Was Odyssey disappointing?

[Oksana]

Okay, it's taken me a while to answer this question, because it's kind of hard to answer.

Odyssey was very much what it should have been, and after many listens, I've concluded that it's what Pure should have been more like. So I can't vote that option. However, it was not what I had expected after Pure, and in the beginnig, I preferred Pure, so yes, it was somewhat 'disappointing.' However, as time passed, it really began to grow on me, and now, I much prefer it to Pure (and listen to it more).

The reason why this album seemed disappointing is because it is easier to listen to Pure when you're doing something, but Odyssey is so beautiful you kind of feel the need to leave it for special occasions, or for times when you can close your eyes and just listen without doing anything. I, for one, can't shop for clothes online while listening to May It Be or Quanta Qualia... but I can when listening to Wuthering Heights. You see the difference? It's such a special album that I kind of save it for special times.

And now that I've thoroughly confused everyone, I'll give you my answer in a nutshell...

No Odyssey IS not disappointing, but it WAS at first.

So what do I vote...?

Oksy

[gerrit]

dave said:

nicola said:

Hayley's delivery is still soulless...

Hi Nicola,

I think you should definitely listen to Hayley's performance of "The Prayer" recorded at Christmas Presence in Cardiff this month... it starts at 14 minutes in to the video (but watch it all ), details are here

Merry Christmas!

Dave

Hi Dave,

Aren't you sort of misquoting Nicola here ? She didn't say that Hayley's voice is still soulless, she said that Hayley's voice is still soulless on Oddyssey. That's quite a difference. I interpret that as: "having listened to all the arguments, I still think that on Odyssey ...."

Hayley's performance at the Cardff Christmas Presence wasn't under discussion, nor was any other performance of Hayley live. I have heard it said that Hayley's voice is more suited to live performance - and I can well agree with that. I have experienced it a number of times that I preferred a song performed live than the same song performed on Odyssey.

I have made the comment about Odyssey on more occasions, that Hayley's voice on that album lacks emotion. I for one would not like to be quoted elsewhere as if I had said "Hayley's voice lacks emotion." (Full stop)

When it comes to technical perfection, I think Hayley beats both Katherine and Yulia. But for me, Katherine and Yulia (the latter even more so) have often more emotion in their voices (and as far as I am concerned, you can quote me on that as a general statement, not one that restricts itself to one speciic album).

By the way, when it comes to technical perfection, I think that singers like Angela Gheorghiu, Renée Fleming and Cecilia Bartoli are technically quite perfect - yet I hardly ever experience any emotion when listening to them. Could it be that a high level of training/perfection goes at the cost of the natural emotion of a voice?

Just wondering .... (but maybe this should be a separate discussion ....)

Gerrit

[roger]

Hi Gerrit,

There is no reason why the subject of emotion in the voice should not continue here provided it relates to some degree to the question that was asked in the subject of this thread. For a more general discussion about emotion in the voice, I have started a new topic HERE.

Roger

[gerrit]

Thanks, Roger.

I agree that the discussion on this thread should concenrate on Odyssey!

Gerrit

[Dave]

gerrit said:

dave said:

Hi Nicola,

I think you should definitely listen to Hayley's performance of "The Prayer" recorded at Christmas Presence in Cardiff this month... it starts at 14 minutes in to the video (but watch it all ), details are here

Merry Christmas!

Dave

Hi Dave,

Aren't you sort of misquoting Nicola here ? She didn't say that Hayley's voice is still soulless, she said that Hayley's voice is still soulless on Oddyssey.
Gerrit

Hi Gerrit,

I was trying to give Nicola something to look forward to on Hayley's next album, nothing further should be read into my comment (or the quote) than that. It was certainly relevant to Odyssey as I knew that was what Nicola had written about... although I may have been too cryptic. However, i had already posted in detail my assessment of Odyssey so I didn't want to re-tread old ground. Call this an "Odyssey and beyond..." post, if you like.

I started to write more about the relationship between Pure, Odyssey and (speculating) the new album but that will, i think, be best saved for another thread another day.

Cheers, Dave

[nicola]

I understood you, Dave. But you know, like your sig says, I'm a dial up member who can't really watch videos online at this point.

[Dave]

nicola said:

...But you know, like your sig says, I'm a dial up member who can't really watch videos online at this point.

Hi Nicola,

That's why I added a dial-up version at 56K

Admittedly, the video dimensions are very small but it does put the concert in its proper context. If the audio (16 kb/s mono) is too poor quality for you I could post the audio (only) from the main video but no-one has ever asked for this.

Cheers, Dave

[Dori]

I actually prefer Odyssey over Pure. Her voice is so much more mature and she has such beautiful pitch in some of the songs such as Both Sides Now and Ave Maria. I preferred her performance of May It Be in her concert more, but it was still beautifully done. What better voice is there for that song than that of Hayley's? I also think that Odyssey was more classical than pop. I mean, you had My Heart Belongs To You and I Say Grace, but aside from that, i found it a little more relaxing to listen to, than Pure. Not that i don't love Pure, i just think as Hayley gets older, so are her albums. I hope Treasure will be just as magical as Odyssey, because i just can't get enough of that album!!! These are my thoughts on it!
Dori

[roger]

Hi Dori,

Actually, 'I Say Grace' wasn't on either of the UK versions so your observation about Odyssey being more classical than pop is even more true!

Roger

[Dori]

Really? that was one of best songs, it was so well sung!! We don't have The Water is Wide, but i have heard her sing it a lot in concerts and what not. Its a shame that songs differ according to regions!
Dori

[roger]

Hi Dori,

Of the six versions of Odyssey in my collection, 'The Water Is Wide' only appears on the UK Special Edition. I don't think it had even been recorded when the original version was released. I know she returned to the recording studio a few months later to put down a few more tracks and I *think* that was one of them. I have to say, it was never my favourite song in the world but Hayley's version is by far the best I have ever heard.

Roger

[Dori]

Yes i agree, her version is absolutely beautiful. my ex-high school choir tried siniging it, and it was nothing compared to hers!!

[meldy]

I have the U.S. version of Odyssey and I thought it was brilliant since it not only included some "pop"-like tunes but it had a little more classical too. I remember listening to the tracks released in the U.K. and they tend to be more "classical" which I liked, too. Personally, I felt that I could relate to most tracks on the album. I mean I would listen to them and at certain times I would say, "hey I feel that way."

Meldy

[Bamafan]

I voted NO. For me, it's hard to be disappointed with any of Hayley's albums (so far there hasn't been one that disappointed me!). "Odyssey" is just as varied as "Pure" but it has a more mature, developed sound. I also think that it's cool to for there to be all of those versions. Gives you the challenge of finding them all!

[martindn]

I love Odyssey. It is Hayley's most classical ablum, and I still listen to it. It has a lot od good stuff, and the fabulous Quanta Qualia, one of my all time favourite Hayley tracks. I precursor to some of the vocal gymnastics (such as on Lexione di Musica and Once upon a time in the west) she would blow us away with later. I know of no other singer that can do stuff like that.

Martin D