the fans blaming him for her departure. He put band on hiatus in 2005. Tuomas went into depression and distraught. Back in 2007, Nightwish came back with a new singer, Anette Olzon. Anette lasted until 2012. That's when Floor joined Nightwish as a touring vocalist. After 2013 tour, Floor and Troy became official members of Nightwish. The Poet and the Pendulum meaning Poet is Tuomas and Pendulum is used as cutting. He committed suicide musically.

[@faiffull3532]

actually, she was willing to assume all the responsibility for leaving the band but he wanted to air his personal opinions publicly.. fans came down on him for mischaracterizing Tarja in a wholly needless public rebuke...

[@AndyMagnusson70]

It's about how Tuomas felt after fireing their first singer Tarja, who was an old childhood friend of his. And the fans and even a minister of the finish government started to turn on him. He went to a very dark place and thought about ending his life. But thanks to friends, family and bandmembers he decided to end his kife in this song instead of in real life. That's why it's very imotionel to him. Sometimes he even cut the singing from his earpiece so he can't hear Floor singing. And that's why Emppu and Marco join him at his podium in the end. To make sure he is ok and to show him support

[@jeffreyneas9510]

I'm 63 and I've never heard a singer who so consistently conveys the emotional content of every song she sings.

[@arya.yudhistira11]

This is not a song, but this is a masterpiece composition. Started with sadness, anger in the middle, and ended with love touched by mother & father. Just unbelievable..

[@chancellor05]

I love the moment at the end where Emppu and Marko go over to stand next to Tuomas to support their best friend. They were the only members of the band who were around when Tuomas was writing this song and they hadn’t played it live IIRC, despite it being like 8 years since it’s release. Obviously quite an emotional song for Tuomas, basically killing himself in the context of the song so he wouldn’t in real life.

[@crashoverride8450]

The Pacific part always drive me to tears ... damn ... and yes, when Tuomas wrote this song, he put so much pain and suffering in it. This man went to so much devastation, he struggled with deep depression and suicidal thoughts (you can see it in the lyrics, he literally wrote his own death and condolence in this song). For him, this song was a therapy in some sort, because he could evolve and close some of these dark chapters of his life for good. It even went so far, that this band stopped performing this song during tours and life performances, because Tuomas don't want to be confronted with this song ever again.

[@moo5862]

The pacific? Do you mean 'the ocean soul/ sea'? If so yes, that's a returning theme since the beginning of the band I think.

[@572Btriode]

Good stuff. Aren't we glad Tuomas put his suicide to music and not for real, as he has said. Friends took him on hiking trips to avoid the media and even the PM of Finland was weighing in on the argument. Now, you need a passing knowledge of Edgar Alan Poe's The Pit and The Pendulum, it's part of the inspiration. Also note when the lyrics anywhere in a NW song refer to a boy, or poet, or are spoken by a boy, then that is Tuomas speaking directly, he also has a great affinity for the ocean.. Put yourself into the painting "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci, and from that perspective, not looking at it normally, the second robber on the right of Christ is. . . . . . . . . . . . .Judas Iscariot. No one has mentioned it so far, but rewind and listen without pausing from when the boy says "Three minutes and counting", get a stop-watch because exactly 3 mins from there the pendulum axe falls and Tuomas figuratively cuts his own head off. Also note that Marko and Emppu go and stand by Tuomas at the end to give him support and check he's OK. (I'm OK until the Mother and Father section, than all is lost) Thank you for the reaction, you both did well in this very emotional masterpiece, and thank you for correctly calling Tuomas a composer.

[@eam2564]

This song is one of the saddest songs in metal history

[@anoukvaniersel5593]

it doesn’t matter how many times I listen to this song, I still cry every time I hear it…

[@MarjattaJewelry]

Same..

