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Post by Dori on Mar 16, 2009 20:41:46 GMT
Hello everybody, Alright, I have seen the clips, heard the samples and have been following this board from the time someone opened it, but said nothing. However now I believe it is time to voice my opinion. Firstly, I am trying to be objective for two reasons: I do not want to offend Hayley or her family (especially if they are reading this), as I believe I am not in that position (i still feel like I don't know the full story), and secondly, I do not want to start a political/religious/moral divide between members, especially since I think there has been enough of that. However, I will still be honest in my opinion. As a Hayley fan, I have to voice my disappointment, not in the type of music that was recorded (I listened to it - it's all vocal and absolutely not different to anything else Hayley has ever recorded) but in the movie's context and the songs' titles! I will right now state that I am conservative, religious and of high moral values, and for me, Hayley represented, and still represents, all of these. However, despite this shocking project, I don't believe she has compensated her high morals for something else. If the soundtrack was hard rocky popy angry music, then I wouldn't know where to stand, and would consider that as a change in her music and image altogether. But I am trying to put it all into perspective. Especially with Hayley voicing her views about her image last year. Perhaps Hayley separates movie content from its music in her mind. Yes, that doesn't mean that the rest of the world does, but I'm sure musicians have worked on movies they hate, yet love the soundtrack. Remember, music is a language in itself, and there have been movies that I've hated, yet bought the soundtrack because I loved it. I can't see how that wouldn't be a possibility. Having said this, I still think this was a bad move on Bedlam's behalf, simply because they may have bitten off more than they can chew. It would have to be a radical move for me to no longer support Hayley, and I do not believe this is the case at all. I will still buy her CDs, run my website for her and attend her concert in Auckland, because I do not believe she has 'changed' in any way. She is still our Hayley. I just think she has made a mistake. And hey, we're all human, right? Whether this was a political move (but I can't see how that is) or just a deliberate act of liberation, or a mistake, boycotting is just creating hatred, and we are not about that here in HWI. Remember the Dixie Chicks? We don't want to do that to Hayley, especially since we haven't heard anything from Hayley about this personally. I would hope that Hayley would read this board and perhaps make a statement for her - what clearly has become - 'angry' fans. But all in all, for me, it comes back to the music. If I had no idea of the titles or content of the film, and happened to hear that soundtrack on the radio or in a shop, I would go, "That's Hayley!" There is nothing different about the music, but it disappoints me so that the content is so vulgar, and I seriously thought Hayley would consider this in regards to her fans. I am sure by now Hayley knows that many of her fans are disappointed and upset. Thus I believe she will give a statement in due course, and until then, I hope that everybody will continue to support Hayley. If Hayley comes up with a statement that shocks and angers, then perhaps then people can really voice their directions they will take. But I don't think Hayley is about that at all. I am sure she is, right now, shocked at these reaction, because I don't think she thought about this when she recorded the soundtrack. I truly believe this. Again, I sincerely believe this is an honest mistake - a decision that Hayley may have taken a little too lightly, and I do not believe that is she is changing her image or her music. I think we would have known that by now.  I may not agree with this film, but I still support you Hayley. You make our world so much better.  Dori |
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ben
New Member 
Posts: 6
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Post by ben on Mar 16, 2009 21:21:30 GMT
Hello, sorry iam new to this blogging business so if i end up saying something that seems a little incoherent or irrelevant i apologise.
First i think its great how everyone is respectfully voicing their opinions about this, iam a relatively new hayley fan and like some people here (so ive read??) also like the odd bit of heavy metal, in fact quite alot. On the face of it these song/music titles seem like something from a goth metal album i used to listen to....i wont post a link! LOL Which kinda shocks me that these LVK titles have connections to hayley, though i dont know the lyrics or have heard the music so i'll reserve judgement i suppose. Dont get me wrong iam not really in a position to criticise considering i have listened to stuff like that in the past.
And who am i to judge like many of you have said but i do understand alot of peoples disappointment, for reasons we all know! But hayley seems a really nice person, with huge talent that deserves to be the voice of the soundtracks of every major future film! and if doing this provides her with those opportunities i can understand! But we shall see!
Ben
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Post by nicola on Mar 16, 2009 22:16:42 GMT
Is it because I grew up in a Labour run liberal country? Seriously, I'm stunned at the reactions of Hayley contributing to a soundtrack!
Poor Hayley, with fans believing that she has to make a "statement" to justify her actions that have nothing to do with them. The girl only lives once, let her have some fun!
Wow. Just.
Wow.
