Hey Folks! Apologies for the editing mistake after the song. This was a lot to digest and I'm sure I could have made a 2 hour video, but these are my initial thoughts. I may do a follow-up video at some point because my head is still reeling from this initial viewing. Cheers! Eric

Tampere also has a "thing at the end", it's just a little different. And of course: Floor: "Enter Luca" Marko: " Enter Ionia" Emppu: "Enter Sandman"

"We Were Here" - gets me every time, tears in my eyes, glad to be alive.

I was lucky enough to see them live in Chicago this past May. I am a 50 yo man who has probably heard this song 100 times between the record and live versions. When they played this and immediately closed with Ad Astra ....I was physically standing on the ground but I was floating above the venue with every other soul that was there. It literally brought a tear to my eye screaming "We were here" Incredible

Maybe why Enter Sandman was used as the example of metal in the evolution of music is that Tuomas was taken to a Metallica show in the early 90s, his first exposure to metal and that's when the coin dropped about what he wanted to be.

It's a travesty that Nightwish is not recognized widely for what they are, they should be up there with the legends such as Queen and Pink Floyd. Unfortunately the low quality fast food American idol centered music industry makes people ignorant and blind. It is a tragedy that the band will never reach the legendary status they so deserve. I feel sad for all the people who walks through life, never discovering the greatness of this band.

Tuomas.. Creator of the unconventional hooks. He drags you into every song, whether you want in or not, and then you never want to leave.

This is a Mammoth of a song. No other band can or want do this. You should do also the 'Tampere 2015 version'. As a patriotic Finn I found it even a little more epic (if possible?).

I had the opportunity to take my little sisters hand and jump with joy WE WE HERE at Tampere in this spring. After horrible, many painful years, we almost lost each other, we had a chance to enjoy this ultimate truth and beauty together...

Oh man, this anthem always make me cry, Nightwish the greatest show on earth!

I feel very much the same way about Uillean pipes. There’s something about them that always cuts straight to my heart and moves me in a way no other instrument (with the possible exception of a French horn) can. To me, it speaks of loneliness and loss, but in a peaceful and cathartic way. Like, yeah I’m sad, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing and I know it’ll be alright in the end. It’s like therapeutic tears, allowing yourself a moment to grieve so you can move on and heal.

Without doubt the best reaction to this masterpiece I've ever seen. I was waiting a long time for it, and it didn't disappoint. On the approach to the musical history section I was watching your face closely because I KNEW you were going to pick up on it, and sure enough I could see you frowning in wonder at what you were hearing. Fantastic stuff Eric. Love your reactions and intelligent, deep comments.

_"Song means what the song means to you."_ Tuomas Holopainen

I feel sorry for people that will not hear this or choose not to listen to this incredible music. What other music can devour all thoughts and emotions and simply give a person a great feeling at the end ? Universally excellent !! 20 minutes seems like 10 or less. It’s a joy, to live in this time of Toumas. Musical awesomeness !

Screaming "we were here" was amazing. I was at the first US show and I preordered the album and played it on our way to Atlanta to see them. I told my wife they would never play such a long song in the live show. I WAS SO WRONG, ending the show with that song left me in awww.

This song with Floor singing is best as it can be when talking of Nightwish. It couldn't be this great with past two singers (sorry). And those who says Nightwish isn't as good anymore when there isn't Tarja or Marko... This song proves that as long as there is Tuomas there is Nightwish. And they still perform this song without Marko and it's still amazing! I could praise Tuomas for ever and ever and I would never find enough words. I'm so happy I found him and Nightwish. Even though it took long time! ❤️

Eric you are the best! Nobody offers better analysis than you. Knew you’d do this masterpiece justice! Just because you’ve done the big ones now, doesn’t mean that there still isn’t a LOT of greatness to discover with Nightwish. Keep exploring! WE WERE HERE!

I was there! And you're right they put me in my own little world but was still connected. Thanks for bringing the nostalgia back to me, I really needed it this week. Once again you put the feelings that Nightwish invoke in me into words. You pick up on everything in one listen that took me weeks of listening to hear. It's 1am in the UK and my neighbours will be pissed coz I just had to sing along and headbang. All the goosebumps and shivers and hair standing on end moments came back. Thank you Eric, you really are a brother. If you're ever in the UK, find me, I owe you a beer!

