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Post by Richard on Nov 30, 2011 8:43:18 GMT
Hello Libby!  There's an interesting article about 'O Come O Come Emmanuel' at Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_come,_O_come,_Emmanuel Richard  |
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Post by comet on Feb 23, 2012 11:47:49 GMT
Did anyone come across a PROMO copy of Winter Magic ?
From any country ?
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Post by grant on Feb 23, 2012 12:03:23 GMT
Did anyone come across a PROMO copy of Winter Magic ?
From any country ? Hi Comet Yes, I did - a UK 14 track off Ebay on 28th February 2010. The only one I saw and bidding was quite fierce but I snapped it up for £6.76 in the end i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifBest wishes Grant |
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Post by comet on Feb 23, 2012 15:49:59 GMT
Did anyone come across a PROMO copy of Winter Magic ?
From any country ? Hi Comet Yes, I did - a UK 14 track off Ebay on 28th February 2010. The only one I saw and bidding was quite fierce but I snapped it up for £6.76 in the end i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifBest wishes Grant Thanks Grant. I was puzzled that I didn't have one.. Wow ! six pounds and seventy six pence, that was fierce alright  Was it a plastic enveloped variety, or a standard issue disc with promo stickers on the case ? Sometime when you have time to spare could you post a picture / scan please. |
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Post by grant on Feb 23, 2012 18:46:09 GMT
Thanks Grant. I was puzzled that I didn't have one..
Wow ! six pounds and seventy six pence, that was fierce alright
Was it a plastic enveloped variety, or a standard issue disc with promo stickers on the case ?
Sometime when you have time to spare could you post a picture / scan please. HaHa! Yes, to begin with there were 4 others bidding against me at the low value end. I knew I was going to be away from my computer when bidding ended, so upped my max. bid to £40. Quite surprised to get home and find I'd won it for so little. Standard UK promo in plastic sleeve with paper insert and printed disc. Will put some scans up for you later Best wishes Grant |
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Post by dutchjoyce on Feb 23, 2012 20:18:48 GMT
Hi Comet,
I got one from Ebay on the 28th of July 2010....
Greetz Joyce
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Post by Libby on Jan 16, 2014 7:42:24 GMT
Continuing discussion started on the 2014 album thread: I like the "obscurity" of the song choices on WM. I think it was a refreshing turn from the average, no surprises, hum-drum Christmas album.  And while I agree with you Libby on the fact that Hayley probably picked most of the music herself, I rarely consider Christmas "albums" to be actual albums. That's just because it's been done by almost EVERYONE. Don't get me wrong, some Christmas albums are amazing (i.e. JG's Noël, WM, etc), but they all have many of the same songs, which takes away from (what I think) is the point of making an album: to be original and unique. I guess that same reason could be applied to Paradiso and Hushabye; they were both unique, and wonderful, but they lacked the "originality" factor. Most of the songs were well known, and some covered many, many, many times. Each has its exceptions to this, but I think for the greater part, it's true. To put it succinctly: there is plenty of Morricone out there, piles of lullaby albums, and mounds upon mountains upon seas of Christmas music. But there is only one Treasure; one Odyssey; one Pure. One Hayley. Whew! Got a bit poetic there, pardon me. But really. There is only one Hayley, and I want to see her do what she does best: be herself. Sorry about the long post.  -Taylor  I totally agree about originality, and that's one thing I appreciate the most about Hayley. I also enjoyed the lesser-known songs on WM. I'm not saying I didn't like them. Actually, I love most of them, individually. I'm just saying I didn't like the album altogether, truth be told. It was just disappointing. I am one who loves all the usual Christmas carols, and if I want to listen to Christmas music, that's pretty much what I want to hear. Of course everyone's done the songs before, but singers with a voice like Hayley's, Josh Groban, etc., just make the songs that much better (or would). My favorite singers' albums are among the only Christmas albums I care to listen to. Well, for me, Hayley is one of those singers. She has a beautiful, stunning voice, the kind you dream of hearing sing your favorite Christmas songs. The kind of singer that can make a common, sung-to-death tune an absolute dream to listen to. That's why for me, WM as a whole was a bit of a disappointment. There are only 5 songs on there that are the really popular Christmas songs that you hope to hear from a singer. Carol of the Bells, Chestnuts, Silent Night, Sleigh Ride, and Little Drummer Boy. Veni is also a well-known carol, though usually in English. I count that too, and it's my favorite on the album. But for me, for a Christmas album, that is a pretty tiny collection of classic Christmas favorites. And anyway, I dislike Chestnuts, and I thought her rendition of it was rather weak. I realize Hayley wasn't going for Christmas favorites necessarily, but I believe it was a mistake to leave out so many. Remember how well the album sold? I saw plenty of disappointed reviews on Amazon.com. Having said that, I absolutely love Coventry Carol, Peace Shall Come, All With You, and Winter's Dream. Little Road and Christmas Morning are nice, too. One I could've done without is Corpus Christi Carol. Yes, her vocals are gorgeous, but the tune does nothing for me, and it doesn't really say Christmas to me. It's really too bad O Holy Night and Love Came Down at Christmas didn't work out for the album. They would have helped a whole lot. LCDAC isn't really well-known, but it's a really, really nice song. So, anyway, I just hope that sometime in the future (after several "real" albums, mind you), she will do another Christmas album with those 2 missing songs, plus some more classics. Original songs would be welcome, too. |
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Jillian
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Post by Jillian on Jan 16, 2014 8:53:28 GMT
Christmas singles are always an option too. I know Josh did a couple of those in the years before he put out Noel. Getting off topic a bit.. I think one of the reasons Josh's Noel is such a good album is that it had the 'full album production and instrumentals' on it. Full orchestras, full choirs, nothing scrimped on. Christmas albums are generally made on notoriously tight budgets and can often sound 'phoned in'. Josh gave those songs the full classical, lush treatment and it was a real pleasure to listen to. But anyway, this isn't about Josh! ha ha ha But Noel really is the best Christmas album I have ever listened too. |
