Your picks for Hayley's new album

[Joe]

Hayley will begin recording her second album for international release this February. What are your guesses as to which songs our Hayley might be singing? Also please suggest an album title.

[Richard]

Hello Joe and all Hayley fans everywhere.

I'm really looking forward to Hayley's next album, and this thread has started me thinking!

I would love Hayley to sing Mozart's "Wiegenlied" in German on the new album. I was tingling all over when Hayley sang it so beautifully in her concert at Southend last November. I don't need to understand the words to appreciate the depth of feeling in Hayley's singing.

My suggestion for the album's title is "Hayley Westenra - From My Heart". Hayley always sings from the heart, whatever the musical style or language of the song, and that title would also reflect her warm, friendly nature.

This Forum is great fun, and it certainly stimulates the brain cells!

Bye for now,

Richard

[Joe]

Hello Richard,

I must say that I really like your idea of the album title "From My Heart"! It suggests the sort of warmth and happiness one always associates with Hayley's music.

Yeah, Mozart's "Wiegenlied" would be a brilliant song on the new CD.

I'd like to see "Panis Angelicus" in a duet with Hayley's sister Sophie!

I'm glad that you're a part of this forum!

Cheers,
Joe

[Susan]

Hi. I agree with Richard's suggestion that the new album should be called "Hayley Westenra - From My Heart." (Actually, that is somewhat reminiscent of Sissel's second international album, which was called just simply "My Heart.")

Hey, it's okay to have albums of similar names from different singers! Why not? After all, wasn't there previously another female vocalist who put out an album entitled "Pure"? (It was Lara Fabian, was it not?) HOWEVER... permit me to say that Lara's singing is nowhere near as Pure as our Hayley's is!!

As for songs which should be included on the next album, my vote goes for:

- Aria (Cantilena)
- Both Sides Now
- Con Te Partira (Time to Say Goodbye)
- How Many Stars? (from Bombay Dreams)
- May It Be (from Lord of the Rings)
- Nessun Dorma
- Flower Duet (from Lakme) -- with sister Sophie

I realize that four of the above songs which I've suggested already can be found on Hayley's DVD (Live From New Zealand), but it surely wouldn't hurt to have these tracks on CD also... so I could hear it inside my car! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[stevemacdonald]

One thing to keep in mind here is the very real possibility of "sophomore slump" -- whereby an artist's follow-up offering to a smash international debut tends toward lackluster sales. It happens to the best of them, perhaps most alarmingly in the case of Alanis Morrissette whose first album sold 10 X as many as her second, even though the second was critically well-received.

To avoid this slump takes thinking outside the box. Don't saddle Hayley with "Pure 2" 'cause it'll never sell, no matter how great we think it is. Something tells me that the suggestions for "HW, From the Heart" are more of the same. I respectfully submit that she needs to bring something entirely new to the table this time.

For starters, let's do away with the "Air Studios" lush orchestration approach and go with creatively spartan arrangements. Hayley's impeccable voice with just a single guitar backup would be exquisitely magical for a song or two. Then a piano accompaniment for another tune. Maybe a chamber-sized orchestra for a classical ditty, but not much else. Oh, and let's keep the classical material to a minimum here. Nothing wrong with it, but its time has come and gone. She needs contemporary music to widen her audience.

I propose that the next album be 3/4 new material and a few covers of existing stuff. I think she'd be superb singing "Sons" by Jacques Brel, or even his "Mareike".

Bottom line is, Hayley must never ever be predictable or the potentially new fans will stay away in droves. Even though "Pure" contained something for everybody its shadow will loom large over anything that's not entirely fresh-sounding.

[HWI]

Steve's message is extremely insightful. Pure is going to be a hard act to follow and, some originality is going to be required. However, I would argue that the success of Pure is largely due to it containing songs that people liked. Therefore, to offer more of the same - but different - if you know what I mean, would be the right way to go. Why? Because those who bought Pure will buy the new album, too.

I think that the greatest danger would be to try and move away from a successful formula to more obscure material/styles. People, especially the English (and about 50% of the world sales of Pure are within the UK market), go for that which is familiar. It is comfortable, like a favourite armchair.

Keith.

[Joe]

I like Susan's song choices! Definitely Con Te Patira and Nessun Dorma...imagine Hayley singing that at a football match!

Steve has some very good ideas...let's hope Hayley surprises all of us!

Perhaps Sarah Class, Sir George Martin, and his son Giles will lend their talents and experience for the new album.

[stevemacdonald]

Okay, now I'm about to go way over the top with this next recommendation so don't say you weren't warned:

It would be awesomeness squared if Hayley sang at least one song on her next album completely a cappella. No one does it better.

[daddytom]

Steve echo's my thoughts from the very first time I heard her sing. The only minor negative I found with Pure was the background noise deluting that perfect voice. I'd love to hear Pure a cappella. I do apologize to the talented orchestra but they were an extraneous decoration.

A single instrument like the violin, harp or guitar to create a mood would work as long as it's done softly.

[HWI]

A CAPELLA?

Having been present when Hayley sang Amazing Grace a capella at the UNICEF concert in London on November 23rd, I have to agree that this would be awesome.

What would be better? If Hayley and Sophie duetted on a song a capella. I don't think I would EVER come out of orbit after that. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Keith.

[daddytom]

It's amazing how great minds come to the same conclusion .

I'm hoping Sophie is with Hayley in May. I would love to see and hear them working together. Has anyone heard anything new on Sophie? Hayley mentioned the she needed to get home to catch Sophie's solo act.

[Richard]

Hello again folks!

It's probably too late to suggest this for the new album, but if Hayley wants to record another duet some time, I would love to hear her sing "The Prayer", perhaps with Andrea Bocelli. That thought should put a smile on Hayley's face!

I've heard versions of this song recorded by Russell Watson with Lulu, and Charlotte Church with Josh Groban. It is a very passionate song that would suit Hayley's voice, both as lead singer and harmony vocalist. It would also give Hayley another chance to show off her multi-lingual skills, as the lyrics are partly English and partly Italian.

Bye for now,

Richard

[kcuteus1]

A few of the songs that where say here are on the cd that is cool.

[fusilier23]

Some excellent choices here, and I am glad to see that the upcoming album is both a step forward as well as more of what makes Hayley Hayley.

Still, I'd like to see her, one of these days, take a stab at an international Xmas album. Oh, "My Gift To You" was excellent, but there is definitely room to take another stab at it on the international scene. One of my biggest regrets walking out of the Boston Pops concert is that I couldn't pocket Hayley's rendition of "The Little Road to Bethlehem," a gem of a Celtic Christmas carol she rendered beautifully.

If and when she decides she is ready to record "O Holy Night," then I think it will be time to make a go of this, renditions of "Gesu Bambino" (possibly with Sophie) and "Masters In this Hall" would also be great additions.

[roger]

fusilier23 said:

If and when she decides she is ready to record "O Holy Night,".....

Hi Steven,

Although Hayley has yet to record 'O Holy Night', I am one of the fortunate few to have heard her sing it live. It was during her appearance with Jose Carreras at the Royal Albert Hall in London in December 2003. It was definitely one of the highlights of the evening - along with everything else she sang!

Roger