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Post by fusilier23 on Oct 26, 2005 17:35:16 GMT
I suppose I must bow to the fact that this was dragged off-topic, and I was aprtially guilty. Much as there are some things I'd like to comment further on, we need to move on with this discussion, more for Natasha's sake than any other.
I do have to agree that the album has perhaps too many slow songs and not enough upbeat ones, which is also true of Holly Holyoake's debut album, but, one of the great strengths of both is that their voices can exhale sweetly and powerfully when doing slower pieces.
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Post by nicola on Oct 27, 2005 6:48:09 GMT
I'm not really sure about Hayley doing more upbeat songs. It doesn't suit her. When I watched her performance with Heather from M People at the V. E. concert when she sang a completely different song from what she would have normally done, it sounded so odd coming from her. It was either because I wasn't used to it, or the type of song really doesn't suit her. I can imagine Hayleys voice on a upbeat techno beats doing a vocalise over the actual song etc (that would suit, like Sash! for example) but that's not her type of music. Her voice is for the orchestra... but not opera. I have never really understood why Hayley is classed as classical. 'In Trutina' in Pure made it classical? Hmm... Yes, Odyssey is more classical but I still wouldn't class Hayley as a classical singer. Hayley hasn't got an operatic voice at all.
I think I may be a point that with a voice so different like Hayleys... I just don't know what she should sing.
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Post by Belinda on Oct 27, 2005 10:15:05 GMT
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Post by Belinda on Oct 27, 2005 11:26:39 GMT
Hi Richard, No don't tell us ,How many times? , just kidding.  Your so lucky  Have just received the US Version from a very kind American gentlemen. WowYou Are Water, i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif is just as i imagined and gets the approval of my daughter and we both agree it would do well on the everyday radio stations here in New Zealand if released , not just on the easy listening ones. I hope Hayley will think about singing it at the NZ concerts if we are still getting them. Maybe at the end like she did with Wuthering Heights. |
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Post by crabbydog on Nov 17, 2005 0:10:26 GMT
I loved Pure and was looking forward to odyssey. As everyone agrees I think her voce has matured, richer more rounded, with greater power and range.
the collection of music for odyssey was fine enough, some good songs, no real bad ones. A good blend of classical and modern and folk.
It started well, pleasant to listen to but nothing outstanding. And it never changed. Temp and style either of musical arrangement or of vocals hardly changed from song to song, musical style to musical style. By halfway through i found it tedious with the only variation being the addition of some Celtic style backing music.
From Hayley herself although she was pretty much note perfect throughout, there was never any sense she understood what she was singing and no emotional content I could detect. There is no pokare kare ana or its equivalent to make a standout track.
Although her vocal capability has clearly improved, this album is nowhere near as enjoyable to listen to as Pure. Pure was more variable in quality, but it had more diversity of style and several truly great tracks. Odyssey is just background music to iron to or doxe in the bath. Both me and my girlfriend loved pure and were sorely disappointed by this.
I truly hope the next one is better produced and her talents properly used.
On a completely separate note for those in the group who remember Becky Taylor she has a new album out on Amazon. She is listed as Becky Jane Taylor and she sounds great. She has definitively gone down the show music and middle of the road sound, but her voice has matured out of all recognition. Much deeper and warmer, and with lots of emotion in her singing (sometimes a little overdone, but nothing horrendous).
I also came across a Holly Holyoake site recently and she is still going strong. Seems she did a duet with Hayley but sadly she has no record contract.
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Post by Oksana on Jan 28, 2006 0:09:10 GMT
At long last, I am finally sitting down to write my review of Odyssey. Here it is…
The album begins with Prayer. In several reviews I’ve read, people have called this song “a gem,” and really, I can’t think of a better word for it. It is a simple but heartfelt lullaby -- Hayley is getting much better at putting emotion into her songs. The song sounds both wistful and comforting, and is a beautiful opening track.
