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Post by Libby on Mar 13, 2009 6:20:48 GMT
Well, I've never been to any of those concerts, so I don't know how they all sounded. I heard The Water is Wide, from 2006, and it just seemed slow, and not how I was used to hearing. I'm not saying it wasn't good, and I don't expect in orchestra.
And I have heard I Know you by Heart, with just the guitar, and it was just fine. So, I guess I'm saying that the fact that they provided her with more of a band than she used to made it seem like her management was showing her how important she is to them. There's nothing wrong with a small, simple band, but it just seemed to imply that she wasn't a very big singer who could only afford that much. I'm not going by how it sounds (since most of the time I can't hear it), but how it represents the artist's success and importance to her company. The recent band made it seem more professional.
I just get used to the sounds of the instruments on a recording, for any artist, and I always remember exactly what it sounds like, and know exactly at what point in the song I'm going to hear it. If it's a little different in concert, I tend to get disappointed for not hearing it. I suppose I'm not making sense anymore.
I do hope that Hayley keeps her new band members for a while, because they're doing a good job.
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Post by cathyk2002 on Mar 13, 2009 7:19:35 GMT
For me, the less musicians Hayley has around her the better. Not to decry the efforts of the fine musicians that have backed her of course, it is just personal preference. Most of all, I love to hear her sing a capella. A small band of musicians to me is preferable to a full orchestra where Hayley is concerned. My favourites of late have tended to be just Hayley and a single guitar (Songbird, I know you by heart) or with just a piano. Most of HSJA is just Ian and Fiona and it is fabulous. The more backing there is, the more it distracts from Hayley.Martin Yes, I agree Martin, I find that too at some concerts in the past where the backing tracks have been louder than the singers, certainly takes away from the exceptional voices. I loved the Valentine's Tour with Hayley & Jonathan with it's simplicity of music - yet just enough to compliment the singers  |
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Post by postscript on Mar 13, 2009 9:57:03 GMT
I think the backing, as you say Martin, is a matter of personal preference. I don't know if any singer could manage an entire evening on their own. All the combinations she has used have been fun because they revolve around Hayley, be it solo guitar, violin or piano. I don't think any singer can ever afford a full 80 piece orchestra, It is usually the orchestra running the show which wants a singer but to be of the stature as to be able to justify such an orchestra must be an absolutely thrilling experience--but then I like orchestral works anyway.
Peter S.
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Post by comet on Mar 13, 2009 10:08:29 GMT
I just get used to the sounds of the instruments on a recording, for any artist, and I always remember exactly what it sounds like, and know exactly at what point in the song I'm going to hear it. If it's a little different in concert, I tend to get disappointed for not hearing it. I suppose I'm not making sense anymore. I do hope that Hayley keeps her new band members for a while, because they're doing a good job. You are making sense alright. I understand exactly what you mean, I spend a lot of time tracking down music, songs from the sixties and seventies, The version I am usually after is "The Original Recording" the one that was released as a single and was played worldwide, the one that people are familiar with, The one that makes the hair stand up and the spine tingle, It is amazing how accurate the memory is of songs, just an extra strum of a string or some other extra or missing sound and you realise that this is a different recording. I don't believe any TWO performances are ever the same, even if they are made within minutes of each other. There has to be differences in timing and energy put forth into both singing and the playing of an instrument, a sudden smile on a singers face has to change in some minute way the sound they make. I hate when I get song or a piece of music and it says something like : This recording is a new recording made by one or more of the original artists,  I would prefer the original, the one that is ingrained or embedded in the memory. Even if the recording quality is not as good as the new recording. |
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Post by grant on Mar 13, 2009 14:57:30 GMT
Hi Libby There's nothing wrong with a small, simple band, but it just seemed to imply that she wasn't a very big singer who could only afford that much. I'm not going by how it sounds (since most of the time I can't hear it), but how it represents the artist's success and importance to her company. The recent band made it seem more professional. An interesting observation and probably fairly accurate in the beginning, as I think Fiona and Ian had been with Hayley for about 6 years. More importantly, they became a team, as well as being friends, and always worked well together. Fiona used to do her own thing during Hayley's concerts just like Raven are doing now and, just like Raven, she always got a tremendous reception. But times change. I don't know how the change was arrived at, but Fiona's career has been on the up for some time and she obviously felt the need to develop that. By all accounts her New Zealand "Fire & Lights" tour is proving that she was right to do so, and I wish her well. In a similar vein, Hayley has also moved on in 6 years and the time was obviously right to change the line up. I don't think it was anything to do with professionalism or cost, but what was required to back Hayley's developing voice. Hayley's UK 'regulars' were (and still are) very fond of Fiona and Ian and were saddened by the news of their departure, but Raven, Tim and Andy are doing a superb job for Hayley and long may they continue to do so. Best wishes Grant |
