Classic FM CD of the week

[stephch]

Odyssey is Classic Fm's CD of the week

classicfm :: cd of the week

Classic FM CD of the Week
19 - 23 September 2005

Every weekday at 10.40am, we showcase the CD of the Week. This week, Simon previews Hayley Westenra's new CD, Odyssey


New Zealand teenage singing sensation Hayley Westenra's first CD Pure is still in the Classic FM Chart two years after its release here.
Hayley's now 18 years old and keen to show the world how much she has grown up since she made Pure. Her second collection, Odyssey certainly shows her voice off at its best with Classic FM favourites including Caccini's Ave Maria, Patrick Hawes' Quanta Qualia and the 'Bridal Ballad' from Jocelyn Pook's soundtrack to The Merchant of Venice and much more.


Simon Bates says, 'Hayley's onto another winner with this, her second CD. The Kiwi conquest of the Charts is continuing.'

Win a copy of this week's CD of the Week

[kcuteus1]

thanks

I may be the only one that feels this way . she may be doing all this stuff but I do not know how the cd would do . There are peope that are releaseing a cds around the time she is and I feel there cds would do better yes Now classic fm has her back but she is not pure classical and she does not like of pop so she has to have more than this. And if she would like it where her next cd would have all stuff that she worte she would have to get different people than classic fm and this is the time to strat . And in Aus , nz this cd is not doing as good as pure.

[roger]

stephch said:

Odyssey is Classic Fm's CD of the week

Every weekday at 10.40am, we showcase the CD of the Week. This week, Simon previews Hayley Westenra's new CD, Odyssey

Thanks for that Kimberly. Tomorrow (Tuesday), 'Quanta Qualia' is sheduled to be played at 10.41.

This morning, they played Cacchini's 'Ave Maria'. Did anybody hear it? To many of us, it is the presenter's comments that are of more interest than hearing the song itself but any airplay will boost sales figures next week. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Roger

[Dave]

kcuteus1 said:

thanks

I may be the only one that feels this way . she may be doing all this stuff but I do not know how the cd would do . There are peope that are releaseing a cds around the time she is and I feel there cds would do better yes Now classic fm has her back but she is not pure classical and she does not like of pop so she has to have more than this. And if she would like it where her next cd would have all stuff that she worte she would have to get different people than classic fm and this is the time to strat . And in Aus , nz this cd is not doing as good as pure.

Thanks for the information Stephanie, and those are some very good points Kimberly - I've been thinking along those lines myself. But, if Odyssey is successful in the UK this will feed back to NZ and Australia and sales should increase again over there.

I think Hayley's next album will not qualify for the UK classical chart - but she will continue to do some classical songs, because she likes doing them! The only way I htink her future albums will get in the classical chart is if she does what Andrea Bocelli does - alternates 'classical' and easy listening 'pop' albums. She admires him, so I suspect she may do exactly that. She certainly seems to love developing her classical abilities and in a way she is kind of proud that she can do *some* classical arias well (sometimes unconventionally!) , even though she is not classically trained. That's one of the things I like about her!

Classic FM actually have more classical tracks to play from Odyssey (UK) than they did from Pure - so they will LOVE it. But I think the most sales Odyssey will get from classic FM listeners is about 300K - 1 x platinum. Katherine Jenkins sold just under 300K (in shops) with her best album so far.

If Hayley is to get anywhere near the UK sales of Pure, she will have to capture the easy listening "Radio 2" audience... and that's why I think "What You Never Know" is being released. If this works, and if UK Odyssey gets anywhere near the sales of Pure (we won't know until Christmas) Hayley and Decca will feel more confident about releasing a "non-classical" album next time. WYNK really is a big test for Hayley.

I have to admit that I didn't like the WYNK single version the first time I heard it. But it is growing on me and now, I really like it! I can see why several radio and TV presenters are very enthusiastic about it and if their producers feel the same way, it could get a LOT of airplay and that will propel the album sales up towards what Pure achieved. Time will tell but I have to admit, I have been pleasantly surprised with the reaction so far from radio and TV presenters

It will be interesting to see what other tracks Classic FM choose this week... but whatever they are, it's time to cross fingers and toes again, this is getting exciting! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[kcuteus1]

I do not think of Odyssey as classical Yes it does have more classical songs than pure but for me to call a cd classical it has to have all classical and the stuff has to be sung in a very classical way but that is how I am . That is way I think she needs more than classic Fm . And I think she does not do the classical stuff as good as pure classical singers but that is on reason why I like her. I also feel that with the popualr stuff and folky and that stuff I feel she has more feeling than with the classical stuff. I also feel that she does some stuff that I feel in to old for her age she should do some playful stuff. I still do not think this cd would do as good as pure I am saying this because she is up again people that I know there cds would do very good. yes she may be put on the classical chart but that does not say how cd sales are on the year end chart I think it could get around # 50 but I do not think it would get higher than that . I am storry for being nevtige but this is how I feel and I can not lie. But in the end it is not her cd sales that I like about her that is not something that I look into it is her voice that I like. I know that there are some people that do not like it how I say grace and my heart belong to you are not on the UK cd so I do not know if that is a good thing.

And I know she has alot of fans of hers in the UK that are more into her pop stuff so I do not think they would go for the fact that the UK ones has more classical songs on it.

And I am not sure if the big classical people would me into her she is not for tham.

