Rate the songs on Odyssey

[nassbirne]

OK, here are my ratings

Prayer - 9
Never Saw Blue - 8
Dell'Amore Non Si Sa - 9,5
Ave Maria - 8
Both Sides Now - 10
What You Never Know (Won't Hurt You) - 8,5
May It Be - 10
Quanta Qualia - 9
Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 Aria - 9
She Moves Through the Fair - 10
I Say Grace - 9
My Heart Belongs To You - 9,5

From the UK-Version:
Water Is Wide - 10
Lascia Ch'io Pianga - 9,5
Scarborough Fair - 9
O Mio Babbino Caro - 9
Mists of Islay - 8,5
Laudate Dominum - 9

You can see which ones are my favourite songs from Odyssey, but I couldn't get any lower than 8 because I like each and every song a lot (some just even more than others)!

[milewalker]

Interesting exercise.....here is my "American reaction" along with a couple of brief comments where I though appropriate. I am aware that this may get me in trouble So with the lack of tact that I normally empoy.....

Prayer - 8.0 Very contemplative - beautiful in its place.
Never Saw Blue - 8.5
Dell'Amore Non Si Sa - 6.5 -pretty, but I thought the mix was "off" Bocelli sounds like he is elsewhere. He also overpowers her - another problem with the mix I think.
Ave Maria - 7.5 - vocals are fine. That arrangement just doesnt do a lot for me.
Both Sides Now - 7.5 Just me probably. If you are going to go up against an icon it might be better if you did something original to the song. Her vocal is fine - she just doesnt contribute anything extra.
What You Never Know (Won't Hurt You) - 9 I like this version much better than Brightman's.
May It Be - 9. One song where over production actually helps. Enya's version moves me more - this really isnt Hayley's fault.
Quanta Qualia - 10 My favorite song on the CD.
Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 Aria - 8.5
She Moves Through the Fair - 9.5 - the only quibble is that it is a little tired. I probably have a dozen versions of this in my collection. This said, it just might be better than any them
I Say Grace - 8.5 Very impressive for a crossover effort - there are better (or more experienced anyway) gosple singers around.
My Heart Belongs To You - 6.5. Decent pop song sung reasonably well. But if you are going to compete with Celine Dion on her home turf you need more power overall - not just in your middle register. The low notes seem forced to me.

From the UK-Version:
Water Is Wide - 9
Lascia Ch'io Pianga - 8.5
Scarborough Fair - 8 - See comment above regarding Both Sides Now. On the Celtic Woman version btw, I think she does add something extra to the original.
O Mio Babbino Caro - 8 If Hayley has a weakness it is power. Therefore any aria she sings showcases a weakness along with many strengths. This being said I would rather hear this than too much power.....
Mists of Islay - 7.5 The arrangement on Hayley Westenra was better.
Laudate Dominum - 8

Overall rating of the CD 4 and a half stars rounded up to 5.

Jon (the other)

[stevemacdonald]

milewalker said:

...O Mio Babbino Caro - 8 If Hayley has a weakness it is power. Therefore any aria she sings showcases a weakness along with many strengths. This being said I would rather hear this than too much power.....

Jon, Hayley's apparent lack of "power" may be intentional. In one interview she stated very specifically that she wouldn't be "belting out arias" (her exact words) until she's well into her twenties. I read that as meaning she probably could sing with noticeable power but prefers to wait until she's completely ready before going full strength. In her concerts she does have flashes of real power and she instinctively holds the mic farther away at those special moments. I think she's keeping a big secret from her public about just how powerful her pipes are.

[milewalker]

I agree about the flashes of power Steve - actually they are consistant when they occur though - primarily from the middle to the upper fourth of her range. She can power a note above that, but it seems shrill to me.

Anyway - time will tell I suppose. But I have never heard a truly powerful singer who also had that slight of a build. Katherine Jenkins is hardly the sterotype of the 280 pound soprano - but I would venture a guess that even she has 10-20 pounds on Hayley. The same could be said for Meav.....

Jon

[Stephany]

Prayer - 9
Never Saw Blue - 9
Dell'Amore Non Si Sa - 8
Ave Maria - 8
Both Sides Now - 9,5
What You Never Know (Won't Hurt You) - 7,5
May It Be - 9
Quanta Qualia - 8
Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 Aria - 9
She Moves Through the Fair - 9
I Say Grace - 9
My Heart Belongs To You - 9

From the UK-Version:

Water Is Wide - 9,5
Lascia Ch'io Pianga - 9
Scarborough Fair - 10
O Mio Babbino Caro - 8
Mists of Islay - 9,5
Laudate Dominum - 8

[Dori]

OH! Special Editions....

Bridal Ballad - 10
O Mio Babbino Caro - 8
Laudate Dominum - 8
Wiegenlied - 7
Mists of Islay - 8
(I like her version on her first album more!)

Dori

[talialoveshayley]

OK, I'm going to be honest and say that I haven't yet heard all the songs on Odyssey, since I'm a newer fan. I haven't quite gotten into Odyssey as much as her other albums, but I'll rate the ones I have heard

Prayer - 10
Both Sides Now - 7
Never Saw Blue - 9
Dell'amore Non Si Sa - havent heard it yet
What You Never Know (Won't Hurt You) -havent heard it yet
May It Be - 7
Quanta Qualia - havent heard it yet
You Are Water - havent heard it yet
She Moves Through the Fair - 7
My Heart Belongs to You - 9
Ave Maria - 7
I Say Grace - haven't heard it yet.

Wow there's still quite a few I haven't heard yet, I can't wait to hear them all!