History AwesomeMusic / NightwishBand

* What better track to start than [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h6zNs2u5EI Elvenpath]], with its [[SpokenWordOnMusic spoken intro]] and sudden drum and tempo pattern changes. Not to mention Tarja's powerful operistic singing in the chorus.
%%* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2TFWPydTLo Beauty and the Beast]]". (Not to be confused with the song from ''Century Child''.)
* The original version of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4CvjvMs9PU Astral Romance]]". A memorable opening riff and that sudden change into SpokenWordInMusic preceded by Tarja's OneWomanWail... which she keeps doing during the speaking.
* The beautiful acoustic "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nccIAsZk7-A Angels Fall First]]", which is basically Tarja's voice over an acoustic guitar (the intended original version of the band itself)... right down until the scary LastNoteNightmare where dramatic keyboards are added onto the mix.

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd6Z5D1b1YQ Stargazers]]" launches into an excellent classic album with a glorious riff and just gets better.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHVaraaYP-w Sacrament of Wilderness]]". There's a reason it made the band famous in Europe that early on.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uHKN6D45C0 Passion And The Opera]]", which closes with Tarja's OneWomanWail.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpu4f5q7wck Moondance]]". A constantly changing instrumental which goes from midtempo to calm to frenetic to midtempo. It could have very well been the album's opener.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4mCAwByvB0 The Riddler]]". A very catchy song with a nice opener in the form of a keyboard riff coupled with Tarja's operistic voice. You won't be able to get that song out of your head for months.
* The album has the prototype in the dark "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TINKxRiblWY The Pharaoh Sails to Orion]]", which is a good minute longer than any other song on the album and features a lot of tempo/key changes, some of which are also accompanied by band roadie (and future Music/{{Finntroll}} singer) Tapio Wilska's darker voices.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B90VnG6FR0 The band's version of]] "[[WesternAnimation/TheSnowman Walking In The Air]]". A neat slow tempo song with several flute passages coupled with several choruses featuring Tarja's voice and the song's classic riff.
* Originally just a bonus track, "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9Fyib7NZ8w Sleeping Sun]]", another slow tempo similar to "Walking..." though by no means less awesome.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrSXvPSdcbQ Nightquest]]", the BSide of the ''Walking In The Air'' single and a bonus track on a few releases of the album. [[IndecipherableLyrics You can't make out a word of what Tarja's saying]] if you don't have the lyrics in front of you, but it still has an awesome intro that you ''will'' do air guitar to.

* The tragic yet heavy "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vqgSfmykQI The Kinslayer]]", bordering on MoodWhiplash, considering [[UsefulNotes/{{Columbine}} the subject]]. Tuomas' keyboards and Emppu's riffs however seal the deal.
* The dramatic "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q36oVL1czA Come Cover Me]]", with its uncommon lyric structure and beautiful keyboards.

%%** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y7c7TBgXlM Bare Grace Misery]]", anyone?
%%** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t8MbnWGcWc Crownless]]".
%%** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YRs5Dt9uRM Deep Silent Complete]]".
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e-AeRiDEBw Dead Boy's Poem]]" is an awesome TearJerker.
* The album closer, "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFTSbZ3SeJE FantasMic]]", is the first truly epic song at just over 8 minutes and the climax of the album. Best part? It's a tribute to [[Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon Disney movies]].

%%* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA_Exp6y2mA Bless the Child]]".
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6xaIPszwpo End of All Hope]]". Bonus epic points for the segue from "Bless the Child" to "End of All Hope".
%%* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxom0sbpni4 Dead to the World]]".
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZUQ3xhmu_A Ever Dream]]", the catchiest song of the album. It starts slow and soft but becomes more and more intense as it progresses. Its [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwGSAFarHRg live version on Wacken 2013]] with Floor Jansen as vocalist amplifies the epicness!
%%* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKxAPQXR7iU Slaying the Dreamer]]".
%%* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYu2EnCG2Ww Ocean Soul]]".
%%* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi9YDcVW7cg Feel for You]]".
* ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' is SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic all on its own. Know what makes it even better? [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VgLKXD-BoY A kick-ass heavy metal cover, is what]].
* The GrandFinale "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzYzlI2jre4 Beauty of the Beast]]", coinciding with their shift into a more operatic style.

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52LpN5aIb3U Dark Chest of Wonders]]". If you're ever on a boat, this song ''will'' get stuck in your head. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPW6E_-b4MA#t=3m27s Doubly so if you're a fan of]] ''VideoGame/{{Fraxy}}''.
%%** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xPIdta_uXI Wish I Had an Angel]]".
%%** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO4LyKd-Hws Nemo]]".
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q6chUtSef4 Planet Hell]]" was always a very powerful song. Specially this passage:

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DyaQXeDq2o Creek Mary's Blood]]" as well.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu7WTx0AKac Romanticide]]". A nice heavy, fast-paced song with such an amazing guitar solo!
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN3yqMr3ffY Ghost Love Score]]" is easily one of the most intense pieces the band has ever produced, and has rightly earned itself a place in internet as a definitive example of "Epic music". The piece goes through three movements, starting out with high energy rock opera that Nightwish is known for, before fading into a smooth, OneWomanWail ballad, building up to a absolutely ''beautiful'' crescendo....and then the third movement ''slams'' into you like a train, propelling the song to the end in the classic, intense symphonic metal that Nightwish is famous for.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq-Cro2VDSM The instrumental version]] is epic as well.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3brcfttchzA Any]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYjIlHWBAVo time]] Floor Jansen sings it. Literally any time. Even the band's notorious UnpleasableFanbase generally agree that it's basically become her SignatureSong since she took over vocal duties.

