Joined: Nov 2010 Gender: Male Posts: 655 Location: India
Re: Sing EP: Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band « Reply #30 on May 21, 2012, 9:56am »
The video is gaining a lot of views rapidly...so it must be a big thing....so does that mean if Hayley really did feature in the Jubilee concert, that would have been the biggest thing that ever happened to her? D: correct me if I'm wrong i have absolutely no idea as to how that'd influenced her.
Joined: Dec 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 6,548 Location: Hampshire UK
Re: Sing EP: Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band « Reply #32 on May 21, 2012, 1:32pm »
Hi everyone,
I can now clarify one or two things about the Sing EP, thanks to Bandana.
Hayley did not contribute to the "Sing" song so that is as we thought. However, "Amazing Grace" is indeed a brand a new recording by Hayley, which she made in mid-April when she went into the studio with Gary Barlow. The news had to be kept under wraps at that time, of course.
I think we have seen everything in the official press release but in case there is anything new in there, I will copy it below, in full.
Cheers, Dave
Quote:
Official Diamond Jubilee song unveiled
Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber¹s 'Sing¹ includes huge number of musicians Christmas chart-toppers Gareth Malone and the Military Wives Choir lead the Commonwealth Band Prince Harry makes his recording debut
Decca Records today reveals to the public 'Sing¹, the Official Diamond Jubilee song which unites some of the Commonwealth¹s most talented and diverse musicians. Co-written by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber, two of the UK¹s greatest living songwriters, it has been disclosed that Gareth Malone and his ever-expanding Military Wives Choir will lead the Commonwealth Band in both the recording (released on May 28th) and the Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace on June 4th.
The Commonwealth Band includes 210 musicians from across the Commonwealth, believed to be among the most musicians to record a UK single. They are as diverse as the African Children¹s Choir (including soloist Lydia who opens and closes the track), Aboriginal guitarist Gurrumul, Slum Drummers from Kenya¹s Kibera slum, the Jolly boys from Jamaica and Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Band. And also Prince Harry on tambourine, making his recording debut.
'Sing¹ will form part of a commemorative Jubilee album by Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band, to be released by Decca Records on Monday May 28th. The album celebrates global young singing talent including New Zealander Hayley Westenra (the best-selling classical artist of the 21st Century) and two British singers; chart-topping tenor Alfie Boe and up-and-coming soprano Laura Wright. Some of the proceeds from 'Sing¹ will raise funds for The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust*.
Gareth Malone and the Military Wives Choir were selected as the perfect exponents of singing in the UK, having scored the Christmas No.1 with their choral hit 'Wherever You Are¹, as well as a No.1 album. The choir touched the hearts of the nation when Gareth first introduced them to singing just a year ago on BBC Two and, in addition to raising well over half a million pounds for charity, their runaway Christmas success has already led to a significant rise in choir membership across the UK. The two soloists on 'Sing¹, Elizabeth Simpson and Rebecca Ellen Marshall from Wattisham and Catterick, represent the expanded and specially auditioned Military Wives Choir for this single.
To further encourage the nation to learn the song and join in the Jubilee celebrations, the sheet music and words will be available for free download at http://www.stageamusical.com/news/sing
Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber were approached by Buckingham Palace to bring their musical talents to the Jubilee celebrations and wrote this commemorative song as a result. Gary travelled around the Commonwealth countries of Australia, Kenya, Jamaica and the Solomon Islands gathering musicians that he could bring together into one song. His main criteria was to recruit undiscovered musicians who showed a real passion for music. His journey has been tracked in a BBC documentary ³Gary Barlow: On Her Majesty¹s Service² which will air on BBC One HD.
Having recorded most artists locally on a laptop, the final elements were recorded and mixed at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. The culmination of this epic song-writing project will be when a number of the artists join together on stage to perform 'Sing¹ at the Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace on June 4th. For all the artists involved, this will be a huge honour.
Joined: Jan 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 1,571 Location: Christchurch
Re: Sing EP: Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band « Reply #33 on May 21, 2012, 11:32pm »
This was in today's NZ Herald
Quote:
HAYLEY, HARRY ON QUEEN'S ALBUM Best-selling classical artist of the 21st century, Hayley Westenra, is set to star on an album celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Take That star Gary Barlow are behind the album, which includes a special commemorative song performed by the Military Wives choir with Prince Harry on tambourine. The royal has rhythm, apparently. By Rachel Glucina
Joined: Aug 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 2,796 Location: Buckinghamshire, England
Re: Sing EP: Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band « Reply #34 on May 26, 2012, 4:34pm »
Hi All My cd arrived in the post this morning and I am not disappointed. Every track is a delight and, of course, Amazing Grace is the highlight. Listening to it on my reasonably good quality Denon hi-fi, Hayley's clarity and vibrato sound magnificent. It has to be her best rendition of this classic which has been made even better by the slow tempo. Well done Gary Barlow.
"Stronger as One" by Laura Wright is also a surprise as she demonstrates a dimension to her voice which I had thought previously was absent.
I can recommend the "EP" to anyone. The only disappointment is the cheap and nasty album cover!
Joined: Dec 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 6,548 Location: Hampshire UK
Re: Sing EP: Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band « Reply #35 on May 26, 2012, 6:37pm »
Glad you like it, Martin!
Perhaps I'll download mine then, as I probably won't miss the cover!
Not sure if the following has been posted in the thread but Amazon UK are specific about the charity donations:
Quote:
Charity Donation
Decca Records will donate a minimum of 30p per CD sold, 40p per digital album sold and 10p per individual track download sold (except track "Here Comes The Sun") to the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, UK registered charity number 1145640.
Which is nice.
The EP is currently no. 5 at Amazon UK, after slipping down to the no. 10 area during the week, so it should do very well in the official chart after it's released on Monday.
Joined: Dec 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 6,548 Location: Hampshire UK
Re: Sing EP: Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band « Reply #43 on Jun 1, 2012, 5:42pm »
Hi everyone,
If you haven't yet purchased or downloaded the Sing CD to get Hayley's track, now is the time to do it! Read on...
Quote:
14:43 | Friday June 1, 2012 Music Week By Paul Williams
Gary Barlow and the Commonwealth Band’s Diamond Jubilee album Sing is gaining ground on Paloma Faith’s Fall To Grace in the battle to top the UK artist albums chart this Sunday.
At the beginning of the week Faith’s newly-issued RCA album was around 40% ahead in sales of Decca’s Sing release, but by the close of business on Thursday this lead had narrowed to just 8%, according to the Official Charts Company.