|
|
Post by gareth on Nov 7, 2005 21:35:08 GMT
Hi all,
I have ordered Hayley's "Odyssey", Becky Taylor's "By Your Side" and Katherine's "Living A Dream". I had been wondering where I should psot this thread - I decided to put it here.
Let me first of all comment about Becky's By Your Side. On the whole, it; is too poppy to my liking - yet it has two outstanding tracks which gave me great delight: "You Raise Me Up" and "The Blue Bird". They are two tracks that caused me to sit up and listen to them and enjoy with thorough delight. If Becky can put on two of those tracks on every future album she produces, she has my support.
Now, my observations about Odyssey. Is anyone surprised that Odyssey isn't doing as well as Pure? I am not. I'm very sorry - but I think Odyssey is bland, all much of a muchness. There is not a single track on this album that really stands out. It is all very nice easy listening - and that's what I will use the album for. Listen to very, very pleasant background without being disturbed by unexpected surprises.
Which brings me to Living A Dream ....
An album I find far superior to even Pure - and that's why I put the review here. It's seldom I have heard so much sensational, spine-tingling and adventuous music pressed together on the one album. There were two songs on Becky's Living a Dream that were able to move me. There wasn't a single song on Odyssey that had (at least to me), the same power - but Katherine's album pushed me from one emotion to the next.
It is by a mile the best album I bought.
Hayley - you do have an extraordinary voice - but please take a note out of Katherine's book - and be a bit more adventurous with your next album ....
|
|
|
|
Post by kcuteus1 on Nov 7, 2005 22:50:28 GMT
Hi all, I have ordered Hayley's "Odyssey", Becky Taylor's "By Your Side" and Katherine's "Living A Dream". I had been wondering where I should psot this thread - I decided to put it here. Let me first of all comment about Becky's By Your Side. On the whole, it; is too poppy to my liking - yet it has two outstanding tracks which gave me great delight: "You Raise Me Up" and "The Blue Bird". They are two tracks that caused me to sit up and listen to them and enjoy with thorough delight. If Becky can put on two of those tracks on every future album she produces, she has my support. Now, my observations about Odyssey. Is anyone surprised that Odyssey isn't doing as well as Pure? I am not. I'm very sorry - but I think Odyssey is bland, all much of a muchness. There is not a single track on this album that really stands out. It is all very nice easy listening - and that's what I will use the album for. Listen to very, very pleasant background without being disturbed by unexpected surprises. Which brings me to Living A Dream .... An album I find far superior to even Pure - and that's why I put the review here. It's seldom I have heard so much sensational, spine-tingling and adventuous music pressed together on the one album. There were two songs on Becky's Living a Dream that were able to move me. There wasn't a single song on Odyssey that had (at least to me), the same power - but Katherine's album pushed me from one emotion to the next. It is by a mile the best album I bought. Hayley - you do have an extraordinary voice - but please take a note out of Katherine's book - and be a bit more adventurous with your next album .... GerritK , You have alot of the same feeling I have about theses cds. Becky cd it is very nice but It is also a little to popp for my tease but there are some songs that she does very good. Odyssey I am also not surprised that it is not doing as well as Pure. And I also think that it is kind of bland as I hear it more and yes there is not a stand out track her voice is very nice on the cd but that is not all what music is about . Now Prue did have a standout track this cd just does not. Living A Dream Now what can I say about this cd. It is a great cd and very moving and I just can not stop playing it or playing songs from it . I am not surprised that it is doing so well it should be. There are so many songs on it that are great and moving. And it has alof of standout songs songs that can get you in. My favs on it are Ti Amero Per Sempre (I Will Always Love You), Canto Della Terra,Cinema Paradiso (Se),Don't Stand At My Grave And Weep,David Of The White Rock,Don't Cry For Me Argentina , one fine day, Nessun dorma, and you are my marioal. |
