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Post by stevemacdonald on Apr 28, 2008 18:28:30 GMT
Hayley's skill at accompanying herself on instruments grows stronger every day. Eventually she will have to bear down and work with one type of instrument exclusively, if full self-accompaniment is the desire. Which instrument should that be?
Please vote in the attached poll!
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Post by martindn on Apr 28, 2008 22:30:45 GMT
Actually, I don't think she needs to restrict herself to one instrument. She could probably become proficient in any of them if she put her mind to it.
I have met people who could play any instrument. Faced with a new one, they could get a decent tune out of it within a few minutes. I don't know that Hayley is like that, perhaps she isn't, and perhaps she isn't much of an instrumentalist at all.
The only one I have ever heard her play is the piano. Her style suits Sonny very well, and I love to hear her do it, but I think she might struggle with the more challenging pieces.
As for the violin, she says that people walked away when she played it in the street. She probably hasn't played it recently.
As for the guitar, no idea how good or otherwise she is.
Has she ever played the harp?
So, Steve, I don't think I know enough to vote in yor poll. But if Hayley becomes competent enough to do more instrmental playing on stage, I'm sure we will enjoy it whatever the instrument.
Martin
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Post by Libby on Apr 28, 2008 22:54:01 GMT
I voted for the piano, so she'll sing Sonny.  But I'm not necessarily saying it suits her best, as the poll says. I've only heard her play piano, so I don't know what suits her best. I don't think she should ever settle on just one accompaniment instrument and never play anything else. The instrument she plays isn't very important to me, because it's her voice I'm most interested in.  |
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Post by Richard on Apr 29, 2008 7:33:31 GMT
Hello Steve and everybody!  Much as I admire Hayley's piano playing, I feel it restricts her movement on stage too much to be more than a small feature in her shows. I would like to see her perform with the guitar one day, so that's how I've voted, but I really go to the concerts for her singing.  Richard  |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Apr 29, 2008 10:26:00 GMT
I think it's a long time off that Hayley needs to contemplate becoming an Elton John type performer relying on an instrument for support. Her current ocassional interaction with the piano suits me fine and I'm sure the greater majority of her fans.
But for the purpose of the poll I go with piano as I could never imagine Hayley on guitar as another Mary Hopkins or Carly Simon (even though she is a big fan of the latter).
Martin
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Post by milewalker on Apr 29, 2008 13:39:25 GMT
If she wishes to become more popular, she really needs to establish some kind of secondary skill - in fact more than one if possible.
It could be the difference between playing for 1500 and 5000 people.....
It is entirely possible that Hayley is happy where she is, and if this is the case, more power to her. However, it does need to be said that Josh Groban - who does have several secondary skills, has sold approximately seven times as many albums in a nearly identical genre and in a very similar timeframe.
Jon
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Post by Umbobo on Apr 29, 2008 14:34:35 GMT
Im gonna have to go with the guitar! she looks Amazing when playing and sings beautiful next to a guitar!
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Apr 29, 2008 16:05:36 GMT
However, it does need to be said that Josh Groban - who does have several secondary skills, has sold approximately seven times as many albums in a nearly identical genre and in a very similar timeframe. Jon Jon, I'd be surprised if the popularity of Josh in the US (and some other Countries) has much to do with his non-vocal skills! I suspect that Hayley is fairly happy where she is in terms of popularity in her key markets - though a bit more (especially in the US) would I am sure be nice. She seems to be in the enviable position of being both well known (in certain circles) and unknown (among the masses in the UK, where she lives) and to have not attracted much interest from scandal-mongering tabloids. She also needs to divide her time between several different Countries and several different activities too (collaborations, movie work, etc.) and I think she enjoys that, too. However, continuing to developing her piano skills to the point where she can break up her concerts with more self-accompanied songs will be a good thing, i think - and she already seems to enjoy doing that with "Sonny". So that's what i voted for. Cheers, Dave |
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Post by sonata58 on Apr 29, 2008 20:18:54 GMT
I voted for piano - because that is my favorite instrument (being the one that I play). Hayley doesn't have to accompany herself for an entire concert. But even if she did for just a few songs, like she does with Sonny, it really makes it special.
I think that guitar would be great for her to. Isn't there a video of Hayley singing Who Painted the Moon Black while she accompanied herself on the guitar? I'd imagine that it would be easier to sing while accompanying oneself with the guitar than piano. And plus, she would still be able to face the audience while she does so.
