Ever Dream

In live performances of the song, the intro is played differently, with only the keyboard and vocals present for the first verse, before all the band comes in after the intro.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}}

"Ever Dream" was written for the voice of Tarja Turunen. She sang the song less operatically than earlier songs, such as "Sacrament of Wilderness". Nightwish still played it live with Anette Olzon, who replaced Turunen in 2007, and currently with Floor Jansen. Olzon changed some notes in the performances to better fit her vocal range and style, for instance: she sings the chorus in a less operatic style.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}}

"Ever Dream" was the demo recorded by Olzon and sent to the band as her audition to replace Turunen.

When asked about her favorite song from Nightwish's first albums, Olzon said:

{{cquote|All the songs from the new album Dark Passion Play, "Ever Dream" and "Higher Than Hope".{{cite web|url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/members/facts?id=16|title=Learn more about Anette|access-date=2009-11-15|publisher=www.nightwish.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125001029/http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/members/facts?id=16|archive-date=2009-11-25}}|}}

According to analysis by Charris Efthimiou, a Greek musicologist, "Ever Dream" is a prime example of how Nightwish blends emotional depth with complex musical structures.{{Cite journal |last=Efthimiou |first=Charris |date=2013 |title=Aspects of Emotion and Construction in the Music of Nightwish |url=https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/41589 |publisher=University of Jyväskylä, Department of Music}} The song's lyrics convey a sense of longing and desire, which is amplified by the orchestral arrangements and dynamic shifts in the music.{{Cite thesis |last=Strauss |first=Suzanne |title=A semiotic analysis of Nightwish's Dark Passion Play (2007) and Imaginaerum (2011) |date=January 2018 |publisher=University of the Free State |url=https://scholar.ufs.ac.za/items/09a38a2e-ac41-4485-af85-435a1bf91c99 |language=en}}

In "Once Upon a Nightwish", Mape Ollila discusses the recurring themes in Nightwish's music, including the interplay between fantasy and reality.{{Cite book |last=Ollila |first=Mape |url= |title=Once Upon a Nightwish: The Official Biography 1996-2006 |date=2008 |publisher=Bazillion Points Books |isbn=978-0-9796163-2-7 |language=en}} "Ever Dream" exemplifies this by creating a dreamlike atmosphere through its lyrical content and musical composition.{{Cite journal |last=Rain |first=Jiří |date=2009 |title=Ženský element v rockové kultuře |url=https://dk.upce.cz/items/c829f578-3652-44eb-91c9-3543da3aaa62}}{{Cite journal |last=Svetlova |first=Anna |date=2018 |title=The poet who failed his best play? Podmiot mówiący w utworach zespołu Nightwish wobec paradygmatu romantycznego |url=https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=746578 |journal=Studia de Cultura |language=Polish |volume=10 |issue=3 |pages=72–87 |doi=10.24917/20837275.10.3.6 |issn=2083-7275|doi-access=free }}

Anna Svetlova's study in "Studia de Cultura" explores the romantic and poetic elements in Nightwish's music, with "Ever Dream" serving as a key example.{{Cite journal |last=Svetlova |first=Anna |date=2018 |title=The poet who failed his best play? Podmiot mówiący w utworach zespołu Nightwish wobec paradygmatu romantycznego |url=https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=746578 |journal=Studia de Cultura |language=Polish |volume=10 |issue=3 |pages=72–87 |doi=10.24917/20837275.10.3.6 |issn=2083-7275|doi-access=free }} Similarly, J. Kaaresalo's research on the religious themes in Nightwish's work highlights the spiritual undertones present in "Ever Dream",{{Cite journal |last=Kaaresalo |first=Jani |date=2018-05-07 |title=Kuolleen pojan ruusukko : uskonnollisuus Nightwish-yhtyeen tuotannossa 1996-2017 |url=https://erepo.uef.fi/handle/123456789/19280?locale-attribute=fi |language=fi}} the song's intricate orchestration and powerful vocals have made it a standout track in Nightwish's discography.{{Cite journal |last=Polatová |first=Jana |date=2018 |title=Nejvýznamnější skupiny s ženským vokálem působící na rockové a metalové scéně 21. století |url=https://otik.uk.zcu.cz/handle/11025/31636 |language=cs}}{{Cite thesis |last=Boman |first=Sami |date=2007 |title=Tonaaliset rakenteet Nightwish-yhtyeen musiikissa |url=https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/10008?locale-attribute=en}}

1. "Ever Dream" – 4:43
2. "The Phantom of the Opera" (Andrew Lloyd Webber cover) – 4:09
3. "The Wayfarer" (non-album track) – 3:25

• Tarja Turunen – Lead vocals
• Emppu Vuorinen – Guitars
• Marko Hietala – Bass guitar, male vocals
• Tuomas Holopainen – Keyboards
• Jukka Nevalainen – Drums

{{Reflist}}

• {{official|http://www.nightwish.com/}}

{{nightwish}}

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Category:2002 singles

Category:Nightwish songs

Category:Number-one singles in Finland

Category:Songs written by Tuomas Holopainen

Category:2002 songs