I keep going back and watching your Nightwish reactions---the Floor era, I love Floor---and I am amazed at how an American music industry professional appreciates the magic these artists create. This, knowing that Nightwish has never had any more than a tiny, minutely fractional presence in the American music sphere. I'm in my 60s and can easily say these people changed my life. Maybe it's because I did not discover Nightwish until I retired 4+ years ago? Regardless, I enjoy your reactions and I hope others in the American music industry take your lead and pay attention to Tuomas, Floor, et al. p.s. As many below have mentioned, you should watch the Tampere version of this track. Yes, it's too late to do a reaction video, but you will marvel at that live performance.

In addition to my earlier comment. I'd love to see you react to "All the Works of Nature Which Adorn the World", which makes up the entirety of CD2 of Nightwish's Human :||: Nature album. It's a 30 minute classical suite composed and arranged by Tuomas. Specifically, the video you should watch is by Sensai Music Videos, which is a Tuomas-endorsed fan video with fantastic visuals to accompany the music

Seeing a thinking man "react" (an insufficient word for what I just witnessed) to this masterpiece was a real treat. Tuomas used the entire spectrum in this one, and the band translated it flawlessly- and you got it. It'll still be amazing you after a hundred views. Thank you!

Fantastic reaction like always 😊. 4 me, Tampere is more epic, because it was an Open Air performance in Finland in front of Floor's parents, the show itself, Floor dressed like the goddess herself etc. The part Floor is coming out of the dark, singing the "Opus perfectum" and is returning into the darkness, is the most epic NW moment in a live show of all time imo. One reason to return to Tampere and watch this version again... and again.... 😍

The end always gets me, a bunch of metal heads listening religiously to a history and musical lecture!

There's a fan video documentary "To Nightwish, With Love" where several fans talk about what NW means to them, dealing with the changes, and whatnot, and part of it is several of the fans get to go to this concert, flying in from all over the world, and meet the band. (some of those fans will look familiar to those who watch the DVDs for Wacken, Wembley, and Please Learn The Set-list in 48 hours) Tuomas is telling how he just can't get why some people get all flustered and hold him in such high esteem and worship him and the band like a cult , and he can't see why they act like they do, and the fans next to him seem to deflate a bit one girl apologizes, but he assures them that they were not all that bad, but tells them to concentrate on the music and enjoying it, then he mentions he got to meet Dawkins, and he almost fainted so he kinda sees where it is coming from. I'll also add taking a look at the Tampere version for a slightly different rendition. Troy does Whistles instead of E-bow, and Fireworks are involved.

The Bach phrase was an organ fugue from the second movement of BMV 565 in D minor. This is the best song for every reason you stated, in every way possible and you once again gave it the utmost respect and amazing insights

Ah, the Tampere version is something that you have to watch.

One of the most precious moments of my life was presenting Tuomas with my 150yr old Origin of Species book by Charles Darwin as a way to say thank you for changing my life. The concluding words of that book that also concluded this most majestic song. What a truly incredible honour! I took the most magical journey to Kitee, Finland with a very special friend and its something that will always be a part of me now. FOREVER

and yes they did the history of music in 30 seconds inc druids and Bach

If doing a follow-up video I STRONGLY suggest checking out the Tampere version while you are at it. A different treatment and atmosphere, and simply astonishingly awesome. Cheers!! 🤘🤘

Nightwish Army UK popping in to say WE WERE HERE ... and WE WERE THERE.

This song is based on the book The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution is a 2009 book by British biologist Richard Dawkins, which was released on 3 September 2009 in the UK and on 22 September 2009 in the US. It sets out the evidence for biological evolution, and is Dawkins's 10th book, following his best-selling critique of religion The God Delusion (2006) and The Ancestor's Tale (2004), which traced human ancestry back to the dawn of life. The Nightwish have had three lead singers, Floor Jansen that sings now and the other two are all schooled sopranos.

