The Snowman

[varjohaltia]

Thanks to an online conversation I just realized that a fair bit of my North-American readership may be unfamiliar with the Snowman, which gets shown on Finnish TV every Christmas. This is the origin for a Nightwish cover which tends to amuse Finns greatly. Here's the original and here's the metal version, which really is very true to the original (and a crummy youtube clip, sorry.)

Comments

[kaote.livejournal.com]

That cover was one of the first things that sold me on Nightwish - I was like "Holy crap, they know The Snowman!" My folks had an old VHS of it we used to watch every year growing up, I always thought it was some random holiday special. I could hardly believe my ears when I heard NW playing it. :)

[varjohaltia.livejournal.com]

I had much the same reaction, but I think it was a very well done cover and appropriate song no less. I wouldn't mind hearing more ballady stuff from Nightwish, in the vein of Sleeping Sun or Walking In the Air -- as long as it doesn't get too close to the 80's hair band ballads. Mind you, Sleeping Sun was the first Nightwish song I ever heard, played to me in her car by a friend who picked me up from the train station when I served my country in 2000.

[jordangreywolf.livejournal.com]

Wow! I'm really impressed with the flying segments of the animation. (Well, the rest isn't too bad, either!) I think the depressing "memento mori" at the end makes it seem all the more appropriate for a Nightwish cover.

Thanks for sharing the links!

[dead-relena.livejournal.com]

I know the Snowman! I watched it as a kid :)
I recall it being quite sad at the end . . .

[varjohaltia.livejournal.com]

Yup! Since everyone's already depressed and miserable at Christmas, we keep showing depressing stuff on TV :-) (Well, Disney's From All of Us to All of You also tends to be a staple, so I'm exaggerating a fair bit.)