Hayley Sings Japanese Songs (2008 Japan release)

[Dave]

Edit: I've moved this post and two replies to Hayley Sings Japanese Songs 2.

Richard

[postscript]

Thanks, Richard, for the reconnect with her official site. that is a lovely post she has sent about her current situation and how she views it.

Peter S.

[Libby]

A new Japanese member to the official forum has been posting helpful, interesting information about the songs on both Japanese albums, such as who wrote/composed them, the original singers, etc.

I had seen Ayaka's I Believe video before, but he posted the video of Ayaka singing live for the 2007 World Champion of figure skating, Miki Ando, for her exhibition program, here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YArR2tj55So&feature=related

Since I watch skating, I must have seen it, but I didn't know the song. However, when Hayley sang it, I thought I remembered seeing a Japanese skater skate to it, but I didn't remember who. I searched, but I couldn't find it, because I thought it had been the 2006 Olympic champion, Shizuka Arakawa. I'm so glad aki-yk shared this, or I never would've found it!

[Libby]

They say that Ayaka is Miki Ando's best friend! I am sure that Ayaka is aware of Hayley's cover of her song, so it's possible that Miki Ando knows about it, too. I wonder if they like Hayley, and if Miki would ever want to skate to a song by Hayley?

[maya]

May 5, 2009 19:23:35 GMT Libby said:

They say that Ayaka is Miki Ando's best friend! I am sure that Ayaka is aware of Hayley's cover of her song, so it's possible that Miki Ando knows about it, too. I wonder if they like Hayley, and if Miki would ever want to skate to a song by Hayley?

Hi Libby.
Speaking of figure skate, I just was informed from a friend of mine who is related to sports events that figure skaters here are aware of Hayley's songs and I was introduced this.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqGtE9UEGoM
Yukina Ota is skating with Hayley's Ave Maria at PWI (Prince Ice World) 2009 Show.
Hayley's songs could be heard more often in the future, I bet.
How do you like this Libby and others.

Best wishes.
Maya

[Libby]

Yes, I liked it, thank you! I hope Japanese skaters will keep skating to her songs, because the more they do, the more people from other countries who will see them skate to Hayley's songs.

[postscript]

Hi everyone.

Back to life momentarily after another sort through the general chaos in which I live by default. This usually simply re-arranges priorities but on this occasion I found the first Japanese CD which I had managed to lose almost as soon as I bought it! I am not going into detail, as I wish to digest some of the 36 pages of this thread. Regardless of what others may have already said, my first impressions remain my own and therefore are not effected by any debate raised previously.

I sat down to hear the CD over a cheese and biscuits nibble and fresh fruit juice for lunch. My immediate reaction was to relive the sensation I experienced when I first heard Hayley sing without knowing who she was. This was despite the fact that I had heard her live only a few days previously at Southend and Swansea. This had the fresh clarity of Pure. I was immediately taken with the fourth song which I got up to investigate and found it was a Hayley co-write. I was enchanted.

Why oh why is this CD not world-wide available? I answered my own question as I investigated further: songs 2-4 are by Suzi Kim and Hayley Westenra; song 6 has an additional lyric by Hayley; songs 8-11 jointly Suzi Kim and Hayley. Take all this into account and I suddenly realised that with her other work she has written enough for a CD of her own songs or own co-authored songs. Will this be the format of the next international CD? Will these be the bread and butter of her future concerts this year?

A logic is discernible and how cunning of Hayley to be following through a programme unnoticed: she's trying her songs in a small market and if they prove their worth she's ready for the world stage. She's closed one chapter of her career with a superb 'Best of'. Now she's ready as songwriter/singer. She has already declared her intended journey--I have just been re-reading her autobiography. The timing (aided and abetted by supposed misfortune) is with superb logic: trying her new songs live to the end of this year. International CD launched for a world tour starting in NZ. NZ is close to Japan; she fits in an overdue tour visit home, then on round into the States. I wonder to what extent her success in Taiwan will encourage her into China?

Maybe my ideas are all cobblers, I'm just once more Hayley-wowed and not thinking straight. Aah well. That's my initial verdict on first hearing the first Japanese CD. My experience is a repeat of how i appreciated Pure. Now I have to work out how to order the second Japanese CD without the hassle and costs incurred by the first!

Peter S.

[amptique]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for sharing your impressions of the Hayley Sings Japanese Songs. I too have not reviewed the rest of this tread, your account being the first I've read. I received my copy of HSJS late last week and was completely blown away by every single aspect of the CD. Hayley's voice comes through with absolute clarity and definition that, in my opinion, is unsurpassed by any of her previous CDs. After listening to only the first two tracks I decided that the "openness" of the recording could not be optimally reproduced on my solid-state system and deserved to be played on my 1970's vintage vacuum tube system. I was not disappointed. It is absolutely superb.

I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite song on this CD, but you are right, track four is an absolute winner. "I Believe" makes me cry and most of the others just give me chills. What else can I say?

I hope you are correct that this is the beginning of a new chapter in Hayley's career. I could think of nothing better than a steady diet of Hayley singing Hayley's own songs. If this CD is any indication of what is to come, we are in for a real treat.