[@jeffreygreer]

me too i'm 60 and no pus she has some sort of power

[@sonofthesea3298]

Correct Travis,Toumas suffered from heavy depression at this point,thats why you see him mostly concentrating on himself on this song,to do the song justice as it means too much to him,and is really tough for him. I heard he had Floors vocals muted,just so he wouldnt totally break during any performance of this song. Emppu coming over early to have a upcheering chat with him,is because Emppu knows how difficult this is for Tuomas,he is just showing what a true friend he is. Both Emppu and Marco towards the end makes this "protective ring" surrounding Tuomas,to show him support and that they are there for him. Floor also looks over on him several times,just to make sure her beloved friend is okay. She even tears up towards the end. Marco was handed the perfect part in this song too,he is of course sad like everyone else in the band,but he was furious too,about how Tarjas husband pulled her out of the band. And he was furious on everyone putting the massive hatred and guilt/blame on Tuomas. And i know this much,when you start thinking about "this life is just going downhill for me,maybe its better to just end it all",you have developed heavy depression. And i dont think i have ever mentioned this in a reaction video of this song before,but Tuomas coming out of this,with only killing himself in poetry,shows how badass he truly is! He might not think about himself in that way at all. But i early on embraced a quote about mental illness after having battled it for years and years myself. Someone sent me this text,wich turned me into tears of joy and appreciation (because thoose words showed me that someone out there understood my battles and everyday struggles) It goes like this: "To anyone suffering with mental illness: You are one badass mother f**ker because nothing is more terrifying then battling with your own mind every single day!". I would re-write it without the MF part (fill it in with a better word,but thats me),but i still loved getting it sent to me by a friend who cared. That also makes me positive that the band members allways urges people to applaud and roar,cheer for Tuomas,because they want him to feel the love from the crowd,knowing that he wasnt allways as happy and healthy as he is today. I think finding his true love in life helped him a TON too! You should check out his solo song with his sweet wife on vocals: TUOMAS HOLOPAINEN - A Lifetime of Adventure. (Johanna Kurkela will melt you all,and so will Tuomas`s warm smile.....he didnt allways use to smile in the past,nowadays he has soo many reasons to enjoy life again!) It is extremely difficult to pronounce Finnish names,but you havent butchered it just yet lol. Think about how you say "Tomb in Tomb Raider",only difference is: The B in Tomb is silent. Now try ToumAS,lay pressure on the last 2 letters. If you manage to do so,you pretty much nail it. But as far as i have heard,he is totally fine with being called "Thomas","Tumas","Tomas" or whatever. I seem to remember even Emppu (its his finnish nickname) and Jukka smiling and laughing over foreign people trying to get theyr names right. They know they got unique names,so they are okay with it. It took me a long long time to master them myself,and im pretty much theyr neighbour LOL. We get alot of Finnish tourists each summer,and im sure the other way around too. Anyway,Kai,Marco,Troy,Floor have such international sounding names,so they never face any funny versions of theyr names. As far as crying to Floor and Nightwish goes,i have heard metalhead dads who never breaks,allways had this tough attitude,nothing really got to them......they discovered Nightwish through a channel they followed,and this one dad in particular admitted Floors voice had him weak and in tears.....and he didnt even feel embarassed to admit that. He even described it perfectly as how he felt she was singing to him,and she was now his therapist without knowing so herself. He keeps looking at theyr videos,and reaction channels.......just so he can re-live that feeling Floor give him. And in this song? Everyone with just slight experience in depression,anxiety tears up,because the lyrics speaks to them. They can see the pain on Tuomases face,and the warmth showed by everyone else is touching them. Floor has broken me countless of times,even at "happy songs" like Ghost Love Score,Hows The Heart...basically any song where she unleashes her incredible notes,or just sings to you in a "im here to heal you" kind of way,like theyr new song "How`s The Heart" is all about. My personal experience that is.....and her live unplugged vocals to that song.....no words can describe it. One thing that allways gets to me,is that Tuomas only real emotions to this performance,is when he knows his moms very own words to him comes up. He sings them with a passion by himself,without a mic.......they mean that much to him. It was basically close friends and family that had him on better thoughts in the end. 12:06 Travis`s facial expression when Marco is going full beast mode is absolutely brilliant! See what i meant earlier? Marco used his buildt up frustration to deliever some pissed off vocals in this song. This is genius play all over,everyone lets you feel that they got stuff to say,want you to feel certain ways. Even Emppus riffs are heavier then in alot of theyr songs. This is why most of the Nightwish Army never suggests this song as one of the first songs to listen/react to,as it is really heavy. And you need to be introduced to the history of the band,to fully understand this performance. Im glad you both put excellent words into this performance,you understand mostly what is going on,you can read Tuomases face,his pain etc. 22:00 I havent seen Floor tearing up like that,since she last attempted to do Strong again. This song and Strong might be the only 2 songs where she gets really emotional,or wait a minute. Let me include Greatest Show On Earth to the list. She manages to perform GSOE and TPATP to perfection,but allways tears up towards the end. Strong....well....no spoilers as i dont think you have reacted to it yet. *Hugs for Suzi* No shame in crying,i saw Travis fighting the tears back there too. 🤗💞 Travis is a Pink Floyd fan? Nightwish has done a High Hopes cover of Pink Floyd. Might be a good performance to show him.

