Hayley's next UK album: Classical or Pop?

[Dave]

We know that Hayley first said a few months ago that she is ready to try new things this year. This could mean many things but there has been speculation that it suggests her next UK release might not qualify for the classical charts, something that all her previous releases have done. And Hayley now consistently describes herself as "a singer" as in the latest video from NZ Stuff

Hayley has already released successfully one Japanese pop album and she is about to release a second. Yet prior to this, she was promoted in Japan as "classical" and indeed, Pure was the biggest selling classical album of its release year in Japan. So there are definite similarities between the way she was promoted there and in the UK, where it was the biggest selling debut classical album ever.

We know it has not been easy for Decca to make her existing UK releases eligible for the classical charts, they have all barely qualified and it is possible they have had to compromise on their preferred tracklistings in order to achieve this. This is mainly I think because of Decca's chosen image for Hayley, her UK demographic, and the important benefit of getting airplay on Classic FM radio.

But in view of the changed situation in Japan, Hayley's own comments and the inevitable risks that making the change would bring, do we think the time is now right for Hayley to release a "non-classical" album in the UK? It would then be (probably) an easy listening pop album and although its overall "feel" might not change too much, Hayley may have greater artistic freedom. It may or may not lead to increased record sales.

Comments and votes are welcome from all Countries, as what is done in the UK will impact on releases in most other Countries. I will reveal my own views after a few other posts have been made.

This is not intended to be another general "what's the best way for Hayley to succeed?" thread, let's try and stick to what type of material Hayley does and should record, thanks!

Dave

[stevemacdonald]

Something tells me Hayley is itching to stray from her previous work and prove herself in the more popular genres. I think she has nothing to lose and everything to gain if she really branches out. Let her do a crossover number and something folksy, but then move forward into the mainstream where she will most certainly impress the heck out of a lot of new people.

[Richard]

I see no reason why Hayley should aim for the classical charts again. If she chooses her own material without worrying about the genre, I'm sure she will produce another excellent album that will please all her fans and win her many new ones. It might get her more airplay on Radio 2, and it wouldn't be a dramatic change of direction by any stretch of the imagination. She can still include a couple of classical numbers if she wants to.

Richard

[Colin]

Hi everyone

I thought from the NZ Stuff interview that Hayley was actually sending Decca UK a message:

"I'm not a classical singer, I'm not a crossover singer, just call me a singer - so please don't expect the fourth international album to qualify for the UK classical charts..."

If you take this interview together with some of her interviews at the end of last year, where she intimated that she'd learnt the need to take more musical risks, I think that Hayley's thoughts for her international career are steering her towards the successes she's finding with these Japanese releases.

The artistic expansion this will give her is immense because she can still record the classical and traditional songs that she likes but won't then be pressured to include so many on each album. A more singer-songwriter style, hopefully with more and more self-penned compositions will I believe prolong her career greatly provided the quality of the "modern" songs remain as high as it has always been in the past.

Kind regards

Colin

[grant]

Hello Dave and everyone

Hayley has already proved that she can sing pretty much anything from classical arias to pop ballads. She has also consistently said that she wants to try new things and push herself into new areas.

If, as Colin suggests, her "Just call me a singer" quote heralds a change of direction and that change of direction means more of Hayley's own songs, then I'm all for it. She has already proved herself to have an incredible gift in the area of song writing and I can't wait to hear more.

How ever the next international album is classified, I'm sure I know I will love it, and if it increases Hayley's fan base so much the better.

Best wishes
Grant

[Karsten]

Hi,

In 2008 there was obviously a focus on three markets: UK and Ireland, Japan and NZ.

Having in mind the fact that there are special releases of the albums made for UK and NZ and that the mentioned markets are separated from my point of view it could be an option to try both ways – a more ‘classical’ one in the UK and a slightly more ‘popular’ one for the other markets, as it was done with RoD for the UK and HSJS for Japan already.

If the ‘popular’ version should deliver, there should be no problem to ‘import’ this one to the UK in the aftermath.

Cheers, Karsten

P.S.: Of course that’s only an opinion from outside – e.g. here in Germany we had no CD release at all in 2008.

[roger]

Hi Dave,

The possibility of the next album not qualifying for the classical charts merely reflects what Hayley has been saying for years. I remember her saying five years ago that she doesn't want to be limited to one particular genre. What she has said recently is therefore nothing new.

If the next album is basically light pop, there would be an element of risk but all artists need to take a few risks. In doing so, she would not be stepping out of her comfort zone as the Japanese album proves.

