Highest Hopes: The Best of Nightwish

Last updated
Highest Hopes: The Best of Nightwish
Highesthopes.jpg
Compilation album by
Released27 September 2005 (2005-09-27)
Recorded1997–2005
Genre
Length78:23
Label Spinefarm
Producer
Nightwish chronology
Bestwishes
(2005)
Highest Hopes: The Best of Nightwish
(2005)
The Sound of Nightwish Reborn
(2008)
Singles from Highest Hopes
  1. "Sleeping Sun"
    Released: 19 October 2005
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [1]

Highest Hopes: The Best of Nightwish is the fourth compilation album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. [2] Their first, Tales from the Elvenpath , was considered incomplete by many fans as it contains only tracks from Oceanborn , Over the Hills and Far Away , Wishmaster and Century Child , leaving out Angels Fall First . This compilation, though, contains songs from all previously released Nightwish albums, plus a live cover of Pink Floyd's "High Hopes". [3]

Contents

Highest Hopes was released in three different formats: Standard, Special Edition and Extended 2 CD. In addition to the normal version, a special edition was released, omitting the song "Deep Silent Complete" and replacing it with the popular cover version of The Phantom of the Opera theme, it also contains a bonus DVD containing three full songs filmed live at the Mera Luna Festival in Hildesheim, Germany in 2003. [4]

The Extended Version is a 2-CD compilation with CD1 the same as the Standard Version plus a 2nd CD of eight audio tracks from the Tarja Turunen period and includes a bonus DVD containing ten video tracks; Three full songs ( Tracks 1-3 ) filmed live at the M'era Luna Festival in Hildesheim, Germany in 2003 ( Identical to the Special Edition Bonus DVD but in an altered running order), three studio videos ( Tracks 4-6 ) and a further four full live songs (Tracks 7-10 ) filmed live at the Summer Breeze Festival in Germany in 2002 . All versions feature a new (2005) recording of the song "Sleeping Sun" and a live version of Pink Floyd's "High Hopes" from which this compilation takes its name. [4]

The album was certified platinum in Finland  – for sales exceeding 40,000 copies – the same day it was released, [5] and also was gold in Norway with more than 20,000 sold copies. [6] It was also Finland's best-selling album of 2005, having sold more than 65,000 copies, certified with double platinum. Today, it has sold more than 103,000 copies. [7]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Tuomas Holopainen, except where noted; all music is composed by Holopainen, except where noted

Highest Hopes track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicOriginal AlbumLength
1."Wish I Had an Angel"   Once 4:03
2."Stargazers"   Oceanborn 4:26
3."The Kinslayer"   Wishmaster 3:59
4."Ever Dream"   Century Child 4:44
5."Elvenpath"   Angels Fall First 4:38
6."Bless the Child"  Century Child6:12
7."Nemo"  Once4:34
8."Sleeping Sun" (2005 version)  Highest Hopes
(Non-album track)
4:24
9."Dead to the World"  Century Child4:19
10."Over the Hills and Far Away" (Gary Moore cover)MooreMoore Over the Hills and Far Away (EP)
(Non-album track)
5:00
11."Deep Silent Complete"  Wishmaster3:57
12."Sacrament of Wilderness" 
  • Holopainen
  • Emppu Vuorinen
Oceanborn4:09
13."Walking in the Air" (Howard Blake cover)BlakeBlakeOceanborn5:27
14."Wishmaster"  Wishmaster4:23
15."Dead Boy's Poem"  Wishmaster6:48
16."High Hopes" (Pink Floyd cover; live)
GilmourHighest Hopes
(Non-album track)
7:20
Total length:78:23

Sales and certifications

Country Certification
( sales thresholds )
Finland 5× Platinum [8]

Charts

Chart Peak
position
Austrian Albums Chart 13 [9]
Belgian Ultratop 51 [10]
Brazilian Hot 100 25 [11]
Czech Albums Chart 20 [11]
Danish Albums Chart 56 [11]
Dutch MegaCharts 41 [12]
Finnish Albums Chart 1 [13]
German Albums Chart 17 [14]
Greek Albums Chart 1 [11]
Japanese Albums Chart 235 [15]
Mexican Albums Chart 1 [11]
Norwegian Albums Chart 5 [16]
Polish Music Charts 32 [17]
Swedish Albums Chart 14 [18]
Swiss Top 100 Albums 10 [19]

Credits

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nightwish</span> Finnish symphonic metal band

Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former lead singer Tarja Turunen. The band soon picked up drummer Jukka Nevalainen, and then bassist Sami Vänskä after the release of their debut album, Angels Fall First (1997). In 2001, Vänskä was replaced by Marko Hietala, who also took over the male vocalist role previously filled by Holopainen or guest singers.