[@lananiella]

Bless you for writing all this. I learned a lot and the things you wrote deeply touched me. Especially the quote on mental illness. I will never forget that. Thank you. If I could give it 1,000 thumbs up to push it to the top of this comment thread, I would. Everyone should read and react to this. Why more people haven't is a mystery to me. But then, people in general are a mystery to me. )) Peace, brother.

[@humis69]

I've been listening NW for ages and there's always emotion involved hearing them, this might be my +50 (as I'm too 🙃) time I see this and still tears. Maybe something is just wrong with me or They are just awesome 🤣 All the best from Finland. Take care, be safe 🤗

[@F1rstWorldNomaD]

Tuomas "The Mozart of Metal" Holopainen is one of the greatest composers of our time. If he is not standard reading for future music students there is something really wrong with the world.

[@F1rstWorldNomaD]

@@MegaSlash86 indeed!

[@warhammer5690]

Fact.

[@fixxa6455]

Hes much happier now since mrs Floor fucking Jansen joined

[@silverfang63]

I'm sure others have commented but if you noticed Marko and Emmpu both go over to Tuomas and check on him throughout the performance to show solidarity throughout. Great reaction to a masterpiece

[@petrihietanen1102]

This was one of the most touching reactions to this song I have ever seen. Both of you guys have such an incredible emotional depth in your reactions. To be able to seen things from other person's (in this case Tuomas's) point of view, and kind of crawl under his skin. Feeling his pain. Have always loved you guys, and no even more.

[@HeliRy]

_Be still my son, you’re home..._ A dagger to the heart, every god damn time I hear that verse 😢

[@ThomasTee]

word

[@Gnomesayin79]

Still waiting on Song Of Myself (Live) by Nightwish. Trust me, you won’t regret it. Suzi definitely needs to be part of that reaction. Please. 😬🤘

[@Gnomesayin79]

Just paid the $20 on Wisio for this reaction to happen so now I will sit back and rock out to y’all’s music and wait for it. It’s going to be great! 🖤

[@warhammer5690]

Or Bless the Child.

[@JoTummers]

Tuomas had to fire Tarja (their first vocalist) from the band, for several reasons. That really got to him because they were close friends. Fans did not respond well to it either. It made Tuomas depressed. Instead of taking his life in real, he wrote this song. That is the story behind this song in a nutshell. Notice the boy saying '3 minutes and counting'. Exactly 3 minutes later, you see the pendulum at the background fall, and Tuomas makes the cutting throat gesture. That's how precise he is, and pays attention to even the smallest details.

[@SandraNelson063]

Floor has a grip on Tuomas's emotions. She is his voice. Most of Nightwish's music and lyrics come out of Tuomas's head. He is the Devonian Sea. Tuomas HAS come a long way, he doesn't feel this bad about the situation any more. But you will notice in his other work the words "dead boy". That's a reference to himself. By the way, check out Mario's work. He is a band leader himself. Floor's quiet Thank you at the end punches me in the heart.

[@Mustaschy]

What an lovely reaction! Funny that you talk about Pink Floyd, check out Nightwish covering Pink Floyd - High Hopes

[@StyxRiverGynoid]

Watching your reaction ... you got it You see this live, everyone around you has tears and no-one is hiding them. Hell, I'm typing through some even now Word is the words at the end "Mother and Father" are the ones Tuomas' parents said to him that helped him start to heal again

[@lucasschmitter671]

So this song was written as Toumas's musical suicide in late 2005 after he had to fire the 1st singer of Nightwish (Tarja) which sent him into a horrible depression. The two where childhood friend's and he also caught a ton of aggression from media and fans alike. The last act when Floor is singing from the parents perspective where actual words his parents had said to him.