Bill

[martindn]

Hi Peter,

I told you so!! This is a totally stunning album. I'm still not sure whether I prefer this one or HSJS2, but one of those is my favourite Hayley album.
I think in summary, Hayleys voice sounds even more stunning on HSJS2, and her lyric writing has I think developed, but perhaps the songs are not quite as strong. You need to listen to it and judge for yourself, but you will find that HSJS2 is altogether different in "feel" and is not just more of the same.
I love them both. I still play these two more than any of Hayley's other albums.

BTW Peter, your stand out songs, "White Colour" and "I Believe" were my favourites too on first listening. But my favourite tracks on the album have undergone a lot of changes over time, and I now favour Track 6 (Flower) and track 3 (Snowflower). But there are no bad tracks on this album, and though may favourites may have changed since I wrote my original review (earlier in this thread) I still like every track. A masterpiece!

Martin

[BenCMitchell]

Hi everyone

I've just got this CD through from Amazon this morning and my initial impressions are ones of abolute amazement! Hayley's voice is as clear as ever, and she hits every single note right on target (bullseye!). Her voice comes across with absolute amazing clarity and distinction, I thought I had chosen a treble boost setting on my CD player!

From my point of view and Hayley's interpretation of it, Japanese music has a 'lullaby ballad' quality to it, as it both uses drums, along with soaring vocals, and diatonic chord progressions. I am so glad of this, because it means I can work out the songs with relative ease (by saying this, i am not implying that they are 'simple', and can be 'done' by anyone, Hayley makes them sound completely her own, and that is a special gift to have!). The chords are usually step wise in motion, descending through whole tones within the original key.

Back to topic: I can't wait to now completely relax and let Hayley's music 'wash away from the soul the dust of everyday life!'

Cheers folks!

Ben

[Jillian]

Hi Everyone,

I just recevied my copies of HSJS1 and HSJS2 !! Delivery was very prompt as they were only shipped on Friday and arrived today!

Quite intriugingly, I also received two 1 metre high Deutsche Grammophon promotional calenders with my order. I didn't ask for these, so it was a bit of a suprise -- even though it does explain why 2 CDs were going to weigh a kilo! :rollin

Here are my calenders:





They are very nice, but the only artist that I recognised was Lang Lang.

Here are my CDs. Can't wait to get a chance to have a good listen!



The packaging on all of the Japansese CDs is just lovely. They are heavy and they really feel and look like something. I think that as I save up some more money, I'll be getting a few more of Japan only albums.

[Jillian]

I'm concentrating on one album at a time and I've started with 'Hayley Sings Japanese Songs'.

OH MY GOODNESS!!

Now I understand what everyone was saying about this album being amazing! It now sits alongside Pure as my favourite ever Hayley album.

I think I like it because the songs are upbeat and emotive. Some of the songs are just so catchy! Right now my favourites are: I Believe and Bless Me With Wings.

I'm so glad that I ordered this. I agree with other members saying that these songs should be released worldwide. IT shows a huge level of Hayley's versatility that isn't visible in the Western World.

[Jono]

Feb 13, 2010 7:24:35 GMT Jillian said:

Now I understand what everyone was saying about this album being amazing! It now sits alongside Pure as my favourite ever Hayley album.

That was exactly the same as my reaction to the album when I got it. Favourite equal with Pure. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[Libby]

This is my response to Michal and others in the Celtic Woman thread:

I thought Hayley was somewhat well-known in Japan. So, maybe it was her management's idea to do the album, and they just worked with the Japanese music people to figure out which songs would be best to do. I guess it could've been her idea, but I just always assumed that she was well-known and liked enough there, and that Samon promotion group were the ones to initiate the idea. I still think they were.
I would think that she's more popular there than in the USA, if she can do all those concerts and TV shows everytime she's there. She basically does a full tour of Japan everytime. Not much different from her tours of the UK, when you think about it. I know, let's ask Hayley next time Nicola does an interview!

[Dave]

Hi Libby,

Thanks for moving this part of the discussion over here, it gives me the chance to respond myself to one of Michal's points (respondng to you) in the CW thread!

Jun 6, 2010 11:36:36 GMT mihizawi said:

...as far as I know, Hayley's never been at the top of any Japanese chart. I tend to think that such risky musical projects, even when suggested by other people, are usually carried on with artist's interest and only in cases when the artist feels like doing so.
Michal

Hi Michal, I should perhaps point out that prior to the release of HSJS, Hayley had considerable chart success in Japan, certainly in terms of Western artists. Pure reached the top 30 of the main album chart and sold nearly 100,000 copies - and it was no. 11 in the important "International" album chart (of all foreign artists). Her single Amazing Grace sold well over 100,000 copies, reached the top 20 of the main singles chart and was no. 1 in the International Singles chart for many weeks. Pure was also the biggest selling "classical" album in Japan, for which Hayley received a coveted Gold Disc award the following year. Thereafter, Hayley had a series of lower-charting albums, singles and compilations which charted inside the top 200 and sometimes, the top 100 - mostly driven, I think, by Universal records in Japan.

So as you can see, releasing HSJS wasn't as big a risk as you might think, Hayley was well known and had already done a few concert tours and TV appearances there. It was, however, a superb piece of judgement by whoever dreamed it up and took it to fruition. It certainly exceeded my personal expectations when it entered the top 10 of the main chart, higher than anything Pure ever achieved. But I don't know whose idea it was, so with that, I regret that I cannot help.

Cheers,

Dave