Tarja, Anette or Floor? Three voices. Three eras. One Nightwish.
Few bands have changed their identity as dramatically with a new vocalist as Nightwish. Since forming in Finland in 1996, the band has had three main female vocalists: Tarja Turunen, Anette Olzon and Floor Jansen and each brought something completely different to the music.
Tarja gave Nightwish its early operatic identity. Anette took the band in a more contemporary rock direction. Floor arrived with the ability to move between powerful rock vocals, clean melodies and classical singing.
The result? Three Nightwish eras that can sound like completely different chapters of the same story.
So here’s the question:
Which Nightwish era is your favorite?
Tarja Turunen – The Operatic Era
1996–2005
For many fans, Nightwish and Tarja are almost impossible to separate.
Tarja dark, classical soprano became one of the defining sounds of the band early years, especially across albums such as Oceanborn, Wishmaster and Once.
And the story behind that sound is pretty wild.
When Tuomas Holopainen first started Nightwish in 1996, his original idea was atmospheric music built around acoustic guitars, flutes, strings, piano and female vocals. Tarja soon joined the project.
Then the guitars and drums got heavier.
Tarja classical training became a huge part of how she cut through the growing wall of sound helping create the dramatic symphonic-metal identity that would become synonymous with early Nightwish.
Her final Nightwish album was Once, released in 2004. The album became a major turning point for the band and its massive world tour included more than 130 concerts.
Essential Tarja-era tracks:
“Ever Dream” • “Wishmaster” • “Nemo” • “Ghost Love Score” • “Sleeping Sun”
And yes Tarja is my personal favorite. 🤘
But that’s just one metalhead vote.
Anette Olzon – The Rock Era
2007–2012
Replacing Tarja was never going to be easy.
Anette Olzon brought a completely different voice to Nightwish brighter, more contemporary and rooted in rock and pop rather than classical opera.
Her Nightwish era produced two studio albums: Dark Passion Play and Imaginaerum.
And the change wasn’t just about the singer. Nightwish continued expanding its sound, mixing heavy guitars, orchestration, cinematic arrangements and increasingly ambitious songwriting.
Songs such as “Amaranth”, “The Poet and the Pendulum”, “Storytime” and “Last Ride of the Day” showed just how differently the band could sound with Anette behind the microphone.
For fans who discovered Nightwish during this period, Anette is Nightwish.
That’s what makes this debate so interesting.
Floor Jansen – The Powerhouse Era
2012–Present
Then came Floor.
When Anette and Nightwish parted ways during the 2012 North American tour, Floor Jansen was brought in to finish the remaining shows. Nightwish official history describes the situation as an unexpected and challenging turning point.
Floor didn’t simply step into the role. She made it her own.
Her ability to switch between powerful rock vocals, clean melodic singing and classical technique gave Nightwish an enormous amount of flexibility on stage.
She also became the vocalist on three studio albums: Endless Forms Most Beautiful, Human. :II: Nature. and Yesterwynde. The band official discography lists Yesterwynde as their tenth studio album, released in September 2024.
And then there is “Ghost Love Score” live.
Floor performance of the song at Wacken Open Air became one of the defining live moments of her Nightwish era, introducing an entire new generation of fans to the track.
The Floor era has also continued beyond the classic Tarja-vs-Anette debate, with Nightwish sound evolving further on Human. :II: Nature. and Yesterwynde.
Three Voices. Three Nightwish Eras.
That’s what makes choosing a favorite so difficult.
Tarja brought the operatic drama.
Anette brought a different rock and melodic character.
Floor brought versatility and power.
They didn’t sound the same and that’s exactly why Nightwish history is so interesting.
So now it’s your turn.
Which Nightwish era is the best?
Or forget the era debate entirely:
Which Nightwish singer is YOUR favorite?
Cast your vote and tell us why. And yes, we’re expecting some serious arguments in the comments. 🤘
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