Tears in my eyes everytime. What a wonderful group of musicians.

Some bands I’m happy to listen to. Listening and watching Nightwish is a privilege to experience 6 virtuoso performances that meld into one they are all musical and artistic giants

We’ll done my man. Great breakdown., it’s always good to see the emotion on your face when listening to this wonderful band. My brother went to see them in Chicago a few months ago and was blown away by the skill of the musicianship and Floors vocals. He is one of the few who had never listened to Nightwish at all until he saw them live in concert. After the concert he devoured all he could of the band on KZfaq and then proclaimed that no matter the online quality of the live recordings it pales into insignificance when compared to having the music and vocals break over you in a live venue.

First of all Eric. Great reaction you sure did this masterpiece of a song justice. Even if I have a hard time calling it a ”song”, it’s more then just a song, track or what ever. The techno beat you discovered is from Sandstorm by Darude. I am not sure if you reacted to the opening song of the concert, Shrudder before the beautiful. If not, you got to check that one out. That’s how you open a show!

I watched your reaction with great pleasure, late last night, after I returned home from the Nightwish concert in Bucharest :) I still have a background noise in my ears that will persist for a while, according to all probabilities. Sorry for not commenting last night, but I fell asleep almost instantly afterwards. Yes, that is the extent of this unique work, which "only" covers the entire history of our planet. It reminds me of a wise saying I heard many years ago: "Don't cry because it's over, be happy because it happened." Musically, I consider it a modern symphony, not inferior to the creations of the great classical composers. This is the true level of Tuomas Holopainen.

Now you need to watch the Tempere version, because so much happens, especially at the end that will mean something to you. The song also differs at the beginning and you WILL want to comment on it. This is seriously the most important composition of my life time, and both deserve a reaction due to their impact and meaning. I'm all for the meaning of Richard Dawkins reciting the final paragraph of The Origin of Species, which is a recorded recitation at Tempere, which must be played to the VERY end, but everything else at Tempere is superior in my opinion. Floor is at a completely different emotional level because it was the first time her parents were in the audience to see her perform with Nightwish, and the staging was without peer. At the end, I always think back to Lord of the Rings final scene at Gondor ... "you should bow to no one!" That's how I feel about Nightwish. As always, you are unparalleled in your analysis and I have been eagerly awaiting this particular review. Thanks for all you do, Eric!

I love to see that this masterpiece of music history blew you away as much as me when I first heard it. All I can say is that this band changed me forever. And it's crazy because I've only been listening to them consciously for 3 months! Discovering Nightwish is like a kind of science, like the doctoral thesis of music. I believe that the Uilleann Pipes touches you so much because it is so original as an instrument and just speaks to our soul on a deeper level.

My best mate of nearly 30 years was at that concert, they started with "Shudder before the Beautiful" went to "Ghost Love Score" and "Poet and the Pendulum" and finished with "the Greatest Show on Earth" that's why Toumas had his head in his hands at the end of this performance the "dead boy" was with his best friend. I hope you can see why Poet in particular was so important when you hear this, can you imagine a world where Toumas took himself out? The sheer joy and wonder we would have missed out on.

One of the best reactions that I have seen to this song, and I've seen a few. "It's as if Pink Floyd and Queensrÿche had a baby" and he shall be named Tuomas. Well done. Much love from the Nightwish army in New York 🤗

You found the Easter eggs! Yeah that was Bach in the beginning...the evolution of music as well ;) It is insane how much detail they put in their music and lyrics. This song is written by Tuomas and marko. Marko created a big part of the lyrics. I showed this my children and they said they learned more from this song than history at school. (teens) Awesome reaction. I think we all feel emtional overwelmed by this master piece. I am also an adventurer and want to see and exerience as much as possible in my life. It is exactly how I feel about life, but to hear it makes it even stronger. I will see them live in November again in Floor's home country, in Amsterdam! YAY Thanks Sir!

It's interesting to note that Tuomas, genius that he is, incorporates an Easter egg in the opening six note keyboard sequence. And that's the atomic number of carbon: C6. The origin of us all.

