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Post by postscript on Feb 8, 2007 19:16:40 GMT
Hi all! I'm in a perverse mood and how more perverse can one get than to post here when we are anticipating 'Treasure'?
Periodically people post about their inability to do without their 'Hayley Therapy'. I certainly replaced the official relaxation therapy CDs one of my two consultant doctors prescribed for me with Hayley, Hayley, Hayley. However, apart from the occasional crisis, as I gradually move onwards, I leave them alone!
Am I falling out of love with Hayley? Certainly not. I have been fortunate of late (most of 2006) to have been able to attend a Hayley live experience at regular enough intervals as to enable me to carry that memory with me. Harrogate 'Christmas Presence' is still with me but I am beginning to feel, as I am sure Belinda (and others) in NZ must feel most of the time, very put out at not being with the grouping that will meet at Cadogan Hall later this month.
For some perverse quirk today, the opening of 'Pokarekare Ana' continually played throughout my morning session here. So what did I do afterwards but pull out the CD and proved that ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER! It all came back to me, the first time I heard her voice, sought out 'Pure' and played it for the first time.
Hearing it again today, it was as fresh as that first time and I can decide which of the tracks stand out for me as number one. 'Benedictus' and not because of Hayley! It was the arrangement and the crystal clarity of the brass, as pure as her voice. So, that was easy. But how do you select four more when all you have is Hayley, Hayley, Hayley from which to choose?
I've posted before that I used to go for the song, not the arrangement or the singer. With Hayley, she can sing anything and the range and diversity on 'Pure' is such that each is fresh and sparkling and unique in its own way.
I shall doubtless move on to 'Odyssey' before 'Treasure' and 'Celtic Treasure' become avalable, and they will carry me through to April when I will be at Cadogan Hall again and see Hayley live. Should just about get me through! In the mean time, I have a feeling 'Treasure' will really 'wow' me. 'Pure' is so fresh, exciting and engaging despite hearing it for the umpteenth time... and I know she has moved on from there!
Peter S.
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Post by meagan on Feb 8, 2007 19:47:27 GMT
My five favorite songs from Pure would have to be the following: 1. Across the Universe of Time 2. Who Painted the Moon Black 3. Beat of Your Heart 4. Pokarekare Ana (vocalise version) 5. Wuthering Heights or Heaven (I can't choose!  ) |
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Post by roger on Feb 8, 2007 20:24:59 GMT
I have posted twice before in this thread and, as predicted at the time, my favourites tend to vary. As of now, I would go for: 1. Pokarekare Ana 2. Hine e Hine 3. Wuthering Heights 4. Across the Universe of Time 5. Benedictus 6. Roger... Oh sorry, I mean... Roger  |
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Post by mj on Feb 10, 2007 20:18:21 GMT
Hard to choose!
Off the top of my head its gotta be
1. Across the Universe of Time
2. Hine e Hine
3. Heaven
4. Bridal Ballad
5. Pokekare Ana
Can't beat these I'd say!
Love and Light
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Post by mariannek on Feb 11, 2007 0:02:30 GMT
I have listened to PURE the other day after listening to ODYSSEY SE almost exclusively for a while !! And it amazed me as much as in the beginning ! Here are my favorite tracks : Never say Goodbye Benedictus Dark Waltz Amazing Grace In Trutina Of course all of PURE contains Hayley Magic for me any time !!! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifLove, Marianne  |
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Post by thomas on Feb 11, 2007 0:34:05 GMT
What are my 5 favorite tracks?  Let me see, there are 14 tracks on the album!  So, it's hard to choose. 1. Across the Universe of Time (the reason why I became a Hayley fan  ) 2. Wuthering Heights 3. Who painted the Moon black? (so wonderfully sung on Toast NZ) 4. Dark Waltz 5. Heaven But, honestly, I love them all. Thomas |
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Post by provider on Feb 14, 2007 23:39:02 GMT
I would say:
Wuthering Heights
Heaven
Dark Waltz
Pokarekare Ana
Benedictus
I wanted to post on this subject as one of my first entries because I had a conversion much like that described by Roger in his May 25, 2005 post. When I first heard Wuthering Heights I found it a bit off-putting, probably because it was so unexpected. Since that time I have become convinced that Hayley’s rendition is an extraordinary vocal tour de force. And she was how old when she recorded it? The original Kate Bush version is highly idiosyncratic and showcase’s Kate’s range (as well as her considerable dancing skills). But for pure lyrical wizardry, Hayley is unrivaled. We are in the presence of true greatness.
