Hayley Sings Japanese Songs 2

[maya]

Thank you Comet, Andrew, Grant and Colin for the comments and explanations.
I will add some more information which is only obtained in Japanese so far.

HSJS2 puts a character "絆" prior to English name. "絆" is pronounced "Kizuna" in Japanese and it means "Tie" or "Bond" in English. As I read the explanation written at the page of Tower Records.JP, it explains why "絆" is used. Below is my translation in English.

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The second cover album of Japanese songs by Hayley is themed "Mother" and songs are selected in this category mostly. As the title "絆" is indicated that it is a strong message of Hayley that the ties with parents, love, appreciations. Adding more emotions to former HSJS, she sings the new songs with beautiful "Pure Voice".
No.5 ねむの木の子守歌= Nemunoki no komoriuta / Singing lullaby under the silk tree is the only song sang in Japanese together with Tokyo Womens Choir organized by Ms. Reiko Yukawa a song writer.
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I hope this could help you some.
All the best.
Maya

[grant]

Hello Maya and thank you for the latest translations regarding this album.

It is very interesting to hear how this album will be "themed", knowing how family oriented Hayley is, I'm now even more excited to hear these new songs.

I'm also pleased to hear that Hayley will be singing one song in Japanese.

Best wishes
Grant

[Colin]

Hi everyone

I've delved a little further into HSJS2 thanks to Maya's translations.

Crescent Moon (track 7) is interesting because it was originally by Mika Nakashima, who gave us Yuki no Hama from HSJS, which I know is a favourite of many people here. You can read more at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mika_Nakashima.

But the most interesting details I've found so far concern track 3, Cosmos. This was originally by Momoe Yamaguchi, who was a huge singing star and acclaimed actress in the 1970s, between the ages of 13 and 21. Musically, her later albums became more experimental and influential, and she eventually released 22 albums. She made 17 films and her main on-screen romantic lead, Tomokazu Miura, who appeared in 14 of the 17 films, proposed to her and she retired from the entertainment industry at her peak to become a mother and home maker. Again, you can read more at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momoe_Yamaguchi.

Both songs are available on the net, but I wouldn't go looking for them if you want the new album to be a surprise.

Kind regards

Colin

[postscript]

I agree, I think she likes the Japanese people and country and culture so much that she enjoys singing Japanese songs. Also, I think I remember her saying in an interview once that she found the Japanese vowel sounds very similar to Maori - so it may be that she also finds singing in Japanese a lot easier than most non-Japanese would - certainly than I would

And it is not difficult to guess why, they are well mannered and cultured in their dealings. I recall commenting when describing my experience with CDJapan on the 'courtesy' of the site... and it was only a site! That is the way she is and could be another reason she goes down so well over there and why we love her over here. Japan reminds us of how ill-mannered the UK has too often become.

Peter S.

[roger]

Hi maya,

Many thanks for the tracklisting and additional information. I am sure we will all appreciate the album more than ever thanks to your help. I can't help but wonder if this album might be dedicated to Jill.

Roger

[grant]

Jan 18, 2009 11:59:58 GMT @roger said:

I can't help but wonder if this album might be dedicated to Jill.

What a lovely thought Roger.

Best wishes
Grant

[maya]

Jan 18, 2009 11:24:09 GMT postscript said:

I agree, I think she likes the Japanese people and country and culture so much that she enjoys singing Japanese songs. Also, I think I remember her saying in an interview once that she found the Japanese vowel sounds very similar to Maori - so it may be that she also finds singing in Japanese a lot easier than most non-Japanese would - certainly than I would

And it is not difficult to guess why, they are well mannered and cultured in their dealings. I recall commenting when describing my experience with CDJapan on the 'courtesy' of the site... and it was only a site! That is the way she is and could be another reason she goes down so well over there and why we love her over here. Japan reminds us of how ill-mannered the UK has too often become.

Peter S.

Hi Peter　S.

Thank you for seeing good side of Japan. Of course there are some poor side of Japan too and we must improve them. At least I can say is Japanese foods are good. Hayley likes to eat them and I am assuming that it is one of the reasons why she visits Japan time to time. I remember her saying at a TV show in Japan that she liked Mozuku, Agedashi-Toufu and Natto.

She also likes Japanese fruits. When my family presented her Japanese TV oranges, she said, ”I know this and I like it very much!”. It is very easy to peel off and tastes good. It also contains vitamin C a lot and is good to one's health.

Anyway there comes new CD in 8 weeks and I am counting on it together with you.

Best wishes.
Maya

[pjrcorreia]

Jan 18, 2009 12:47:56 GMT maya said:

Anyway there comes new CD in 8 weeks and I am counting on it together with you.

Hi Maya,

Thank you for all the info and translations regarding the new album.

Like everyone else here, I am very excited about this album.
And very looking forward to it!!!

