|
|
Post by xcv462 on Oct 19, 2007 18:26:56 GMT
I just voted for it,she has had an amazing life already
|
|
|
|
Post by Paddy on Oct 19, 2007 18:29:12 GMT
Hi Andrew,
What!
Another kilt already?
'Preferred the blue one ...
Paddy
|
|
Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,700
|
Post by Dave on Oct 19, 2007 18:37:24 GMT
Frankly I am a bit critical of the concept - not that it will stop me from eventually picking up the book of course  It is simply that when I grew up there were fewer being written, and therefore the subjects of the books tended to be of far more general importance - for example, I read an biography of Winston Churchill when I was about 7.....which then led me to read one about Roosevelt and Stalin. For good or ill, these people did great things - things which truly changed the face of the world in which we now live. Give a singer a 30 year or 50 year career and just maybe they can have a genuine and lasting cultural impact in their own right - but if the standard for biographies is that the subject be "important" at a certain level, I can certainly understand - and to some extent even agree with - that reaction when the book is about someone only 20 years old. I am not intending this as a criticism of Hayley per se, but of the publicity and advertising machine which produces these things. On the face of it, it is a rather strange idea that a 20-year-old (someone like Bill Gates might be an exception) has anything really that important to say to anyone who is a non-fan. For this reason, sales of this type of material tend to come and go very quickly. There is a very good chance that the book will be available at half the cover price or less in six months. I will buy the book because the purchase presumably will contribute to her support. I just have trouble taking it at any level deeper than mere publicity fluff. Hi Jon and everyone, I have no problem with Hayley (or any other well known person with a band of interested supporters) publishing a book... or two... before she (they) are 21. It is really no more than a thorough and in-depth series of magazine articles would be - and we know how popular they can be with supporters of any well known person. In the modern day, most people crave information. we are used to getting it and if it's easy to provide - which with today's technology it certainly is (compared to days gone by) i see nothing wrong with providing it. One assumes that The World At Her Feet sold enough copies to persuade the publisher that this one will be profitable too.... given that Hayley is still in the public eye. Times have changed and it's about time journalists and certain members of the general public realised this. If it's seen as an expanded and informative magazine article (or series) about Hayley's "journey" so far, rather than an old-style biography of her entire life, it should make better sense - and the publicists really ought to realise that. We probably need a better word than "biography" to describe it because that's the real problem people have with it, I think. The detractors should realise that Bob Dylan had it right, and learn: The times they are a changin'  Cheers, Dave |
|
|
|
Post by Paddy on Oct 19, 2007 19:26:25 GMT
Frankly I am a bit critical of the concept - not that it will stop me from eventually picking up the book of course For good or ill, these people did great things - things which truly changed the face of the world in which we now live.... I am not intending this as a criticism of Hayley per se, but of the publicity and advertising machine which produces these things.... I will buy the book because the purchase presumably will contribute to her support. I just have trouble taking it at any level deeper than mere publicity fluff.... Jon Hi Jon, I see where you're coming from. I too loved and still love reading biographies - of any kind but especially biographies of those 'who did great things'. And the recognition of greatness can take a long, long time. However, Hayley's biography I prefer to take for what it actually is: An advertising strategy - of course - but not a bad strategy, I think, for anyone whose success depends on sales of CDs? A token of appreciation for Hayley's many loyal fans who'd like to get to know her better? A personal testament, - not of any claimed greatness, - just a simple tale of who Hayley is, where she's coming from and going and the important milestones and people on the way. Really, I think it's nice to read now the life story of someone we admire, while she's still on her way to achieving her own distinctive greatness. I find it kind of sad reading the life stories of the great, realising that they're no longer around and that their greatness is now just a memory. So, I'm looking forward to reading Hayley's book - for the same kind of reasons that I'm looking forward to attending Hayley's next concert in Dublin. Best regards, Paddy |
|
|
|
Post by stevemacdonald on Oct 19, 2007 20:02:53 GMT
A bio of Hayley would mean a lot more to me if it were truly her own voice, not an "as told to" account. Her own words are significant and shold be 100% of the content.