|
|
|
Post by Natasha on Nov 7, 2005 23:07:50 GMT
To be honest, Katherine Jenkins NEVER moves me. Her voice is beautiful but in my opinion not the rarest or most beautiful. Another fact that I don't like about her is that she's made it where she is today on the basis of her good looks. You might disagree but I happen to believe that if Katherine had been a chubby or ugly singer she would never have gotten anywhere. Its really her beauty (I think) and the way she dresses that's selling her. Hayley and Becky on the other hand are artists I think we can all agree we would admire and buy whether or not they had good looks or any looks at all; when you listen to them its all about the voice. In general I prefer younger artists to the older ones and I think Hayley and Becky are artists that will stay with us no matter what. If Katherine however, was to lose her looks, I wonder how long she'd be around. So there's my bit, lol. I'm looking forward to reading everyone else's comments!  Hugs,
Natasha |
|
|
|
Post by kcuteus1 on Nov 7, 2005 23:15:36 GMT
Natasha ,
I have to disargee with you on this. But that is how I feel I am storry to say this but Hayley does not really move me it is not just on Odyssey that I am not moved that much it is also Pure and her other cds and I do not know why I like her but I do and I do not feel hayleys vocie is that different I heard alot of people that have a voice like that. And I like Katherine for her voice and I know most of her fans do.
It is hard for a singer to move me so Katherine being able to do that is something that makes me really like here. But not everyone is the same or think the same way. I happen to like Katherine songs and her style in music more than Hayley.
I also like Katherine because she cares about her fans and she takes time out to post on her Froum and keep her fans up to date when she is very buzy she works hard so to say that it is just her looks is not right. Some of it may be that but not all.
I feel that Katherine works very hard she had to work for what she has like most singers do.
I am storry but I do not she alot of the stuff that some of you see in Hayley. And becky she has a nice voice but does not do much for me so do not make it like we all feel the same way about Hayley and becky.
|
|
|
|
Post by gareth on Nov 7, 2005 23:48:28 GMT
Hi Natasha,
Well, I think that to put a girl's looks as the foundation for her success is rather shallow. I doubt if Katherine's Living A Dream will match the success of Pure - but Odyssey won't stand a chance. Katherine started with Premiere - her next album Second Nature was a vast improvement. And her third album is a quantum leap. That has nothing to do just being a female beauty - that just doesn't account for such improvement. It may account for significant better marketing though, as well as for the fact that Katherine is from the UK , and Hayley is not.
It simply doesn't account for the fact that Katherine is progressing, while Hayley is most definitely regressing at the moment. There's more to that than just good looks.
And now, if we are comparing Katherine, Hayley and Becky, surely, Natasha, you don't want to suggest that Becky's comparatively poor results with Katherine and Hayley are down to her looks?
Put it simply Natasha, feel free to dislike Katherine's voice - but don't come up wit a tabloid argument that it is all down to her good looks. Good looks alone simply don't account for nearly 50,000 album sales in one week.
Gerrit
|
|
|
|
Post by kcuteus1 on Nov 7, 2005 23:53:14 GMT
Katherine Is progressing.
