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Post by jons on May 24, 2007 16:53:22 GMT
Just to note one change, while she will never have operatic power, she still has much more now than she did five years ago. All traces of that youthful purity will be gone from her voice by age 25 - and that is unfortunate. Jon This is something thats makes Hayley's voice special to me - that she will never sing in an operatic way. Its the delicate tones in her voice and all the subtleties that I find special. Opera singers for me all sound the same (With the exception of Katherine Jenkins and one or two others). They sound muddled to me. Hayley's voice is going to change again, because she experiments, but I count my blessings that she will never sing opera. |
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Post by grant on May 24, 2007 18:07:03 GMT
I've been thinking about this thread and I don;t know the answer. Or if I do, I can't put it into words. Sure, Hayley's voice is beautiful, pure, soothing and whatever everyone else has said but that is true of quite a few singers. But there is just that special indefinable magic quality that makes it so special. Has anybody ever described it as distinctive? Roger Errr Roger! I think you just did!  Best wishes Grant |
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,700
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Post by Dave on May 24, 2007 18:14:18 GMT
Hi Jon and Jon,
I tend to go along with you Jon S in that it's the very fact that Hayley does not have power (or rarely uses what she has) and does not use operatic vibrato to any great extent... not even now, years later. Her singing is on the whole delicate, I love the tone of her voice and she rarely uses modern "pop" instruments or electronics for backing. The whole package sounds to my ears far more natural that it would be if she was a) formally trained and b) used anything other than traditional instruments for backing. Yes, that's what I like about Hayley's voice.
Note Jon (M) that I didn't mention purity of voice and therefore, if she loses (or has lost) that, which I knew at the time was temporary, it won't detract (hasn't detracted) from my enjoyment of it. I think I will like it just as much when Hayley is aged 25 or 35, if she still sings a similar kind of music in a similar "natural" way and with traditional backing instrumentation.
I think it's worth mentioning Sissel Kyrkjebø: she is in her thirties and I still love the sound of her voice (on the right material) almost as much as Hayley's and the two of them are for me on a vocal plane well above most other singer that I know. Though, it must be admitted, as primarily a pop singer, Sissel's voice is stronger and also has probably taken 'more of a bashing' than Hayley's will have done by the age of thirty... well I hope so!
Cheers, Dave
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Post by milewalker on May 24, 2007 19:06:22 GMT
Perhaps Dave,
It is simply when I look at Pure and now, and compare the numbers, I cant help but suspect that this is in fact created by several different factors.
I should perhaps emphasize that the reason I am here is that I too love her voice. I hope I am still listening to Ms Westenra when I am 80 years old....
Jon
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Post by mariannek on May 25, 2007 4:49:03 GMT
I've been thinking about this thread and I don;t know the answer. Or if I do, I can't put it into words. Sure, Hayley's voice is beautiful, pure, soothing and whatever everyone else has said but that is true of quite a few singers. But there is just that special indefinable magic quality that makes it so special. Has anybody ever described it as distinctive? Roger Errr Roger! I think you just did! Best wishes Grant Roger... why can't I call it Unique ? I just did, didn't I... Grant ? Love, Marianne  |
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Post by mariannek on May 25, 2007 4:53:24 GMT
Perhaps Dave, It is simply when I look at Pure and now, and compare the numbers, I cant help but suspect that this is in fact created by several different factors. I should perhaps emphasize that the reason I am here is that I too love her voice. I hope I am still listening to Ms Westenra when I am 80 years old.... Jon Jon, I am sure if I get to 80 I will definitely still be listening to Hayley ! Love, Marianne |
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Post by Richard on May 25, 2007 8:01:39 GMT
Hello everybody! I was very impressed with Natasha Marsh's voice at the Classical Brit Awards earlier this month. She is several years older than Hayley and classically trained, but I think Hayley could sound more like her as she gets older.  Best Wishes, Richard  |
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Post by grant on May 25, 2007 8:59:37 GMT
Roger... why can't I call it Unique ? I just did, didn't I... Grant ? Love, Marianne Ummm ..... I guess you did Marianne  Best wishes Grant |
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Post by grant on May 25, 2007 9:29:47 GMT
Perhaps Dave, It is simply when I look at Pure and now, and compare the numbers, I cant help but suspect that this is in fact created by several different factors. I should perhaps emphasize that the reason I am here is that I too love her voice. I hope I am still listening to Ms Westenra when I am 80 years old.... Jon Jon, I am sure if I get to 80 I will definitely still be listening to Hayley ! Love, Marianne Blimey!! Hayley will be 41 when (if :  I reach 80!! If I'm still collecting I'll need to build an extension onto my house!  Best wishes Grant |
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Post by postscript on May 25, 2007 10:11:06 GMT
I've been thinking about this thread and I don;t know the answer. Or if I do, I can't put it into words. Sure, Hayley's voice is beautiful, pure, soothing and whatever everyone else has said but that is true of quite a few singers. But there is just that special indefinable magic quality that makes it so special. Has anybody ever described it as distinctive? Roger Here's Postscript's attempt at being succinct. Why not, simply, 'unique'? Peter S. |
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Post by jons on May 25, 2007 15:11:48 GMT
