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Post by Richard on Oct 12, 2009 9:03:39 GMT
I'm looking out for any promotional videos from Decca or Universal. I bet they won't be as good as Jillian's.  Richard  |
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Post by jimg on Oct 12, 2009 9:17:34 GMT
I'm looking out for any promotional videos from Decca or Universal. I bet they won't be as good as Jillian's. Richard TOO TRUE. Jillian seems to have a natural flair for this. I don't suppose her obvious love of the subject harms at all. Jim |
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Post by amptique on Oct 12, 2009 12:54:26 GMT
I believe that you can purchase iTunes gift vouchers from the Country you wish to download an album or track from, and when you receive it, you can then download from that Country's iTunes store... wherever you are located. I will leave it to members who are more familiar with iTunes gift vouchers to confirm or correct what i have said. In case anyone is tempted, I should add that we must not of course discuss any non-commercial or other dubious methods of obtaining copyrighted music. Cheers, Dave Hi Dave, I have explored this method, and it also requires you to sign up for an account in the respective country. To sign up for the account you are required to supply an address and phone number in that country. That's as far as I got...  Jono Jono is correct. I have done this before by creating another iTunes account for the UK and giving an address and phone number of a hotel in London. I think the reason they ask for address and phone number is to provide verification for a credit card, but you won't be using one. I purchased an iTunes gift card on ebay. The seller emailed the registration number from the card to me and I used that to purchase the material from iTunes,UK.  Bill EDIT: It might be cheaper (and more fun) just to buy the Japanese version of the CD. The other material that comes with the CD is a very nice bonus. |
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Post by nicola on Oct 12, 2009 18:11:04 GMT
Hey all, I haven't read this thread at all yet, but I assume this is where I should put this. Here is my review for Winter Magic up on my website: Hayley Westenra - Winter Magic ReviewJillian, I loved what you did with the album on Youtube, so I used it. I think I shall now have some fun and read through everyone elses thoughts. x x |
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Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
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Post by Martin on Oct 12, 2009 18:38:17 GMT
Hi Nicola
I really enjoyed reading your open and honest review. Hayley certainly has produced an album here which she and her fellow producers should be truly proud of.
Best wishes
Martin
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Post by grant on Oct 12, 2009 19:25:11 GMT
Hi Nicola An excellent review overall which I enjoyed reading. A little surprised that you didn't mention "Veni Veni Emmanuel" which seems to be a favourite amongst those that have commented already on the forum. Just a point though, you haven't made it clear that it is the Japanese album that you have reviewed which may confuse some of your readers who may not expect multiple releases and will wonder what happened to track 15 when they play their UK CD.  Best wishes Grant |
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Post by nicola on Oct 12, 2009 20:33:30 GMT
I'll just add it as a bonus track. It's what I do with most releases anyway.
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Post by graemek on Oct 12, 2009 21:08:10 GMT
Hey all, I haven't read this thread at all yet, but I assume this is where I should put this. Here is my review for Winter Magic up on my website: Hayley Westenra - Winter Magic ReviewJillian, I loved what you did with the album on Youtube, so I used it. I think I shall now have some fun and read through everyone elses thoughts. x x Excellent Review Nicola ....love your summary comments too. My wife is going to post it on Gather where she does a fair bit of writing....if she may ??  Graeme |
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Post by nicola on Oct 12, 2009 22:11:02 GMT
What is Gather?
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Post by martindn on Oct 12, 2009 23:50:09 GMT
Well, folks, I've been away from the internet for a week in our motorhome. and every day I istened to this album at least once. And I even started to write a review. But then I saw what Jillian had to say, and I think that I can't top that. She made a lot of the same points that I did,. But I will probably post it anyway.
For now I will only say that I love it! I have played it perhaps 20 times now. Unlike the HSJS albums, my favourites I think are stable. River and On the wings of Time. But all the tracks are special. If this album doesn't make it I think I will lose my faith in humainity. I cannot think of any better Christmas album that could have been made by anybody. We have commented on her other albums, Hayley and her advisors have listened, and have made something very special. I just hope it gests the success it deserves.