As an Evolutionary Biologist, this song really strikes a chord! Saw them in Lowell, MA in 2022. I was singing "We Were Here" at the top of my lungs, not caring who else was around. The fact that the show was not sold out should cause all New Englanders to hang their heads in shame!

Hey Eric , even if you enjoyed the Wembley version still watch the Tampere show please do , in my opinion it's the better show outside with fireworks & the reading & ending is pretty awesome 😍, love you're reactions - Thank you 😊.

Excellent job picking all that up, especially LUCA and Lucy. Still waiting for someone to comment on "ion channels" though. ;) Here's the London Philharmonic playing the backing track to this piece: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bZmggq6Jvb6agac.html. Tuomas wrote this as well.

One of the lines, what me most think about my existence was the phrase "no one of your fathers died young"....since the beginning of live...

This video showcases why your reactions can be regarded as the gold standard for reactions! Excellent and most enjoyable how you did this musical masterpiece justice. I hope you consider "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" official Lyric Video, and then doing a series at some point on the Human:||:Nature disk 1 from start to finish, as it shows Thomas's and the bands direction following TGSOE (because, I mean, where does one go after creating something like this...) Blessings and warm wishes from Namibia

Yes, Please do yourself a favor and watch the Tampere performance. Has it's own special moments. Floor performing with her parents in the audience.

I've always taken Tuomas' dissonant notes right before the Bach part as being a nod to entropy. And after the "Enter Lucy, Luca, and Ionia", of course Empuu got an "enter" in his inimitable voice.

Such a magnificent final song and to think that they had already performed The Poet and the Pendulum earlier. What an experience that show must have been. I love the use of the E-bow first and then the Uilleann pipes. Troy is such a talent. In the section which depicts the history of music Gregorian chants etc, missed the banjo before Enter Sandman.

I'm impressed you were able to hear the music evolution out of the interlude. Actually it's not easy to hear, because the mix of the live versions is more focused on the live instruments. There is also a Banjo playing in the mix, you just can't really hear it here. I'd recommend to listen to the studio version as well. There you hear the subtle differences much better.

Its been a long time coming but boy was it worth the wait!! I feel like I just had a 45 minute conversation about life, death, the universe, evolution, philosophy, music and many more things.....and yet I never said a word!!! Bravo, possibly the best reaction to one of the best songs ever written.

Tuomas is our generations Mozart. It saddens me that most of the will never know of him.

It’s more than music.

I would have said Tampere because I think it is generally a better performance, the outdoor atmosphere and fireworks, and Troy gets more focus.... but they are both great and in this you get Dawkins. Oh, I almost forgot, Tampere has Floor's double helix dress in Finnish national colours......

As a follow up to this you really need to hear 'Procession' (there is an official lyric video) off the latest album. Basically we go from "WE were here to we WERE here"

Fantastic dissection of this work. I've been waiting for you to get to this one, knowing that it would take you to a wonderful place. When you get a chance, do check out the Tampere version, even if just for your own enjoyment; there are notable differences, and I find it to be more a visual feast.🤘✌

No one member of the band is greater than the other when they are playing. They all pull back to let the next shine through when it's required musically. Great reaction, new subscriber. It will take another listen or two and Tempere is it's own spectacle that should be taken in also. Also, your final comments at the end about taking in the world. If you haven't done it yet, it's time to listen to "Noise" off the latest album "Human Nature."

This is my absolute favorite song from Nightwish. I liked it the first time I heard it. I was sitting in the car then and it came from the radio!!! On the album, it is 24 minutes long, but Tuomas has said in his interviews that the original plan was a song of about 30 minutes! Sometimes I wonder where he cut those 6 minutes from... You found the evolution of that music well, not many people hear it. Or at most they hear that Metallica part. Scientific text comes easily from Tuomas. As a teenager, his wish was to become a marine biologist. He even started university studies, but they only lasted five months. The musician's life won. BTW. As a teenager, Floor also hoped to become a biologist. In her case, too, the music won. It's probably a victory for our ears and soul that those two ended up as music professionals. Although of course I believe they could also have become excellent biologists... 😄☺

Astoundingly Magnificent.