I never expected it to be released so soon, In the other hand, with such good news almost 8 weeks seems to me like eternity!!! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Best wishes from Portugal,
Paulo Correia

[gra7890]

Hi Maya,
Thanks for the advance info on the theme and track-listing.
I think CDJapan is in for some more business

Best Wishes,

Graham

[martindn]

Jan 18, 2009 15:23:31 GMT pjrcorreia said:

Jan 18, 2009 12:47:56 GMT maya said:

Anyway there comes new CD in 8 weeks and I am counting on it together with you.

Hi Maya,

Thank you for all the info and translations regarding the new album.

Like everyone else here, I am very excited about this album.
And very looking forward to it!!!

I never expected it to be released so soon, In the other hand, with such good news almost 8 weeks seems to me like eternity!!! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Best wishes from Portugal,
Paulo Correia

Yes, I just know this will be special, and even if I predicted it, and even the release date within a few days, I know I will still be blown away. And when this is No 1 in the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic in December 2009, remember that I prophesied that too,
Hayley is just too good not to become a global phenomenon. Then only tricky bit is when!

Matin

[Dave]

Jan 18, 2009 19:50:15 GMT gra7890 said:

Hi Maya,
Thanks for the advance info on the theme and track-listing.
I think CDJapan is in for some more business

Yes, many thanks to maya!

The only problem I foresee Graham is the cost, but it's only a problem for foreign importers like us. Taking Hayley's first Japanese album as an example and delivery by ordinary airmail to the UK (4 - 12 days) (so based on 2700 yen + 800 yen for airmail) the total cost last summer was about £16. But the rate of exchange of Yen against the pound has zoomed from 215 to 136, which increases the total cost for UK import to about £26... and over £30 for the special edition. But look out for special offers (extra points!).

Of course, this greatly increases its value to Hayley's record company and Hayley, in UK pounds. Instead of the shop price being under £10 in the UK, it will be about £20 equivalent in Japan for the "normal" edition - £25 for the special edition.

Whoever planned the next Japanese album and its release date should be feeling very pleased with themselves as this year, for the second time I think, Japan will be Hayley's most profitable market for CD sales and almost certainly, per concert, for concerts too. UK signings who, like Hayley, do well in Japan - and there aren't many... should have a broad smile all over their faces this year!

Cheers, Dave

[roger]

Hi Dave,

Are you sure it works that way?

Jan 18, 2009 22:54:22 GMT Dave said:

Of course, this greatly increases its value to Hayley's record company and Hayley, in UK pounds.

Surely, the currency exchange has already taken place when the online store, and therefore the record company, get their money. The value of the album in yen at the point of sale is the same even though we would be paying more in GBP.

Also, if the sterling equivalent exceeds £18, I believe it would be subject to "Import VAT" which, in my experience, would also hold up delivery at Customs by several weeks.

See HMRevenue&Customs.

Roger

[grant]

Jan 18, 2009 19:50:15 GMT gra7890 said:

I think CDJapan is in for some more business

Hi Graham and everyone

I'm quite surprised that CD Japan are still not listing this CD.

Best wishes
Grant

[Dave]

Jan 18, 2009 23:07:19 GMT @roger said:

Hi Dave,

Are you sure it works that way?

Jan 18, 2009 22:54:22 GMT Dave said:

Of course, this greatly increases its value to Hayley's record company and Hayley, in UK pounds.

Surely, the currency exchange has already taken place when the online store, and therefore the record company, get their money. The value of the album in yen at the point of sale is the same even though we would be paying more in GBP.

Also, if the sterling equivalent exceeds £18, I believe it would be subject to "Import VAT" which, in my experience, would also hold up delivery at Customs by several weeks.

See HMRevenue&Customs.

Roger

Hi Roger,

Yes it may cost us importers even more than I estimated (though there have been some changes since last year) but the parent record company Decca will definitely benefit greatly from the exchange rate changes.

Let's say the Japanese domestic record stores (including export stores if based in Japan) rake in 3,500 yen for each 'special' edition sold, the record company UCJ Japan will net say 2000 yen after dealer profits and distribution (a complete guess!) which I assume will end up at Decca UK eventually (what's left of it, depending on what arrangements are in place). When the net result say 2000 yen is sent to the UK, converted into sterling at last summer's rate of 215 the 2000 yen gives Decca UK £9.30. When converted at today's rate of 135, it gives them £14.81.

So it's a nice little earner for them, I'd say, compared to what they'd get from Hayley's (or anyone's) UK CD sales.

Cheers, Dave

[roger]

Jan 18, 2009 23:55:07 GMT Dave said:

When the net result say 2000 yen is sent to the UK, converted into sterling at last summer's rate of 215 the 2000 yen gives Decca UK £9.30. When converted at today's rate of 135, it gives them £14.81.

So it's a nice little earner for them, I'd say.

Ah yes that is true, but would it be sent back to the UK? Surely it would go into a UCJ Japan's bank account? If so, exchange rate which would be advantageous to them would not apply.

Roger