<i>Angels Fall First</i> 1997 studio album by Nightwish

Angels Fall First is the debut studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, originally released by Spinefarm Records on 30 September 1997 as a 500-copy limited edition, featuring seven tracks, two of which are not on the regular edition. This edition is highly sought after by collectors and in 2012 a copy was sold for $1137.23 on eBay. The album was released in the US by Century Media in March 2001.

<i>Over the Hills and Far Away</i> (EP) 2001 EP by Nightwish

Over the Hills and Far Away is the first EP by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on 25 June 2001 through Spinefarm Records in Finland, and Drakkar Records in the rest of Europe. It was also released by Toy's Factory in Japan and Century Media Records in the US. Bassist Sami Vänskä left the band after its recording, due to musical differences between him and Tuomas Holopainen. He was replaced by the bassist and male vocalist, Marko Hietala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarja Turunen</span> Finnish singer

Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen-Cabuli, known professionally as Tarja Turunen or simply Tarja, is a Finnish heavy metal singer, best known as the former lead vocalist of Nightwish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuomas Holopainen</span> Finnish songwriter, producer and keyboardist

Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen is a Finnish musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the primary songwriter, keyboardist, and a co-founding member of symphonic metal band Nightwish. He has stated that his songwriting is influenced by harmonic film music.

<i>Tales from the Elvenpath</i> 2004 compilation album by Nightwish

Tales from the Elvenpath is the second compilation album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on 18 October 2004 by Drakkar Entertainment. Elvenpath is also the name of another Nightwish song, and although the compilation takes its name from that song, the song itself does not appear on the record, because that song is from the debut album, Angels Fall First, which was recorded with another record label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleeping Sun</span> 1999 Nightwish song

"Sleeping Sun" is a power ballad and the fourth single by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. It was released as a maxi single with three other songs on 2 August 1999 to coincide with the total solar eclipse that would occur on 11 August.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wish I Had an Angel</span> 2004 single by Nightwish

"Wish I Had An Angel" is the ninth single by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, the second from their fifth album Once. The song features vocals by then-vocalist Tarja Turunen and bassist Marko Hietala. The song was still performed live after Turunen's departure with Anette Olzon, before her departure, and current vocalist Floor Jansen afterwards. Featured on the soundtrack of the film Alone in the Dark, it became the group's most popular single in Europe and in the United States, next to "Nemo". It made it onto two U.S. film soundtracks. It reached #60 in the UK Singles Chart, the highest of any of the band's singles in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deep Silent Complete</span> 2000 single by Nightwish

"Deep Silent Complete" is the fifth single by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released as the only official single from their third studio album, Wishmaster. The song contains lines written by William Shakespeare, and was dedicated to the ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ever Dream</span> 2002 single by Nightwish

"Ever Dream" is the sixth single by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. Released as the lead single from the band's fourth studio album, Century Child, it was the group's first single release in two years, following "Deep Silent Complete" in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bless the Child (song)</span> 2002 single by Nightwish

"Bless the Child" is the seventh single by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released as the second single from their album Century Child. It is one of two songs which were filmed from the Century Child album, with other one being "End of All Hope". It was also the first song bassist/vocalist Marko Hietala worked on after he joined the band replacing Sami Vänskä.

<i>From Wishes to Eternity</i> 2001 video by Nightwish

From Wishes to Eternity – Live is a live DVD/VHS/CD by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. It was recorded in Tampere, Finland on 29 December 2000. The CD was released as a limited edition of 10.000 copies, available only in Finland. In late 2005, Spinefarm managed to release it in Europe. In addition to a show of Nightwish material, the band also performed a medley, "Crimson Tide, Deep Blue Sea", which borrowed melodies from Hans Zimmer's music in the 1995 film Crimson Tide and Trevor Rabin's music in the 1999 film Deep Blue Sea.

