Winter Magic - Japanese edition

[Libby]

Nicola, even if you would prefer a regular album rather than a Christmas album, as I would, how could you not want to hear Hayley singing these songs?

My Gift to You was not entirely Christmas songs and was not released internationally. Besides, her voice is so much better now than it was then!

I'm still a bit confused, but I guess I'll just have to be for a while. I'm going to wait on this album until we know more.

I bet the bonus song will be on THE new album. That's why it's just a bonus song. Well, that's what I'm hoping. Japan shouldn't be the only ones to get this song!

[nicola]

Hello Libby,

No, not really. I don't like the majority of Christmas songs, and even the ones I do, I much prefer the ones I grew up to, which is mostly the original or standard versions. There would have be something drastically different about how she does them, otherwise I will not want to know. I don't mean this in a nasty way, it's just how I feel about seasonal albums. There is only one that I listen to and enjoy, and that's because they sound different to everyone else, and that's the Gregorian Masters of Chant: Christmas Chants (no, it's not chanting choir in a church! XD)

I always do end buying these christmas albums because I like the artist that does them, and the above was the only time I wasn't disappointed. :/ It's the only album I need.

[martindn]

Well, it is probably partly my fault, since I remember last Christmas a few of us on this forum expressing the opinion that it was about time Hayley did a new Christmas album. After all, her Christmas Concerts are always wonderful. This is something thast she does really well, and if you have ever seen the Chrsitmas Presence videos (now available on HWI) you will see what i mean. And as we know from experience, Hayley listens to her fans.
I for one welcome this. Several of my favourites that I know she sings, plus a few new ones, are on here. I am looking forward to it immensely.

Martin

[Jillian]

I think the answer to everyone's questions is in this article about Hampton Pool posted in this thread: hwi.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Concert&action=display&thread=4725&page=4#98721

The singer is now looking to develop her songwriting and move away from recording well-known classical, folk and pop standards. Although she has dabbled with songwriting in the past, it is a brave move considering her previous approach has seen her garner international acclaim and chart success.

“I released my first album when I was 16 and I’m 22 now, so that’s a long period in the music industry,” she says. “I feel like I’ve entered into a new phase now by doing more songwriting - I’m keen for my next album to be more original.

“I think it is really important to create new music and offer the world new sounds but I wouldn’t want to release an album of songs I’ve written if it wasn’t any good.”

I think that this album is more designed so Hayley will have a product to accompany her Christmas concerts in Japan and in the UK -- for that reason I think it's a good idea.

Then there's THE album which will be released perhaps at the beginning of next year?

[Libby]

I don't think that really answers any questions, other than that she is working on her album, maybe not ready to record yet.

As for Christmas carols, I can't think of any original singers of them, and their voices can't be as good as Hayley's. You like Josh Groban, too, and you don't even want to hear his, either? You might like his Drummer Boy, it's a little different than normal, and great, too! Well, it's your loss if you don't get it.

If her new album won't be released until next year (3 years after Treasure!), then a Christmas album will help us (well, most of us ) feel better while we're waiting. It still seems like this year just started. It'll be Christmastime again before we know it!

[Libby]

It looks like she recorded the new song in Japan, so does that mean they will only use it for Japanese versions?

[Jillian]

Hi Libby,

I'm looking forward to this album -- you mentioned Josh's 'Drummer Boy' -- that song is a perfect example of Christmas CD's surprising me. Last Christmas they played a bad version of 'Little Drummer Boy' over and over the sound system at work until I was ready to kill the next person who even mentioned that song!

Then I came across Josh's version on his greatest hits cd and now I walk around playing it on my ipod! Goes to show what a great voice can do to a song! Because of that, I'm confident that I'll enjoy Hayley's album because it will be her singing. Sure, it mightn't be ground breaking material that will change the world, but I'll enjoy it nonetheless.