I feel sure that her earlier albums qualifying as classical was beneficial and I am equally sure she will always include a few classical songs in her repertoire but the time has come to target the more mainstream pop now and I have voted accordingly.

Roger

[Martin]

Jan 24, 2009 1:32:14 GMT Dave said:

But in view of the changed situation in Japan, Hayley's own comments and the inevitable risks that making the change would bring, do we think the time is now right for Hayley to release a "non-classical" album in the UK? It would then be (probably) an easy listening pop album and although its overall "feel" might not change too much, Hayley may have greater artistic freedom. It may or may not lead to increased record sales.

Dave

Hi All
I have held the view for some time now that this would eventually become inevitable if not necessary from a commercial perspective.

I have always supported Hayley's musical direction and "experimentation" such as HSJS and West Side Story but as Dave suggests an easy listening album has enormous potential in her other established markets outside Japan. HSJS was popular in Japan (hence HSJS 2) and with many of us here on HWI so why not?

Decca would of course have to provide a relevant marketing budget, perhaps bigger than the norm but if it pays off then the future would be extremely rosy for Hayley.

I believe it is a risk worth taking. I am not suggesting for one moment that Hayley should abandon her classical strengths but to compliment them with an album reflecting her true versatility in other musical genres and in this instance, "easy listening".

HSJS was perhaps the musical highlight for me in 2008 and I see no reason now why an album of this nature incorporating a mixture of familiar and not so familiar popular songs could not be targeted at her other International markets. It even, hopefully, could include some self compositions.

Martin

[Dave]

Hello everyone and thanks for your interesting comments so far.

I think the poll result so far says it all and you've probably guessed how I have now voted: for a pop album (which could still include some classical/folksy/sacred songs which Hayley does so well).

As some have suggested, Hayley herself may have been sending out messages for a while now; well in starting this poll, I wondered if we wanted to send a message back. Perhaps we do!

Cheers, Dave

[roger]

Jan 24, 2009 14:03:21 GMT Dave said:

...in starting this poll, I wondered if we wanted to send a message back. Perhaps we do!

Hi Dave,

The only problem is she can't see the results unless she logs in!

Roger

[Dave]

Hi Roger.

We can post the results in a message!

Second thoughts, maybe we should leave that until most members have voted... we don't want to influence the poll unduly, especially in the early stages.

Of course, anyone who logs in can see the score... but only when they have voted.

Third thoughts, well your thought really (thanks!), I'm going to move the poll from the Miscellaneous board to the main Albums board, which is where it really belongs.

Cheers, Dave

[grant]

Hi Dave and everyone.

Following on from Paulo's post under the HSJS2 thread regarding the release of a single from that album, I'm wondering, if Hayley's next UK album does go down the pop road, might there be mileage in a single from that one also?

Best wishes
Grant

[Martin]

Jan 24, 2009 15:41:22 GMT grant said:

I'm wondering, if Hayley's next UK album does go down the pop road, might there be mileage in a single from that one also?

Best wishes
Grant

Hi Grant
Only if she records the Proclaimers' hit "I Would Walk 500 miles".

Martin

[roger]

Here's a thought. Let's suppose the next album does not qualify for the classical charts but that it does contain two or three classical tracks. Would Classic FM still play those few tracks or would they ignore the album completely because it wasn't classical?

Thoughts are just like buses - you don't get one for ages and then two come along!...

If it isn't classical, what are the chances of Radio 2 putting it on their playlist? I feel they should but they may have a deep-rooted belief that Hayley is still predominantly considered a classical artiste and they may take some persuading. That, perhaps, is all part of the risk?

Roger

[Mark]

Hi everyone

I agree with just about everything that has been said on this thread so far (so thats saved alot of typing i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif). Seriously though, as an album, HSJS is absolutely my favourite, I love every single track on it and I am sure that now is the time to get rid of the constraints imposed by having to fit into the 'classical' genre.

I also feel that if Hayley were to produce another classical album - what would she put on it ? After the 3 that she has produced and all the variations, I would guess that finding new classical songs that inspire her would be a difficult job. No, its time for Hayley to show everyone who she really is and my vote goes with an easy listening, gentle pop style, that includes more of Hayley's own songs. I wonder if while she has been recuperating back home, she may have found the inspiration and hopefully the time to compose a few !!

Yes its a risk, not qualifying for the classical charts but I feel a necessary risk and I feel now is the right time.

Best wishes
Mark