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Post by martindn on Dec 19, 2007 22:09:39 GMT
I don't know quite how to put my feelings in words, but I'll have a go. I have an uneasy feeling about how, after a very busy and successful year for Hayley, with Treasure. CW and WSS, she has absolutely no publicity at all for Christmas. Yes, I know she is taking a well earned rest back in NZ, and I certainly wish her a very happy Christmas with her family. I suspect that when she is home, for her, her international success will feel like fairyland. I know how I felt, when , not much older than her, my career became international. Home was the reality, and when I was there all the foreign places felt unreal.
I think the problem is that for a Christian artist like Hayley, Christmas is an important time, and I see people like Katherine and Aled everywhere. Perhaps she needed to record a Christmas record, an album or even a single. I could suggest a recording of "O Holy Night" with Blake for example. The reviews of this from her Croydon concert are very positive.
Who knows, she might even, given the right song and enough publicity, be able to break the dominance of the Christmas no 1 single by the X Factor winner. This year's can't even sing in tune (in my opinion of course - after all most singers sound out of tune after listening to Hayley ).
I think a blockbuster Christmas song, sung by Hayley could take the country and perhaps the world by storm, and become a Christmas standard. It would have the magic ingredient that is missing from so many Christmas songs, QUALITY.
Christmas is perhaps the best opportunity for Hayley to break through and achieve the recognition that her talent deserves. Too late for this year, but perhaps next...
Does anyone else here share my feelings?
Martin
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Post by Belinda on Dec 20, 2007 8:46:29 GMT
Hi Martin, I agree there should be a Christmas Cd, i would love a Christmas DVD but i think we are more likely to get a Cd. There is a poll over at HW.com forum Should Hayley record a Christmas Cd Christmas CD Pollalso you can leave Hayley a Xmas message Leave Hayley a Xmas MessageBelinda |
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Post by gra7890 on Dec 20, 2007 11:17:47 GMT
Hi Martin,
I can see where you are coming from and agree up to a point.!
Would a Christmas release demand lots of follow up appearances and publicity shoots in the U.K around Christmas ?
If so I hope its a no from Hayley. One of her great appeals is that she will not 'go for broke' to gain success at any cost. Her family and her roots a vital to her and, I for one greatly admire her for that. Christmas and home and family are part of that.
Yes, we all want success for Hayley as I am sure she does for herself , but not at any cost., some things are more important.
On the other hand if a Christmas release would 'take care of itself' then fine, but would it ?
Best Wishes, Graham
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Post by Belinda on Dec 20, 2007 11:39:31 GMT
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Post by grant on Dec 20, 2007 11:46:56 GMT
One of her great appeals is that she will not 'go for broke' to gain success at any cost. Her family and her roots a vital to her Hi Graham I think you've hit the nail very squarely on the head, I don't believe Hayley would ever give up Christmas with her family for an extra 'bite' at success. Closeness to, and love of her family is what makes Hayley the person she is and, although I wish her all the success in the world, I hope that never changes. Best wishes Grant |
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Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
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Post by Martin on Dec 20, 2007 12:10:08 GMT
Hi Martin
I would tend to agree with you particularly with a recording such as "O Holy Night". I have felt for some time that Hayley needs more media exposure in the UK (and Worldwide) so what better time than at Christmas?
Also, all promotional material could be recorded well in advance without infringing on this private time for her and the family .
Happy Xmas
Martin
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Post by Nordly on Dec 20, 2007 12:11:23 GMT
Has anyone forgotten that Hayley aleady HAS a Christmas album called My Gift To You?? It's kinda rare, but she still does have one!