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HYgidYaBl8 The Poet and the Pendulum]]". A lot of fans think this is Tuomas' Awesome Song thus far. [[DeadArtistsAreBetter and it's not a surprise why]]. This song was even featured in a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG5hmNu7Sfw trailer]] for ''VideoGame/{{Risen}}''!
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTdhXxxWREo Bye Bye Beautiful]]" is an excellent TakeThat at their former vocalist.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdZn7k5rZLQ Amaranth]] is absolutely beautiful, and the pitch-bending stuff Anette does with her voice in the chorus is a wonder to listen to.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZv9feBUAeI Cadence of Her Last Breath]]" is what happens when you ask the band to create a song InTheStyleOf Music/{{Rammstein}}.
* And then there's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS7NrPNjACI Master Passion Greed]]". Song also would make for a kickass boss fight theme. And the instrumental version is ''even better''.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY88QMkHWbs Whoever Brings the Night]]" was ''so'' epic, it got its instrumental version put in as ''boss battle'' music for ''VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet 2''.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwES9M0isVM Last of the Wilds]]" is pretty kickass.

** You think the ''instrumental'' is badass? Try it with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LheT-SvZM2A lyrics]].
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn4rkuzNmJw Howl! 7 days to the wolves!]]
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_ocVcm76Ys Meadows of Heaven]]" does, as well.
* ''Dark Passion Play'' was also released in an instrumental-only version. At times, it's arguably better than the original, with examples such as the aforementioned "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9MsW1b0QAA Amaranth]]" and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auHuwRAYDPE Sahara]]" standing above the rest.

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g8ykQLYnX0 Storytime]]". Proof that Anette belongs in Nightwish.
* The already awesome "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iehcyj9m9e8 Ghost River]]" and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmsnkMvdO-c Rest Calm]]" are taken to another level when the choirs arrive.
* Even the '30s jazz song "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElbyDZYeAzU Slow, Love, Slow]]". Yes, Nightwish does ''jazz'' -- and it is ''awesome''!
%%** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV2C9_MAJ0E I want my tears back!]]
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QNIWAdvSVw Scaretale]]". Whoo mama. From the nightmarish nursery rhyme opening to Annette's witchy vocals on the terrifying verses... Excellence!
%%** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGjU5aeiOsQ Turn Loose the Mermaids]]".
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYCjArvHr_I Last Ride of the Day]]" and that sweet and catchy chorus:

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qnLrF7LJVQ Song of Myself]]" begins with some intense, amazing EpicRocking (the first four minutes or so of which are easily the most final-boss-y thing they've ever written), but it shifts gears halfway through and turns into a beautiful TearJerker of a poem, inspired by Creator/WaltWhitman.

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5diJsEdLS_8 Shudder Before the Beautiful]]", the first track of the album and Floor's first really, properly heavy song with the band.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZisUxkdnTo Elán]]", Floor Jansen's debut track, is spectacular even for one of the band's slower-paced songs.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJb3xwtpmmc The Greatest Show On Earth]]". The longest track the band has ever recorded and one big celebration of Earth and life itself. It's the band's most ambitious song ever, according to Tuomas, and his personal favorite, and it's easy to see why. It's not a single song but a suite of five separate movements, ranging from operatic to metal, with animal-sounds filled passages, bombastic choruses, an epic crescendo at the middle and Richard Dawkins narrating fragments about evolution twice.

* The frenetic pace and chaotic bridge of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LczGSoibRe8 "Noise"]] fit right in with [[NewMediaAreEvil the song's critique of social media insanity]].
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0W5011mpW4 "Shoemaker"]] has wild swings between Floor soloing with a bit of percussion and keyboard to a rollicking guitar solo, then a slow denouement to a coda with one of Floor's finest opera performances ever.

* Their cover of Music/GaryMoore's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwED4C5FJuo Over the Hills and Far Away]]" somehow made it ''more'' epic.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl3pS3fvU1I Tenth Man Down]]" is incredibly badass.
* The version of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-42P0rqmT0 Astral Romance]]" from the ''Over the Hills and Far Away'' single. The original from ''Angels Fall First'' is a bit shaky, but this version is awesome. They even have [[Music/SonataArctica Tony Kakko]] on the track.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNkZzaVQKdY The Escapist]]". A nightingale in a golden cage...
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8mlc9zv5Ho While Your Lips Are Still Red]]" is a gorgeous song.
* The Heavy Version of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjY9Ul20-7U Sleepwalker]]" off the ''Over the Hills and Far Away'' EP may just top the original.
%%** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT6EOdQVHws Wayfarer]]".

* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZUQ3xhmu_A Ever Dream]]", the catchiest song of the album. It starts slow and soft but becomes more and more intense as it progresses. Its [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwGSAFarHRg live version on Wacken 2013]] with Floor Jansen as vocalist amplifies the epicness UpToEleven!

What do you get when a songwriter with a taste for the dramatic (and [[HeavyMithril occasionally]] [[JustForFun/OneOfUs the nerdy]]) forms a heavy metal band featuring an incredibly talented opera-trained female vocalist, and then you [[SymphonicMetal back them up with a full orchestra]]? The [[AwesomeMusic/{{Music}} awesome]] that is Music/{{Nightwish}}.