Inevitably, there is a point when you just can't avoid getting chills and goose bumps. I thought "Natural Science" by RUSH was the finest song on the subject, but TGSOE is really the ultimate.

it feels like "I've lost the love of my life but I'm glad to have loved them".. that really hit me... I get it... as heavy and light as it feels at the same time... I understand...going through an extremely difficult time in my life right now.. doesn't make it any easier but I do understand

Good version. At Tempere there would have been rockets/fireworks tuned to the intro of Tuomas in perfect timing. Definitely worth a look.

Really good reaction. Nightwish makes you think while delivering epic performances. Floor switching styles and then to speaking is special.

Definitely watch Tampere! An awesome performance. You will get “new things” from that performance as well - and we will watch! There are so many “hidden gems” that Tuomas included in the lyrics & the music. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="975">16:15</a> The History of Music - tributes start with some African tribal drumming, then through the Gregorian chant in Dies Irae (Mozart), Bach’s Minuet in G Major followed by his famous Fugue in D Minor, followed by American banjo music, Metallica’s Enter Sandman riff (!!!), finally ending in Rap/Hip-Hop and 90s dance music - Darude - Sandstorm.

The uilleann pipes also hit me right in the feels. I think, we connect to them so much because they sound similar to a human voice, but at the same time otherworldly. And that instrument has long, slow notes which in general convey a feeling of melancholy or sadness.

One thing I want to say, do you see the background just before third WE WE HERE, where people from different cultures, different times, are dancing? I just LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, it is perfect! Music and dance are in us so profoundly. Nightwish... If you just let them (they might "steal" it anyway), they take your soul, crushing it with their beauty and put it back together

I knew you would like this. I mentioned in a comment on another of your videos, this song is the one song that makes me feel human, or more accurately a part of humanity rather than just a loner doing my own thing. It makes me feel connected and hammers home that there is so much that is worthwhile in this world. The reason i suggested a premiere is that during the We Were Here section the chat would have blown up with hundreds of people typing that at once, four times. The best example was in the Nightwish Virtual Show, they had a live chat and the fans crashed it with hundreds of thousands of 'We Were Here' Nonetheless you clearly felt a connection with this song. If you do do a second video on this song, I'll watch it, and hey, it'd give you a chance to hear the Tampere arrangement and check out the, I shit you not, timed fireworks.

Greatest Show On Earth by, quite possibly, the greatest band on earth! Thanks Eric, awesome as always!

No one will ever write a more perfect song for me

It's honestly a privilege to be able to hear and connect with this piece of music. It's genuinely my favourite piece of music of all time. The journey it takes me on is unmatched by anything else. This song is a good example of why I always say it's been a pleasure to grow up and change alongside Nightwish. When I was in my teen years I was listening to their more power metal-y sound, because that's how I felt. But by the time this album came out, I was in university and really starting to appreciate the world for what it was. This isn't even a song I listen to very often, because I save it for the good headphones when I have time to appreciate it either inside and uninterrupted or in the peaceful countryside. Those bagpipes (Uilleann pipes) really are something special. We all feel something slightly different, but regardless it so clearly resonates with all of us. For me, when I hear that section I feel incredibly grounded with the earth. As if all these artificial stresses and distractions we've created suddenly don't exist and I can feel the planet's energy run through my veins. Absolutely gorgeous. Also, trust you out of all people to catch onto the "Evolution of music"! I think everyone can recognise a lot is going on in that section but it takes some real thought to realise they are taking us through the history of music.

