Happy Birthday Floor 💖

Long live Valkyrie Queen of Metal!!! Happy Birthday !!!!

LMAO "Was that an homage to Metallica?" Go back one minute and 30 seconds to the start of tbat segment. It's an allegory for evolution by the history of music. Some simple tribal rythms give way to some simple flutes, some tribal throat singing, some simple instrumentations, then...just loud enough, a harpiscord plays Bach's "Minuet in G." A couple more seconds of music modernizing a bit more, and the full band blasts in again with Bach, this time a Heavy Metal version of "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor." Evolving music again, then yes. The unmistakable Enter Sandman rif...but what you might have missed is that it feeds RIGHT into just a few pulsing beats of EDM to close it out. That section is friggin GENIUS.

The title of the issue is taken from a 2009 book by evolutionary biologist and atheist writer Richard Dawkins, about the evidence for biological evolution. Dawkins also contributes to the album. Holopainen explained to HMV in March 2015: "I wrote him a letter a little over a year ago and explained what ideas we had for this album, mainly about evolution. Since one of the songs goes straight to one of his books, it felt like a perfect match to try and recite him on the album. A few weeks later, he sent me an email accepting the invitation." "Later in 2014, we recorded his parts at Hats Off Studios, Oxford. This is a huge honour for us, as Dawkins is one of our greatest heroes and his writings have been a huge inspiration for the album."

Happy Birthday Floor Jansen !!!

Tuomas tells the story of whole universe in 21 min. He was originally about to write this to be 45 min long but had to shorten it to fit on an album side. 4,6 billion years is quite challenging to put like that.

"Some strings coming in..." That is Troy playing the guitar with an E-bow!

Queen Floor was out celebrating her birthday today and enjoying some snowboarding. She is so amazing in whatever she does. Happy Birthday Floor. 🌹 🌹 🌹

This was my first ever Nightwish song. Was deep down the KZfaq rabbit hole one night. Saw a song call The Greatest show on Earth. Thought that's a rather bold claim. They've been a daily listen since. Can't get enough of them or Floor

Tuomas explains 4,6 billion years in 21 min. Quite well done...he even shortened it from 45 min to make it fit on an album side.

I don't know of many "songs" of this calibre.

Happy Birthday VALKYRIE QUEEN. Yes, there are little tips of Pergolesi, Bach and Metallica . 🌹to Floor, and 🤘to you. Greetings from nothern Germany

Happy Birthday Floor. WE WERE HERE and to answer your question this is the same concert as The Poet and The Pendulum. This isn't a song, but an experience

Amazing....Nightwish music Higher level...Is a Master piece

the live at Tampere of this song is good it has fireworks timed

Anybody besides me notice Kai drums with his eyes closed. Jukka was so much fun to watch drum, they guy was on fire every second. Thing I like about Kai is he throws in little subtleties that may take several listenings to hear but when ya hear them a big smile flashes across the face.

Great reaction. This is an absolute masterpiece! I have been to hundreds of concerts and I generally set my expectations fairly low. For some reason, my expectations when I went to see Nightwish were really high, but they exceeded them in every possible way. You think you are prepared, but until you are standing there and seeing them, you can't really appreciate how amazing they are. And yes, this is one hell of a way to close a show!

Tuomas’s masterpiece!🤘🎸

Now you need to set aside time for the Tampere version. Trust me, it's different enough and epic enough that it will be well worth it! 🤘👍🤟

One of my favourite compositions… ever. Another one of my favourite songs is Nightwish Pan, from the Human Nature album. Great lyrics video of yhis song as well!

Because of this song, I went out and purchased Richard Dawkins' book The Greatest Show On Earth, read it, LOVED it. And it sparked a whole new interest in epic science books of Dawkins, but also Carl Sagan, and Steven Hawkins. I never did particularly well in those fields back in school, but found a renewed interest in the matter after 40 😊 Thanks to Nightwish! ❤

The tribal drums introduce the next phase of evolution. The humans "Toolmaker". Yes from classical (Bach) to metal (Metallica), the evolution of music. Happy Birthday to the Queen. 🥂🥂

Happy Birthday Floor! Thank you for this wonderful reaction. Loved it.

this is an illustration of the genius of Tuomas Holopainen......this will be played far into the future, as we do now with Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven............

