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Post by Richard on Feb 4, 2005 8:44:43 GMT
Hello fellow Hayley fans, and lady fans as well!
I'm not a great lover of Walt Disney cartoons, so I've only bought the Soundtrack CD of "Mulan 2", which features Hayley singing "Here Beside Me". I wish she was, but with Hayley dreams do come true!
The song is a haunting ballad, slightly reminiscent of "My Heart and I", and the strength and purity of Hayley's voice ensure that she stands out clearly from the full orchestral backing. There are many soaring high notes, and Hayley scores a perfect 6 for vocal gymnastics!
The song is only two and a half minutes long, but I was floating in the clouds by the end, only to come crashing back down to earth when Atomic Kitten thundered in with the next track, "I Wanna Be Like Other Girls". Perhaps if they were like.... No, there's only one Hayley Westenra!
I'm not going to say much about the rest of the CD, but the last track is an instrumental version of "Here Beside Me". Comparing the two versions clearly demonstrates how Hayley's singing can stir the emotions more than a full orchestra. Well done Hayley!
There's no doubt in my mind that Hayley's voice suits many different musical styles, so I see no reason why she should specialise in any particular field just yet, if ever. I also think her CDs should carry a Government Health Warning - "Hayley's voice can seriously improve your health and well-being"!
I'm glad I'm a Hayley fan!
Bye for now,
Richard
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Post by roger on Aug 24, 2005 15:41:31 GMT
This has just arrived as a Google News Alert. www.musicfromthemovies.com/review.asp?ID=5285I have emboldened the most relevant passages! Roger Mulan II Composer : Joel McNeely Label / No. : Walt Disney Records 61257-7 Year of release : 2004 CD release: 2004 Total duration : 31:46 Reviewed by: Kevin McGann This is really much better than anyone could ever have expected. Although I have not seen this 'straight to DVD' animated sequel to the epic, Goldsmith scored, original, the music and songs continue in a very similar vein to their predecessor. The opening number, ‘Lesson Number One’, would have slotted into the original seamlessly, so close is it in style and execution to the first movie's songs. Indeed, the other songs on this CD are all as good, if not better, than those featured in the first movie (or bad, depending on your opinion of the original's songs). ‘Like Other Girls’ is your teenage/girl/rebellion sing-a-long (which also gets a pop version by Liverpool's very own Atomic Kitten - not as painful as you think). ‘Here Beside Me’ is a strong ballad sung by Hayley Westenra from a theme by Joel McNeely. They all feature strong vocal performances and lush orchestration in the finest Disney tradition. The most disappointing song is a ‘A Girl Worth Fighting For’ (Redux), which is very inferior to the original version from Mulan. There is about 18 minutes of score, all of which is some of the best writing we've heard from McNeely in quite some time. The brief ‘Main Title’ is, quite simply, a great piece of music featuring choir and erhu over lush orchestra. ‘Here Beside Me’ (both song and instrumental) is as good as anything John Williams writes (this wouldn't be McNeely without the Williams references). ‘The Journey Begins’ continues with more soaring orchestra/choir/erhu before segueing into some Prokofiev inspired comedy scoring. ‘In Love And In Trouble’ features some cool low-end piano, recalling the much missed Jerry Goldsmith. ‘The Attack’ is fast and furious action scoring, with lots of pounding drums and blasting brass; very exciting indeed. ‘Shang Lives’ interpolates the melodies from the songs within the fabric of the score, as do the aforementioned McNeely tracks, lending the CD a wonderful cohesion. The disc ends with the instrumental version of ‘Here Beside Me’, a stunning piece of, as mentioned, John Williams-style writing.It's a shame Joel McNeely doesn't get more high profile gigs. I do feel he has more potential than John Debney, who he entered the scene with but has since fallen behind in the A-list title stakes. There is such a waste of talent at the moment in Hollywood. |
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Post by roger on Aug 24, 2005 15:45:12 GMT
We have seen Richard's post about 'Here Beside Me' but does anyone else have it? If so, what do you think of it? I am ashamed to admit that I have never heard it.  Roger |
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Post by Raymond on Aug 24, 2005 15:51:02 GMT
We have seen Richard's post about 'Here Beside Me' but does anyone else have it? If so, what do you think of it? I am ashamed to admit that I have never heard it. Roger I have never heard of it too. But I find the lyrics. Here Beside Me I'll show you wealth You've never seen The sun and moon and shadows The rainbow's arch, the mountain stream The sunless clouds And the winter's dream I'll play you sounds You've never heard The waterfall, the river The thunder of the hummingbird The whisper of the snow What if you never know How much you cared Till you are parted Like stormy sea How could I let you go? How could I have My life without you Be with me! The world's a door That's open wide Because you're here beside me And with the moon and sun To guide me Now my heart Can fly Now our hearts Can be freeeeeeee! |
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Post by Richard on Aug 24, 2005 15:57:25 GMT
Hello Roger!  Thank you for the interesting review. I have to admit I've really only listened to "Here Beside Me" all the way through, and just skipped through the rest of the album, which didn't do a lot for me. Hayley's singing is definitely the outstanding feature of the CD. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifBye for now, Richard  |
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Post by roger on Aug 24, 2005 16:05:40 GMT
I have never heard of it too. But I find the lyrics. .......The thunder of the hummingbird....... Well done for finding the lyric Raymond. They are nice words but... "The thunder of the hummingbird"? Really?  Roger |
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Post by Raymond on Aug 24, 2005 16:18:11 GMT
I have never heard of it too. But I find the lyrics. .......The thunder of the hummingbird....... Well done for finding the lyric Raymond. They are nice words but... "The thunder of the hummingbird"? Really? Roger I also think it is strange, but maybe it is an idiomatic expression. |
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Post by Raymond on Aug 25, 2005 15:10:24 GMT
I have just found that you can listen to a sample of this song here. tinyurl.com/7mdhfI hear that it is really the thunder of the hummingbird, but I still don't know the meaning. |
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Post by Raymond on Aug 25, 2005 15:13:01 GMT
I don't know how to fix the link, please help me. Thanks.
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HWI
Administrator
For Hayley Fans Everywhere
Posts: 865 
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Post by HWI on Aug 25, 2005 15:23:11 GMT
Hi Raymond, Try that now. Keith. |
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Post by Raymond on Aug 25, 2005 15:28:59 GMT
Hi Raymond, Try that now. Keith. Thank you, Keith.  |
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Holger
Junior Member 
Posts: 60
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Post by Holger on Aug 26, 2005 20:53:01 GMT
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Post by Raymond on Aug 27, 2005 16:09:44 GMT
Thank you. |
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Post by roger on Oct 3, 2005 18:48:30 GMT
We have seen Richard's post about 'Here Beside Me' but does anyone else have it? If so, what do you think of it? I am ashamed to admit that I have never heard it. Roger Well, I've heard it now! Thanks to Richard for leading me towards the CD in HMV last week. I've only just got around to playing it!!! There is something about the dramatic melody line that screams "this is film soundtrack material". Of course, Hayley's vocal is superb but the song itself, for me, is not the best she has ever done. But I had to buy it in an attempt to keep my Hayley collection as complete as possible, didn't I?  Roger |
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Post by Richard on Oct 4, 2005 10:56:52 GMT
Hello Roger! I have to admit, I've never listened to the whole album all the way through, only Hayley's song and little snippets of the others. I do like the way Hayley's voice stands out from the big backing, and it is easily the best track on the album. I'm not a great lover of Disney films or their music. I much prefer the Bridal Ballad from the Merchant of Venice, especially since I've heard Hayley sing it live a couple of times. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifBest Wishes, Richard |
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