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Century Child

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Century Child
An image of a woman with long black hair wearing a white dress. She is kneeling in shallow water with a waterfall behind her, and is holding a shell-like object.
Studio album by
Nightwish
Released25 May 2002 (2002-05-25)
RecordedJanuary–April 2002
Studio
Genre
Length50:09
LabelSpinefarm
Producer
Nightwish studio album chronology
Wishmaster
(2000) 		Century Child
(2002) 		Once
(2004)
Singles from Century Child
  1. "Ever Dream"
    Released: 3 May 2002
  2. "Bless the Child"
    Released: 21 July 2002
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Sputnikmusic[2]
Sea of Tranquility
[3]
Metal.de[4]
Metal Hammer[5]
Metal Crypt[6]

Century Child is the fourth studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. It was released in 2002 through Spinefarm Records in Finland, Drakkar Entertainment in the rest of Europe, Century Media Records in the US, and Toy's Factory in Japan. It is the first album which features now-former bassist and male vocalist Marko Hietala, who left the band in January 2021. It is also the first Nightwish album to feature an orchestra.

Spinefarm Records released a 2-CD special edition of the album in 2002. It includes liner art with the band members' signatures, and a Video CD containing the music video for their cover of Gary Moore's "Over the Hills and Far Away". In addition, the booklet contains an ID code that allows the owner to download the entire album and three extra tracks from the Internet for a limited time.[7] The bonus tracks are "Nightwish", "The Forever Moments" and "Etiäinen", all from the band's first demo of 1996.

The album was certified double platinum in Finland with more than 60,000 sold copies,[8] the second best selling album of 2002 in Finland.[9] Century Child has sold more than 80,000 copies in Finland alone.[8]

Musical style

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Century Child is the beginning of a shift in sound for the band, with a smaller emphasis on power metal previously seen in Wishmaster and Oceanborn, and instead focuses on deeper lyrics and more of a film soundtrack sound, with Century Child having a more gothic and symphonic sound. The album is the first of the band's discography to be recorded with a live symphony orchestra and chorus, as well as being the first to include a permanent male vocalist with the addition of Marko Hietala, incorporating a "beauty and the beast" dynamic into the band.[10]

In an interview with Perkele Magazine in 2002, songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen discussed the central theme of the album, which he stated was "childhood" and the "loss of innocence". When asked more about the theme, he stated:

Century Child is not a concept album, and it was never considered to be, but when I had written half the lyrics I realized that all the lyrics touched me on the same theme: the one about innocence, childhood and the loss of that innocence. This all started about half a year ago because, in particular, this was the most boring and difficult period of my life and it was reflected in the music. I just wanted to write it all down the way it is written. I've never been more willing in my life to use the word "fuck/shit" in songs! Anyway, this is not the time. But, we have some pretty heavy, depressing and even hopeful lyrics. The album's name, Century Child, describes the loss of childhood and innocence. Take, for example, "Bless the Child", where it all begins. Then we have "End of All Hope" that shows the feeling I have at the exact moment in my life. "Dead to the World": The world has nothing more to offer. All themes are very personal, coming from my own head. Nightwish has been a way for me to write a diary about my life. Wishmaster was a more positive record. This time I was more bored and you will hear it on the CD. The next album could be more positive again, if things get better.

— Tuomas Holopainen, Perkele Magazine[11]

Track listing

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All lyrics are written by Tuomas Holopainen, except where noted; all music is composed by Holopainen, except where noted; all lead vocals by Tarja Turunen, except where noted.

Century Child track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicLead vocalsLength
1."Bless the Child"   6:12
2."End of All Hope"   3:54
3."Dead to the World"  Turunen with Marko Hietala4:19
4."Ever Dream"  Turunen with Hietala4:43
5."Slaying the Dreamer" 
  • Holopainen
  • Emppu Vuorinen
Turunen with Hietala4:31
6."Forever Yours"   3:51
7."Ocean Soul"   4:14
8."Feel for You"  Turunen with Hietala3:54
9."The Phantom of the Opera" (Andrew Lloyd Webber cover)
Lloyd WebberTurunen with Hietala4:09
10."Beauty of the Beast"
  • I. "Long Lost Love"
  • II. "One More Night to Live"
  • III. "Christabel"
 
 10:22
Total length:50:09
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
11."The Wayfarer"3:25
Total length:53:34
2007 reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
11."Lagoon" 3:46
12."The Wayfarer" 3:24
13."Bless the Child" (edit) 4:05
14."End of All Hope" (live at Summer Breeze Open Air) 4:17
15."Dead to the World" (live at Summer Breeze Open Air)Turunen with Hietala4:45
Total length:70:26
Special edition bonus VCD
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Over the Hills and Far Away" (Gary Moore cover; music video)Moore3:51
Special edition digital hidden tracks
No.TitleLength
11."Nightwish" (demo)5:49
12."The Forever Moments" (demo)5:36
13."Etiäinen" (demo)2:59
Total length:64:33

Personnel

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Credits for Century Child adapted from liner notes.[12]

Nightwish

Additional musicians

  • Joensuu City Orchestra – orchestra
  • Juha Ikonen – orchestra leader
  • Riku Niemi – orchestra and choir conductor, orchestra and choir arrangements, orchestra and choir production
  • Mongo Aaltonen – orchestral percussion
  • St. Thomas Chorus of Helsinki – choir vocals
  • Hilkka Kangasniemi – choirmaster
  • Sam Hardwick – spoken words on "Bless the Child" and "Beauty of the Beast"
  • Kristiina Ilmonen – tin whistle
  • GME choir – additional noise

Production

  • Tero "TeeCee" Kinnunen – production
  • Mikko Karmila – mixing
  • Mika Jussila – mastering
  • Veijo Laine – orchestra and choir arrangements, orchestra and choir production
  • Terhi Kallio – orchestra engineering
  • Tuomas Holopainen – art direction
  • Markus Mayer – cover art
  • Spelltone – layout
  • Hilkka Kangasniemi – choirmaster

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[22] 2× Platinum 86,072[22]
Germany (BVMI)[23] Gold 150,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Nightwish - Century Child review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  2. ^ Butler, Nick (14 January 2005). "Nightwish - Century Child". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  3. ^ Glenday, Duncan; Pierce, Ken (23 November 2003). "Nightwish: Century Child". Sea of Tranquility.org. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  4. ^ Gregori, David. "Nightwish - "Century Child"" (in German). Metal.de. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  5. ^ "Nightwish: Century Child". Metal Hammer (in German). July 2002. Retrieved 31 August 2014.[dead link]
  6. ^ "The Metal Crypt - Review of Nightwish - Century Child". Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  7. ^ "The Band Discography - Century Child". Nightwish Official Website. Archived from the original on 14 April 2006. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Tilastot - Nightwish" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  9. ^ "Myydyimmät levyt - Vuosi 2002" [Bestsellers plates - Year 2002] (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  10. ^ "Metal Brasil - Archived 2002 Tuomas Interview". Taikatalvi. Metal Brasil. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Perkele Magazine - Archived 2002 Tuomas Interview". Perkele Magazine. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  12. ^ (2002). "Century Child liner notes". In Century Child [CD booklet]. Spinefarm.
  13. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Nightwish – Century Child" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  14. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Nightwish – Century Child" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  15. ^ "Nightwish: Century Child" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  16. ^ "Lescharts.com – Nightwish – Century Child". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Nightwish – Century Child" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  18. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Nightwish – Century Child". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  19. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Nightwish – Century Child". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Nightwish – Century Child". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  21. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  22. ^ a b "Nightwish" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Nightwish; 'Century Child')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 20 June 2024.

Bibliography

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