I think I might be blessed! I always try to explain what I hear when Hayley sings but I can't really explain it so people understand. As an example; on the song 'Sonny' I here a texture on Hayley's whispering vocals; its a bit like a sandpaper being applied really smoothly, I'm sure its Hayley and not the recording but I and can listen to that song (which is a beautiful song.) just to hear that phenomenon and I bet no-one know what I'm on about! I know my hearing's good, maybe I can hear extra subtleties. When Hayley sings hymns and carols theres a belief in Hayley's voice which I can't describe and has had the effect of bringing me closer to God (I hope its ok to mention that, I've only just plucked up the courage to say it). Hayley's voice is not one, its many. I got giddy after hearing the sample to 'Time To Say Goodbye'. Its exciting to hear Hayley sing a new song, more exciting than hearing any other artist sing a new song.  |
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Post by Andrew on May 25, 2007 15:35:16 GMT
I think I might be blessed! I always try to explain what I hear when Hayley sings but I can't really explain it so people understand. As an example; on the song 'Sonny' I here a texture on Hayley's whispering vocals; its a bit like a sandpaper being applied really smoothly, I'm sure its Hayley and not the recording but I and can listen to that song (which is a beautiful song.) just to hear that phenomenon and I bet no-one know what I'm on about! I know my hearing's good, maybe I can hear extra subtleties. When Hayley sings hymns and carols theres a belief in Hayley's voice which I can't describe and has had the effect of bringing me closer to God (I hope its ok to mention that, I've only just plucked up the courage to say it). Hayley's voice is not one, its many. I got giddy after hearing the sample to 'Time To Say Goodbye'. Its exciting to hear Hayley sing a new song, more exciting than hearing any other artist sing a new song. Hi Jon, You've made some very interesting comments here... I'm not sure I wholeheartedly agree with your "sandpaper" analogy (no matter how lightly it is applied! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif LOL ) If you'd said "soft polishing cloth" well that might have been different... i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif At the end of the day though I'm sure we could shake hands in agreement that Hayley always delivers a "smooth and polished" performance!!! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifRe: your comments about Hayley's voice bringing you closer to God... Well "Amen!" brother.. I'm really glad you shared that comment because I'm right there with you... I receive a great comfort from listening to Hayley's voice which I know is a God given gift to her which she chooses to share with the world. I'm just SO thankful that Hayley seems to acknowledge her gift and strives to live a lifestyle which is such a great testimony to her God. 'Whispering Hope' is such an incredibly "warm" song. I pray that one day I might witness Hayley singing that song live with a Gospel choir backing accompaniment! WOW... I hope to see Hayley live in Scotland in September. What a wonderful 34th birthday present that will be! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifAndrew  |
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Post by comet on May 25, 2007 15:44:15 GMT
Hi Jon and Andrew.
YES, Yes this is what I was after, not a specific answer, this un definable quality,
this description of the magical quality, the effect rather than some solid answer,
Whispering hope is magical alright I often hit repeat on that one
comet
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Post by jons on May 25, 2007 16:00:28 GMT
Hi Jon, You've made some very interesting comments here... I'm not sure I wholeheartedly agree with your "sandpaper" analogy (no matter how lightly it is applied! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif LOL ) If you'd said "soft polishing cloth" well that might have been different... Hi Andrew, thats is actually what I meant to say! I think what I meant was the texture in Hayley's voice was being smoothed by sandpaper...err...well something like that! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Its smooth anyway, and remarkable, like you said. I can listen to 'Silent Night' etc any time of the year. In fact 'Away In A Manger' perfectly demonstrates the gentleness in Hayley's voice, its probably the most gentle I've heard Hayley sing and fits a song about baby Jesus perfectly. |
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Post by milewalker on May 25, 2007 19:27:40 GMT
[quote author=andrew board=Miscellaneous thread=1179932939 post=1180107316. I receive a great comfort from listening to Hayley's voice which I know is a God given gift to her which she chooses to share with the world. I'm just SO thankful that Hayley seems to acknowledge her gift and strives to live a lifestyle which is such a great testimony to her God.
[/quote]
Hi Andrew,
I am merely curious about something here. What exactly does Hayley's faith/lifestyle have to do directly with her voice? If she didnt have such a lifestyle, would that mean you would enjoy her less? Wouldnt it still be the same voice?
Speaking personally, I buy her records because I love her voice, and I tend to like much of the music she sings. I do not intend to nominate her for sainthood (after all, however sincere her religious views may be, she has never to my knowledge actually shared them. They are quite likely different from mine anyway., Neither do I intend to vote for her (after all her political positions are quite likely different from mine). Neither do I personally care a whit about her lifestyle, which is entirely her business until and unless she decides to share it.
It might be good to note here, that none of us have ever seen anything but the public face of Hayley. I am not saying this to detract from her in any way - however, because of that fact I see no evidence to draw any conclusions whatsoever.
Jon
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I reach 80!! If I'm still collecting I'll need to build an extension onto my house! 