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Post by roger on Feb 15, 2007 0:17:28 GMT
Hi provider,
When Hayley recorded Pure (and therefore Wuthering Heights), she was still only 15. Hard to believe, isn't it?
Roger
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Post by provider on Feb 15, 2007 0:28:27 GMT
Hi provider, When Hayley recorded Pure (and therefore Wuthering Heights), she was still only 15. Hard to believe, isn't it? Roger Indeed. I just listened to it again, and what she achieves is the highest level of voice-as-instrument. If you close your eyes you can at times almost imagine an oboe or bassoon. It's magic. It's Hayley. |
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Post by roger on Feb 15, 2007 0:37:27 GMT
Yes, provider, you are right. I have "heard" numerous instruments in her voice but the most usual one for me is the flute.
Roger
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Post by toronado on Feb 15, 2007 1:03:28 GMT
I think my five would have to be:
Dark Waltz
Hine e Hine
Wuthering Heights (I absolutely love this book as well)
Amazing Grace
Beat of Your Heart
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Post by postscript on Feb 15, 2007 19:49:59 GMT
Have you read her biography The World at Her Feet, Provider? Available through Amazon. Highly recommended reading.
In that you will find that we nearly had a tearful Hayley as she battled determinedly against the highest 'suits' in Decca to retain that song. She was only fifteen at the time. 'Even her parents were wavering in their support for her and reckoning she should listen to the established experience. Decca gave in to her.
Later they had the grace to tell her she was right and they were wrong. 'Next time, we'll listen more attentively to you'. This could explain a later, much later, in fact quite a recent interview (I can't recall source) when she said that in effect she could do what she liked but that perhaps 'Decca might be a bit anxious if she went too far down that road' (what ever it was that had been asked of her at the time)!
I recommend the book where you will find that even with her talent, she nearly missed the boat on at least two occasions.
Peter S.
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Post by mj on Mar 1, 2007 10:26:02 GMT
Yes, provider, you are right. I have "heard" numerous instruments in her voice but the most usual one for me is the flute. Roger Flute! Where did that flutter in from! Would you care to explain how you hear a flute! Lol  |
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Post by roger on Mar 1, 2007 19:18:24 GMT
I would if I could, Mj, but it is impossible to describe in words. It is just that certain notes or phrases are so crystal clear and pure that the sound is similar to that of a flute. Perhaps I should get my hearing tested!  Roger |
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Post by socalboy on Mar 2, 2007 22:03:49 GMT
As a new member, I’m going to take a stab at this. My list – for now – would go like this:
Heaven
Dark Waltz
Who Painted the moon black
Wuthering Heights
Across the Universe of Time
I don’t know exactly what it is about Heaven – it’s probably nothing more than Hayley’s magic – but every time I hear her sing this song I get uncharacteristically misty-eyed. It’s interesting because Heaven does not showcase Hayley’s vocal range the way some others do, but it does underscore the emotive power of her unique voice. I sense that if I hear this song 20 years from now it will still transport and deeply affect me, and of course it will take me back to a time when…
Now on the other hand, Dark Waltz is Hayley’s voice in all its glory. If I were to pick a song to be Hayley’s anthem in the U.S. (a topic for another day) it would be this one. I think it was Steve McDonald in an earlier post who commented on her pronunciation of the last word “light.” I had the same reaction and would add that this is one of Hayley’s trademarks throughout – her complete articulation of lyrics that lesser singers garble or throw away. I am notoriously bad at understanding and remembering the lyrics to songs I hear. Hayley’s lyrics are the clearest I’ve ever encountered.
And just a word on Wuthering Heights. It was interesting to read the stories above on how she had to fight for this song. I must admit, if I had been there at the time I probably would have been on Decca’s side. But Hayley knows best. I just can’t believe how she pulled this off. I can’t think of anyone else who could. Hayley has honored the original and made it her own at the same time. And I must admit to a bit of perverse delight at hearing Hayley utter the words, “I hated you.” I can’t help but wonder where in her beautiful, young soul she had to reach for that one. Maybe she was thinking of the Decca executives. But like the song, she loves them too.
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