But how about releasing River, or Peace Shall Come, as a single?
X Factor winner doesn't have to be the Christmas no 1 you know!
Martin
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Jillian
Global Moderator
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Post by Jillian on Oct 13, 2009 0:59:28 GMT
Nicola, I really enjoyed your review. I really feel the need to pull out some quotes! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifThat's very true. While there's great variety, everything is very cohesive and really fits together. Oh definitely! What a fitting and insightful description. How perfectly that describes Hayley! |
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Post by nicola on Oct 13, 2009 14:31:20 GMT
Thank you Jillian! And thanks again for the great Youtube promo video. |
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Post by martindn on Oct 13, 2009 18:28:45 GMT
And thank you too Nicola. That is an excellent review. It's about time I posted mine, but I keep making changes and adding things.
Martin
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Post by martindn on Oct 13, 2009 21:23:12 GMT
Right, here goes, my review of Winter Magic.
Winter Magic
It has been a long time since Hayley recorded a Christmas album. Nine years ago, when she was 13 years old, Hayley recorded My Gift To You. It was recorded rather hurriedly, we are told, and released in New Zealand. It was never released internationally, so Winter Magic is her first international winter album.
Last Christmas (2008) some of her fans expressed the opinion on her Internet forums that it was about time Hayley recorded a new Christmas album. She has come a long way since she was 13, and every year her Christmas concerts are thoroughly enjoyed by those who are able to attend them. Her 2008 Christmas show, which would have been in the Barbican Theatre in London was unfortunately cancelled due to Hayley's ill heath. I had tickets, and was looking forward to my first Hayley Christmas concert. But never mind, I have tickets for some of her Christmas shows that will promote this album this year. Recordings of her 2006 Christmas Presence concerts, especially the televised one from Cardiff, are still enjoyed. Hayley is a fine performer of Christmas music.
Hayley has ever been one to listen to her fans. And so this year we have a new Christmas album. Not that she calls it that, it seems that the term "Winter Album" is preferred. The album will be marketed in countries with no Christian tradition. And there is also the hope that the album's popularity will outlive the festive season. Hence "Winter Album". Really My Gift to You was a winter album too.
Not that this makes much difference to its content. It has its share of traditional Christmas songs, but also some others that are only vaguely related to Christmas, or indeed, winter. Some have lamented the absence of such Hayley Christmas standards as O Holy Night and Gabriel's Message, songs that she has performed beautifully many times in her Christmas Concerts. But instead there are four songs co-written by Hayley herself. One of these, as you will see below, is in my opinion the most beautiful song of all on a beautiful album.
Only two of the songs from My Gift for You have been re-recorded for Winter Magic, Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, also known as The Christmas Song, and that ever popular carol Silent Night. I have done A/B comparisons of both, and to be honest there is no comparison. Her new recordings are almost unbelievably better than the old ones. Even though the old ones were truly remarkable for a 13 year old.
So this is an album that Hayley's fans have been looking forward to for a long time. And yet I can't get away from the fact that many of the traditional songs, lovely as they are, do not really show off Hayley's spectacular voice to full advantage. In particular they do not usually use much of her terrific vocal range.
But I suppose few songs do. Most carols are written to be sung by singers with unexceptional voices. I have sung many myself, even though I have no pretensions as a vocalist.
So a few songs have been thrown into the mix that are rather more challenging, and this is where the excitement comes in. There are many fine Christmas albums on the market. More appear every year. To succeed a Christmas album needs to be a bit different. It needs to stand out from the others, and Hayley's wonderful voice alone might not be enough to attract the punters. Which might be the reason why some of our favourites have been left out, in favour of new songs co-written by Hayley. I'm sure those entrusted with making those decisions (one of whom I am sure is Hayley herself) know what they are doing.
And so to the songs. This review is based on the Japanese Special Edition of the album, released on 30th September 2009. The UK release will be around six weeks later, and will be different in that at least one "bonus track" that will be missing. Unfortunately this is my favourite track on the album, and is likely to remain so.
