After giving us several little teasers over the past week, Dutch vocalist Floor Jansen has finally revealed the details of her new project.

The Nightwish lead singer has today confirmed via Twitter that she has lent her immaculate voice to “De Beelden Blijven” (“The Images Remain”), a track for SBS6’s new documentary, in conjunction with War Child Holland, “Kinderen in Oorlog: 75 Jaar Later” (“Children at War: 75 Years Later”).  

The documentary is due to air on 17 May and will reveal the personal and heartbreaking stories of how Dutch children were affected by World War II, from the perspective of some that were actually there or grew up in the immediate aftermath. Some featured stars will include Hanneke Groenteman, Phillip Freriks, Jeroen Krabbe and Jan Terlouw. The subject matter will no doubt be very confronting for some, but the bravery of these individuals in being willing to share such difficult memories should be applauded.

“De Beelden Blijven” is a haunting and elegant piece, with Jansen’s flawless vocals paired beautifully with the softness of a piano. It seems simple at first, but the technical perfection of this song is undeniable. It is just so masterfully put together, creating an entirely immersive experience that will leave you gasping and feeling some very intense emotions.

Jansen’s command of English is excellent, and her vocal skill is second to none, but there is just something about hearing her sing in her native Dutch that somehow feels more intimate. A rare sense of closeness and connectedness with the material. The soprano is able to so expertly guide us to feel what she feels. 

Not being a Dutch speaker myself, I must be truthful and tell you that I did not understand the meaning of the words. But I didn’t need to in order to feel the depth and power of emotion carried in every single flawless note. You can feel the passionate energy Jansen has sung into this piece and it stays with you, long after the track has stopped. The iconic vocalist has put out the call over Twitter to fans to assist with a full translation of the piece into English. While many of us eagerly await this, in the meantime, we can still close our eyes and let Jansen take us on an unforgettable journey with the strength of her incredible voice and power of pure emotion.

 singer-songwriter      metal 

Author: Harley Houghton

Harley Houghton is a writer and blogger, based in Melbourne, Australia. Her passions include music, especially metal, gaming and comics. Check out her blog www.harleysmadhouse.com and follow her on Twitter.