|
Post by Jeff on Dec 1, 2011 11:20:56 GMT
Hayley's next album simply HAS to have an orchestra because it seems to complement her voice so well and lends so much class to the finished product, though Hayley has class enough. In one of her interviews about Paradiso earlier this year she described her voice like an instrument threading in and out of the orchestra. I'd like to see that process continue. Singing lyrics to a film score took her to places she hadn't reached before and it is only a short step from that to setting lyrics to orchestral pieces by classical composers. There are many classical tunes crying out to have words set to them. One that springs to mind is "The Swan" by Saint-Saens. Replace the solo cello with a soprano voice and you have a very poignant ballad. For all I know someone may already have done so ! A more ambitious possibility (but to a talent like Hayley surely all things are possible) would be the slow, second movements of concertos or symphonies e.g. Samuel Barber Violin Concerto, Marcello Oboe Concerto or the gorgeous oboe solo in Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony. Listen to the Andantino on Youtube and imagine what it would sound like with Hayley singing the melody. So reminiscent of "Would he even know me now."
That's what I would like to happen but it won't of course. Artistically Paradiso was Hayley's best album by far but to date it has not been as commercially successful as its predecessors, something that will not have gone unnoticed by Decca. Masterpiece though Paradiso is, I'm afraid for a lot of the general public it was a step too far. They didn't get it. Songs in a foreign tongue are a barrier to some people unless it happens to be "Nessun dorma" and then only when sung by the likes of Joe McElderry. I therefore feel Hayley's next offering will mark a return to a more mainstream pop album, maybe with a Joni Mitchell or Joan Baez cover and possibly featuring a duet with Michael Buble. Mind you, if Hayley has to duet with anyone I'd like it to be Barbra Streisand. Older collaborators bring out the best in Hayley and I don't see any more ageing film composers who want to delay their retirement, whatever pension problems their country may be having.
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Dec 1, 2011 23:25:13 GMT
Whether she has an orchestra or not depends on the material. I agree that it probably won't be a completely classical album. I'm guessing there will be at least a few songs written by Hayley herself, since I think she was probably working on that leading up to her change of plans to do a whole album with Morricone. At that stage, she probably already had a lot of ideas in mind. She might pick up where she left off on that, but maybe the collaboration will have an influence, too. I don't know many Joni Mitchell songs, but I don't think she should do one of her songs again. Otherwise, she might start being labeled as a Joni Mitchell cover artist. Joan Baez is fine; I even suggested that once, but then she just did one on Paradiso. What about Judy Collins? I don't know that many of her songs, but she has the right kind of voice. How about I Know You By Heart by Eva Cassidy instead? One time on twitter I sort of started up a mini "petition" for her to record that for her next album (before the collaboration started). A lot of people saw my request, and seconded it, and she acknowledged it. I don't remember her exact words, but she said the word "noted". So, she might still consider that one. But since she seems to have dropped it from her recent concert set lists, maybe she's decided to be done with that one. Or it might just be because she had Paradiso songs to add. Maybe that's all it is. Personally, I'm hoping for a variety of styles again, like on Odyssey and Treasure. I love hearing her sing classical and Celtic, and I loved the songs she wrote herself. I liked the hymns, too. But hopefully it won't be like Odyssey as far as different versions go!
|
|
|
Post by martindn on Dec 2, 2011 22:39:43 GMT
Hi Libby,
As you have probably seen in a discussion in another thread, she might need a definite direction to succeed in any meaningful way in the States. Not sure I want her to go that way - Paadiso is a very focussed album and constrained to one composer's music in a way no other Hayley album ever has been. I love it, but I'm not sure that that is the way she should go for the next one. If any Hayley album could do well in the USA, Paradiso is it. I liked the variety on earlier albums. She could sing classical, folk, sacred music, pop, musical theatre, and of course film music. I wouldn't rule out jazz either. I know it confuses the heck out of radio stations, but that is their problem, not hers. My problem is I don't care. I just love to hear her sing, and what she sings is secondary. Most people who don't know her are not like that. So I can't imagine how best she can appeal to them. This is not very helpful I'm sure, but before I can be helpful, I have to be honest. Someone posted a comment on my YouTube channel today, along the lines of "I thought I would watch one Hayley video. Then 2 hours had gone by. That's how it is with Hayley". And he/she is right, I've done it myself.
