Elizabeth Marvelly

[Mark]

joemarvelly said:

She has the same surname as me...isn't that wierd? i mean, its hardly the most common of names, and my familys mainly english...but she's from new zealand? hmmm....coincedence? im a musician too, i sing and play guitar. here's a link to one of my songs! please watch! i can't sing as well as her, but i doubt many people can sing like her!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYzJcuv2fY8

Hi Joe

Welcome to the forum. There can't be many people about with that surname I havent had a chance to look at your You Tube link yet - I'll be sure to have a look though.

How did you first hear about Hayley and have you been to one of her concerts ?

Best wishes
Mark

[milewalker]

grant said:

Hi Stephany and Steve

I don't think anyone is questioning Elizabeth's talent by these latest remarks; in my view it's just an observation on her appearance.

It has already been noted in this thread that she doesn't like the comparison with Hayley, yet her publicity continues to depict a very real likeness; so much so that some of the paparazzi have miscredited her picture!

Best wishes
Grant

For the record, I am certainly not trying to dismiss MV's talent. To some degree I suppose i am questioning the wisdom of depicting her the way I suspect they are.

As for the larger issue Steve raised above I would suspect that appearance is just as important for a modern career as vocal ability is. Look at Hayley and this site dedicated to her. How much space and time is occupied with her music? Compare that to how much space and time is taken up with posting pictures of her - and videos. We discuss her hair - we have many different dress polls. Hayley is clearly a world class singer - so her looks are clearly less important to her than they might be for someone like Jessica Simpson - yet our own behavior here seems to suggest that her appearance has a tremendous amount of importance to us in its own right.

Jon

Edit - broken quote repaired

[petertong]

Hi Grant,

I wonder if we are sensitive the the supposed likeness to Hayley because we are Hayley people and most folks wouldn't even think twice? Personally speaking, I think they have really different physical features... Elizabeth being partial Maori for example... voices don't sound alike either....

Peter

grant said:

milewalker said:

In fact the resemblance in my opinion is too close to be a coincedence.

Hi Jon

That's a very interesting point.

Several members here, including myself, have already commented on Elizabeth's remarkable likeness to Hayley in a fair few pictures that have been posted of her on this forum.

Best wishes
Grant

[stephanier]

In truth, I think EM is being marketed as another Hayley...(which she could never be!) I think sometimes in the "business" it is WHO you know that makes you an initial success not necessarily your talent. Or perhaps who you are related to???

[gra7890]

Hi Everyone,
People love to make comparisons and with their similar backgrounds it is inevitable.
However Hayley has a few years 'start' over Elizabeth and it must be very difficult for Elizabeth, as whatever she does everyone automatically compares her to Hayley, whether it is a similar comparison or a dissimilar one, it will be a topic of conversation. It is almost beyond her control.
I like both their voices, I prefer Hayley, but think that Elizabeth will also develop into something special.
We should not fall into the trap of others with the continual comparison but accept them for what they are, both talented singers with some similarities and some important differences ! That really should be all that matters isn't it .
Graham

[thomas]

I can understand why Elizabeth doesn't like the comparison with Hayley. She's a singer who wants to make her own career and she wants to be remembered as Elizabeth and not as "another Hayley".

Elizabeth, go on with what you're doing! You're a wonderful singer and I hope to see you live in concert one day.

Best wishes,
Thomas

[milewalker]

thomas said:

I can understand why Elizabeth doesn't like the comparison with Hayley. She's a singer who wants to make her own career and she wants to be remembered as Elizabeth and not as "another Hayley".

Elizabeth, go on with what you're doing! You're a wonderful singer and I hope to see you live in concert one day.

Best wishes,
Thomas

I can understand the reason she might feel that way too - in fact I agree with her....however, I cant take words too seriously when they are so obviously not backed up by actions. Resembling Hayley is one thing - and unavoidable. Looking enough like her in publcity shots to confuse a neutral observer is something else entirely.

At this point, Ms Marvelly has a big credibility gap in my opinion.

Jon

[thomas]

Here's a new blog entry from Elizabeth.

Wow, it's really 2008. I am still struggling to believe that Christmas and New Years are now over, although things are starting to become slightly frantic again, which, I admit, I'm quite happy about!

After returning from Hong Kong and Australia I spent Christmas with family and friends from all around the North Island. It was quite a busy time, however, as we arrived home from Auckland (where we'd flown in from Sydney) at the same time that family arrived from Lower Hutt. It was great to catch up with everyone though, as the festive period turned out to be quite social!

I performed four concerts between the 26th and the 31st of December at the Princes Gate Hotel (my home), which I think will be my last concerts there, as Accor Hotels have now taken over the management. It will always be my home though, so maybe in a few years I'll get to return to sing.

I've just returned from Auckland from a few days of meetings. Many exciting plans were spoken about for 2008 and I am now ready and raring to go (for want of a better phrase!).

I hope that you all are well and enjoying the summer!

Elizabeth x

Thomas

[stevemacdonald]

milewalker said:

...
At this point, Ms Marvelly has a big credibility gap in my opinion.

OMG, that's a truly harsh and cynical assessment to make, based on what basically amounts to a subjective perception of a superficial matter. People look like other people, especially if there's a similar ancestry and common cultural background. It so happens both Hayley and Elizabeth look like many other classy women their ages. Is it EM's fault that Hayley got out there first with "that" look in their common musical field? In an age where this sort of singing is an extreme rarity, I say give her a break and let her establish her cred with you by sheer talent, which she has in spades.