NightWish Army Wisconsin Chapter here. Great reaction! ❤️🤘 Only NightWish is able to compose a song that covers 4.6 Billion years of Evolution. This song belongs in a Museum for generations to enjoy. ❤️🤘

From the big bang to modern day in just over 20 minutes, nobody else could pull this off

Floor (in Dutch) Hartelijk gefeliciteerd..Happy Birthday... The big bang,evolution of earth,life, music and even destruction

was waiting to see if you'd pick up on the metallica nod and you caught it instantly, the look on your face was priceless

Wembley is the very best version.... Wonderful stuff

I loved this video the first time I saw it, and was in total awe of the band, Floor, and the story that it told. This was how I first heard Nightwish, thanks to a KZfaq suggestion, after I listened to some epic sounding instrumental music one day. Can you imagine if this was the first time you ever listened to Nightwish? I had to scrape my jaw off the ground and find out everything I could about them. I have since seen them live virtually in 2021, and at a live show in 2022. btw, There are documentaries about the creation of the album and show. There are somewhere around 600 tracks mixed into the production of this song.

Tampere all the way!!

And this was only the second best performance of this song. The performance of this song at Tampere 2015 was even better.

...and this is what music can do to you. Your brain disassociates itself from reality and you can't string a coherent sentence together. All you can do is marvel and wonder at what you have just heard. There are no words to describe some music, nor do you need those words as the music takes care of that itself. Just listen, enjoy, and listen again.....

Love your Nightwish journeys. I've seen Cream live. I've seen Jimi Hendrix Live. Also Yes, Genesis, Renaissance, gentle giant, King Crimson, Mike Oldfield, Pink Floyd many many others. but it's a big regret of my life that I've never seen and will probably never see Nightwish live. Well at least not with Marko.

Very very beautiful, thank you

I was there dude, it was beyond words! 🤘

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FLOOR 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊

Nightwish is one of the only bands that can bring me to tears. What an amazing band

The Greatest Band on Earth

Happy Birth Day Floor.❤❤❤

of you feel like it, jump straight to "Procession". It's the epilogue to The Greatest Show on Earth. From "We were here" to "We were there."

This, Poet and Score are 3 Nightwish juggernauts and not even top3 for everyone, since their catalogue is so rich with quality/creativity.

For your own benefit , I would suggest you watch the Tampere version ,, by far the better show , honestly crowd, bigger outdoor stadium, evening performance, fireworks… Nothing wrong with this Wembley version, it’s perfect ,, but Tampere is the better ‘spectacle’..

The song begins with the emergence of life, just as it unfolded in the universe. Simple cellular forms evolved through time, eventually giving rise to us, humans. Initially primitive, engaged in gathering and hunting, we gradually invented and industrialized, progressing as a species. Despite our differences, we all belong together. "We were here" signifies that we, as the human species, have been on this planet-we have left a footprint. This sentence carries a double meaning, addressing both the attendees of this phenomenal concert and our presence as humans. All in all, it attempts to encapsulate the epic journey of humanity on this planet, from its inception to the present, within a musical masterpiece. In the grand tapestry of "The Greatest Show on Earth," the song further delves into the wonders of existence. From the primordial seas to the majestic landscapes, it paints a vivid picture of our planet's history. It explores the rise of civilizations, the pursuit of knowledge, and the triumphs and tribulations that shaped us. Let us embark on a journey through time, where ancient empires rise and fall, where poets and thinkers ignite the flame of enlightenment. Witness the achievements of art, science, and exploration that have shaped our collective identity. The symphony of humanity echoes through the ages, resonating with the harmonies of progress and the melodies of compassion.

You can't escape from Floor buddy..hahaha ❤

Thanks for the reaction! This is my absolute favorite song! Thanks Tuomas! Thanks Nightwish! A masterpiece!

Happy birthday Floor ❤

I think you can´t sleep for this makes you thinking

I love the fact that reactors think it’s about them

This is from the same concert as 'The Poet and the Pendulum'.

Tampere plz! Best live ever!

The Greatest Show on Earth really is The Greatest show on Earth, i love this song. Awesome reaction, i loved it

Great reaction! This musical is so good that you can't understand where it comes from. 💖🌌🕊 I think, Tuomas is a genius from another planet and Floor is an angel and all these musicians are top of the world. The lighting and videos in the background were also amazing. "I got sand in my eyes" when I first time watched this.