The next song, Both Sides Now, has a bit of a vintage feel to it and the lyrics evoke fun, childish images. I love the deceptively cheerful arrangement, although the sad verses could have had more feeling. Following that is Never Saw Blue -- a haunting string of poetic fancy -- I love the words, and the melody is really poignant.
Dell Amore Non Si Sa, Hayley’s duet with Andrea Bocelli is very pretty, but I think the arrangements could have been improved. However, the parts where they sing together are just breathtaking. The album takes a pop twist with the poorly-remixed (sorry!) but hypnotic What You Never Know, and the chorus Hayley wrote is really effective and keeps the song from being too repetitive. It’s a promising start for song-writing.
I have no words for May It Be. Placed exactly halfway through the album, it’s beyond beautiful, and leaves the listener with very high expectations, which are met with the uplifting Quanta Qualia. We see what a wonderful instrument Hayley’s voice is, as it reaches breathtakingly high notes that contrast with the pulsating choir.
You Are Water is a really interesting piece -- beaty and just slightly discordant-sounding, reminiscent of alternative rock. It’s an interesting arrangement for such a pure, innocent voice, but the result is spectacular. It took me a few listens to tap into this one, but I wouldn’t be angry if Hayley decides to record more songs like this in the future (though I suspect many other fans would!).
I’m not crazy about the song She Moves Through The Fair; it’s not bad, but it’s not outstanding. My Heart Belongs To You fares better, but Hayley doesn’t really get a chance to showcase her vocal abilities on this one, and the remix makes it sound like a hundred other songs on my radio -- not necessarily a bad thing, however it’s too commercial for me.
Ave Maria is a beautiful song, and Hayley’s serene voice weaves the melody with ease. To contrast the touch of melancholy on this track, the album ends with I Say Grace -- a wonderful, laid-back piece of gospel-pop. I don’t think it got the credit it deserved on this thread, as it really is a great piece.
While I could have done without a few of the songs on this album, each one is a special emotional journey for me, led by Hayley's voice -- now much deeper, rounder, and more satisfying. The only thing that slightly annoys me is that she can sound nasal at times, but that doesn't tarnish the shining odyssey she takes the listener upon.
Five stars.
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Post by Richard on Jan 28, 2006 10:30:23 GMT
Hello Someone, it's good to see you posting again!  I really enjoyed reading your review, and I thought it was very well balanced. I don't have the American version of "Odyssey", but I will certainly buy it if I find a copy somewhere. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifMany thanks, Richard  |
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Post by roger on Jan 28, 2006 15:15:28 GMT
Hi Someone! Thank you so much for your review of Odyssey which, as Richard has acknowledged, was very well-balanced. That is exactly what is needed here to counteract my ever-rapturous praise of everything Hayley does!  May you continue to enjoy Odyssey as much as I do.  Roger |
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Post by Raymond on Jan 28, 2006 16:02:48 GMT
Thank you for the review.
Raymond
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Post by Caitlin on Oct 27, 2006 4:58:10 GMT
Hi everyone! I suggested to a friend of mine to get 'Odyssey' (and 'Pure') and he told me his thoughts tonight. I asked him if it'd be alright if I shared his initial thoughts with you and he said he wouldn't mind. After finishing the album he wrote a sentence or two about each song: Be on the look out for a new member shortly guys!  <3 Caite |
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Post by Raymond on Oct 27, 2006 15:37:06 GMT
I like his review. I am sure many Hayley fans also have similar feeling when they first hear the songs. I saw in the review, 'Never Saw Blue - She almost seems to channel Olivia Newton-John.' So, ONJ has sang this song before?
