Since her days with The Gathering, Anneke Van Giersbergen has been gracing our music world with her ethereal, heavenly voice. I think we should be grateful that such a charismatic singer is being part of the metal story. As Anneke prepares to take center stage in Athens with her acoustic performance, anticipation builds among fans eager to experience her emotive interpretations and versatile artistry. Drawing from her extensive repertoire, here are ten songs we’re most excited to hear …
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
- “Saturnine” (The Gathering)
A poignant ballad from her time with The Gathering, “Saturnine” showcases Anneke’s ability to convey deep emotion through minimalist arrangements. Its melancholic melody and introspective lyrics resonate profoundly in an acoustic setting, offering a raw and intimate experience that underlines her vocal purity.
- “The May Song” (The Gathering)
Coming from a fantastic gothic/atmospheric metal album (“Nighttime Birds”), The Gathering’s “The May Song” is a melancholic yet colourful song, which travels you in time and seasons. Like the flowers blossom, Anneke’s voice plays so wonderfully and vividly and sets the bar high for all women, who want to lead a metal band.
- “Strange Machines” (The Gathering)
A Gathering classic, one of the best metal songs of the mid 90s, “Strange Machines” still sounds so fresh thanks to its riffs and rhythms. The dreamy and powerful vocals of Anneke are unparalleled, showing us a new, beautiful dimension. We love those strange machines, and this girls sings like an angel! A top moment of Anneke’s repertoire!
- “Hurricane”
From Anneke’s solo album “The Darkest Skies Are the Brightest”, “Hurricane” is a fine example of her songwriting prowess. She sings brilliantly and, based on the song’s exciting changes and touching lyrics, she gibes a recital. That’s an acoustic composition, which lets the emotions come through clearly and makes the listeners sing along! What a refrain!
- “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” (Kate Bush)
Anneke’s interpretation of Kate Bush’s classic brings a fresh perspective to the iconic track. Stripping it down to its core elements, her acoustic version emphasizes the song’s haunting themes and showcases her ability to honor the original while infusing it with her unique style.
- “I Saw a Car”
An uncovnetional song, which delights the listeners with its caprice and imaginative style. Anneke’s expressive vocals create an outstanding performance that invites us in a sonic game! Give it one listen and you will be immediately captivated by the artist and her stirring artistry. Let’s play with Anneke, shall we?!
- “Mental Jungle”
A wonderful, stand out track, featured on her 2013 album, “Drive”, it has an atmospheric depth, an undeniable power and a strong intensity, which all make it amazing! The earworm refrain, the heavy guitars and the moving beat give Anneke the opportunity to sing passionately and emotionally. I love the song, it has a raw beauty, which melts hearts and leave you breathless. And there is also a prog touch!
- “You Will Never Change”
A touching song, full of dynamics, with a whimsical melody and catchy vocal lines.”You Will Never Change” combines strength, atmosphere, style and finesse, in other words all the true characteristics of Anneke’s way of composing and performing. This is a rocking song, which makes the listener sing and dance to its upbeat tempo. I am dying to listen to this song in an acoustic live setting!
- “Witnesses” (Agua De Annique)
Without a doubt, this is a strange composition, which has a calmness and sounds emotionally deep, but at the same time is heavy, complex and ends with a rhythmical crescendo. One of the most demanding songs by Anneke, “Witnesses” is a hymn of music cleverness and versatility. I know that Anneke closes her recent shows with this one, so get ready for a zenith of musical and emotional power!
- “Ray of Light” (Madonna)
Anneke offers a fresh and emotive interpretation of the iconic, classic Madonna track. Her hauntingly beautiful vocals bring a new depth to the song, transforming its upbeat energy into a more introspective and atmospheric experience. The lush instrumentation, the electronic and rock elements and the passion and psyche of Anneke make this rendition a very interesting one. A compelling cover that both fans of Madonna and Anneke will receive with big exctitement and pure joy!