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Post by Libby on Mar 13, 2009 23:33:49 GMT
The whole package of the tour has just been so enjoyable to read about, also from the Valentine's tour. I just enjoyed the accounts of the interaction between the band and singers, not necessarily the way they play. They're mostly young people fairly close in age, I would guess. I just wonder if that has anything to do with it. How old are the Raven girls, anyway? Are they older or younger than Hayley, the same age? Tim looks fairly young, too. As far as how they play, I've really only heard Andy and Al play on the new River of Dreams songs, and I've never heard Tim play. Oh yes, another thing I loved about the tour was the lovely signed tour poster from Grant!  |
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Post by grant on Mar 14, 2009 0:21:49 GMT
The whole package of the tour has just been so enjoyable to read about, also from the Valentine's tour. I just enjoyed the accounts of the interaction between the band and singers, not necessarily the way they play. They're mostly young people fairly close in age, I would guess. I just wonder if that has anything to do with it. How old are the Raven girls, anyway? Are they older or younger than Hayley, the same age? Tim looks fairly young, too. As far as how they play, I've really only heard Andy and Al play on the new River of Dreams songs, and I've never heard Tim play. Oh yes, another thing I loved about the tour was the lovely signed tour poster from Grant! Hello Libby The Raven girls are all in their twenties - a little older than Hayley, but not much. Hayley has commented on several ocassions that they "gossip in the tour bus" and it's clear from the interaction on stage that they're having a blast. The atmosphere on stage generates a great feeling in the audience and it's been brilliant to be part of it. So glad you're happy with your poster - are you going to have it framed? It was a superb result from everyone which made it all the more worthwhile. Best wishes Grant |
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Post by postscript on Mar 14, 2009 9:09:58 GMT
I won't take up space quoting you, Grant, but I think you presented the situation very well and I am in complete agreement.
Peter S.
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Post by martindn on Mar 14, 2009 18:21:18 GMT
Hi All,
In response to various comments, yes, I agree her current band are excellent. She clearly couldn't do a whole show a capella, and I'm sure I wouldn't want her to. But I would encourage her to perform the occasional song in that way. For example, when as she sometimes does, she starts a concert be singing the first verse of Pokarekare Ana unaccompanied, I sometimes wish she would contine like that for the whole song (I understand she did that at Woburn). I feel the same way about Abide with Me.
But the nice thing about the current setup is its versatility. She can have a variety of different instrument combinations behing her to suit the song, which is nice.
As far as Ian and Fiona are concerned, they worked with Hayley as recently as this January, since Ian produced HSJS2 and played on it, whilst Fiona was involved in the two tracks on this album that were recorded in New Zealand in January. I think Fiona's playing is almost as instantly recognisable as Hayley's voice.
Those of us who were at Lincoln Castle last year will have heard Hayley do a show with a full orchestra, and I think there were quite a lot behing her and Jonathan at the Festival of Remembrance. I don't think any of the duets that they had previously done with an orchestra suffered because of the lighter backing on the Valentines Tour.
Incidentally, I think it was Lincoln where we first heard about HSJS2, and it sees that most od that album was recorded shortly afterwards.
Martin
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Post by maya on Mar 17, 2009 15:46:24 GMT
Hi everyone. Hayley's tour has started in Japan. I thought it's HSJS2 tour but according to Samon Promotion, the tour is called “River of Dreams”. I already introduced the link below at HSJS2 thread but I'd better show it here too. There they say, “River of Dreams”. blogs.yahoo.co.jp/samonblog/47355840.htmlBest wishes Maya |
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Post by Richard on Mar 17, 2009 15:51:00 GMT
Thanks Maya, but I've already moved your previous post to Japan Tour - March/April 2009. All coverage of Hayley's Japanese concerts should be in that thread, please. Best Wishes, Richard  |
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Post by Libby on Mar 20, 2009 22:05:14 GMT
But the nice thing about the current setup is its versatility. She can have a variety of different instrument combinations behing her to suit the song, which is nice. I think this is what I was trying to say when comparing Hayley's current band to the old setup. Again, I wasn't in any way saying Fiona and Ian weren't good enough, so I don't want anyone to think I meant otherwise. I'm sure they're playing is very lovely. |
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Post by larryhauck on May 28, 2009 13:02:57 GMT
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