Martin D
|
|
|
Post by grant on Dec 2, 2011 23:57:30 GMT
Hello everyone
I tend to side with Libby in this discussion. I think Paradiso will have made Hayley step back and perhaps give more thought to what she is capable of.
She has performed a number of amazing songs that are yet to be recorded "Talk To Me" springs to mind and yes, of course, "I Know You By Heart". We don't know what else Hayley might have written/be working on but I would definately favour a largely 'own material' album.
I wonder who will be right? ... and I wonder how long we will have to wait?
Best wishes Grant
|
|
|
Post by martindn on Dec 3, 2011 0:42:16 GMT
Yes, Grant, I think I agree. There are no questions about it, we all want more Hayley. She is a bit nervous perhaps, and not convinced that she can make it with her own material. But I for one, from what I have seen, think she can. My favourite tracks on Treasure (Apart from Abide with me), Winter Magic are Hayley's own songs. I love her lyrics on Paradiso. She has the finest voice on the planet right now, but is much more than that if she could only believe it. She is a very decent songwriter too. Her lyrics on her Japanese songs albums are superb - if only she could do something like that in the west.
Martin D
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Dec 3, 2011 6:49:09 GMT
Well, of course I want her albums to appeal more to the US, but Hayley certainly shouldn't do something that's not her, if that's the only way to do it.
If Paradiso was the album to appeal to the US, why hasn't it done that well? Of course, better promotion would have helped. As I always say, if people just had the opportunity to hear Hayley, they would like her. But I wouldn't rule out her chances in the US yet, just because Paradiso hasn't been extremely successful. But remember, Hayley did say she might be back, so we can't give up yet. Or at least, I certainly won't. There are still my ideas that haven't been carried out yet... and won't be until Dec. 2012 at the earliest. Well, actually the main one could be carried out sooner than that, but the result would not be heard until Dec. :wink:
|
|
|
Post by comet on Dec 4, 2011 3:17:22 GMT
Would he even know me now as a duet,
I might delete this in the morning. sometimes, Ideas that come to you in the wee small hours when you can't sleep don't seem quite as good in the cold light of day.
the male part could be Josh Groban, Rhydian or even Elgan Thomas or Chase This could be done as a video or a stage performance. Hayley is on the far left with lets say the Sydney Opera house in the background, (easily recognisable landmarks) Rhydian is on the far right with lets say the London eye and the Big Ben Tower in the background. The centre of the scene is just sea and sky to indicate the distance between them. On stage this could be done with three projectors. The audio is Hayley in the left hand channel only and Rhydian on the right hand channel only, absolute separation. On stage they would not be facing each other.
Hayley sings: I wonder would HE even know me now
Slightly delayed Rhydian sings: I wonder would SHE even know me now
Together they sing in unison : We were so young and it was long ago. Or will the memories rush back all at once with one hello
Hayley sings: I wonder if he’ll even know my name
Slightly delayed Rhydian sings: I wonder if she’ll even know my name
Together they sing in unison : Or must I remind him / her of those days He //she used to love me then He / she may still love me now
I wonder if this music takes him /her back To when our world was one big silver screen Lost in the darkness we’d go Where only our hearts had been I wonder if he / she still recalls my touch I wish I could turn the clock somehow He / she used to love me then He / she may still love me now
I wonder would he even know me now We were so young and it was long ago Or will the memories rush back all at once with one hello I wonder if he’ll even know my name Or must I remind him of those days He used to love me then He may still love me now
just to be all soppy and romantic during the last verse, as a video, they could be both writing Valentines cards to each other with London / Sydney on the envelopes.
the landmarks could be changed for any easily recognisable landmarks. eg. Taj Mahal, Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, Grand Canyon I don't think New Zealand has an Internationally and instantly recognisable landmark that could be used, I fancy the Sydney opera house in the background though.