1. The Little Road to Bethlehem
This is nice. A good opener. A fairly undemanding song, performed immaculately by Hayley. Just a you would expect. I think this is a fairly unusual song on this sort of album, which might make people sit up and take notice. It is one you don't hear very often; Hayley has clearly done her research. Although it does not show off in any way the spectacular beauty of Hayley's voice. It is simply seasonal and nice. Piano and string backing, nicely arranged.
2. Carol of the Bells
This at first hearing I didn't much like. But it grows I think. I don't recall ever hearing this before by a solo singer, at and times it seems almost to be on a monotone. Then comes the double tracking. Then Hayley injects a few of her characteristic thrilling high notes. She is a very special singer.
3. The Christmas Song
AKA Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire. As I said earlier, this is a song that Hayley has been singing since she was at least 13 years old. So it is not unexpected, not new, not different, but nonetheless is very well sung. A song where the beauty of Hayley voice starts to shine through. It is simply what we expect of Hayley. Except we also expect surprises. Hayley loves to surprise and delight her fans, but she also needs to keep people on board. Hence this song, very competent, very pleasant, but not a song I can get excited about.
4. Veni Veni Emmanuel
This is the first song that we should get excited about. Sung entirely in Latin, with sufficient reverb to give the impression that she is singing in a great cathedral, this is a real spine tingler. This one raises the hairs on the back of the neck, just what we expect from Hayley. The purity of her voice is stunning. This is not a particularly challenging song either, I have sung it (in English) many times myself. But the effect is magical. Perhaps the title Winter Magic is justified after all.
5. Silent Night
No matter how many times I hear this song, its magic never fails. And I love to hear Hayley sing it. Yes, everybody does it, and Hayley's duet with Aled Jones on Aled's Christmas album a few years ago was memorable. So it is not surprising that Hayley chose to include this song, one that I gather is a favourite of hers.
6. Christmas Morning
This is the first of Hayley's four compositions, this one co-written with Jeff Franzel. Jeff and Hayley go back a long way, Jeff was the co-writer of Never Saw Blue, which appears on Hayley's second international album Odyssey. This is a cheerful little up-tempo song, and quite delightful.
7. Sleigh Ride
The well known Christmas standard, performed very competently by Hayley. Once again, not unexpected and not particularly challenging, although pleasant enough. Here I notice Hayley's diction, something that some of us felt could have been better on her Last album Hayley Sings Japanese Songs 2". She's cracked it, this is the first version of this song I have ever heard where I have been able to hear all the words clearly.
8. River
WOW!! Now we are talking. This is stunning! A beautiful song written by Joni Mitchell. This is one that really shows off what Hayley can do. At last! you might say, a song worthy of Hayley's talent. This song alone is worth the price of the album. Lots of people have covered this song, and I have listened to several of the cover versions on YouTube. Hayley's version avoids the rather naff and annoying "Jingle Bells" introduction on Joni's original, and is certainly the most beautiful rendition of all I have heard. Well done Hayley!
9. Winter's Dream
This song has a strong choral backing, with a lovely lead vocal by Hayley. The effect is delightful. There is nothing else like it on the album.
10. The Little Drummer Boy
This is the well known song and many have sung it, I think the best known version is probably by the great Bing Crosby and David Bowie. String and and percussion backing, a nice and I think original arrangement and nicely sung by Hayley. Very enjoyable.
11. Corpus Christi Carol
This is a very old song. It is an English carol that dates from at least the 16th Century. Benjamin Britten revived it in 1933. Hayley more than does it justice, was it ever sung so beautifully? Simple harp backing, and very atmospheric. With the almost Celtic feel that I hear on several of these tracks. Another spine tingler. Beautiful.
12. All With You
This is a very new song! A Hayley/Jeff Franzel composition, a song about missing a loved one at Christmas, yet still feeling close to them. Nice piano arrangement. This is probably the most typically Hayley song on the album, one I love, yet I find it hard to say much about it.
