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Post by Dean McCarten on Feb 22, 2009 19:50:01 GMT
A New Hayley Day: Part 1I started my journey from Barrow at 11:30 for a nice 2:30 hrs direct service to Manchester Piccadilly, during which I took some time to listen to I Know You By Heart that Colin kindly posted and copied it to my phone as well. I then proceeded to meet up with Grant at Piccadilly as we had arranged to stay in the same hotel, We then walked to our Hotel and checked in. The hotel was very basic, but after all it was only a place to rest my head for the night while I floated into a "River of Dreams". So a quick change (and equipment check) later Grant & I made our merry way to BWH. We arrived a little after 15:00 to find Graham already waiting for us shortly to be followed by someone who Grant & I met last year but I can't think of his name (Help here please Grant). The Hayley/Raven-Mobile arrived about 16:10, Where we were Immediately greeted with waves from inside the Minibus. To our complete amazement, Hayley was out of the bus like a flash (so fast Hayley forgot to put her coat on) and was very happy to see us. I managed to get a quick chat with Hayley while she signed my NZ RoD and I got the chance to give her some Sliver Sharpie's as Hayley told me last Nov that someone had made her sliver sharpie disappear and we couldn't have that now could we? It was nice that Hayley recognized me again  Another member: John also arrived at the same time as Hayley did. So now Hayley had gone inside we decided to have a quick look at the Hayley-Stall being setup in BWH. This is where we had the chance to say Hello to Dave and he kindly informed us that Raven would doing a signing tonight and that we were invited to the usual place at the usual time. At this point "Box 9", Grant I'm sure you'll explain. Then we decided to go for a meal, at a restaurant called "Table.. Table" Located very close to BWH. Grant took photos for this section of the report More to come..
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Post by pjrcorreia on Feb 22, 2009 20:43:42 GMT
Thank you very much Graham, Grant and Dean for the nice reports, and lovely pictures!  Best wishes, Paulo Correia |
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Post by Dean McCarten on Feb 22, 2009 21:09:07 GMT
Thank you very much Graham, Grant and Dean for the nice reports, and lovely pictures! Best wishes, Paulo Correia Hang on Paulo, I've not finished yet  |
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Post by Sing on Feb 22, 2009 21:24:05 GMT
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jordi
Junior Member 
Posts: 66
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Post by jordi on Feb 22, 2009 21:32:27 GMT
Thank you very much for such a good review on Hayley's concert. Detailed, yet fun to read.
And, of course, the pictures! Thanks a lot!
Somehow, we've been there through your words and images.
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Post by Sing on Feb 22, 2009 21:39:03 GMT
I found this on Hayley's official forum... "Been a fan of yours for a while and was very much looking forward to the night at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester last night. Whilst you were superbly on form, I was disappointed that you did not spend more time on stage. Raven were excellent, but frankly I did not pay to see them or expect to see so much of them solo. It was also slightly disappointing that you did not express any regret at the fact that you cancelled at very short notice in November. I know it was an unavoidable illness but many people were inconvenienced by the last minute cancellation. Please Hayley do not take on the arrogance of some of the pop music world's singers, by taking your fans for granted. Disappointed Manchester Fan I was wondering what people (especially those who went to this concert think about these comments?))) to me it sounds like a brilliant concert all the same... ////Sing  |
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Post by roger on Feb 22, 2009 22:03:28 GMT
Hi Sing,
Thank you for copying that message and allowing us to comment. In short, I don't think much of what he has to say. All concerts include a support artist and it is perfectly reasonable for them to take the spotlight for a reasonable portion of the time and he needs to accept that.
I had not booked for the Manchester concert in November but I had booked for several others that were rescheduled so I fully understand his disappointment. Nevertheless, if Hayley had made a public apology during the rescheduled concert it might have looked like an admission of guilt or a plea for sympathy. I don't believe it was necessary or expected by most of the audience. Full apologies were made on Hayley's behalf at the time by Bedlam Management and in the letters from the venues which advised of the cancellation. That should have been enough.
From Hayley's point of view, I am sure it is an episode that she would prefer to put behind her and she should be allowed to move on. Would an apology from her make him feel any better?
At the end of the day, he paid money to see a concert. He saw a concert and a remarkably good one. Shame on him for accusing her of "taking on arrogance". If that's what he thinks, he doesn't know her.
Yes, of course he was disappointed and inconvenienced last November. Many of us were but our prime concern was for Hayley's health. Pity he didn't see it that way and just enjoy the concert.
Roger
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Post by gra7890 on Feb 22, 2009 22:20:41 GMT
Hi Sing, I was there and thoroughly enjoyed it. Hayley did sing about her normal quota of songs for any solo concert. Certainly the other River of Dreams ones... Maybe a second encore does occur sometimes . Did they miss the first part of the concert  it looks like they wanted an 'over the top' public apology for the last minute cancel . Hayley did say how glad she was to fulfill the concert and she was pleased to be back in good health after a Summer at home. Some things are best left unsaid but the right vibes were there. Maybe the 'poster' did not read them? Hayley probably could not win; to start the concert with too sad a statement would have got the concert off to an unhappy start which would have been difficult to recover from. She was her normal cheerful self and gets the criticism In my eyes enough was said, it will be interesting to see what Grant and Dean say who did get to the doors of the first concert for a considerable travel and accommodation outlay Graham |
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Post by martindn on Feb 22, 2009 22:21:04 GMT
Hi Roger,
Well said! And from his signature, he only came from Manchester for the concert that was cancelled, not the USA like at least one member here. But I didn't hear any bitterness.
In fact I think our "fan" probably experienced a better concert than he would have done on the original date, with Hayley feeling under the weather and without the clear development we have seen this year. And without the fabulous "I know you by heart" too. I would love to hear her sing that live.