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Dec 4, 2011 5:49:34 GMT
I'm not sure if all the echoing of each other would work, and then only saying one line at a time together. And then one saying he, and the other she at the same time wouldn't work, because the "sh" in she would drown out the he.
Interesting idea, though! :wink:
|
|
|
Post by comet on Dec 4, 2011 16:40:36 GMT
The idea would be that they would be as far apart on stage as possible, The voices would very obviously come from different positions.
Each of their voices would only come from the side of the stage they are on. Each singer would probably need an ear monitor for to hear the other singer.
On a recorded version they would be distinctly in one ear or the other on headphones, many modern TVs can give very wide sound separation through Dolby surround systems etc.
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Dec 5, 2011 7:46:48 GMT
Hayley doesn't like using ear monitors. That's one thing she didn't like so much about being in Celtic Woman, she felt separated from her audience. She took out her earpiece at the World Games when she sang with Russell Watson. But I'm sure she can live with it once in a while.
|
|
|
Post by martindn on Dec 5, 2011 22:52:03 GMT
Hi Libby,
She is a professional, she will do what it takes. But the moments I love best are when she is in control, and doing her own thing the way she likes it. I have seen so many magical performances by Hayley, and the best of all are when she puts her heart and soul into it. Those performances tend to come towards the end of her concerts. I know I'm not the only one who loves her for it. Often she seems quite reserved, perhaps a bit nervous at the start of a show. That is how she is, but as the audience warms to her the love seems to bounce back off her, and she becomes more comfortable and in tune with the audience. Then she lets herself go more and more, and that is when the magic happens. That being said, the first time I saw her, she had me within seconds of the start of the first song... But it was Pokarekare Ana.
Martin D
|
|
|
Post by postscript on Dec 5, 2011 23:47:58 GMT
Hi Libby, She is a professional, she will do what it takes. But the moments I love best are when she is in control, and doing her own thing the way she likes it. I have seen so many magical performances by Hayley, and the best of all are when she puts her heart and soul into it. Those performances tend to come towards the end of her concerts. I know I'm not the only one who loves her for it. Often she seems quite reserved, perhaps a bit nervous at the start of a show. That is how she is, but as the audience warms to her the love seems to bounce back off her, and she becomes more comfortable and in tune with the audience. Then she lets herself go more and more, and that is when the magic happens. That being said, the first time I saw her, she had me within seconds of the start of the first song... But it was Pokarekare Ana. Martin D Hello Martindn. I agree absolutely. I was just commenting on the award nominations and changed threads to be on topic. I am currently hearing the American West corpus of songs she sang on FNIMN earlier this year and I wonder if she should not introduce songs from the musicals in her shows or perhaps included in her next album without it turning into a hotch potch. With "The Deadwood Stage" I can imagine her flouncing her skirt (assuming it wasn't a tight number) and setting her feet adancing to that tune. The more I think of it, the more I am looking forward to the orchestral accompaniment in the Spring and wondering if she doesn't deserve a small orchestra wit a good arranger, which she has already. Peter S.
|
|
|
Post by inga on Apr 7, 2012 7:35:31 GMT
She said she will try something in the studio, I wonder what it will be?
Something like Mary-Jess' Shine album would be great.
|
|
|
Post by martindn on Apr 7, 2012 10:58:12 GMT
Judging by what Hayley retweeted the other day, she isn't trying to be like anybody except herself. If you try to copy others, you end up second rate. Whatever Hayley does will I'm sure be something from herself.
Martin D
|
|
|
Post by Richard on Apr 7, 2012 15:08:05 GMT
Yes indeed, this was the tweet: Richard
|
|