My reviews of Hayley and her music

[davemcc]

OK, this is going to be long winded but I have decided to review different Hayleys albumns I have heard and her in general. I will start with Treasure (UK and International) not all songs cause I have not listened to all, but most songs:

Let Me lie: This is a beauitful song that sounds great coming from Hayleys sweet voice. Makes me want to go out to this grassy, flowery hill area not far from my house, bring this song on MP3 player and listen while lying there listing to sounds around me as well as song. 10/10

Le Notte Del Silenzio: First thought "I want just Hayley, no one else" but listening to this, this is one of my favourite on albumn. Humphrey only sings in chorus and the way the guitar comes in after first chours is nice. This is a great song. 9/10

Santa Lucia: Heard this a few times before by other artists and did not like it very much. How would Hayley do? First, I love the guitars and mandolins. Hayley sings this well. 8/10

Shenandoah: Heard this song by other artists before and thought "not another version..." I was wrong, Hayley sings this wonderfully and I really love this song. 10/10

Whispering Hope: Like the way Hayley has done a spiritual songs on this. Nice song to listen to. I first listened to this song, and as I was doing so, I looked out window and for the first time in about 4 days, saw dark clouds moving away and sun starting to appear out. 8/10

Danny Boy: A very well known songs. One of my favourites. Love the way Hayley sang this for her Nanna because she sang it to Hayley when Hayley was young. Hayley sings this beauitfully. 10/10

Summer Fly: Flute instrument at start is wonderful start. Then change. I like Hayley trying new things, and it worked for her. Sounds more countryish than celtic, but that I suppose is where country music originated, celtic? Great song to dance to, even in your own home. 9/10

Sonny: Never realised until I looked it up, that this song was not Irish as I had once believed, but by a Newfoundland singer. Hayleys version, the lyrics are a bit different. This song is sad. Don't listen if down or depressed. 10/10

Abide With Me: Hayley sings wonderfully. This song sticks in my mid because my grandad, before he died, used to play this song alot on accordion. I can now play it on accordion too. 10/10

E Pari Ra: Love the way Hayley, on this albumn, embracess her Irish and Maroi roots and I had wanted to hear another Maroi song since "Pokarekare Ana" and "Hine E Hine" and this song is sung well. 8/10

Overall, from songs I have listened to most often, I would give "Treasure" a 9/10. I emplore the way Hayley see's music and shows her heritage, her Irish roots. I like the way she understands about music being part of history and new music needing to be written, or you just rob the past. This is very true. Sure the music of the past will live on forever, but how can the past be written without new music to create it?

Classical and traditional music have an impact more than say hiphop or pop that just fades away over time, although not everyone knows it. Hayley has matured over the years, not just in her looks, but her voice has bloomed too.

She started as an innocent teenager, a tiny seed. Now that seed has grown and bloomed into the magnificant "Rose" we see today. My opinion on her future albums would be this:

I think Hayley should do more original songs to show her full potential. She sings mostly cover songs, which I am not agianst, but we need to hear more originals. Maybe if she sang one or two of her originals in Maroi, that would really stand out. (but she probably won't as she says she could not do it)

Well, for me, whatever she does will be great and I will always be listening and tuning into the beauitful sound and looks that is Hayley. I am greatful for all you are doing and will do and have done Hayley, keep up the great work.

[davemcc]

Decided to review "Pure" next as I just finished listening to it for the second time today. Keep watching for that. one word for it so far "spiritual".

OK, here is review of "Pure"

This albun is sort of more "spiritual" if you listen to lyrics in some songs, you will see this. I love this albumn and having the two disc special edition is better.