Raymond
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Post by kmsmith8 on Oct 27, 2006 18:28:42 GMT
Thanks for the review Caite. It's great that you found somebody that is younger that likes Hayley's music. I have passed along copies of Hayley's CDs to a few people on my college campus. I don't think it is so much that they don't like Hayley's voice (most of them say that she has an amazing voice), they just aren't really interested in crossover music. But I am still trying! Katie |
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scott
Junior Member 
Posts: 50
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Post by scott on Nov 9, 2006 4:10:43 GMT
I am a new member. I have had a very limited experience with Hayley's music. I have owned 'Odyssey' for only about 2 weeks, and I only bought 'Pure' and the 'Live From New Zealand' DVD a few days ago. Perhaps you will consider me to be providing a fresh perspective.
My link to Hayley ultimately comes through my listening to Celtic Woman, and I do not wish to compare her to any of the established members of that group, although as one of my good friends has told me more than once, comparisons in the music business are inevitable. The only things I can say about her touring with Celtic Woman are: (1) I regret I will not be able to see Hayley in concert with them, and (2) I wish Hayley all the luck in the world.
My review is of the US version of 'Odyssey,' which is the only version I have. I do think this album is very beautiful. I decided to make this review a little different, by concentrating on the five songs that moved me the most. Though others would have placed "I Say Grace" and "Ave Maria" among their top five, they did not really do enough for me. I would that the other songs that I did not select were good to borderline great. Here are my selections, in order of appearance:
Never Saw Blue - Hayley's understated singing tells an idyllic story of new love. These were not the most powerful vocals she presented on this album, but she also didn't need them on this song. The simple piano and strings join with Hayley's singing to gently carry this song. I found the lyrics for this song to be a special and poignant expression of feeling, especially when she sings "Some things are the way they are, and words just can't explain." Very beautiful.
What You Never Know - I cannot emphasize enough how much I love this song. At first it was the angelic singing by Hayley, especially when she sings "I'm falling...for you." But then when I listened to the rest of the lyrics I realized just how much the song relates to this moment in my life. She absolutely read my mind. Long after this year is over, this song will remind me of what this year in my life was and what it meant to me. Not many songs can do that.
May It Be - It's a pity that Peter Jackson couldn't have gotten Hayley to sing this for the original movie soundtrack for "Fellowship Of the Rings." Hayley's powerful singing makes this an excellent rendition, but inspite of that it is blown out of the water by the version on Hayley's "Live From NZ" DVD which is nothing short of perfect.
Quanta Qualia - The only thing that I can find to say about the vocals in this song is that they are wondrous. In a strange way, I feel that this song is both happy and sad. I rarely dream about music, but recently a short portion of this song appeared in a dream of mine. A very soothing piece, with IMO the best singing Hayley did on this CD.
She Moves Through the Fair - The whistle used in the beginning and middle of this song was among the most shattering and compelling instrumental sounds I have ever heard, in any song. Because of that, this song would be a huge winner with me even if Hayley sang it poorly, which she certainly did not. Again her beautiful vocals make the song memorable.
Sorry if this review is more personal than objective. I found this to be a beautiful and well-conceived album. It makes me eager for Hayley's new album.
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Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,715 
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Post by Joe on Nov 9, 2006 6:32:52 GMT
Hello Scott!
Welcome to the forum! Glad that you've obtained your Hayley collection so quickly! Thanks so much for your review of "Odyssey". It was a wonderful "first post" from you!
I am looking forward to reading your review of "Pure" !
Best Wishes,
Joe
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scott
Junior Member
Posts: 50
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Post by scott on Nov 9, 2006 6:46:38 GMT
Greetings, Joe. Thanks for reading my review, although as Hayley says, "words just can't explain" ...that is how I feel about her song "What You Never Know." Nothing I can say will ever do that song justice.
I will review 'Pure' also, once I have had a chance to listen to the album enough times to form a more 'considered' opinion. I've heard it about 4 times through already and I like it alot! I now have 2 copies of that CD and I am going to be giving one as a gift to someone else so that they can experience the joy of Hayley.
I will also review Hayley's DVD "Live In New Zealand" also, as I definitely have something to say about THAT performance.
Thanks again.
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