A negative review at amazon.com

[roger]

There is a most disappointing review of Odyssey at amazon.com. It is entitled "Bland boring singer" and was posted on 2nd December.

I accept that everyone is entitled to their opinion and has the right to air their views but the wording and the force with which it is said is something I find offensive. The closing paragraph reads as follows:

"Bravo Florez! Brava Netrebko! Booo Westenra!!!! Boooo Bocelli!!!! And Booooooooooooo Watson! I implore you, listen to real singers, not these fakes who simply make quick bucks as "musical prostitutes" for Universal Music. Shame on Decca!!!!!!"

Needless to say, I have voted to indicate that I did NOT find this review helpful (as all three voters had done before me). I have also reported to Amazon that I find the review inappropriate and requested that it be removed.

The full review can be found here (but, hopefully, not for long!). If you feel as strongly as I do, please vote accordingly and request that the review be removed by clicking on "report this".

Thank you,
Roger

[Dave]

Your wish is my command... done! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif I hope you will publish this on the official board, Roger.

The reviewer is a bigot who does not know the difference between an album review and a tirade against an entire musical genre, style or singer's repertoire.

Hmmm... now, I'm not at all keen on pop boyband music... let's pick one out at random shall we? As I'm from the British Isles I'll choose... Westlife! Yes, being from the same part of the World as my target will, I'm sure, give the review immense credibility - just like the NZ guy's review of Odyssey.

But what to say? Hmmm... bland, boring, manufactured, TV 'lack of talent shows', Louis Walsh, all sound the same, can't play instruments properly, can't sing, Autotune, useless 'live', conning the kiddies, etc., etc., etc. Ooh, I have an even cleverer idea, I will refer to them as "Lowlife" not Westlife - then EVERYONE will believe me! Wouldn't it make a brilliant review?

Then again, perhaps not...

[roger]

Thanks Dave. Yes, I did make the same post to the official board.

Westlife? Never heard of them!

Roger

[Raymond]

I think Amazon.com should not allow reviews like this to appear on their website. I don't think I can call this a review. It is a passage which angers all Hayley fans. I hope it will be removed.

Raymond

[Richard]

Hello Roger, Dave and Raymond!

I've also posted my disgust on the official board. I just hope this reviewer doesn't join the forums, because he would cause a lot of trouble and ill-feeling!

Richard

[portia]

To be fair, the reviewer does allude to some points that other reviewers have been talking about - that Hayley's disc is pretty bland.

[roger]

Hi Portia,

That would have been a perfectly acceptable comment, albeit a disappointing one. What we object to is that the "reviewer" (I use the term lightly), has chosen to speak so vehemently against the entire genre and named several highly respected performers. If he doesn't like them, so be it but, to say so in a review of one particular album on amazon.com is inappropriate and objectionable.

I only wish our comments here and on the official forum could be posted somewhere on amazon.

Roger

[baxfield7]

Hi All

I notice the guy (?) can't even spell Hayley !!

Amazon infiltrated by the Intelligencia !!

Barrie

[portia]

Well, I would say that unless one really feels strongly about an issue, one never really bothers to post on Amazon.

[roger]

I quite agree but this guy's "issue" has little in connection with a review of Odyssey. He is merely slamming the crossover genre in general.

Roger

[waltermc]

This "review" (he didnt even talk about Odyssey) was nothing but a rant.
I believe this person has something personal against Hayley.
Did you notice the people he was booing happened to have performed with her?
Not only does he berate her, but also anyone associated.
Attacking someone because they are more successful than your favorite artists is just a form of jealousy.

[Oksana]

I don't even bother to read reviews like that. Comparing crossover singers to opera singers, providing nothing but "untalented" as an explanation for your low rating, and calling someone of this age a "musical prostitute" probably won't earn you a lot of helpful votes. Unsupported and extremely crude.

On the other hand, my favourite review of Hayley is this (Pure):

"Why not 5 stars fron everyone....why fool around with 4 or 3 stars....this is absolute PURE perfection...please understand it does not get any better than this."

[gareth]

Hmmm,

It was with interest that I followed this discussion - having used the term 'bland' myself in connection with Odyssey. But I certainly won't buy this chap's arguments against the crossover genre in general. I think this person just decided to take the opportunity to use his dislike of Odyssey as an excuse to spill venom against the genre in general.

I still think that Odyssey, compared with Pure, is a bit monotonous - but at least it is and remains very pleasant listening and for that reason alone I am glad I bought it!

In fact, I am awaiting the next Hayley album with keenness - no mmatter how long it will take this time .

Cheers,

Gerrit

[Holger]

Hi Roger,


I also came across this insolent review and naturally I gave it a no-vote and reported it to be inappropriate as well.

Not just did the author insult our beloved Kiwi, he also offended other excellent performers in an utterly disgraceful manner ("musical prostitutes").

Everybody has a right to his own taste in music, but publicly defaming singers that are not to one's liking is what we in German call "bottom drawer."

Glad you brought it to the attention of the board. Please, everybody, report this as inappropriate to Amazon. The more follow, the more likely it is that Amazon does indeed remove it.


Regards,

Holger

[roger]

I have just checked out amazon.com and I am delighted to say that the review has been removed.

Thank you very much to everyone who reported it, and thank you Amazon.

Roger