[Dave]

Hi Kimberly,

When I say classical, I just mean whatever meets the UK charts committee's rules. Whether you agree with their rules or not, "rules is rules" so that's what I try to use. On their rules, Odyssey is probably going to be classical (we don't know for certain!). But it's not "pure" or "core" classical. Neither was Pure, obviously. They do let some (not all) crossover stuff into the UK classical chart, that's how Hayley, Amici Forever, Mirabilis, Willard White, even Katherine Jenkins get in. But even if you don't agree with it, that's what they do! I just use their definition, it's easier that way

You think Odyssey will get around no. 50 on the year end chart, well I wouldn't disagree with that! I said 300K based on Classic FM listeners - most of whom aren't "pure" classical people, most are I think crossover people. Core classical people who don't like anything else obviously won't buy crossover. But, I LOVE a lot of "core classical" stuff, from Mozart to Wagner and Delius. I also love Hayley's type of crossover and I bet quite a few core classical people like other genres like me.

Pure sold about 600K (retail) in the UK in 2003 and was no. 24 in the year end chart. If Odyssey sells 300K, it will be about no. 50 in the year end chart, so I think we might actually agree here. That would still be better than Katherine Jenkins who was about no. 72 in the 2004 year end chart. Beating Katherine would be a huge success for Hayley, anything more would be a bonus. The 2003 situation was unique, a one-off, and it was always going to be hard to match it.

But... if the single does well and is a hit, that will mean easy listening people like it, it will get lots of airplay, and a lot of the listeners will buy Odyssey. That could easily double Odyssey's sales I think. But we still don't know if WYNK will be a hit or not!

But even if Odyssey bombs (much under 300K UK - but I don't think it will), I'll still buy all Hayley's stuff and go to as many of her concerts as possible

Cheers

Dave

[kcuteus1]

I know I keep on forgetting that the Uk classical chart you only have to be 60% classical I do not understand that .

I also like core classical stuff but I am not a pureist. I think that may be why I disargee with what is put on the UK classical chart sometimes.

Classic FM I do not think of it has a pure classical sation I have never and there are many reasons I feel like that. some of the people that work for tham are not pure classical people but I think most of you know that. I know you Dave most likely do.

[Dave]

roger said:

stephch said:

Odyssey is Classic Fm's CD of the week

Every weekday at 10.40am, we showcase the CD of the Week. This week, Simon previews Hayley Westenra's new CD, Odyssey

Thanks for that Kimberly. Tomorrow (Tuesday), 'Quanta Qualia' is sheduled to be played at 10.41.
This morning, they played Cacchini's 'Ave Maria'. Did anybody hear it? To many of us, it is the presenter's comments that are of more interest than hearing the song itself but any airplay will boost sales figures next week. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif
Roger

Hi Roger, I didn't hear it yesterday but I did today... and they played "Prayer" instead of Quantia Qualia. This is very good because Prayer isn't one of the 'classical' tracks - they must really like that one! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[roger]

Huh! So much for the schedule! Let's give it another go.....

Tomorrow (Wednesday), it is supposed to be Laudate Dominum at 10.42. I'll be at work.

Roger

[Dave]

roger said:

Huh! So much for the schedule! Let's give it another go.....
Tomorrow (Wednesday), it is supposed to be Laudate Dominum at 10.42. I'll be at work.
Roger

They did! But you had to know the song to know what it was.... all they said was "Hayley Westenra on Classic FM" which sounded like a precorded announcement. We must listen out for that... maybe they are going to play her so much they've made her into a jingle

I have to say, I've heard Hayley's Laudate Dominum twice now and the orchestral arrangement is absolutely beautiful... so is Hayley's voice of course - although I reckon the orchestral and choral parts take up over half of the track.

I cannot imagine that any other pop or non-classically trained singer could do this - blend in with the RPO so wonderfully. Only Hayley can do this! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[roger]

I'll take your word for that, Dave, as I have yet to hear it. I'll check tomorrow's schedule later and will post again if any details are given.

Roger

[roger]

Yep, details are there already. Tomorrow at 10.40am it is Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 (or 'Aria Cantilena' if you prefer!).

Roger

[Dave]

Thanks Roger, I will auto-record it in case I miss it live:' Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 for voice and 8 cellos (1938 and 1945): Aria (Cantilena), by Heitor Villa-Lobos (1881-1959). It sounds even more impressive the longer you can make the title

The one I am really waiting to hear is Dido's Lament. There is so much i want to know about this recording: does Hayley correctly include "Thy Hand, Belinda" as well as "When I am laid In Earth". How did Hayley and the arrangers handle this, one of the great classics and the saddest of songs that you can imagine. I really hope they have not tried to 'lighten it up' for the mass market, that would be highly inappropriate.

As Dido's Lament is the final track on the album I have a sneaky suspicion that for the first time ever, I may finish listening to a Hayley album in tears... in fact, as I now think about it...

Dave

[roger]

I wasn't listening this morning but, according to the schedule, today's track should have been 'Bridal Ballad'.

Roger

[Dave]

Yesterday, they didn't play anything by Hayley between 10:30 and 11 and didn't even mention her

Today they did play Bridal Ballad at 10:45 but more importantly, Simon Bates announced that tonight, Friday the 23rd, Hayley will be chatting with Mark Forrest about her life, at 11pm BST (22:00 GMT if anyone wants to listen online from overseas)

Also, I've just heard my very first advert for Odyssey on Classic FM... at last, the machine is starting to kick-in!