<i>End of Innocence</i> (video) 2003 video by Nightwish

End of Innocence is the second official DVD release of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. It features numerous clips of the band performing livetracks, including a recording of the band performing one of their first songs, "Beauty and the Beast", with bassist Marko Hietala performing the male vocal part.

<i>Dark Passion Play</i> 2007 studio album by Nightwish

Dark Passion Play is the sixth studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. It was released on 26 September 2007 by Spinefarm Records in Finland, 28 September by Nuclear Blast in Europe and 2 October 2007 by Roadrunner Records in the US. It is the first album without original vocalist Tarja Turunen, who was dismissed in 2005, as well as the first album involving future member Troy Donockley on uilleann pipes and tin whistle. It is the first of only two albums with vocalist Anette Olzon, who was eventually dismissed in 2012 after the release of the band's subsequent album, Imaginaerum. Tuomas Holopainen has referred to this album as the "album that saved his life".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bye Bye Beautiful</span> 2008 single by Nightwish

"Bye Bye Beautiful" is the second track on Nightwish's Dark Passion Play album. The song was confirmed to be the second single from Dark Passion Play by Tuomas Holopainen in an interview, but it was changed to the third single after the announcement of "Erämaan viimeinen"'s release as the second.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarja Turunen discography</span>

Finnish symphonic metal singer Tarja Turunen, has released 10 studio albums, one compilation album, six extended plays, eight live albums, eleven video albums, one box-set, 52 singles and 47 music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Once Upon a Tour</span> 2004–2005 concert tour by Nightwish

Once Upon a Tour was the third world tour by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, in 2004 and 2005, to promote the release of their fifth album, Once, released June 7, 2004. A new greatest hits compilation, Highest Hopes, was also released to tie in with the tour. The albums combined with the band's most expansive merchandise campaign by Nuclear Blast Records meant this tour was heralded as the band's most important in many years. Many of the band's songs had not been played in a long time.

<i>Walking in the Air: The Greatest Ballads</i> 2011 compilation album by Nightwish

Walking in the Air: The Greatest Ballads is the sixth compilation album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released in 2011. It contains the "greatest ballads" from the first four albums, two of which are covers. The cover art was created by Andreas Marschall.

<i>Decades</i> (Nightwish album) 2018 compilation album by Nightwish

Decades is the seventh compilation album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, and contains remastered versions of the original material. It was released on March 9, 2018, which is the same day that they began touring for the Decades: World Tour. The track listing is presented in reverse chronological order.

References

  1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. Review: Highest Hopes: The Best of Nightwish at AllMusic
  2. ""Highest Hopes" cover revealed". Nightwish.com. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  3. "Tracklisting for Best Of album". Nightwish.com. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  4. 1 2 ""Highest Hopes": NTSC version delayed". Nightwish.com. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  5. ""Highest Hopes" sells platinum". Nightwish.com. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  6. "The band: Biography". Nightwish.com. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  7. "Nightwish albums". Ifpi.fi. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  8. "IFPI Tilastot: Nightwish". Ifpi.fi. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
  9. "Extended Search: Highest Hopes". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  10. "Extended Search: Highest Hopes". Ultratop.be. 2005-11-10. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 ""Highest Hopes" charts positions". Nightwish.com. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  12. "Extended Search: Highest Hopes". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  13. "Extended Search: Highest Hopes". Finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  14. "Chartverfolgung / Nightwish / Longplay". Musicline.de. Archived from the original on 2011-08-30. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  15. "Highest Hopes: The Best of Nightwish Deluxe Edition - Nightwish" (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. Retrieved 2015-05-16.
  16. "Extended Search: Highest Hopes". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  17. "Nightwish- Highest Hopes". aCharts.us. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  18. "Extended Search: Highest Hopes". SwedishCharts.com. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  19. "Extended Search: Highest Hopes". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-06-01.