Songfacts®:

• The title track of Within Temptation's Paradise (What About Us?) EP finds frontwoman Sharon den Adel duetting with classically trained Finnish rock diva and former Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen. Said Den Adel: "When we had written the first version of 'Paradise' and listened back to the demo we'd recorded and the epic power of the song, we thought of Tarja instantly. How well this track would fit her classical voice and how extra special it would be if we sang it together. The more we thought about this wild idea, the more excited we got about it!"
  
  She continued "Of course I didn't know what to expect from Tarja, as we'd never actually met in person 'till June this year. Our first encounter was via a Skype call we'd set-up to discuss the collaboration and we immediately clicked, not only creatively but personally. After we'd spoken, it felt completely natural that we would do this together!"
• According to its press release, the central theme of the song and its accompanying music video is that only constructive co-operation can lead to creation. To establish a new paradise, rising from the ashes of the old, we must work together.
• The lyrics were inspired by a speech given by retired four-star general Peter van Uhm of the Royal Netherlands Army on May 4, 2013 (Dutch Liberation Day) next to the Dutch National Monument. "His speech made a deep impression on us," recalled Adel. "His message being that the creation of a better world is only possible when you don't think about 'yourself' or 'them' but just think about 'us.'"