|
|
Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,699
|
Post by Dave on Nov 8, 2005 0:42:13 GMT
It simply doesn't account for the fact that Katherine is progressing, while Hayley is most definitely regressing at the moment. Gerrit Well Gerrit, you've certainly started something here!  I was going to keep out of this until I'd heard Katherine's album a few more times (only once, so far) but now, you have forced my hand! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Why? Well, that statement of yours, quoted above is, in my opinion, precisely 50% wrong! I feel strongly that both Hayley and Katherine have progressed... but in different directions! Katherine may be heading towards becoming the female Josh Groban, or a solo "Il Divo". Hayley is heading in another direction altogether. However, you don't have to look far to see which style sells most albums. If that's what it's all about, Katherine wins this time around and possibly, will always win in the future - but that does not necessarily mean that her album is better than Odyssey. My initial impression is that it isn't better - but that it IS "bigger" and it sounds more impressive. So is Josh Groban's "Closer" and "Il Divo - but I haven't been moved to buy either of them. Katherine is ahead of both of them in my eyes - but she has yet to prove her ability to sing well the kind of delicate songs that I love - though she is clearly very good at doing the "big" songs. But Katherine by her choice of songs and arias invites comparison with the best Opera singers yet she is as yet nowhere near as good as them (male or female). Neither is Hayley - but Hayley freely admits she is NOT operatic, not even classical, strictly speaking. Katherine may in fact accumulate the kind of sales with Living A Dream that "Pure" has racked up in the UK (probably not Worldwide though) - but you will never be able to compare the two directly, they are as different as chalk and cheese - the same is true of Odyssey. So what's the bottom line? Well... I will post a review of Living a Dream in a week or so when I am thoroughly familiar with it (yes, I do like it!) but for the moment, Odyssey (UK version) matches my taste in music more closely than does Living A Dream. Regarding Becky, I think Katherine and Hayley are altogether in a higher league commercially than Becky but from what little I've heard I think her voice and styles may be closer to where Hayley is headed with the International/US Odyssey than to Katherine. Most important of all, I don't have her albums... in fact, with that admission, I am hardly qualified to judge - so I'll stop right now... Memo to self: Find out more about Becky!!! Cheers, Dave |
|
|
|
Post by kcuteus1 on Nov 8, 2005 1:09:41 GMT
I personly like Living a dream more than Odyssey but that is because I like the songs more . And I also like it how with one of the bouse tracks we were able to hear this new classical crossover singer who I think is going to be big .
|
|
|
|
Post by Natasha on Nov 8, 2005 3:26:19 GMT
Just to clarify I didn't want to make anyone upset, lol. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif But I hang on to my belief that it's Katherine's looks that have got her where she is today - and that's not to say that Katherine doesn't have talent because she does. I just don't happen to believe that Katherine has the unique voice of Hayley or Becky and of course to each his own!  That's what makes us humans great; we have the ability to be different to think anything we want to! Just imagine how boring the world would be if we all thought a like!  Hugs, Natasha |
|
|
|
Post by stephch on Nov 8, 2005 3:50:28 GMT
Gerrit,I am with you on this one I have as of yet put a review up of odyessy as I do not really know what to think about it other then it is bland and I do not think Hayley has a unique voice .I like Becky taylor's by your side but it is far too poppy for my taste now Katherine's living a dream on the other hand is my taste but at the same time I have to agree with Dave that Katherine is beginning to become a female Josh Groban or solo Il DIVO but I do think she would do the opera stage sometime but not now.While I feel Hayley is more like micheal ball ,hayley needs to take risk's.But it is all a matter of taste.
|
|
|
|
Post by nicola on Nov 8, 2005 7:26:15 GMT
I'm with Gerrit here. But I even like 'By Your Side' more than 'Odyssey'. I haven't played that album since I first got it, it's far to boring. As for Katherine - I like Katherine but her music doesn't really suit my tastes and I must admit (for Natashas sake) that her appearence really appeals to me and it's the only reason by best friend (who is male) will go to one of her concerts with me. My parents went with me to a classical festival where I went to see Keedie, yet Katherine was there too. Who did my parents prefer? Katherine. Why? My Mum really liked her because she was so photogenic and my Dad just stared at her. Neither of them liked Keedie (who in my opinion out strips any other classical crossover singer in singing talent). I don't think Natasha is saying that her beauty is the only factor for her sales but I must agree that if Katherine wasn't as beautiful as she is she would have sold less. I know in my house hold alone she would 3 copies down of sales - for I wouldn't haven't given her a chance. Sounds shallow yes - but her first album was nothing special therefore did not make a big impression. I know it sounds shallow but that is the way it is. If someone is unappealing when you see them on TV that's the first thing you see and then they would REALLY have to work hard to get your attention. Katherine's voice isn't good enough for that. Don't get me wrong, I love Katherine and I think she is very talented but like someone else said, she doesn't measure up even closely to some other singers out there.