[nicola]

Hello Libby,

Yes, I do love Josh Groban, and no, I really didn't like his Christmas CD. I did like his version of 'A Little Drummer Boy' but not enough to choose to play it over other versions - Gregorian have the best version I've heard. I guess the Gregorian album is all I really need. No single voice, no matter how nice can change the fact that it's all done and tried dull material. :/

[Jillian]

Riding on the Wings of Time would have to be my all time favourite Hayley song! Without sounding over the top, it literally moves my soul! So very, very beautiful!!

I decided to get to that TV program footage with a pair of scissors and chop and change things around and add some things in to create a little film clip for the song.

Hayley Westenra - Riding on The Wings of Time

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZjFZ0uzebo

[Jeff]

One word, Jillian, BRILLIANT !!

[maya]

Jul 22, 2009 13:32:43 GMT maya said:

May be I'd better to give a translation of the narration in the TV program. The narrator says:
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Mr. Mugi (the Japanese composer who plays the piano) thought of completing the song requesting Hayley to write the lyric in Maori.

The cherry blossoms were in full of bloom at the location where Sakura-jima Island can be seen.
Hayley gave the title to her own lyric "Toki no Tsubasa ni notte" or " Riding on the wing of time".

Gauguin's hope which had been implied in his paintings is now finally become a music.
----------------

Hope this could help you to enjoy and understand the program a bit more.
Best wishes.
Maya

I must apologize to everyone.
I first translated the title "Toki no Tsubasa ni notte" as " Riding on the wing of time"

But as I see the Hayley's notepad carefully, it is written as if "On the wings of time".
Look at the screen shot below. I tried to sharpen the edge of the characters and I barely can read it "On the wings of time".
Hayley's original title does not contain "Riding" and wing should be wings.



Hope some one who is good at reading uncertain letters could confirm me.
Best wishes.
Maya

[Dave]

Jul 25, 2009 15:29:00 GMT maya said:

...But as I see the Hayley's notepad carefully, it is written as if "On the wings of time".

Hope some one who is good at reading uncertain letters could confirm me.
Best wishes.
Maya

Hello Maya!

Although I cannot be 100% certain about the final word on the line, the preceding words are fairly clear and I am sure that it is what you think: "On The Wings of Time".

Hayley's translation is just another way of writing it, it sounds a bit more elegant when shortened like that: "riding" is implied. Your translation means almost exactly the same!

Cheers, Dave

[Jillian]

Okay,

Rightio! Okay, I'll change the title of the video! Don't worry, Maya -- as Dave said, it's more or less the same thing! Thank you so much for the translations you make - they are always extremely helpful and very much appreciated! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Jillian

[maya]

Hi, everyone.

Thanks for the help, Dave and sorry for Jillian to take you extra time.

Universal Music Japan now has an official explanation in Japanese at their home page below.
www.universal-music.co.jp/classics/hayley_westenra/information.html

Almost everything is written in Japanese and you need to try Google translation or some other. But it sometimes causes unusual problem and I dare translate it for your convenience. But mine also causes problem too as I failed for the title alone. Anyway thanks for the kind words for me, Dave and Jillian.

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The CD is consisting of winter melodies with beautiful and crystal clear pure voice. Those are Christmas songs which Hayley has been singing from her childhood with lots of memories. The arrangement is more like Pops rather than religious style, you'd notice. In addition, Japanese version only contains the theme song for Paul Gauguin's Exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo between 3/7/09-23/9/09.
★Privileges for Special edition: 1. SHM-CD, 2. Gorgeous Calendar of Hayley for 2010, 3.Special Jacket.
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Judging from the statement, the theme song “On the Wings of ??” seems to be only for Japanese version. If completely so, there will be many who would be disappointed.

It is certain that the song is made for the advertisement purpose for the Exhibition but it is such a world class beautiful song and it should be sold internationally.

Best wishes.
Maya

[Libby]

Do you think there's any chance it could be for the new album, not the Christmas one? Either way, I'm going to get it. I might order another Hayley CD from Japan, while I'm at it, if it's not too expensive.