Disc 1:

Pokarekare Ana: First Maroi song Hayley done (as far as I know). This is a very good song and sung far better than most other people has done. Don't like chorus so much, but still, its one of my favourites. 9/10

Never Say goodbye: Love instruments and flute at start. This is a beauitful song. Great love song. One of my "best" favourites, maybe cause I am a romantic, don't know. 10/10

Who Painted The Moon Black?: Does not sound like it was written by a African woman, but it was. This is a good song. Love guitars in this. Love live version better, sounds better than on CD. The video for this, I don't get so much, but I am not reviewing this. 9/10

River Of Dreams: Very uplifting. Especially at start. Good spiritual uplifting songs. Really like this song. Would be good as a childrens lullaby. 10/10

Benedictus: One of my "Best" favourites. Sounds a bit kinda haunting, especially if heard along a dark, stone corridor, maybe in a castle. The drums that come in made me jump a bit, maybe because I listened to this with my subwoofer up full and full bass expansion on. Great song, especially after drum hit and brass instruments come in, powerful song. 10/10

Hine e Hine: This is my favourite on "Pure". Nice calming song with nice melody. One of my favourite Mario songs. 9/10

Dark Waltz: This is a dark song, intresting lyrics that would stick in your mind. Would listen to this often. 10/10

Amazing Grace: This hymn is a good hymn and Hayley sings this well. Like horn instruments in this. Love this, especially near the end when she says "to sing gods grace". hard for many to reach such high notes without sounds bad. 10/10

In Trutina: Can't tell wether this is dark, beautiful sounding or both. Like the low strings and Hayleys beauitful voice, this is good. 9/10

Beat of Your Heart: This is a great song. Sounds a bit popish, but still great. Would go well at a wedding or similar. Great love song. Put this on when preposing to your partner and see what happens. 10/10

Heaven: Great lyrics I think. One of my "best" favourites. Love guitar part after first chorus. The lyrics "Tell me why the good die young, my old friend. I prey that heaven waits for everyone in the end" sticks in my mind and anything after it. Very well done. Think I found heaven, Hayley. 10/10

Wuthering Heights: Now we come to this well known, Kate Bush songs. Sounds like Kate when singing this, Hayley does, but its better. I liked this song before, but not that much. Sounds better in higher notes than Kate. Does not send shivers up spine like Kate's but does in a better way. Live sounds better. 9/10

Hine e Hine (Mario Mix): This song is still great, but wish I could understand "Maroi". Maroi speaking in it mkaes it intresting. Love Maroi and maroi culture, and Hayley makes you like it more. Would still give it 10/10

Disc 2:

Mary Did you Know? Sounds a bit like "Jazzy" sort of. Nice slow dance music and nice spiritual song. Like it alot. Beauitful voice for hymns and songs like this. Give 10/10

Bridal Ballad: DOn't like very high at start so much. Not my favourite. Like instruments near start. Would give 8/10

Pokarekare Ana (Vocalise): My favourite of whole albumn. Reason? Instruments are better than in other version and guitars after chours and the whole bit (Could meditate to this for ages) sound great. Haylye sings a bit different than other version. I like this a whole lot more, many do. If this was the first song you hear of Hayleys (Like I did), it would blow you away and make you sit up and listen to more of her music. Definite 10/10. Well done Hayley.

Hy Heart and I: Start is soothing and makes you feel a bit sleepy if listened to when a bit tired. This is a great song with great lyrics. You could just lie down on your bed and listen to this and "rest". Great melody. Uplifting and great. Definite 10/10

Across the Universe of Time: Love live version of this best. Listen to with an echo on and start sounds intresting. Lyrics stick in my mind. This is a very good song. Great sipritual song. Without a doubt, 10/10.

Silent Night, Holy Night: Love start. I have always found this my favourite christmans hymn. Hayley sings Beauitfully. What a amazing tune. Sounds so calm and beauitful. Could listen for ages over and over and then just nod off to sleep with good greams after this one. Hayleys voice then really siuted this one. Great one Hayley. 10/10

Away in a Manger: Well done. Sounds beauitful and so sweet. You'd feel emotional sometimes you would hear this song. Not to strong, not to light, just right. Prefer Hayleys christmans hymns/songs over anyones. 10/10.

Pokarekare Ana video: Since this is on CD too, I will review it as well. One of her best videos. Read next post for review.

[davemcc]

Got a few song reviews again.

Lets start with UK Odyssey. I will review other Odyssey when it comes.