[@andyreid2415]

Ty for posting the real meaning behind this song

[@black4pienus]

Travis, your face was reacting. So yes, you were reacting. lol. And facial expressions are usually the most honest and direct reactions if you ask me. But yeah... That last part.... It's a tough one. (wipes tears)

[@sugoruyo]

That's Floor's superpower. Capturing the emotion of a song and conveying it effectively. She sings to make you feel things. Yeah, she's a master technician with a gorgeous voice and a commanding stage presence but, all of that would be worth half what it is without her ability to use it for emotional impact.

[@pamelakilponen3682]

He wrote this song about when they asked Tarja to leave the band and everyone, the press, etc... were giving him hell and he felt so many emotions about it. He felt maybe this would be the end of the band and his dream. Tuomas, Tarja, Emppu, and Jukka made up the core members since Nightwish formed, so it was very painful. Later Marko joined replacing Sami Vänskä. Tarja was replaced by Anette Olzon, then after Anette left, Floor came in. At the end of this, you may have noticed that Marko and Emppu stood by Tuomas to ensure that he is ok. To let him know they are with him.

[@andrewb2452]

The band fired their original singer tarja by open letter, it was public on the internet and very messy. Afterwards tuomas received all all the anger and hate from the nightwish faithful, the song is essentially the story of how he was executed in the court of public opinion. Its also a recognition that he is not innocent, that what he did was wrong hence the line "i have but 2 faces". He loved tarja very much but felt she had been corrupted by monetary gain and didnt care for the music anymore. Its a heartbreaking story that lived with many of us nightwish fans for a long time

[@thegrtone744]

2 faces , imho, refers to his personal sense of resentment and jealousy and the one he shows to the world, acting polite and such....judging by his perverse actions, he did not love Tarja and his claims of her greed were easily contradicted by her constant rejection of much better offers...its true that she wanted to go in a different direction musically and thus announced her solo career in 2003

[@faiffull3532]

with all due respect, if he loved Tarja, he would have saw to her concerns or stopped the concert in 2000 to see to her well-being after she was attacked onstage (and still returned to finish out the set)...she had numerous offers from other bands and rejected them all..her desire to go solo was the result of his disregard for her vocal and overall health and creative wishes...the depression was the result of the thrashing her got from the fans, colleagues, industry and critics for ending things in such a vindictive manner...

[@Zozo-K-]

You got it exactly right...Tuomas killed himself in a song to keep from doing it in real life. He had just had to fire Tarja, his dear friend since they were young, and on top of that pain he had a huge negative backlash from fans. The lyrics at the end are basically paraphrasing what his mother told him.

[@bornready6924]

he did not have to trash her good name and did it out of resentment, anger and jealousy..and got a supersized wedgie

[@Muschelschubs3r]

@@bornready6924 Oh, she and her husband did that all on their own.

[@thegrtone744]

@@Muschelschubs3r ... when? ..when she turned down far better offers from other babds?....when she consented to staying on for a while longer( even though she wanted to go solo? ..or when they realized that Tuomas was scheduling concerts behind her back and disrupted whatever personal life she had at the time?...or perhaps, when they asked for shorter tours with fewer gigs to deal with Tarja's concern for her vocal and overall health?...or when she asked for better security, accommodations a sense of privacy as an only woman in the band?....or when she performed against doctors orders, with a throat infection and a fever , to avoid disappointing her legions of fans?...did she deserve to be called a greedy, Diva who turned against her fans?...when Tuomas was asked about his reflections on the act, he expressed not a scintilla of regret...his advice for those still unsure of his true sentiments (given his conflicting statements on such) was SHUT THE F* UP and move on...classy as always

[@lastword9475]

judging by his behavior towards her, she was never his friend and the depression was the result of the media andfans coming down on him for a vindictive act

[@geertje75]

I dare say that Tuomas Holopainen is todays Mozart. He's so creative as a composer/musician/artist

[@andrematos-oreidocanbaixo]

I love you Thuomas, you changed my life forever, I am very grateful❤️🇧🇷😭

[@tomtom7459]