A very good understanding Eric, most do not get into it that deep, now. . . . . . . . Man, he took his time in the sun (us now) Had a dream to understand A single grain of sand In this second iteration, the first two bars of Metallica “Enter the Sandman” are played as a nod to them, one of the first HM bands to work with an orchestra and the sand reference. Metallica is rather a favourite of Tuomas too as they set him off on a musical path. There are several Easter eggs in this too with some phrases from classical and pop music too. Someone said, and I take no credit for this analysis, the little hidden melody bits were some African tribal drumming, a medieval hymn (Dies Irae), Johan Sebastian Bach (Christian Petzold) - Minuet in G major and Toccata & Fugue in D minor, American banjo music, Metallica - Enter Sandman and the bassline from Nightwish - I Wish I Had An Angel. Also Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction. The chances of us as individuals being here now? 400 trillion to one against. We have always been here, we're made of the space dust and condensing gasses from the big bang, everything before us is still here in a different state and everybody and everything to come is here, as yet un-assembled, we are a universe as the atoms and molecules that make us look like and we have come from a universe. If you didn't know Eric, the scientific community knows all about Nightwish and Tuomas' scientifically accurate writing, you may not know of these recent discoveries appropriately named: Tmesisternus floorjansenae - A beetle Sciophila holopaineni - A shadow loving Insect Tanidromites nightwishorum - A Species of Crab Ophiomitrella Floorae - An hitherto unknown brittle star species that lived in the Cretaceous era named after Floor Jansen - and the Alpenglow Rockshelter - a prehistoric rockshelter discovered in Pennsylvania, USA which is located just a few hundred meters from the Council Rocks archaeoastronomy (Stonehenge-type) site from at least 1825 BC, some 4000 years before present. You did a truly grand job of this Eric, I applaud you.

Thank you Eric. You just put to words, after only one listen, many of the reasons why I love this band and song so much. I did indeed forget that everyone was around me when I finally saw them play live this year. I hope you get the chance to see them live sometime as well. It's a uniquely powerful experience.

During that song, reference (homage) was made to 3 songs. When Floor was narrating her part the reference of the music was (Symphony of Destruction). During another 2 parts of the song, reference in the music was made to Bach and to Metallica. Great reaction from a former radio DJ.

YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE TO FIND THE EVOLUTION OF MUSIC ON THE FIRST TRY!!!! IT FINALLY HAPPENED!!!! THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY!!!

The pipes at this point are bittersweet having loved and lost but also wraps you in a warm, caress of emotion and sound.

Great reaction to one of the greatest compositions ever! You would still have my viewing, along with thousands of others I am sure, if you did the Tampere version on your channel as well! Cheers!!

The greatest show on earth is exactly that. It indeed is the greatest show on earth. After hearing this for the first time I was mentally a mess. On the one hand extremely sad. On the other hand extremely elevated and suddenly aware of the wonder of nature and my humble position in it. It gave a sort of cosmic conscience so to speek. For me this is a religion. It is also examplary for the positive message this band radiates and want to radiate. They make me so humble. This might sound stupid maybe, but they really enriche my life, my conciousness of who I am and what I am doing here. What humanity is and what we should do. ( Can someone please send this song to a certain mr. Putin in Moscow please. And besides him I have more possible candidates in mind 😅). You never know what happens... Thank you Nightwish. They should play this performance on every highschool in the world. Year in year out. That would revolutionize global thinking as a sort.

Thank you for your reaction. I often cry when I listen to Nightwish. Toumas knows how to bring emotion through music and lyrics. Its so beautiful. He and Nightwish deserves to be known better in the US. I saw them in a small venue in Atlanta. It was amazing. And that was with Annette.

I genuinely can't comprehend why nightwish aren't one of the biggest acts in the world

I agree with your assessment 100%. I always get that same feeling of duality between nature and science; humans and technology I do love how their visual effects also corresponds with the music and lyrics. I tear up every single time I watch this music video.

Sorry for all the comments I’m making. I’m responding at the time of comments. I used to hate the idea of my death. This song not only made me come to terms with it but made me proud to have my brief time in the sun,

I was there last summer (Kitee 2023). "WE WERE HERE" - I really felt it!

the Uilleann pipes, is the most modern child of an ancient lineage of instruments. They touch the soul across so many cultures. Sometimes I wonder is reed instruments predate horns, because of how central they are to ancient cultures. I hear misty hills and forests and rivers. Others may hear a semi-arid plane with a mud-walled village nuzzled next to a watering hole. You can even take apart the waveform of a reed and marvel at it's harmonic richness (once upon a time, 4 decades ago, I voiced immense pipe organs). As Troy used them here, they are an introduction to a new dawn. Throughout the middle east and more, they are at the fore in celebration and procession. For some cultures, they are used to 'lament the passing of one of our own'. and for many of us, as a child, the reed is our first instrument. As simple as taking a blade of grass, placing it between our thumbs, and blowing into cupped hands.