May It Be: Enya's May it Be. This is a great version. Very beauitful and strong. One of my "Best" favourites on albumn. 10/10

The Water is Wide: My favourite on albumn. Love piano at start. Reminds me of water drops. Works well with Hayleys sweet voice. Love flute instruement near end. Sounds very celtic t that point. Hayley is the "Sweetest flower" 10/10

Dell' Amore Non Si Sa: Heard original by Andrea Bocelli and does sound exactly the same, when he sings and instruments as well sound same, except Hayley sings this alright, nice to hear in English. Sounds great when they sing this together in parts. Not the best song for her. 8/10

Lascia Ch'io Pianga: This sounds very well done. Like this one, but won't play it too often. Very sweet I think. Would give 9/10

Prayer: Listening to this song, it seems that there is hope for mankind after all. All too much we see voilence, sex, drugs and bad things, not a day goes by we hear of tradegy somewhere, then you listen to this. And there is hope after all. These words stick out as I listen:

Sleep, angels will watch over you
And soon beautiful dreams will come true
Can you feel spirits embracing your soul
So dream while secrets of darkness unfold

The words, angels will watch over you, I think of Hayley and all is calm. 10/10

Ave Maria (Caccini): Now we come to this song. Sounds a bit dark, Hayley sings it well, although I would not listen too much. WOuld sond best in a cathedral or similar place. Sounds a bit haunting if listened to in a dark room until you get into it and it sounds a bit better. 9/10

Scarborough Fair: Ever since hearing Simon and Garfunkel singing this I loved it. This is a very well done song. This is great for her voice and sounds great. Nice and uplifting. 10/10

Quanta Qualia: Sounds a bit strange the first time you hear it. I like it, but maybe if I understood it, I would listen more. Anyway I would give it 8/10

O Mio Babbino Caro: My alltime favourite song. Ever since hearing it when young with someone whistling it. Haylye sings this beauitfully. Especially near end. Title translates to Englis as (far as I know): Or My Babbino Beloved. 10/10

What You Never Know (Won't Hurt You): This is a sort of emotional song. Hayleys beauitful voice brings this song out very well. You can feel the words when she sings it. A good love song I think, but sad too. Especially when violen thing comes in. I would give 11/10 but since I can't, 10/10

Both Sides Now: Here is the song that most Hayley fans love, am I right? No offence to Joni Mitchell, love the songs she makes, but not her voice very well. This is a great song for Hayley to cover and its one of my all time favourite songs since Hayley sung it. Especially when watching video on Classic FM TV at 3:30am. I was watching baseball that night and flipped over and saw it. Had to watch, but missed my favourite baseball player hit a home run! Still, it was Hayley after all... 10/10

The Mists of Islay: Love folk songs. This is a good version of this song. I am lost in the mists of Hayley.. er Islay when i hear this song. Very great. If you lived there and listened to song, it would make you proud I think. Makes me want to go there some day. 10/10

Laudate Dominum: Not to sure about this one. Maybe cause I don't understand it? Just to be on safe side, I won't review this one now until I hear it more. 7-8/10

She Moves Through The Fair: This is the best version I have heard. Sounds way better than other version I heard with drum beats at start. Sounds dark and eerie. Especially with 5.1 Sorround sound and HD Audio and a full, large subwoofer on. Hear this while looking over misty cliffs at sea at night and it would be a bit creepy. The song, a folk staple, has been performed by many artists, and its haunting tune and lyrics will be familiar to many.

The song was first collected in Donegal by Padraic Colum and Herbert Hughes, and published by Boosey & Hawkes in London in a work entitled Irish country songs in 1909, though some claim it dates back to medieval times. The lyrics, except for the last verse, were composed by Padraic Colum, and the tune was written down by Herbert Hughes. The tune is in the mixolydian mode. Most modern arrangements of the song can be traced to the recording by Fairport Convention in 1968, who adopted the style of the song from the travelling singer Margaret Barry.

I give it a 10/10 for being so great and eerie. Will be forever in my favourite celtic tunes, but only this version.

Overall, this Odyssey UK is a great albumn that has many well known songs and folk songs on it. This is a favourite of mine. Would listen to a few of the songs often, but not all. Hayley on cover art looks bauitful and its one of my favourite pics of her on back. She looks so "sweet and beauitful" like a china doll, with beauitful glass eyes.