I have listened to this song a hundred times I am 60 and been listening to rock or metal since black Sabbath invented it .this song is absolutely wonderful in fact probably one of the best songs I ever heard Tuomas is one of the best songwriters of the 20 th century this song captures all the pain and in the end the redemption he was going through it's about loss 💔💔 and it's something we can all relate to but in. Saying that floor Jansen portrays that emotion that the rest of the band portray and as you said in parts the song is very heavy in parts Wich is brilliant you can tell Floor Jansen and the band were singing it for Tuomas and yes we do love him dearly he is a genius and I've never heard anything like night wish .thank you for your reactions you guys are great and you are a great band as well .stay well in these troubled times 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@jakubfranek9995]

So much empathy from you, that is rare. Also notice the last part, how Marco and Emppu are staying beside him, protecting him.

[@ericswannie2504]

Speaking of Pink Floyd, they did a cover of High Hopes. I think it was End of an Era tour.

[@HiTekCowboy]

It's a fantastic cover.

[@brunorenniercarvalho1698]

Miss Jansen, you are the Goddess of Metal!

[@lasse4416]

Floor who is usually all smile, does not smile in this one. Its the deepest song i know.

[@007chinochef]

Tomas is a poet, and Floor delivers his words amazingly

[@black4pienus]

I've seen/heard Annette perform this song too. And that's really all Annette does with the song, she performs it. Floor does so much more than that. Floor makes you feel every bit of it. The frustration, the sadness, the hopelessness. She makes you feel uncomfortable. She gives you a lump in your throat and tears in your eyes. I think the times Floor's version of the song didn't make me tear up can be counted on one hand.

[@homestead966]

Love the sincerity of this reaction. I think you guys are hooked. Subscribed :)

[@simonjensen1475]

I've often heard people compare Tuomas to Mozart. But I say screw that noise man. Tuomas is the greatest composer of all time that's it. He writes the music for the best band in the world. That band is comprised of the greatest vocalist/ singer of all time in Floor. The best bassplayer and secondary singer in Marko. One of the best drummers of all time in Kai. One of the best guitar players in Emppu. One of the best multiinstrumentalists in Troy and then theres Tuomas. I mean word can't even begin justify how good and amazing he is.

[@lekalla]

If we are comparing Tuomas to some older well known composer, Tuomas reminds more Beethoven. He was also introvert who didn't mind to be alone while Mozart was complitely different character. Metal Mozart just sounds better. Tuomas is still my favorite of all time no matter what time period.

[@simonjensen1475]

@@lekalla Mozart, Beethoven, Bach it doesn't matter who the comparison is. Tuomas is just better. And yeah Metal Mozart sounds a lot cooler than Metal Beethoven. Gotta get that alliteration in there.

[@tommyjohnson9175]

Like you probably already heard, Toumas "the keyboard player" writes 80 to 90% of all Nightwish songs. He sends out tracks to the others, they get together to collaborate, finish the songs and put the final touches. He also writes the symphonic and vocal parts, and works with groups like the London Philharmonic to record all the backing tracks that they use in their performances. So, Like this songs, most Nightwish songs are usually centered around what may be inspiring him or effecting him in his life at the time. This song was about the depression he was felling about the split of Nightwish and their first lead singer, Tarja. They had been friends since their school days. But, a change in her attitude toward being more monetary and solo-career focused was getting to be very toxic for the group.. In Finland the split became very public and kinda ugly. He received flack from some Nightwish fans that were unfamiliar with what was going on in the background that brought on Tarja's departure. He became depressed as the discontent became focused at him. He ended up going back to his childhood home were his parents and closest friends helped him out of his funk. He wrote "The Poet and the Pendulum" to express his feelings at the time and put those emotions into music.

[@corneliusantonius3108]

😎🎶😊 Ignore the less positive comment, the majority of us appreciate your commentary, otherwise it wasn't a reaction video anyway 😎 Metallica and Pink Floyd were/are great influence on Tuomas.

[@christinaalgate4899]

Hi . Mother and Father are his parents he went and stayed with them. These are his Mom's words. I love it that Marco and Emppu were showing Tuomas some Brotherly Love.