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Post by Richard on Apr 30, 2008 7:29:00 GMT
Hello again everybody! At the moment it's a dead heat between piano and guitar. Perhaps one day Hayley will play both instruments during her shows, preferably not at the same time! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifRichard  |
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Post by grant on Apr 30, 2008 13:11:28 GMT
At the moment it's a dead heat between piano and guitar. Not now it isn't!! I wasn't sure I was going to vote at all on this one because I agree with one of the comments made earlier that she shouldn't resrict herself to one instrument. I would also like to hear her play guitar; and a violin duet with Fiona would be awesome! ultimately, I decided to go with piano. Mainly because of the way Hayley accompany's herself on Sonny - I find the whole thing very moving and hope she does more in the future, but not to the detrement of her solo singing. Best wishes Grant |
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Post by roger on Apr 30, 2008 14:37:11 GMT
At the moment it's a dead heat between piano and guitar. Not now it isn't!! Oh yes it is!  I was undecided between piano and guitar. I would be equally happy to see her play either but, as I have seen her play piano, I have voted for guitar. As others have said, I would not want her to play any instrument throughout the performance but it would add an extra dimension if she plays for the occasional song. Yes, alright, I have another reason for wanting to see her playing a guitar. Let's face it, I may just recognise it! Roger - ex amateur guitarist but now merely an amateur! |
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Post by milewalker on Apr 30, 2008 14:52:58 GMT
However, it does need to be said that Josh Groban - who does have several secondary skills, has sold approximately seven times as many albums in a nearly identical genre and in a very similar timeframe. Jon Jon, I'd be surprised if the popularity of Josh in the US (and some other Countries) has much to do with his non-vocal skills! I suspect that Hayley is fairly happy where she is in terms of popularity in her key markets - though a bit more (especially in the US) would I am sure be nice. She seems to be in the enviable position of being both well known (in certain circles) and unknown (among the masses in the UK, where she lives) and to have not attracted much interest from scandal-mongering tabloids. She also needs to divide her time between several different Countries and several different activities too (collaborations, movie work, etc.) and I think she enjoys that, too. However, continuing to developing her piano skills to the point where she can break up her concerts with more self-accompanied songs will be a good thing, i think - and she already seems to enjoy doing that with "Sonny". So that's what i voted for. Cheers, Dave Hi Dave, The issue lies in the logical difference between a necessary and a sufficient condition. If you mean that Groban's ability to play instruments isnt the only reason he became so popular in America, I would agree with you. In and of themselves, the skills are not sufficient. However, having studied his career I do think it played a major role. He didnt reach the level he has without major financial committments from outside sources, and his general musicality was one of the reasons he got that committment. Shortly before the release of his first album he got a 10 minute segment on a Sunday evening nationalized news show - the show featured him playing piano and drums just as much as it did his singing. His other skills are therefore necessary in the sense that he would almost certainly not be where he is without them. Hayley primarily does traditional classically oriented concerts. She has an orchestra, but the vast majority of what she does is simply stand at a microphone and sing. It is my firm opinion that Americans in particular find this approach rather staid and even boring.....and the contrast between this sort of concert and what Groban does is pretty stark. In fact Groban events would better be characterised as rock concerts - except that the music employed is much closer to what Hayley also does. In this context, his ability to play several instruments - and even "rock out" on drums are one of the main things he is able to do to produce this effect. Perhaps not conincedentally, his audience is (somewhat ) younger and hipper. I am quite aware that it may simply not be Hayley's style or within her abilities to attempt this, and that she might not be happy even if she tried. Having said this I dont think it can be said that the issue doesnt exist for her, or that she in unaware of it. In fact, in several recent concerts - for example Shepherd's Bush and the New Zealand tour - she has actually taken moderate steps in precisely that direction. Getting back on topic, I voted for guitar. I could have voted for piano as well, as one of the other benefits from either instrument is that they are often used to compose music. Jon
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Post by stevemacdonald on Apr 30, 2008 16:08:46 GMT
Jon, personally I think Groban would do better still with a banjo and kazoo, but that sort of musicality is lost on the general public.
Female singers tend to come in four varieties: 1. Those who only sing (Ella Fitzgerald, Katherine Jenkins, Connie Talbot); 2. Those who sing and dance (Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Sarah Brightman); 3. Those who sing and act (Barbra Streisand, Maria Callas, Emmy Rossum); and, 4. Those who sing and play an instrument (Jewel, Tori Amos, Alicia Keys).
Regardless of which group any singer falls into, those who are perceived as "multi-talented" usually enjoy the most success. Simply getting up on stage and singing gets old fast. Strap on a guitar or sit down at the piano and the interest level rises. Sooner or later Hayley will have to expand her stage presence by way of a prop of some kind, if she's to compete in the modern marketplace. Her forays into piano are sure to give her an advantage if she keeps it up.
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Post by milewalker on Apr 30, 2008 17:55:39 GMT
Regardless of which group any singer falls into, those who are perceived as "multi-talented" usually enjoy the most success. . Absoulutely. The more competitive a market place is, the greater the need to find a combination of skills which are as unique to the performer as they can possibly be. One person in a thousand can probably sing well enough to just stand and perform (most of whom will never be heard from) Perhaps one person in 10,000 has two or more of the skills you mentioned above at a professional level. As a general economic rule, if two things are of comparable quality, the rarer of the two will have more perceived value. . Jon PS - One caveat here.....while I think that these things are true almost universally in every market, it may well be that the effects are more muted outside of America. |
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