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Post by roger on Dec 20, 2007 12:22:50 GMT
Of course, the release of a Christmas album or single isn't the only option. As has been acknowledged, Hayley needs some time out with her family and there is no better time to take it (from her point of view) than Christmas. An alternative suggestion to a recording would be for her to appear on Christmas television programmes, virtually all of which are pre-recorded and require no involvement from her to publicize them when the time comes. Nevertheless, her name would be seen and her voice would be heard all over the Christmas and New Year period... while she was lazing around on the beach!  Roger |
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Post by roger on Dec 20, 2007 12:25:18 GMT
Has anyone forgotten that Hayley aleady HAS a Christmas album called My Gift To You?? Hi Northern Lights, I'm sure none of her established fans have forgotten about MGTY, but other people who don't follow Hayley as closely as we do may be unaware of it. It is them that need to be targeted. Also, that album is a few years old now and I suspect a new one would prove very popular. Roger |
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Post by Richard on Dec 20, 2007 14:31:35 GMT
Hello everybody!  I'm sure Hayley will release another Christmas album in due course, and I hope it will be in a similar style to 'My Gift To You', which includes several tracks that can be enjoyed all year round. I like the way Hayley sings 'Mary Did You Know?' in her concerts whenever she wants to, not just at Christmas.  Best Wishes, Richard |
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
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Post by Dave on Dec 20, 2007 15:03:00 GMT
Hi guys, The problem is that in the UK, Christmas albums don't sell well. The only artist 'Christmas' album in the top 75 is the Choirboys "Carols" and that's gone down to no. 75 this week (Paul Potts is higher but it's the original album plus a few Christmas bonus tracks). Josh Groban's "Noel" finally scraped into the top 100 this week at no. 96 but sold less than 5,000 copies compared to over half a million in the US. He'll climb this week due to Christmas week and the publicity from his massive US sales but only to the 40s or 50s. In NZ top 40, I can see one Christmas Album (Boney M so an old one) and Josh is nowhere (is Noel released in NZ?) Hayley's My Gift To You is her only NZ album not to reach no.1 (peaked at no. 4) and is her lowest selling album there. The US Billboard 200 is full of Christmas Artist albums but things are different in the UK and NZ so sadly, I can't see Hayley releasing another one.  More likely is that she will release more Special Editions, which add a few Christmas songs as bonus tracks and would add some useful sales to an album released earlier in the year. Maybe a Christmas single, however, singles by Classical Crossover singers don't get in the charts - because they don't get played on the radio! But you never can be sure of these things, and we can still dream about it! Cheers, Dave |
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Post by Mark on Dec 20, 2007 16:59:48 GMT
Hi Dave & everyone Thanks for the reality check Dave. Its a sad fact that we just don't buy Christmas albums in any great quantity here in the UK. I can remember back in the 1970's and early 80's when singles were vinyl and sold in huge numbers back then compared with now (or so I believe), I certainly bought a few Christmas singles that I liked. They were inexpensive compared to 12 inch albums. If this were still the case today, I suspect that many more artists in the UK would release one off songs at Christmas time. Since vinyl turned to cassette and then to CD, I haven't purchased one single single - if you see what I mean  Best regards Mark |
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Post by stevemacdonald on Dec 20, 2007 18:23:01 GMT
It just so happens that the BEST Christmas song ever done by any singer in ALL of recording history is Hayley's own "Silent Night" from the Australian Special Bonus Edition of Pure. Her voice has never sounded lovelier and she gave this song a folksy-country feel that would appeal to many Americans if they ever had a chance to hear it.
Having said that, I would strongly suggest that a few carefully chosen Hayley Xmas songs be part of a future compilation by various artists and marketed exclusively to the USA. Actually, I would include only two of her songs: the version of "Silent Night" mentioned above, and the original version of "Mary Did You Know" from My Gift To You which is actually better than the later recorded version.
I would also include "What Child is This" and "Dra Tua Bethlehem" from Charlotte Church's Dream a Dream which is no longer available in the States. Sissel's "Like An Angel Passing Through My Room" wouldn't be bad either.
The deal is, some singers are capable of delivering the definitve renditions of certain Xmas songs and so far no one's succeeded in matching those singers and songs together into a definitive collection. It's about time they did, and Hayley's two definitive songs should be included.
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Post by milewalker on Dec 21, 2007 1:52:09 GMT
Actually, I would include only two of her songs: the version of "Silent Night" mentioned above, and the original version of "Mary Did You Know" from My Gift To You which is actually better than the later recorded version. I understand to some degree why you feel this was better than the subsequent effort was Steve, but I have to quibble. The high notes on MGTY in general sounded shrill to me - not only in this song ("we can be free") This could be because her voice had not yet fully matured, or maybe just because the recording quality was poor. Whatever the reason, I found the live version of this song done for the Live From NewZealand concert much easier on my ears. Actually of all of Hayley's work -I have the five main releases. the DVD, and a couple of the sub releases- MGTY is my least favorite by a wide margin. It is not a bad album, and in fact at the time (before I heard the older Hayley on some of the same material) I probably felt it more praiseworthy than I do now. Jon |
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Post by Belinda on Dec 21, 2007 2:09:47 GMT
MGTY
is about 6 years old now i think a wonderful effort by a 14 year old
Belinda
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More likely is that she will release more Special Editions, which add a few Christmas songs as bonus tracks and would add some useful sales to an album released earlier in the year. Maybe a Christmas single, however, singles by Classical Crossover singers don't get in the charts - because they don't get played on the radio!