[@Nikoetic]

Great stuff as always! I would suggest you dive into the current drummers (Kai Hahto) other project he's been part of, called Wintersun. I would humbly ask you to react to their song "Sons of winter and stars". Specifically the "Rehersal at sonic pump studios". THAT, is a masterpiece. Thank you, and love from home of Nightwish :P

[@yourwinefamily1939]

Opening Section : Lead boy soprano: Guy Elliott; later on spoken part about Tuomas erased text: is 2nd boy soprano: Tom Williams, both courtesy of the Reigate St Mary's Choir School

[@chrisgrethlein6196]

Suzy, your reaction was the highlight of this video. Your enjoyable and compassion came through!

[@wtfisgoingonhere1076]

I think that last part makes all us mom’s & probably a lot of dads too, cry like babies. Hugs for both of you & Tuomas. 💕🤘🏻

[@barrydemortier4861]

I love at the end of Mother and Father, that Marco and Emppu go to check on Tuomas

[@okiejohn3925]

I always saw it as them going to stand with Tuomas to show solidarity (they are "standing together"), since it was all of their decision to fire Tarja back then (which caused the pain and anguish that manifested into this song)....at the time of this concert, I'm pretty sure Tuomas was well over the pain that created this song, so I doubt he needed "checking on"...(just my opinion)...

[@Oldman618]

Floor is a perfect example of a singer(artist) that shows screaming is not necessary, and if you have the chops to really sing, you can do anything.

[@MrCrazieman]

Mother and Father always kills me. Its not even that I cry, its just like the fact that Tuomas's mother said that to him makes that whole section all the more poignant. It really hits home. You guys are awesome and I could really see that you understood the song on a deeply emotional level. Much love.

[@jeffreyneas9510]

I think one thing that makes Floor such a fantastic singer is her ability to convey the emotion of any song.

[@hansolo2121]

Jeffre Neas When you compare this to how Anette sang this.... It is really bizarre how much more Floor does with this song both vocally and emotionally.

[@deadohiosky1701]

The first 20 times I watched this version of this song I balled like a baby. The next 200 times I only balled like a baby every other time.

[@petrik8550]

Song is about Tuomas committing a suicide. He did it in a song so he didnt have to do it in real life. Nowadays he doesnt want to hear vocals/lyrics when they play song live.

[@jamesanderson5268]

Tuomas killed himself in this song so he didn't have to in real life.

[@funyunmaker3182]

Watch as Emppu and Marco stand to each side of Tuomas to support a family member who is suffering Nightwish is more than a band they are family in the truest sense. Great reaction guys.

[@sherrylhenning5630]

Nightwish's music haunts the dark places that most people will never even realize exist, providing an outlet, an acknowledgement, a panacea, .....you are not alone...... this is how to turn your pain into beauty.........

[@ianblack2039]

Great to hear a review of the song itself, and its contest, and not just about the performance. Well done guys! Love it!!!

[@kenietta1]

Thank you for your reaction. You love music, that's defenitly fact. I Love tos see the emotions that Nightwish give us. Greetings from Germany

[@MrTech226]

Did you noticed that Marko and Emppu went towards Tuomas as he playing his keys at the end? They were giving him moral support like a group hug.

[@DataLupus]

What I absolutely love about this performance was that it wasn’t even written for Floor to sing but she just dominates the song anyway

[@robertlindsay6671]

Tuomas is one of the most under appreciated songwriters of our time

[@erineerina6432]

Yes, I really love Tuomas... Not only because of his incredible songwriting that changed my life and my attitudes towards live, but also because of his personality. Sadly, I don´t know him, but through interviews and through his deep and meaningful lyrics I have an idea of what a fantastic person he is. Sometimes I feel the same as he describes in his songs... They´re so emotional and... yes... It´s very hard to describe, what Nightwish means to me. But I think that every fan of the band will understand what I mean... What the magic behind this music is.

[@adamdazaowicz2811]

Nice reaction. I'm very glad that You did research before listening to that Song. I can suggest Weak Fantasy and The Islander. Both from Tampere show. You will not be disappointed. Greetings from Polish man in UK

[@johnvansplinter3874]

Just once I'd like to get through this masterpiece without dicing onions.

[@hi_keith6423]

Don't worry for feeling like that.. it's suppose to do that because of all the emotions that song have.. we all cried at least once.. Thank you for your honest reaction!

[@haraldnijenhuis4697]

This masterpiece is worth every tear.