🤗🍒🤘🏻 well done again gp

"Had a dram to understand, a single grain of *_sand"_* >Enter *_Sandman_*

Thank you for doing Wembley, my favourite version.

This song is Massive,...Song about Evolution of the Universe , Earth and Life . The song title is taken from a 2009 book by evolutionary biologist and atheist writer Richard Dawkins, concerning the evidence for biological evolution. Dawkins also contributes towards the album. Holopainen explained to HMV in March 2015: "I wrote him a letter a bit more than a year ago and explained the ideas we had for this album, mainly to do with evolution. Since one of the tracks would be named directly after one of his books, it felt like a perfect match to try to get him do some reciting on the album. He sent me an email a few weeks later accepting the invitation." "Later in 2014 we then recorded his parts at Hats Off Studios, Oxford. This is a huge honor for us, since Dawkins is one of our biggest heroes and his writings have been huge inspiration for the album." "We were here!" This song , and that ending gets me every time 🤘🥲🤘. Who else is going to vote for this song's inclusion on the next Voyager golden record, if there'll ever be one? I want to beam this song into space forever. NWSU/FloorFan 🤘😎🤘

The Tampere version of this is the best one i think,but this ones amazing too.

I was a fan of Richard Dawkins before I became a fan of Nightwish. So when I heard they were collaborating I totally fangirled out. lol Apparently Tuomas was/is a fan of him too and was very much inspired by Dawkins' book.... Guess the title! lol. The book is titled The Greatest Show on Earth! My inner nerd is all excited again! lol

Good job great band

Maybe next the most angry song from NW: master passion Greed. Never played live.

You should check out the “ Greatest Show on Earth “ from Tampere, it’s even better

Great reaction man. You love Nightwish like all of us here and that's the best way to saw us.

This is the story of us, evolution

You also need to experience tarja with them.. live phantom of the Opera end of an era . You will be blown away

Musical art

Biology class could be cool like that.

I'm also convinced I hear Star Wars, and after Metallica I hear a techno beat 😊

Epicness right there on that stage. Whilst I do not subscribe to the theory of evolution I wholeheartedly subscribe to the music of Nightwish and this phenomenal masterpiece..... "She's a Siren. She's going to end up killing us all and we're going to love it" Thank you for a great reaction 🙏😊👍❤️

Great reaction! The nod to Metallica is more than just a nod. Check out the lyrics that Floor sings before and after it. Man, he took his time in the sun - had a dream to understand a single grain of sand - in other words, Enter Sandman. Thomas at his creative best again.

Check amorphis from Finlandia and Also Marco Hietala from Nightwish, 😎

If you want to watch this song again, watch the 2015 concert in Tampere, Finland. The explosions you hear throughout the song, Tuomas actually ran midi tracks through the song and had fireworks launch for the big bang at the beginning and at the close of the song plus, I might get some hate for this, but Floor's vocals were a little bit cleaner, if you can believe that.

Its an amazing song / experience. Do look up all Tuomas packed into that song - there was a mini history of music in there from hearing the Harpischord, etc. and you caught the nod to Metallica. 😊 We Were Here - and we need to care better for our earth. Happy Birthday Floor.

I loved your reaction and I'll really look forward to your reaction on Sabaton :) Ohh and Yes, Happy B-day Floor!

Hey, you should check out the Tampere, Finland live show same song, awesome 😎

THe Metallica nod is because as a exchange student Tuomas was invited to a metal concert and first declined as he didnt like metal. He preferred classical music. He thought it was just noise. After much prodding my his host family they took him to Kansas City and Kaufman stadium where the Royals playere Bodycount(ICE T's metal band he formed in 1990), Queensryche, GNR, and Metallica played. Metallica blew him away and when he got back to Kittee he eventually was in 6 bands in high school. Mostly metal.

Oh Sh*t, forgot the Queen's birthday... Happy birthday Floor! (wife laughing, as I'm also forgetting hers every year 😑)

Great reaction. Happy Birthday Floor!

