Fugazi

An update on the live recordings: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/floor-jansen-digital-live-release IT'S HAPPENING!! It has taken longer than it should but tomorrow the first song will go live on YouTube (2PM CET)! In the description of the video will be a link to an unlisted video where you can find all of you credited! You can already find the video here: https://youtu.be/PTrZK810W4c Our plan is to release a song every 1 or 2 weeks. This is due to the editing team delivering us the final result on a song per song basis and we felt we could let you wait any longer. After all songs are released, we'll release the full show as one video as well with the credits attached to the end. The credits will also be added to the documentary. We also intend to release it as an album on. All in all, it seems like the journey is slowly starting to come to an end. Nearly two years after the initial funding we are releasing it. Delay after delay, we're getting there. Thank you for believing in me and my team. Below a screencap of tomorrow's video, which will be in full 4K glory! Have a great weekend! de groeten, vänliga hälsningar, lämpimin terveisin and all the best, Floor Edit: Tomorrow's release is Ever Dream.

There you go, the Belgium and UK shows have now been postponed to 2022 as well. Next up are two shows in Finland before the New Year, but nothing is set in stone. 😔

Did you know Anette already sang live with Brother Firetribe? Neither did I. It's actually on a live DVD. 😮 Live at Apollo Club, Helsinki, April 15th 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwzKCj5ldJg

Adding on to this, I would like to make a list of the best fan or TV video recordings for songs that have no official DVD live recording. For instance, for Floor we have the following live songs: Wishmaster: Saitama 2016 ⭐ Over The Hills And Far Away: Buenos Aires 2012 ⭐ (released by the band directly to YouTube) Dead To The World: San Francisco 2012 The Phantom Of The Opera: Amsterdam 2023 ⭐ (released by the band directly to YouTube) The Siren: Sofia 2016 Higher Than Hope: San Diego 2012 Slow, Love, Slow: Fort Lauderdale 2012 Scaretale: London 2012 The Crow, The Owl And The Dove: Mexico 2012 Our Decades In The Sun (acoustic): Vaasa 2023 Shoemaker: a recording from the 2021 Virtual Live Show is exclusively available on streaming platform STACCS (paywall and geographically restricted) Tribal: various locations 2023 ⭐ (released by the band directly to YouTube); also a recording from the 2021 Virtual Live Show is exclusively available on streaming platform STACCS (paywall and geographically restricted) No official DVD featuring Anette was ever released, so I will be listing the best source for every one of the songs that she sang live. There are a couple of professionally recorded shows (⭐) from this era though so that will help. Sacrament Of Wilderness: Wacken 2008 ⭐ Walking In The Air: Helsinki 2009 (Anette's only performance of this song) Sleeping Sun: Novi Sad 2008 ⭐ She Is My Sin: Philadelphia 2007 Come Cover Me: Montreux 2012 ⭐ Wishmaster: Wacken 2008 ⭐ Dead Boy's Poem: Rotterdam 2009 Over The Hills And Far Away: Montreux 2012 ⭐ Dead To The World: Lowlands 2008 ⭐ Ever Dream: Novi Sad 2008 ⭐ Slaying The Dreamer: Helsinki 2008 Dark Chest Of Wonders: Novi Sad 2008 ⭐ Wish I Had An Angel: Novi Sad 2008 ⭐ Nemo: Novi Sad 2008 ⭐ Planet Hell: Montreux 2012 ⭐ Creek Mary's Blood: Sauget 2008 The Siren: Novi Sad 2008 ⭐ Romanticide: Helsinki 2009 ⭐ (training session) Ghost Love Score: Helsinki 2009 Higher Than Hope: New York City 2012 The Poet And The Pendulum: Gampel 2008 ⭐ Bye Bye Beautiful: Novi Sad 2008 ⭐ Amaranth: Novi Sad 2008 ⭐ Cadence Of Her Last Breath: Sidney 2008 ⭐ Eva: Montreal 2007 Sahara: Novi Sad 2008 ⭐ Whoever Brings The Night: Novi Sad 2008 ⭐ The Islander: Sidney 2008 ⭐ 7 Days To The Wolves: Gampel 2008 ⭐ Meadows Of Heaven: Helsinki 2009 (the only live performance of this song) Escapist: Sibiu 2009 Taikatalvi/Storytime: Jyväskylä 2012 ⭐ (released by the band directly to YouTube) Ghost River: Milano 2012 Slow, Love, Slow: Montreux 2012 ⭐ I Want My Tears Back: Montreux 2012 ⭐ Scaretale: Jyväskylä 2012 ⭐ (released by the band directly to YouTube) Rest Calm: Salt Lake City 2012 (Anette's only performance and only video available, poor sound), Denver 2012 (sung by Marko alone) The Crow, The Owl and The Dove: Moscow 2012 Last Ride Of The Day: Montreux 2012 ⭐ Song Of Myself: Montreux 2012 ⭐ Tarja sang a number of songs for which official live recordings were never released. The Carpenter: Tavastia 1998 (only an audio recording is available) Astral Romance: Tavastia 1998, Helsinki 1999 (only audio recordings available) Angels Fall First: Tavastia 1998 (only an audio recording is available) Tutankhamen: Tavastia 1998 (only an audio recording is available) Know Why The Nightingale Sings: Torino 1999, Eno 1999 (the only 2 video recordings available) Stargazers: Liperi 1999 Gethsemane: Montreal 2000 Devil & The Deep Dark Ocean: Eno 1999 (the only video recording available) Passion And The Opera: Buenos Aires 2000 Crownless: Santiago 2000 (only played twice, only an audio recording is available) Sleepwalker: Helsinki 2000 ⭐ (the only live performance, during the Eurovision Finnish finals) Beauty Of The Beast: Amsterdam 2002 ⭐ Higher Than Hope: Minneapolis 2004 Feel free to send YouTube links, and I will go through the lists I have as well.