That you picked up on so much in this song made my heart happy.

I am truly impressed how much you were able to pick up from a song that usually requires several times to listen to appreciate the complexity.

Appreciate the fact that we are here at the same time this wonderful band is. They make me laugh, feel sad, love and cry. The connection between the fans and the band is like nothing else on this earth.

Inserting an evolution of music inside a piece of music ... because ... Tuomas.

Every time I hear Troy playing the pipes I get a lump in my throat and a chill all over due to their beautiful tone

Lots of colors here Eric. I can see that you see hem, just like me. I was at their second Amsterdam show on nov. 28 and they finished with this monumental song. And that was a epic show ending. Like your comments veru=y much. Honest and to the point. Keep it up my friend.

"Richard Dawkins about joining Nightwish on stage" (1 minute video) "Prof. Richard Dawkins interview @ Nightwish EFMB world tour" (7 minute video)

All I know is that this song makes me feel things inside throughout the entire song. I could see you catching the references that I already noticed and that gave me a sense that I'm not alone. We all would need to reconcile with each other and be a united species. This song makes me cry all the times I ear it. Thank you so much for being one of the guys that can deconstruct the music to bits and pieces and share that knowledge with the rest so we can feel what you feel. Great work

Thank you Eric. Yes, the evolution of music. The piano intro actually evolves in a classic minimalist way, just a small change with each repetition, reflecting the whole theme, of evolution. Then the evolution of music with plainchant, a very short snatch of the Dies Irae (per Verdi's Requiem), Petzold's Minuet as you correctly identified; Bach's Toccata and Fugue and Emppu playing Metallica, Enter Sandman. And finally the pinnacle of musical evolution: Nightwish.

WE WERE HERE!! I've seen this video (and Tampere) at least 50 times and this is easily the most epic composition I have ever witnessed. I am so thankful that I am here to have seen and heard it. I do have to say that personally, I prefer the Tampere version for the visuals.Thank you Tuomas and thank you Eric for this.

Thank you, what a joy to listen to the song and to you too. Seeing this live and sing with them and the audience just brings you to tears. The song was originally 40 minutes long, but had to be cut down to about 25 minutes. Would love to hear what he left out. All music right to the end is part of this amazing song. I really think you should now do the second CD of Human Nature. It is a 30 minutes tribute to the nature of this planet, beautiful classical music. Disc 2 is simply All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World, not the shortest title of a CD... :).

Another brilliant reaction. Very educational. Love this band, love this song (prefer Tampere version tho). Keep it going, still a lot of Nightwish to discover. The whole Buenos Aires concert is a gem (the one with Dead Boy's Poem that you did), the "new" Human::Nature album, the oldies with Tarja. May I sugest you do a double reaction of "How's The Heart" both official and acoustic versions? Cheers from BA, Argentina!!!

In my opinion this had been the most empathic and intelligent comment to this experience. You had been able to express and name what so many people feel when listening to GSOE but cannot say. I have subscribed to your channel.

Both Tuomas and Floor wanted to be biologists when they were young, so the inclusion and singing of Lucy and LUCA were not a stretch for them. It has gone so far that they have a species named after them: "One new crab species (Tanidromites nightwishorum) was named after us in honor in particular for our 2015 album “Endless Forms Most Beautiful” about the evolution of life. The new species of crab was found in eastern Austria and lived during the late part of the Jurassic period, around 150 million years ago." And Tuomas: " A Finnish conservation biologist has named a new insect species after Nightwish keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen." And finally, Floor: "In 2018, a new species of beetle was discovered by scientist Andreas Weigel. It was named after Jansen, dubbing it Tmesisternus floorjansenae."

It’s a brilliantly concise saga minutes covering thousands of years

The best band in the world imo. I saw them in Hollywood in May and The greatest show on Earth is in their current show.