[milewalker]

Steve,

Please keep in mind that I am very seldom critical about anything unless I have some reason to care. Having said this, I probably was a little harsh on Elizabeth personally above - and it probably isnt really her fault.

I hate to see history repeating itself. It wasnt that long ago that EMI signed a very young singer (and encouraged comparisons to another young but very popular singer) who failed really through no fault of her own. She really wasnt all that similar as a singer - but she was fine in her own right. Her career never took off - in part because she was marketed as something she wasnt.- and first impressions mean a great deal.

I have spent some considerable time listening to what I can find of EM Steve, and as far as it goes I am quite impressed with her vocally. However, I think she is miscast to some extent as a crossover singer - she can sing that type of material but I dont think it is really her greatest strength - based on the admittedly limited stuff I have heard, the mainstream AC ballad was far more impressive. It might even be better than what Hayley could accomplish on the same song. However - maybe it is just my ears - but the Maori song seemed to bring out every vocal weakness she has.....

I think that EMI was trying to cash in on Hayley's success through every means they could - by having her sing songs which dont really fit her abilities, and also by emphasizing the fact that they really do look alike. That is a tragic waste of good talent in my opinion - and if that is cynical so be it....

In closing I would like to note that there is one thing about Elizabeth which doesnt remind me of Hayley at all - the sales track of that album. After only 5 weeks it is down into the 30's - one would think a local singer who really was supposed to be the next big thing would be able to outperform a Jim Reeves greatest hits album....

Jon

[comet]

Hi Folks,
The world music industry has changed so much that no one will ever beat the chart records made by Jim Reeves, Elvis or Cliff.

The music industry in the 60s and 70s had fewer official charts and was controlled by a small number of major record labels. Even the number of new songs entering the top 20 per week was often under 5, the same songs often remaining in the chart for 5 or maybe even 10 weeks.

So it is no embarrassment to be held down the chart by such a major success as Jim Reeves, so well done Elizabeth....

[milewalker]

Comet

Mr Reeves is very popular in America as well - and in fact is one of my all time favorite singers. This being said, he has been dead for well over 40 years. If Mario Lanza outcharted Josh Groban on the Billboard charts next week, or Patti Page outsold Carrie Underwood, wouldnt these things strike you as rather odd?

The above comment was only there for emphasis anyway - the point is that Elizabeth's album is currently number 32 after 5 weeks. This isnt a horrible performance, but it is also not a very exciting one. A whole lot of people bought the album the first week of release and then the sale dropped off sharply. That is exactly the pattern I would have expected. The comparison to Hayley stimulates sales initially - but when word of mouth spreads that she isnt in the same league, the album finds its real level.

I would like to add that it is my devout wish that she overcome this and go on to have a long and successful career. I am not trying to diss her - I simply have very little confidence in the ability (and at times the motivation of) EMI

Jon

[Steve H]

Fellow forum members!

I would like to remind all members of this forum that the original intention of this thread started by Belinda was to support Elizabeth, please remember that Elizabeth is a member of this forum, and as such deserves not to be criticised unfairly.

It is difficult enough for new singers to break through and we should be giving Elizabeth every bit of support we can. Please bear this in mind before posting any disrespectful or overtly critical personal comments in the future.

Steve H

[milewalker]

Steve H

I was under the impression that these forums were put here to discuss other singers. If we all were to say "you go girl" what on earth is there to discuss?

Belinda posted this thread to express an opinion. I have done so as well. If I have crossed the line personally, I would like to know specifically where and how. (I did acknowledge Steve comment to some degree above).

It is really a strange thing. I have been a practicing member of over a dozen like forums over the years - and in fact have moderated a few of them myself. I have been given more grief and criticism for the simple expression of opinion here than I have in all of the other forums combined.

For the record, in this thread specifically, I actually have been trying to support Elizabeth. I am not sure in my opinion that this should really make much difference though. Are you actually saying that if I happen to not care for a singer featured here that I cant make that case?

Respectfully submitted
Jon

[Dave]

Jon,

Steve did not say Elizabeth should not be criticised but that she should not be criticised unfairly. There is no problem in mentioning factual information, not even if it is disappointing (such as chart performance) nor is there any reason why we should not discuss things like Elizabeth's apparent resemblance to Hayley in publicity photos. But some of your speculation about the motives has crossed the line.

In politics, it is customary to give "new boys" the benefit of the doubt in their first 100 days and I think we owe that (at the very least) to Elizabeth. If you wish to discuss the practices and motives of artist management and record companies in general, Off Topic is probably the best board for it.

Comments like:

"I cant take [Elizabeth's] words too seriously when they are so obviously not backed up by actions."
"Ms Marvelly has a big credibility gap in my opinion."
"but when word of mouth spreads that she isn't in the same league [as Hayley]"

are harsh indeed, especially at this early stage in anyone's career. It is not surprising that some members see the thrust of your posts as being unfair, even cynical. Elizabeth is entitled to her "100 days" and we need to stop the negative speculation now, before anyone else is offended (as some in this thread seem to have been). Steve H pitched his post exactly right so let's leave it at that.

Dave