This was a big thing in the fandom back in 2016... Basically the Finnish television YLE launched a new concept, making a series about a very passionate fandom and their first project involved Nightwish fans from all over the world. So they auditioned fans and interviewed them and had them film their stuff and built a coherent narrative from that material all building up to an actual Nightwish show where many lucky fans were invited all expenses paid. The fan group was called "Fellow Imagineers". An interesting project, and I don't know if there's been a follow-up, but it's still all available for viewing on the YLE website: https://yle.fi/aihe/to-nightwish/english Making-of and some background to the project: https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2016/07/12/making-nightwish-love The band reacting to the fan effort. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx7nLp_ySOY At some point there was a live recording from a Mexico show available too but it's been removed now.

Random stuff that fans will film: Emppu on a cigarette break during the St. Petersburg show (March 14, 2012). Technical issues perhaps? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33yToc9-N0c

Thanks! For #1 I thought you meant the first song of the set. As for #6 I read too fast, I was thinking of the first cassette that Emppu recorded (after checking, "Walhalla" as shown in the Kitee book).

First interview with Anette, published on the Nightwish official website when she was introduced as the new singer. 24.05.2007 What is your musical background? Have we already heard you sing in other bands? I was born and raised in a musical family. I have been singing since childhood and was forced by my mum to play the oboe for 8 years! I was with mum on tour with her band and sang with them now and then. I then competed in several talent shows from 13 years of age. My first band was a cover band, named Take Cover, with older guys when I was 17, then I got into a band called Alyson Avenue, first just as a studio singer, then took lead role and we have released 2 albums since 2000. At age 21 I had a lead role in a rock opera/musical in Helsingborg called Gränsland and then got in at Balettakademien in Gothenburg. I have been in many different bands and choirs, and have done studio jobs and weddings during the years. I recently sang a duet on Michael Bormanns (ex. Jaded Heart-singer) album "Conspiracy". I have taken singing lessons in my earlier days at Music Conservatorie in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a private teacher and nowadays when I need a private teacher, in Malmö Music University. I have been singing almost any genre there is. Tell us about the steps of becoming the new Nightwish singer. Sending in the demo, getting the first answer, meeting the guys for the first time, etc.. I had just heard of NW a couple of months before Tarja got fired, so I didn't know the band or its history at all. I first got into them because my sister's daughter is a fan, I felt that maybe I should listen to them since I am always interested in new music. I bought their collection album and liked it immediately. When I read about Tarja's departure, I was in an ABBA-cover band where the sound engineer said he thought I should apply, but since I'm not a classical singer, I wasn't sure. After some thinking I decided to ask two friends of mine if they could record background music for Ever Dream and they did. I went in and hadn't even practised the song, since I wanted to interpret it my own way. A couple of hours later it was done. I found an e-mail to Tuomas, got his address and sent the demo away and just one week after sending it, Tuomas answered me himself... he was thrilled and really loved my voice and the song! Wow, it was such a nice mail and I was of course totally happy.... he then asked me to sing 3 more songs, from an instrumental version of Once, which he sent me some weeks later. I then recorded Nemo, Higher Than Hopes, Wish I Had An Angel and I also did a bonus for them, Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan...with my poor Finnish they must have laughed their heads off...;=) I sent the second demo and then I e-mailed Tuomas if he had gotten it. He said he had and he said thanks and good job, etc. I didn't wanna push him, since he had told me already in the first mail that they wanted to take it easy and melt all the hustle that had been with the media etc., so I tried to let it go and just wait.... Then in March, they put out the ad that they wanted demos, etc. and I felt that I needed to check with Tuomas if I should send in something more, so I mailed him and got a devastating mail back where he said that I was one of the best candidates, but that he could already then say that I wouldn't get the job!!! I was in shock, I didn't understand anything and he didn't say why... so I assumed it was because of my age or that I have a child... But since I am very stubborn and really felt that this was meant to be, I sent an e-mail again in the summer asking if I could send them a live-dvd from my band, Alyson Avenue, and Tuomas said yes. I sent it away and in August, I received a mail from Ewo asking me some questions, which I answered. I then got invited to meet the guys in the beginning of September to try some songs out. I got there, met the guys and sang 5 or 6 old songs with