And in the end the concert DID take place and he was able to attend. The Barbican, which I had tickets for, was lost forever. Yet I just felt relieved that Hayley was in the best place to aid her recovery.
Martin
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Post by Natasha on Feb 22, 2009 22:30:08 GMT
Full apologies were made on Hayley's behalf at the time by Bedlam Management and in the letters from the venues which advised of the cancellation. That should have been enough. Agreed. Also if anything Hayley was the one majorly inconvenienced!  |
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Post by Dean McCarten on Feb 22, 2009 22:41:34 GMT
A New Hayley Day : Part 2As The track-listing has already been posted by Grant, I'm not going to list them all just my highlightsAfter a lovely Meal with Grant & Graham (Thank you for your enjoyable company), we walked back to BWH and I was introduced to Brid and Dennis, followed by Andy & Steve (Andy's friend from work). We also met Bill "The Lurker". While we were talking Grant was approached by a BWH Official and asked if Grant's bag was a camera bag, upon Grant's response of Yes, he was requested to leave it in the cloak room as All Photography & Recording was totally prohibited. So my camera just stayed in my bag until after the performance. The concert itself was Hayley massaging my emotions with Music. Hayley vocals sounded great in BWH (I think Danny Boy is the best example). However as always it was all over too soon, at this point the 100+ verses of Shenandoah was very tempting, even without Hayley's joke about having all the exits blocked I know that Hayley noticed all the HWI members in the first 2 rows just before "May It Be" we even got a little giggle as well Grant has the track-listings and there were some nice changes including one I was hoping to hear live at least once: "I Know You By Heart" and to my delight and amazement Hayley changed her track-listing to include it, this song was so emotional for me, it had me in tears. The only others songs that have had that effect on my are Abide with Me & Unchained Melody. Again I was amazed and enchanted by Wuthering Heights (I'm sure that even a live recording of this song will never do it justice nor replace hearing this live), well I was glad to have seen Hayley again so even the single encore was still a bonus. I must at this point say a big welcome and congratulations to Tim Evans, who has taken over from Al and also happens to be a Kiwi More soon... Please excuse me while I just go and put Wuthering Heights back on...
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Post by gra7890 on Feb 22, 2009 22:53:09 GMT
I just found the post on the Official Forum and copy some of the moderators response below... He then copied quotes from Hayley's Facebook and Official statement Think we are all saying the same thing.  Graham |
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Post by Sing on Feb 22, 2009 22:53:21 GMT
Hi again,
...I think we are all thinking on the same lines!!..
....I was sort of thinking of how many people would support this view and how many people wouldn't...my friends seem to be more supportive towards this person's opinion than mine,- mainly because no matter how hard I try I cannot convince them that Hayley has an amazingly unique, pure and strong voice, they tend to think she's just "your average singer"... which is such a shame because i think there has to be more 16 year olds here who would love her voice if they gave her a chance (very sorry if going away off topic here)...
....I think if the person who wrote this comment had met Hayley maybe they'd have a different opinion (i hope anyway) then maybe they wouldn't think she could "take on arrogance"...
anyway...I'm glad you really enjoyed this concert and I look forward to more pictures and reviews!!!
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Post by Dean McCarten on Feb 22, 2009 22:56:33 GMT
A New Hayley Day: Part 3After the stunning show Hayley has just put on, we made our way to the cloak room for Grant's Camera where we went to meet Raven at their signing, I had got a copy of Raven's CD before going to take my seat and I joined the line, I was recognized by most of Raven and I got my CD Signed in sliver, which I think makes it look great (I'll post photo later), after this Grant & I took some photos (mine to follow later) By Now it was getting to the usual time, so we made our way to the usual place. There was already a line forming by the Artist's Entrance. After a while Hayley appeared and kindly took the time to sign autographs, photos and have a little chat. I like grant was taking photos and I took the chance to get my NZ Special Edition Odyssey signed. I took this opportunity to ask Hayley a question that had intriguing me for a while: Had Hayley ever done Calligraphy? Hayley told me she had not. I wanted to ask this question because I noticed similarities between Hayley's Autograph and fonts I have used in Calligraphy. So this is another question answered Then sadly it was time for Hayley is say goodbye and Grant & I got Happy waves from the Minibus as it left. Grant & I then returned to our hotel where we reviewed on my laptop all the photos that was had taken over a few glasses of wine by the time we had done this. It was too late to try and locate the internet connection the hotel as we had only spent 15 minutes in the hotel before departing for BWH. So this was yet another unforgettable experience that Hayley allowed us to be a part of. Roll on Glasgow I hope you have enjoyed my report, I'll have photos for you tomorrow now. Thanks for Reading Dean
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Post by Dean McCarten on Feb 22, 2009 23:07:43 GMT
If my memory serves me right, Hayley did in her own way mention her regret of Nov, by saying "I'm so glad to be here at last.." and that was right after Hayley forgot her Mic.
If Hayley is arrogant then how come Hayley was being called away by Dave at the end of last night( due to autographs, photos and chatting) or would that member had preferred Hayley made herself even more ill that night by trying to do the concert in Nov when Hayley was clearly not well?
I think this member is being a little selfish and inconsiderate of Hayley in these statements. Just because we buy tickets to see Hayley does not automatically grant anyone the right to demand anything from her. Anyone else who was at the artist entrance last Nov when Hayley left would have no doubt as to how devastated Hayley was...
Dean
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) and it's always wonderful to hear that Hayley was in top form, and how when you think she can't get any better- she never fails to amaze her fans!... 
it looks like they wanted an 'over the top' public apology for the last minute cancel . Hayley did say how glad she was to fulfill the concert and she was pleased to be back in good health after a Summer at home. Some things are best left unsaid but the right vibes were there. Maybe the 'poster' did not read them?