|
|
Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,699
|
Post by Dave on Nov 8, 2005 7:36:16 GMT
Just to clarify I didn't want to make anyone upset, lol. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif But I hang on to my belief that it's Katherine's looks that have got her where she is today - and that's not to say that Katherine doesn't have talent because she does. I just don't happen to believe that Katherine has the unique voice of Hayley or Becky and of course to each his own! That's what makes us humans great; we have the ability to be different to think anything we want to! Just imagine how boring the world would be if we all thought a like! Hugs, Natasha Hi Natasha, when I re-read my comments about Becky I realised that I had only intended to say she isn't in the same league as the other two commercially (which is obvious, actually!) but that's completely different from saying I don't think she's as good as them. I've edited my original comments as I just haven't heard enough of her music to judge her fairly. I'm guessing that her music is closer to Hayley than Katherine so on those grounds alone, I really ought to get Becky's album (s) - I could be missing something here!  Cheers, Dave |
|
|
|
Post by fusilier23 on Nov 8, 2005 12:06:27 GMT
Well, I hate to say this, but I kinda have to agree for the most part with Gerrit here. I'm of course not looking to dis Hayley, no one here should, since it's her site, and I will always like her music and her as a person, but I do have to say that "Living a Dream," having listened to it now, is a much more substantive album than "Odyssey." It certainly doesn't hurt that it's longer by half, leaving a lot more room to play with styles and different ranges, but, with the addition of "Nessun Dorma" and the other operatic pieces, sung in a fairly full-throated manner, it's clear we're dealing with someone with some dramatic heft and a wider range of abilities.
The fact is that Hayley is at a different point in life than Katherine, and that's ok, Katherine's got about six years on her. Katherine's also had a somewhat fuller set of experiences, with a long-term relationship (which she doesn't wave in people's faces, though) the unfortunate loss of her father at age 15, university, and some time teaching. Hayley really hasn't known much beyond school and the music industry. What this means is that Katherine can put more emotional content into what she sings. When she sings "I Will Always Love You," you get the sense that she really does love this person, and when she sings "We'll Meet Again," you really get the sense of someone saying goodbye and trying to put a brave face on, though inside her heart is breaking.
Katherine's also had six more years to train and mature vocally, and that's really starting to show now. On Hayley's side, though, she has taken a stab at arranging her own songs, and may yet display a talent for composing.
I don't think Hayley is regressing, but I do think that Odyssey, the American version anyway, is what I would call "white wine" music, easy listening, easy to handle, but, when you come down to it, not very deep and not very hefty. That's ok, if I want a whole album of hefty stuff there are other folks who specialize in that, but I think a leavening of risk-taking or more substantive music would have done "Odyssey" a lot of good. Maybe I will think differently once I take a listen of the UK version, which has some more substantive stuff. This should not, however, be taken as a statement that I want to push Hayley into heavier stuff that she might not be ready for, nothing destroys a voice quicker than that, and I am a little concerned for her voice after hearing her take some things in more conservative keys in Easton.
Natasha, I must respectfully disagree that Katherine's appearance is the only thing she is trading on. There is no denying she is very beautiful, I can bear witness to that from experience, I've stood not three feet from her, chatted with her, and taken a picture with her, and when I first saw her standing near me you could have knocked me over with a marshmallow. But she is also charming, intelligent, down-to-earth, and accessible, when a lot of women who have that level of looks tend to be arrogant and aloof simply because they can be. That certainly scores her points, as does her willingness to meet fans and especially children, even accomodating one fan to the tune of signing 17 (!) albums. When you combine this with her voice and musicianship you have a winning combination. Katherine also scores points with a lot of folks, me included, for being a patriot and being willing to entertain Her Majesty's soldiers.