[@randygarbrecht3185]

HOLY SHIT!!! Is that lead singer is a mythical warrior queen from from an alternate reality? Like Highlander but she gained all the vocal talent from her adversaries

[@JaredRichardson]

Yes, pretty much. :-)

[@alexisthibodeau1300]

Tuomas is very lucky to have those bandmates. You can see them a couple times during this video checking on him because they know he has a hard time playing it live as it brings back so many emotions from the past. Great reaction! Edit : speaking of Pink Floyd influences, if you want a better idea of what Marco is capable of, I HIGHLY recommend checking out their cover of PF’s High Hopes.

[@MsCatstaff]

The author Mercedes Lackey has a perfect description of what Floor does in her Valdemar series of books - it's a psychic ability known as "the Bardic Gift" and someone with the gift can make the audience feel any emotion they want through music or even just speaking. Floor has the Bardic Gift in double dose! (If you like reading, I do recommend the whole series - my suggestion is to start with either "Arrows of the Queen" which was the first book written, or "Magic's Pawn" which has a part in which one character explains the Gifts to another.) I'm sure someone's mentioned this, but from the point where the boy whispers, "I only have three minutes and counting" to the point where the blade falls and Tuomas makes the throat-slice gesture is exactly three minutes. Also, some of the words from "Mother and Father" are from a conversation he had with his mother at that particular low point in his life.

[@fraukehammer4624]

Your answer is perfect and i think to understand what Tuomas really want to say with this song, you must change the chapter`s, because part V is the beginning of his pain after the show "End of an Era". After the show their fans are angry about they fired Tarja and i think that`s touched his Soul and asked himself "What should i do now"

[@athlonen]

Wow.. This is the first time EVER I had heard someone compare Floor's ability to Mercedes Lackey and the Valdemar series of novels. But you are exactly right here. She doesn't just sing the song; she gets you to emotionally connect to it and you LIVE the song. It doesn't matter which genre, either. When she sings, you live the song.Combine that with Tuomas' Gift for writing the songs you are living, and it's just not human.

[@MsCatstaff]

@@athlonen Nice to know I'm not the only Nightwish fan who also reads Lackey! But yes, first time I heard Floor perform, the Bardic Gift was the first thing that went through my mind. @Frauke Hammer No, you shouldn't change the chapters. The Poet and the Pendulum starts with "The End" because that's exactly what it was - the end of Tarja as a member of Nightwish, the end of a decades-old friendship (Tarja took piano lessons with Tuomas's mother starting at age six), and very possibly the end of the band altogether. Then came the backlash, way more than he expected, so while he was already grappling with self-doubt, anger, guilt, and depression, more crap got piled on top from the fans, etc. And so he turned to his parents as being his last possible support, which they gave - at which point, he emerged ready to bring Nightwish back and move in a new direction, "The Beginning."

[@jeffreyneas9510]

I think what separates Floor from other singers is her ability to convey the emotion of whatever piece music she is singing. The emotion comes through so clearly. It often brings me to tears.

[@jbo4547]

Also her versatility

[@thegrtone744]

Tarja conveyed emotion so well with her facial expressions, eyes and hand gestures

[@wanhapatu6971]

Hi guys! Thank you for your nice reaction. If I remember correct, Tuomas said in one interview, that he was surprised, when Floor asked him, if they could perform this epic song live. He had nothing against it and we can witness the result.

[@rrf82]

Ok hear me out, The Wolf HunterZ reacting to 7 days to the Wolves by nightwish makes sense right ? Also its a pretty amazing song

[@danwhitehousepc]

They've already done that reaction. Check it out!

[@marilonnqvist4997]

Nightwish is so awesome band. I m from Finland too, like Nightwish. Here in Finland we have heavy metal christmas music by Raskasta Joulua if you want to watch it some day. Tuomas is Metal Mozart and genius 💖

[@ludovicm.1848]

Great true heart reaction, crying too (for the 150th time...)

[@danieln6700]

Poet and the pendulum is great. It's like 3 epic movie soundtracks

[@gerardofe2964]

Hi guys you are great! Please react this Nightwish masterpiece Everdream live wacken Storytime live wacken Nemo live wacken Dead Boy's Poem live Buenos Aires

[@itomg]

I said it before and I will say it again here: this is art from the very first note to the last. The end-notes to me sound like a soothing hopeful loving cry. Which in the end is the way out of misery. A masterpiece!