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Post by nicola on Mar 16, 2009 22:29:41 GMT
No, I'm serious. This has quite annoyed me. I hope that Hayley never reads this thread. What will she find here? Fans muttering about her "image" and withdrawing support, expecting explanations. Hayley Westenra is not an "image" she is a human being, and if this soundtrack offends your senses, it seems to be that your ashamed that it will tarnish *your* image. You don't want to admit that you are a fan of someone that contributed to a horrorr comedy soundtrack once.
She'll be questioning this 'unconditional' love that these fans have always said they'd have. She might feel trapped about trying something new because she has to keep demands of her fans. Not out of concern of losing money, but out of concern of "disappointing" you. She will be limited. Imprisoned. Cautious about trying things that she wants to try.
Not that all posts in this thread have been so discouraging, but I am shocked by some of the reactions. I'm sorry I am lacking objectivity in this, but my opinion is overbearing my mind, and can't seem to come out fair. Forgive me.
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Post by roger on Mar 16, 2009 22:36:14 GMT
Poor Hayley, with fans believing that she has to make a "statement" to justify her actions that have nothing to do with them. Sorry Nicola but I think it has everything to do with us. She is utterly dependent upon her fans to survive in the music industry and it is therefore not in her interest to risk alienating any of them. I don't expect her to make any kind of statement but, if she did, it might prove helpful. Roger |
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Post by nicola on Mar 16, 2009 22:42:22 GMT
No, I do not agree. She has chosen to be part of this soundtrack, if her fans don't like it, then they shouldn't buy it. They can choose to have nothing to do with it. No one is forcing the fan to listen to it or to have anything to do with it. They shouldn't make moral judgements about her and threaten to withdraw support because of something she made a decision to take part in. That's her business. This is the line between her being a commodity and an artist. Fans do not own her. You can't grab a piece of her. I feel awful for her right now. Just awful.
But who am I to say how a fan should act? If people are capable of withdrawing support because of her inclusion in a horror comedy soundtrack, then that's their loss. I just don't agree with it, just as they do not agree with me.
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Post by martindn on Mar 16, 2009 22:50:08 GMT
Well there is no way that this will stop me from supporting Hayley, even though I don't like this sort of film. I'm not aware that Hayley herself has dome anything nasty, even if the film itself is coarse and degrading. I too would probably describe it as "trash", and feel upset that Hayley has been involved in something I probably couldn't stand to watch, and would probably walk out of if it tried. But all Hayley has done is sing on the soundtrack, and is not responsible for the content of the film.
Remember before you are too hard on her, this is the girl who has just released the beautiful and sensitive new album HSJS2. There is nothing coarse or vulgar about that is there? I think that what that portrays is much closer to the real Hayley than this film.
Roger, I understand your difficulties, and find it hard to reconcile this with Hayley's outlook on life as shown by her other work. She has always resisted the cheap and tacky, so I can only guess that it was her loyalty to Debbie that persuaded her to do this. We all know what high value Hayley puts on her personal friendships.
Martin
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Post by Paddy on Mar 16, 2009 23:42:01 GMT
I agree (with Graham). Let there be no rush to judgement on Hayley nor on her decision.
Personally (and for many reasons), I’m not inclined to pass judgement at all in that regard
– whatever about informing one’s own opinions on the film itself (as I have).
However, something bothers me persistently throughout this thread.
Not the strong moral views expressed about the film. Those I understand but do not share.
In deference to the sincerity with which those opinions are expressed, I will not attempt to argue against them.
What really bothers me (in this thread) is the frequent presumption
that Hayley has somehow made a culpable mistake (rather than a conscious decision);
and that somehow she needs to be excused or justified,
on grounds such as that she didn’t know or was misguided or that she really had no other choice.
I have no idea what Hayley’s motivation was for her involvement with this (mediocre) film - nor will I attempt to speculate.
Instead, I put my faith in the personal integrity she seems usually to demonstrate
and trust that, this time too, the decision was her own and was made conscientiously.
Give Hayley space, I say.
She's not 'a songbird in a cage'?