This is not to take anything away from Hayley's appearance, she is also certainly beautiful, or her friendliness, she has always been willing to meet fans and chat as well as sign autographs, or her musicianship, it just seems like with this latest album Katherine kinda took a lot of this stuff to the next level. Hayley will be ready to take it to the next level eventually as well, but I don't think she was ready to do that with Odyssey. Hayley's kind of at a crossroads in her career, since she's now reaching the point in her life where she's naturally growing out of being a "wonder child," and has to choose an adult direction, and that could be one of three or four different directions: does she stay with the "easy listening" approach, does she go in more of a folk/traditional direction, does she try to become more classical than crossover, or does she take a stab at creating something completely new that's all her own? Or does she do some combination of the above? Each approach carries rewards, but it also carries risks: risk of failure (always), risk of being held to impossible standards of progress (classical voices aren't made overnight), risks of being labelled too adventurous or not adventurous enough, and others. Katherine isn't faced with this at the moment, since she's already chosen her direction as an adult.
As for Becky, well, I certainly hope that good things will come for her, but she's had a tough time getting things off the ground, with a first album released on 9/11 when a new album became the last thing on anyone's mind, and living for so many years in Charlotte Church's shadow and unable to capitalize on her own youthful abilities. I can't say I know her all that well.
None of anything here will cause me to take my support away from Katherine or Hayley, though, it is natural for different people to be at different stages of things at different times. I have been lucky enough to meet with both, and both are wonderful people as well as good musicians. The only thing that would cause me to pull my support would be if either of them turned on their fans or became publicly unpleasant. It isn't fair to throw over the people who have brought you success once you have achieved success, and I strongly dislike public bad behavior.
|
|
|
|
Post by gareth on Nov 8, 2005 18:03:29 GMT
Well, Dave,
I can see your point that Hayley and Katherine are progressing in different directions. And I want to emphasize that I like Odyssey as an album. In fact, I found not a single track on it that I dislike (which I can't say of Pure ....) But I also miss the vocal fireworks, like in Benedictus.
So, the conclusion is, Odyssey lacks the variety of Pure. And each song on Odyssey is well sung - not a doubt about that. Still, I can see very little progress in the quality of Hayley's voice when comparing Odyssey with Pure - if anything, I find that on Pure it has more sparkle - hence my statement that I thought Hayley was regressing.
And I must say - the selection of songs on Katherine's album is rather more to my liking than the selection on Odyssey, so you can say I am biased .... Then again, I like the selection of songs on Premiere and Second Nature also better than on Pure, yet I have always considered Pure to be the better album.
We have had to wait two years since Pure - and ehh, I am just a tad disappointed with the follow-up. I will certainly be buying the next album Hayley releases. But I do find it significant that in Hayley's home base NZ, Odyssey is struggling to reach the sales of Hayley's first two locally released albums, which, if I remember correctly, both went triple platinum ... Then people can talk about a lack of proper marketing, or bad timing (maybe releasing the album closer to Christmas would have helped) - but it can't hide the fact Odyssey hasn't struck the same chord with people as Pure.
If Odyssey is an indication of Hayley's futre direction - what exactly is that direction? Easy listening, middle of the road stuff. I hope not - because I feel that would be the road to oblivion. It would be a wast of the opportunity Hayley did create for herself with Pure.
I do realise the tide in the UK is very much with Katherine - she has had an almost continous high profile since the release of Second Nature. And she seems to be doing all the right things at the right moment right now. Also, internationally Katherine hasn't made any significant inroads either - but eventually, continued success in the UK will have a spin-off elsewhere in the world!
Cheers,
Gerrit
|
|
|
|
Post by kcuteus1 on Nov 8, 2005 20:16:13 GMT
Katherine is just stating out internatial , I like it how she did not rush into it. Next year she is going to be doing stuff in Japan, Aus, and the USA.
|
|