[@kylestaples465]

As a huge nightwish fan,this is the reaction we hope for.someone who you can watch just get sucked in to the emotion like we all have.keep it up guys this reaction did this song justice.

[@minorindiscretion]

Floor doesn't sing those last two verses. She cries them .

[@missrubyphoenix]

You can see Emppu (guitarist) walking to Tuomas and talking briefly with him, to make sure he's okay, same thing with Marko later on the song, this one is very heavy on him, and the guys show their endless support, Floor and Marko did an outstanding job portraying the emotions Tuomas must have felt when he wrote the song, The Pacific and Mother & Father always get me so so emotional, I used to cry every time I heard it, TPATP still gives me major goosebumps, and leave me teary eyed at the end with that syren mourn.

[@warnertom3393]

As complimentary songs to this, I'd say The cover of High Hopes from End of an Era it conveys the turmoil that was going on in the Band at the time. I Wish I had and Angel from End of an Era with Tarja as the lead. Its the last song of the concert and she was fired from the band immediately after. Looking at the body language of Tuomas after the song, I'm sure he thought it may well be the Band's last performance. Finally, I Wish I Had and Angel from Wacken 2013. The difference in the band, the joy they seem to be having with Floor is a stark contrast to the End of and Era rendition. As to Floor's ability to really convey the emotions of a song, it really is remarkable and the sign of a great singer that they can make you feel the emotions of the song writer, even if they themselves didn't write the song or go through similar situations. Elvis, was another singer that could do that, and I think that's pretty good company to keep.

[@damienmaynard8892]

YEEEEEESSSSSSSSS! This song always hits home. Marko's demo was even darker and angrier - the kind of anger that frustration and despair brings..... even stripped back the transitions and the contrasts were astonishing and so dramatic..... All the band signed "that" letter to Tarja and Tuomas took the heat..... If she had only shown up to more rehearsals and not threatened to leave..... but then this masterpiece may never have been and THAT would be the tragedy!... DPP and Imaginaerum (album AND movie) are near the top of Nightwish's best works...... Tuomas is good now - Johanna and a new home.... and Nightwish getting the attention they always deserved in all forms.

[@572Btriode]

That is often forgotten and not recognised that the whole band signed the firing letter, but Tuomas gets the flak. I understand that he would have lost everything as the other three were adamant that they would walk otherwise.

[@JuiZe84]

Tuomas alone makes the world a better place. Great reaction

[@vaclavplachta6539]

I'm a big Nightwish fan. You are a very nice couple, and I really like your reactions. I'm just having trouble with English, so I'm asking you for subtitles. Your fan from the Czech Republic.

[@Sm00th-0perator]

One of the best reaction videos that i have seen. You did a great background job. Got to know the lyrics and understood the whole song and its stages wonderfully. \o/

[@pannemanbroeker6822]

THIS REACTION WAS SOOOO REAL , THANK YOU . (greetings from the netherlands) .

[@ironnads7975]

"we love you because you are a beautiful human being, not because you are a rockstar" -most important words ever said in a reaction to Tuomas and Nightwish.

[@faiffull3532]

great composer but with obvious character flaws pertaining to dealing with close colleagues

[@gavinferrie3161]

Tuomas is indeed a remarkable composer, even Steve Harris of Iron Maiden called him "a f*cking genius" :)

[@osamaqtaitat]

Interesting, because i love Iron Maiden, but where can i find this?

[@reddragon5169]

The best in the world ( Bach, Mozart ,Beethoven, Tchaikovsky ,Brahms and Tuomas Holopainen of Nightwish )

[@kozmicboy7073]

Travis: 😃 Suzie: 😔

[@hiawatha.g]

"I've never seen something like that before." They are heavily influenced by classical music. Symphonies and operas have this structure--multiple chapters, all part of a story. If you haven't, check out some of the great operas.

[@imrevansanten504]

😥..every time..❤ u Tuomas...Metal Mozart ❣

[@des_o7935]

Ok the end of this song used to always get me. Usually now I can take it but every now and then it still sneaks up on you and you can't help but feel it.

[@mdudley52]

Floor,the ultimate dramatic soprano,pours her heart into this for Tuomas.When she is seated you can see it in her eyes.