Paddy
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Post by georgina on Mar 16, 2009 23:44:45 GMT
Poor Hayley, with fans believing that she has to make a "statement" to justify her actions that have nothing to do with them. Sorry Nicola but I think it has everything to do with us. She is utterly dependent upon her fans to survive in the music industry and it is therefore not in her interest to risk alienating any of them. I don't expect her to make any kind of statement but, if she did, it might prove helpful. Roger But are the 300 -- 400 odd members here a genuinely representative sample of HW's fan base? She has sold over 400 million albums... I am interested in Hayley Westenra's music and I don't understand what is going on here. Her personal life, and her views and so on, are not relevant to me. I believe it is no concern or business of mine whether she is an atheist, or a Jain, or whether she is heterosexual, homosexual, or hermaphrodite. I will support her in her beliefs and attitudes not simply support her as long as she does what I want her to do, and acts as some vicarious representative of me in the celebrity world -- as long as she follows my beliefs. I will support her and her music (it is her music that I support anyway, I can't understand how she is beholden to me in any other way) irrespective of whether she is a christian an atheist, straight or gay. If she goes off the rails and becomes a drug-taking promiscuous and foul-mouthed, hard-drinking, hard-partying, Amy Winehouse type character I will support her all the more. There is one circumstance under which I will stop supporting her -- I will stop supporting the moment she shows any indication of caving into -- or so much as taking even the slightest notice of -- silly threats from those at HWI to withdraw their support if she doesn't behave they way they want her to. HWI has obviously served its purpose and it is way past time she and her management and her family cut the umbilical cord. If I am deleted here I will post my opinions elsewhere. Since I am obviously not a person of the moral calibre required here at HWI, I will close my account as soon as I can after posting this. |
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Post by mariannek on Mar 16, 2009 23:52:48 GMT
Hi Roger Did you get any sleep at all last night!  Grant mentioned earlier that declining the job may have resulted in some people seeing Hayley as "https://i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifivaish" (I knew I'd seen it somewhere!). I don't see why that should be. I think what I was trying to say (and I'm sure it was someone elses idea in another thread) was that had it been some 'two-bit' writer approaching Hayley to participate it may well have been dfferent. Debbie's standing in her field (as suggested by Dave) means, I am sure, that she is looked up to by many others in the business who would have seen Hayley's refusal as being overly selective in what she does or doesn't do, to the extent that it may affect opportunities coming her way from other sources. By the way, I understand your dilema with this thread.  Best wishes Grant Hi Everyone, I haven't logged in for quite some time for a number of reasons. I still adore Hayley's voice and love her as the person she is; I still love the fans on here, and do miss you. I have found Grant's objective observation the most to my thinking on the matter. I don't believe Hayley needs to ask any fan about her 'work', nor should she be forced to make a statement. She has made her decision to give her voice to the soundtrack to the best of her ability. It is done. I am proud of her not being afraid of losing fans, if she thought about that, it shows she is going to find her own way in this whimsical business of the music world. Fans come and go. She may lose some, she will gain some. She has shown herself absolutely exemplary for the last 6 years, should this decision prove a 'slip-up' she will learn from it and move on the wiser for it. For goodness sake, please give her the freedom to consider where she wants to go with her career. If you do not agree with her, you may want to tell her privately and withdraw your support, by all means. I believe the majority of her fans will remain loyal over this one somewhat disputable decision. Of course if it affects the whole site, then I will be very sad someone would take that decision on ONE incident/misjudgment. Love, Marianne  |
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Post by grant on Mar 16, 2009 23:53:50 GMT
Instead, I put my faith in the personal integrity she seems usually to demonstrate and trust that, this time too, the decision was her own and was made conscientiously. Give Hayley space, I say. She's not 'a songbird in a cage'? Well said Paddy! Best wishes Grant |
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Post by Paddy on Mar 17, 2009 0:16:03 GMT
If I am deleted here I will post my opinions elsewhere. Since I am obviously not a person of the moral calibre required here at HWI, I will close my account as soon as I can after posting this. Georgina, Please don't go! You've echoed (some of) my thoughts so closely that I can agree with almost everything you say, except: HWI has obviously served its purpose and it is way past time she and her management and her family cut the umbilical cord. Paddy |
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Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,715 
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Post by Joe on Mar 17, 2009 0:23:04 GMT
Hi all,
I'm going to offer my opinion on this.
I believe that Hayley did not know the film's content or what the songs would be called. Most of the blame must go to Debbie Wiseman and partially to Bedlam.
There are tons of other artist management companies in London.
Joe
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Post by larryhauck on Mar 17, 2009 0:35:49 GMT
As Abraham Lincoln once said:
You can please some of the people all of the time.
You can please all of the people some of the time.
But, you cannot please all of the people all of the time.
LARRY
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Post by I-H-F on Mar 17, 2009 1:11:41 GMT
On HWI, I think we have some of the most loyal Hayley fans, but to see comments such as, turning their backs on Hayley's career, deleting their accounts etc, is really going a bit far.
Yes, the content of the film is not to everyone's taste, but I think we should all respect Hayley's decision to be involved with the soundtrack of this film. Its not as if Hayley is actually starring in the movie!
Hayley has worked with Debbie Wiseman before, and has teamed up with her again, hoping that a hit movie would be beneficial to her career (regardless of its content). And who knows, her involvement in this film, may lead to working on another soundtrack for a Hollywood Blockbuster movie.
I support Hayley 100% on her involvement on the soundtrack. Any true fan would do the same.
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