|
|
|
|
Post by milewalker on Oct 19, 2007 20:07:20 GMT
[Hi Jon and everyone, I have no problem with Hayley (or any other well known person with a band of interested supporters) publishing a book... or two... before she (they) are 21. It is really no more than a thorough and in-depth series of magazine articles would be - and we know how popular they can be with supporters of any well known person. In the modern day, most people crave information. we are used to getting it and if it's easy to provide - which with today's technology it certainly is (compared to days gone by) i see nothing wrong with providing it. One assumes that The World At Her Feet sold enough copies to persuade the publisher that this one will be profitable too.... given that Hayley is still in the public eye. Times have changed and it's about time journalists and certain members of the general public realised this. If it's seen as an expanded and informative magazine article (or series) about Hayley's "journey" so far, rather than an old-style biography of her entire life, it should make better sense - and the publicists really ought to realise that. We probably need a better word than "biography" to describe it because that's the real problem people have with it, I think. The detractors should realise that Bob Dylan had it right, and learn: The times they are a changin' Cheers, Dave Hi Dave, I think the difference between this and a conventional bioography is a bit larger than that. Actually I found your mention of the similarities of this kind of book to magazine articles to be quite salient - but unfortunately I think it kinda works against your point.....In my opinon, magazine articles about Hayley (or another entertainer) are generally speaking not provided to divulge informaiton. They are provided to increase the public profile of the subject - usually with the overriding purpose of increasing the overal sales of the artist. Any information provided to satiate the modern thirst you mention is simply the mechanism by which this occurs. This is why their frequency tends to increase markedly in the weeks surrounding a product release This is why I am more inclined to dismiss the book as mere publicity fluff - one would assume that a book about Winston Churchill was written to celebrate his life or to analyze his historic impact rather than merely to increase his profile. There was a comment above made that the writer of this book was not really a "ghost writer" and I think I agree with that. It would be more accurate to say he was a "mercenary writer" - a biographer for hire. In reality, I am not against Hayley or any other artist making a quick buck - as you state, this type of project has become mainstream, and I will get on board with virtually anything which helps to mainstream Hayley . Just be aware that when she publishes something like this, it does invite comparisons - publishing serial biographies at an early age are quite likely one of the few things which Hayley, Charlotte Church and Britney Spears have in common Jon Grant - I didnt entirely understand your comment - if the things you mentioned are children's books, I not only didnt read them, but frankly have never heard of thiem Ironically my education may have run backwards in some ways - I read more children's books now as an adult than I ever did as a child Jon |
|
|
|
Post by Belinda on Oct 19, 2007 20:42:58 GMT
Hi All, People who want a good read will buy the book not even thinking about her age. Certain people question everything Hayley does.  and it s very predictable  You can't really blame the NZ public unless they are a die hard Hayley fan they probably have not heard of her.. There is very little Hayley promotion for anything I say it now and I've said it before, I think we are history  and the worlds out there. and i don't know how to change that. Last we heard was Hayley as a nomination at the awards before that it was the media about Hayley not singing at the World cup. The re release and the book have very quietly arrived in NZ Where is Hayley's Publicist belinda |
|
|
|
Post by Belinda on Oct 19, 2007 21:38:13 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Paddy on Oct 19, 2007 21:54:48 GMT
Great news!
So it's not all black for Hayley in New Zealand?
What a surprise since earlier today!
No sign of my book on its way yet.
Best Wishes,
Paddy
|
|
|
|
Post by Paddy on Oct 19, 2007 22:14:05 GMT
A bio of Hayley would mean a lot more to me if it were truly her own voice, not an "as told to" account. Her own words are significant and shold be 100% of the content. I agree. An auto-biography would be fantastic - sometime. Maybe Hayley will have the time for that in the (distant) future, when she retires from singing. Who knows, she may wish to develop and display her own literary talents and write her memoirs - without the help of an editor (or 'ghost writer'). In the meantime, she's lucky to have an editor (proxy writer) of the calibre of Darren Henley: to help her tell her own story in her most authentic voice - for now. Paddy |
|
|
|
Post by comet on Oct 19, 2007 22:14:14 GMT
Hi Folks. Why can't Stuff.co .nz just be proud and acknowledge that Hayley Westenra has done New Zealand proud all over the world. How petty can they be (Stuff.co.nz) , They have worded a vote with a potential for 75% response against Hayley and the wording to support Hayley is to imply that those of us who vote for her are somehow childishly excited. Well I am childishly EXCITED and the people of New Zealand should also applaud her achievements world wide and get behind her and support her. VOTE IN SUPPORT OF HAYLEY, Lets show them www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/4242790a6009.htmlI'm not suggesting you vote twice, TWICE is not enough |
|
|
|
Post by Paddy on Oct 19, 2007 22:22:55 GMT
Hi Comet,
I'm delighted to see Hayley's NZ fans have (belatedly) rallied to the cause!
And that despite the bias in the questionnaire design.
Great to turn the tables on stuff.nz!
Begrudgery - as I mentioned in an earlier post!
Just shows too how the media in general make a 'sport' of picking holes in anyone/anything successful. No different in Ireland!
Paddy
|
|
|
|
Post by Paddy on Oct 19, 2007 22:27:32 GMT
Hi Comet,
I tried voting twice++ but the number of votes stays the same.
Must recognise IP addresses.
Smart one.
Paddy
|
|
|
|
Post by Belinda on Oct 19, 2007 22:31:24 GMT
Hi Comet, wouldn't dream of it  voting twice  I may tell stuff what i think once the polls closed, about their poll questions Paddy try refreshing yourself before you go to vote Belinda |
|
|
|
Post by Paddy on Oct 19, 2007 22:43:44 GMT
Hi Belinda,
Refreshment doesn't work ...
Del-eting cookies does.
Night! Night!
Paddy
|
|
It is simply that when I grew up there were fewer being written, and therefore the subjects of the books tended to be of far more general importance - for example, I read an biography of Winston Churchill when I was about 7.....which then led me to read one about Roosevelt and Stalin. For good or ill, these people did great things - things which truly changed the face of the world in which we now live. Give a singer a 30 year or 50 year career and just maybe they can have a genuine and lasting cultural impact in their own right - but if the standard for biographies is that the subject be "important" at a certain level, I can certainly understand - and to some extent even agree with - that reaction when the book is about someone only 20 years old. I am not intending this as a criticism of Hayley per se, but of the publicity and advertising machine which produces these things. 
and it s very predictable 
and the worlds out there. and i don't know how to change that.