them. The next day I went to Emppu's studio to sing some new stuff for them. It felt very good and they were such nice guys. I felt immediately that I wanted to work with them, since they were so down to earth and had very good sense of humour. When I landed in Kastrup Airport in the evening, I got an sms from Ewo that they all liked me a lot and wanted to see me again in a months time.. Soooo happy that I cried on the way home. I got some songs to practise before the next time in the studio and went back in October. We first went to Tuomas' island in Kitee, partying and just being together in a very relaxed and nice way. Since I am a country girl too, I felt very good in Kitee and it was such an honour for me to be invited to a special place of Tuomas'. After Kitee, we had some test pictures taken of me and Tuomas with a make-up artist and a very good photographer. Then I went to the studio to record the songs I had prepared for and then I went back home, after 6 days in Finland... I got a mail from Tuomas the same night that they were gonna wait til next year to make a decision. I waited and was of course very nervous, but had contact with the guys and Ewo during that time and they were very positive, so it felt good. Then January 30th, Tuomas called me and was talking about some other stuff and then he just said: We have decided that we are gonna give you lots to do the coming years....haha! He said it so calm and I felt that I couldn't scream then so I tried to be calm, but through the whole conversation I had difficulties listening to what he said... It took me many weeks to really, really understand that my long wait (1.5 years) was over and I got the job. What do you think of the fans who say that Nightwish is dead without Tarja? I can understand that the fans are worried, since a singer is very important to a band. But at the same time, I think that a band is all of its members and since the guys have decided to continue the journey, I hope the fans will stay with them (and me) and give the new album a chance. It's not the whole band that has changed - it's the same music, lyrics and feelings as before, with the exception that it's me singing now. What are your feelings towards the day your identity will be revealed to the public? Are you looking forward to it or are you worried how the fans will react? I am looking forward to it since I will no longer need to keep it a secret from my friends... and then I can go out with the guys in public, not worrying if someone will see me and spread a rumor in the newspapers. Have you done long tours before? How do you think you'll cope with the fact that traveling and getting too little sleep will be hard especially for the singer? No, I haven't done long tours, but have done musical and several shows in a row. So I know very well that it's gonna be hard. It will, of course, be a new and big situation for me to deal with. I am thinking about how my voice will cope with lack of sleep etc. so I am already now taking more vocal lessons to strengthen my voice for the tasks that are ahead, rehearsing the show at home already to get into the songs and be able to sing them with various techniques. But sleep is THE most important thing for my voice, so I'm gonna try and sleep as much as I can, whenever and wherever I can on the tour. What do you expect from the forthcoming album release and the following World Tour? I really do hope that this album is gonna be welcomed by the fans and hopefully we'll gain some new fans also. I hope people will hear that I like to sing the songs and that I really love what I do. The tour is gonna be a hell of a ride for me! I have been longing for this my whole life and here I am, going to see the world with my new "family"...it's gonna be the best time in my life, I'm sure! Have you had any part in the writing and arranging of the new songs? No, the songs were written long before I recorded them. What is your first impression of the new material? They are as usual very good songs and Tuomas has implemented the orchestra and choir in such a nice way on all the songs... It's an album with a lot of variety, the listener won't get bored...;=) As much as there are powerful songs, there are also very soft and emotional songs on the album. And there's also some ethnic stuff in there... Tell us some things about yourself. What is important to you besides music? I'm an emotional person, which means I live life through my heart and stomach, not always through my head....When it comes to what is important to me, I think I really need to feel that I can be myself with the people I am close to, that I don't need to be something I'm not... As much as I am a person who loves to be together with others, I still need my space and possibility to be alone too, to reflect and go into myself. I like to listen to other people, feel them and guide them if they're having problems or difficulties, but I don't give advice if I feel no one wants them...I don't like negative people, so I try and be around positive people if I can...;=) I don't like it if someone says to me that I can't do something, cause there is nothing I can't do! Everything is possible if you really want it to happen! Is there anything else you would like to say to the fans? Keep your dreams alive, never stop believing, cause anything is possible!!! Rock on and hope to see you all on tour!

