First and foremost, Sharon. I pag-ibig Sharon so much. She just seems like such a lovely person and she's so adorable. And her stage presence is amazing and very energetic. She seems just as excited to be on the stage as we are to be in the crowd. I also really admire the fact that she sinabi she'd never go nude to break into the American market. Sharon is just the best.
In relation to energetic performances; they are awesome live. I haven't gotten a chance to see them live myself (I've got tickets to a fall show) but I've seen some YouTube footage. Sharon sings just as amazingly live as she does on the CD's. The guitarists are always amazing. And again Sharon's stage energy is stellar; she's always moving around (making sure each side can see her) or jumping up and down or doing that crazy-cool wrist twirl she does. And she usually invites people to sing along.
Another thing I really pag-ibig about Within Temptation is the fact that they are willing to experiment, and under the same band name. When bands change up their style a lot they tend to create a segundo or sub group. WT went from their orchestral/ballad style to a heavier rock style, hell, they even incorporated rap into one song. And they were bravo enough to do it under the same name.
And I honestly pag-ibig every song they make. There's not one that I hate. Even with the style change. I pag-ibig both styles in their own way for different reasons. I pag-ibig the Mother Earth era so much because of how enchanting and beautiful it was. But then I really pag-ibig the newer stuff because it's heaver and really fun to listen to.
Overall, in terms of the songs, I just pag-ibig the lyrics so much. They are meaningful and not trashy. They tell a story, I like being able to visualize the song in my head. Among my paborito lyrics are "Because my child, this not our farewell this is not our farewell." "Ancient spirits of the forest made him king of elves and trees." and "The choirs have awoken left our words unspoken remember you as long as I can." And that doesn't even put a scratch on the amount of wonderful lyrics the band has. I could sit for hours just pagbaba the lyrics. Heck, I've even made a series of fanfictions based on the lyrics.
With the lyrics brings in another topic; Within Temptation doesn't need 'shock value' lyrics to get an audience. Don't get me wrong, I do pag-ibig myself an explicit song (in lyric and/or theme) or two but I have a really high degree of respect for bands who don't use it. In like 2007 when I was only maybe 11 or 12 years old I really appreciated having a band that I sing along to in front of my parents and that I could play in school without getting a hard time for it. Sharon, Robert, and the others don't need a boat-load of cussing to tell a story. In nagyelo and Jane Doe, they didn't need a mess of f-bombs to portray anger. And I think that's super awesome.
Which leads me to the music videos. As seen above, pop culture today is huge on shock value and pagganap trashy to get views. *CoughNickiMinaj&RobinThickeCough*. Within Temptation doesn't need that crap. Their bidyo are all so beautiful. They're artistic and just as magical as the lyrics. Even the low-budget bidyo from their first few years like Ice reyna were visually stunning and cool to watch. I really pag-ibig the Mother Earth music video and the one for The Howling was badarse. Let's not forget the latest (as of June 9th 2014) video--And We Run. That one was just so well put together, from the scenery to the costuming.
Speaking of costuming, that's another really amazing aspect of Within Temptation. New or old, Sharon always has these amazing outfits. I loved the dress she wore on the cover or the Mother Earth album and the one she wore whilst pag-awit Jillian at the Black Symphony concert. And I totally won't leave out all her newer kick-butt leather outfits. ;) And if I've got my facts right, Sharon designed them all herself.
And of course I pag-ibig the members themselves. All of them, band-mates and the tech-crew. They are so cute and funny. If you haven't seen the Hydra Tour Diary I would totally recommend it. Sharon in a wig store was a fun watch. She also accidentally spoke in German at a French concert, super cute, super funny. Don't get me started on Robert and his thing for talking about butts. :3 And then there was that time when they celebrated their tech-man's birthday; they made him a plate of birthday hamburgers and sang him happy birthday. Oh, and I can't not mentioned that the men had tried on Sharon's dresses. The whole group is a lot of fun.
Last but not least I pag-ibig how they interact with their fans. They all seem to just appreciate their fans so much. There are singers like Justin Bieber--who spit on their fans and ipakita up hours late to their concerts--and there are bands/singers like Within Temptation who try to talk to fans outside the konsiyerto and Sharon who will (if she notices someone in the crowd who is really into it) invite fans on stage and let them sing with her. I remember watching a video in which Sharon says something like "if I see someone in the crowd pag-awit along and having fun I try to hand them the mic and say 'this is your time to shine'." The band even had a Facebook contest in which some fans were able to get featured on the cover of Unforgiving. And the Hydra tour contest in which the fans can send in clips of them talking about their expirance at the Hydra tours. And of course at the end of the Tour Diary Sharon is always thanking her fans for attending and/or saying 'if you couldn't be here this time we hope to see you susunod time.' Anytime as singer interacts with their fans is a good thing.
pangkalahatang I think it's ligtas to say I just pag-ibig everything about these guys.