13. The Coventry Carol
I love this. This is another 16th Century carol. And one about a pretty grisly subject, Herod's murder of all of the children in Bethlehem under two years of age, in an attempt to kill the infant Jesus, whom he saw as a threat to his throne. Hayley gives it a similar, and perhaps ever more beautiful treatment to the Corpus Christi Carol. A beautiful and atmospheric recording. Sonically it reminds me of some of the music of Anuna, a choir who sing traditional Celtic music, and who I'm sure Hayley must know, since two of her fellow members of Celtic Woman were ex-members of Anuna. I once saw Anuna perform, and was very impressed. And the sound on this track is fantastic. This is one of the highlights for me. Not many Christmas albums have anything like this. Even if they include this carol, it is rarely as atmospheric.
14. Peace Shall Come
Another Hayley song co-written with Jeff Franzel. And my favourite of those from that partnership. A lovely new Christmas carol. But it feels more like a pop song. This is excellent, thoroughly enjoyable. I love it!
15. On the Wings of Time (Bonus Track)
If you want this song, you will have to buy the Japanese version of this album. It is not included on other versions. This is a huge pity, since this is my favourite song on the album. Sung partly in Maori and partly in English, it is absolutely beautiful. Words are by Hayley.and melody by Rei Mughi. The quality of Hayley's voice on this track is stunning! My only complaint is that it is too short.
Overall, this is a very fine album. Not always spectacular, but always very well performed, beautifully arranged, and in places quite unique. At its best it is supremely beautiful. At its worst it is equal to the best of the rest.
It is actually quite hard for me to be objective when reviewing Hayley's albums. This is because I love her voice like no other. She sings songs I have never liked and makes me love them. So I know I am biased, and have to struggle to try to give a fair impression of her work.
I and other reviewers of Hayley's albums have made certain comments in the past, and these criticisms seem to have been addressed this time, so it is difficult to find anything at all to criticise. The balance is perfect, and in fact I now think that the inclusion of O Holy Night and Gabriel's Message might have destroyed that balance. So much as I love to hear Hayley sing those songs, I now have to say that I think their exclusion was the right decision. But even so, I really cannot find anything at all to criticise.
She could have just churned out an album of famous carols that everyone knows. Lots of other classical and crossover artists have done just that. It would have been special, because of Hayley's wonderful voice, but that isn't what she did. Instead she included a lot of lesser known stuff, and even some of her own compositions. Perhaps she knows that most Christmas Carols are quite undemanding to sing, and wouldn't really show off her spectacularly beautiful voice., or her vocal range.
My wife Sue commented that this is not really a Christmas album, and she is right, so perhaps calling it a "Winter Album" is exactly the right thing to do.
My favourite tracks are, On the Wings of Time and River. Both of these are seriously beautiful songs.
It is an album with something for everyone, as well as serious beauty, Christmas standards of both the secular and Christian varieties, some new songs, and some truly ethereal and atmospheric performances that will sound wonderful in the great English cathedrals which Hayley will be touring to promote the album.
The fact that it is a bit different might attract those who are tired of rehashes of the same old stuff year after year. And then they might discover Hayley, and realise what a truly wonderful singer she is. I live in hope.
Despite including some serious songs this comes across as quite a light hearted album. It successfully avoids the over-heavy stodginess that some Christmas albums suffer from. It is more lemon meringue than Christmas pudding.
This is in fact another perfect album from Hayley. It is hard to imagine how she could have improved on it. So what does it need to be hugely successful? I think that it only needs enough people to know it exists. So it needs proper promotion. Let us hope that this time it gets it.
Thank you Hayley and God Bless You!
Martin
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Post by grant on Oct 13, 2009 22:46:18 GMT
Hi Martin
Thanks for a very informative review and your comments about the inclusion of "O Holy Night" and "Gabriel's Message" are interesting. For them to have been included, something else would have to go and it's hard to imagine what!
How ever reviewers have expressed their personal feelings about this album, one fact seems to remain constant - the tracklist is balanced from beginning to end irrespective of which particular songs are individual favourites.
Best wishes
Grant
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