This is how Anette was introduced, on the Nightwish official website, on May 24, 2007. The original links have been replaced with working links to the same material. The new singer 24.05.2007 The day we have all been waiting for is finally here. Today, Nightwish introduce their new lead singer. So without further ado, click the following links to get to know Liv Sarah Marcela Vibeke Anette... » Anette's fact file » Interview with Anette » Video-greetings from Anette » Promotional photos: #1 #2 » Promotional band photos: #1 #2 Photos: Ville Juurikkala (www.villeakseli.com)

Here's Anette's bio file from the old Nightwish website (http://web.archive.org/web/20070526095216/http://mirror.nightwish.com/en/band/members/facts?id=16) when she was introduced as the new singer. By the time she left the band, the biography had been updated somewhat. https://web.archive.org/web/20121012060304/http://nightwish.com/en/band/members?id=1

Some old stuff about Anette, mainly before she joined Nightwish. First some historical details about her former band Alyson Avenue, from their MySpace (!) page (http://web.archive.org/web/20071112192743/http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=70156176) Here's the only band picture I could find from back then: More coming...

Now that they won a Finnish cultural achievement award for the virtual shows, maybe they could release the damn thing! 🙄🤣

So the first Outlanders single is out, available on YouTube and everywhere else. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xvL9dToSkk I guess it's nice atmospheric lounge music, the kind of music one best enjoys at poolside in a beach resort or at the spa. Actually makes me long for sun holidays. Well to be honest perhaps some of Rabin's guitar flourishes are not common in lounge music, so there's that. Lounge music for rockers then! 😋 Nothing wrong with it though.

From the Crewish FB page: https://www.facebook.com/crewish Poor guys must be having a hard time. 😞

Ah, here's the confirmation: https://www.tuska.fi/en/northern-kings NORTHERN KINGS A comeback you never expected to see? After a 12-year hiatus, the Kings are back in the north! Northern Kings is a symphonic heavy metal group formed in 2007 by four Finnish charismatic heavy metal “kings”: Marko Hietala (Nightwish, Tarot), Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica), Jarkko Ahola (Teräsbetoni) and JP Leppäluoto (Charon). The combination of four outstanding vocalists, each with their own unique charm and personalised style of vocals, and a group of extremely talented musicians can only result in a sweet listening experience. Northern Kings proved cover albums can indeed be different and interesting if the group exhibits the assertiveness and creativeness to do something exceptional. With their two records, Reborn (2007) and Rethroned (2008), they succeeded in boldly reshaping and turning classic hits into completely new and exciting metal versions. Now the kings are back to do a handful of carefully selected summer festival shows in Finland – in the north where they belong. Northern Kings are: The King of High Notes (Jarkko Ahola), The King of the Kings (Marko Hietala), The King of Catchy Melody Lines (Tony Kakko) and The King of Mystique (JP Leppäluoto).

This one was a bit easier as far as I'm concerned, but still I'm not going to get a perfect score! 😄

Thanks! How freezing? We had our first snowfall this week, but it will probably melt away over the weekend.

That's an interesting question! There's a bit of evolution with each album, lately towards a more folky and less metal sound, but where is it going? On Human Nature a lot of emphasis was given to harmonizing vocals of two or three singers, but with Marko gone Floor will have to carry most of the tunes again. Will Jukka bring a different bass dynamic on the new songs? Less or more orchestra? The loss of Marko will have an impact not only on the vocal dynamics, but also on the songwriting. Marko helped with music writing for many songs, both on the heavy and mellow side of the spectrum. He came in with fresh ideas and I think that his contributions will be missed.

Anette Olzon has posted on FB that she will play Tuska Festival in Helsinki in July 2022 with The Dark Element (touring a possible new album?). But this is Marko's thread, right? More intriguing is the announcement that Northern Kings will also be playing Tuska. I'm not aware that they played anywhere in the last 10 years, and whether this reunion will involve Marko is unclear. But I bet that it does, Marko already has announced solo performances in 2022. Also, new video for the Jaakkola-Hietala collaboration "Soita". Always weird seeing Marko singing without his bass. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHI64gOj6Tg

Did Tuomas mention at some point that the next album will be more of the same nature-evolution themes, or am I making this up? I don't know where I got this idea of a sort of trilogy of albums.

With all this free time I'd think Tuomas will have plenty of new material ready for the next album? 🤔