🤩👍💥💯🎼 OPUS PERFECTUM 🤘😎🇫🇮 💙

Thanks

Please do Ghetsemane and Bless the Child. The first os from the 2018 show and the secojd from live at Wachen 2013. You can also do 7 days to the wolves!!!! Live from Wembley 2015!!!

happy birthday floor

greetings and love from Germany. great reaction like always, buddy. In the beginning, did i heard you saying something like "...playing Halo " ? I take a guess, you talkin bout the game and its amazing soundtrack. Well, in that case you have to trust me, even i´m a german, hehe. Serious now, i would love to see you react to The Danish National Symphony Orchester. They play stuff like movie soundtracks, gaming theme music..live. I have to say i am not a gamer at all. I heard of the game but never heard the theme. First time i listened to the Danish Orchester playing the ´Halo Triology´...damn, i literaly frozen, never felt goosebombs that intense. I´m an odinary subcriber, not a patreon. I would highly request this outstanding masterpiece by such unbelieveable musicians. i would die with graceness in that very concert hall, a once in a lifetime expierience. My ears in disbelieve of such incredible and different sound effects. And i still havent heard the actuall original theme thats in the game. hey, i just have to play that game and hear what it sounds like. You my think i´m exagarating. Maybe..however, i send you the link to it anyway. Perhaps i get lucky and you are kinda intressted. Have a peaceful day, mate & stay safe kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rLCFoNuQx7nTnH0.htmlsi=AwVZ_FVlJSLuD-Fw

I have never told anyone this but the first time I heard this song all 24 minutes of it I didn't like the part of the animals making sounds but after finding out it was about evolution it made sense and of course it's one of my favorites most likely not even in my top 10 because they have so many great songs but I would put this song against any other bands song and it would blow theirs out of the water

Great reaction! Subbed in hopes of more Nightwish and other Nordic metal reactions like Sabaton or Dimmu Borgir.

Now I hope you will jump into the next rabbit hole with EPICA, too :D

This was a good version, but the better version in my opinion is the Wembley you wanna talk about production and videography and lighting and all the extras that I’m not gonna mention because you have to see it to really appreciate it

The "strings" is Troy on a guitar

Tuomas had to shorten his original work on this so that he and the band were physically capable of performing it live! Evolution of Earth, us, music.... and everything! Tuomas and Floor both considered becoming biologists before music caught them - scored an honorary for this IMHO!

At 2:15 min. are not Strings, this sonds come from the guitar whith an E-Bow😉😉

I think next should be the - Bless the Child

monster Kai!!!!!!

Ive never though of the phrase "We/I/They/Kilroy were here" as something even remotely important or significant. Who cares, what difference does it make if were not there now? Then I heard this song. And it instantly came across as a powerful statement, almost defiant. In the infinite universe over eternal time, every single fakking detail that had to occur perfectly for us to exist actually happened. Thats just us as a species, every random action and event that led up to your parents or my parents meeting, falling in love, having kids, and on top of that you and I being the winner of a race with roughly 300 *MILLION* competitors by reaching the egg first. The trillions times trillions, probably even more, of things that had to fall perfectly into place for you and I, specifically, to be here, for humanity to evolve to this point, having a conscious mind and intelligence enough to even travel through space. Perhaps, once humanitys time is up, leaving the message "We were here" behind might actually be worth while. Cuz its quite extraordinary both from the perspective of absolutely unfathomable luck and from phenomenal effort. Telling the universe that we might be gone, but we wont be forgotten. Cuz, against all odds, We _were_ indeed here. And thats pretty fakking cool.

Um hum, Enter Sandman

Enter LUCA Enter Life Enter Ionia Enter History Enter Ratkind Enter SANDMAN Emppu's nod to Metallica

Wembley Arena concert 2015: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hMWamtyj0bWygJc.html 1. Shudder Before the Beautiful, 2. Yours Is an Empty Hope, 3. Ever Dream, 4. Storytime, 5. My Walden, 6. While Your Lips Are Still Red 7. Élan, 8. Weak Fantasy (Preceded by a Dawkins' narration), 9. 7 Days to the Wolves, 10. Alpenglow, 11. The Poet and the Pendulum 12. Nemo, 13. I Want My Tears Back, 14. Stargazers, 15. Ghost Love Score, 16. Last Ride of the Day, 17. The Greatest Show on Earth

Tampere version!No wembley

Tampere version is much more impressive. Pls check it out as well.

Tuomas Holopainen is behind all this. Good Finland 🇫🇮🔥

...and just when you think you have heard Floor sing everything there comes a link to Floor singing the Dutch phone book.... kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fNqAo7yTqM66eKc.html