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Post by Libby on Jan 17, 2014 0:04:24 GMT
Christmas singles are always an option too. I know Josh did a couple of those in the years before he put out Noel. Getting off topic a bit.. I think one of the reasons Josh's Noel is such a good album is that it had the 'full album production and instrumentals' on it. Full orchestras, full choirs, nothing scrimped on. Christmas albums are generally made on notoriously tight budgets and can often sound 'phoned in'. Josh gave those songs the full classical, lush treatment and it was a real pleasure to listen to. But anyway, this isn't about Josh! ha ha ha But Noel really is the best Christmas album I have ever listened too. Yes, it is the best. I just wish Hayley could have (or could in the future) do something similar. Not necessarily huge orchestras, though I honestly wouldn't mind that at all. She can save her more intimate songs for her "real" albums, and have more "full album production and instrumentals" for the next Christmas album.  I've never had a problem with orchestra backing if it fits the song. Especially if Decca is going to keep her for a while, she might need a few songs of that calibre, at least. |
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Post by Libby on Dec 1, 2014 7:23:59 GMT
I recently acquired Sarah Brightman's Winter Symphony, released in 2008, a year before Winter Magic. I'm wondering now if Hayley was influenced by Sarah's winter theme. There are relatively few Christmas carols on this album, either, actually fewer than Hayley's! However, I do enjoy the songs. I wonder if this is again due to Elliot Kane's theory that the UK doesn't really care for Christmas albums?  I can't imagine why, though. Are they related to Scrooge? :2fun: |
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Post by martindn on Dec 1, 2014 16:40:07 GMT
I guess it is because after weeks of Christmas music on radio and TV, we've had enough Christmas music.
Martin D
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Post by Libby on Dec 1, 2014 20:15:31 GMT
I guess it is because after weeks of Christmas music on radio and TV, we've had enough Christmas music. Martin D That's not really any different than what happens in the US! However, there are plenty of people who adore Christmas, and then there are the crazy ones who get excited for it weeks before December, and not just the stores! Since they released this album in the US, where people do buy Christmas albums, they should have at least had her add a few more recognizable carols on the album. There were many disappointed reviewers on Amazon about this album. I didn't write a disappointed review, but I can't help feeling the same way, somewhat. I love most of the songs on there, but for me there were just too many unfamiliar songs for most people. It should have been more balanced. But, since it wasn't, if she ever does a Christmas album again, then it needs to be unbalanced again, with mostly popular Christmas carols. Maybe 1 or 2 originals, but on a Christmas album, this isn't necessarily desirable. |
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Post by martindn on Dec 1, 2014 21:44:43 GMT
This year they imported "Black Friday" from the USA. It was crazy, images of people on the TV actually fighting each other over cheap TV sets. I think for all the admirable things that come from the USA, this is one we could have done without. Anyway, many so-called "bargains" are not what they seem. My brother used to work in retail packaging. He tells me that with many products there would be two different packages. The first one is at perhaps double the price that they want to sell at, so-called "price establishment stock". They only do a few of those. The rest are at the correct price.
The idea is that the price establishment stock appears in the shop first, for sufficient length of time for it to become established as the price to pay. Those ones are strictly to be removed by a certain date, when they are replaced by the normal priced ones, along with big labels saying "Reduced to half price", BOGOF or some such.
You just feel sorry for the poor suckers who bought the price establishment stock. They were ripped off.
Martin D
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Post by Libby on Dec 2, 2014 7:16:13 GMT
This year they imported "Black Friday" from the USA. It was crazy, images of people on the TV actually fighting each other over cheap TV sets. I think for all the admirable things that come from the USA, this is one we could have done without. Anyway, many so-called "bargains" are not what they seem. My brother used to work in retail packaging. He tells me that with many products there would be two different packages. The first one is at perhaps double the price that they want to sell at, so-called "price establishment stock". They only do a few of those. The rest are at the correct price. The idea is that the price establishment stock appears in the shop first, for sufficient length of time for it to become established as the price to pay. Those ones are strictly to be removed by a certain date, when they are replaced by the normal priced ones, along with big labels saying "Reduced to half price", BOGOF or some such. You just feel sorry for the poor suckers who bought the price establishment stock. They were ripped off. Martin D Yeah, I saw that on the news. I think that's ridiculous! It's bad enough over here, and I agree, totally not worth the hassle. I hope they learned their lesson this time and never try it again. Though the US has never learned.  I hate it because I have to work on that day every year, and it pretty much ruins Thanksgiving, by having that horrendous sales day looming ahead. Home improvement stores aren't nearly as bad as the department stores, but we do always have big sales on certain tools, flashlights, etc. I just remembered, Hayley was here on Thanksgiving and Black Friday! I hope she didn't venture out into it! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif |
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Post by martindn on Dec 2, 2014 23:30:57 GMT
Hayley might have enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving meal. That I do approve of!
Martin D
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And while I agree with you Libby on the fact that Hayley probably picked most of the music herself, I rarely consider Christmas "albums" to be actual albums. That's just because it's been done by almost EVERYONE. Don't get me wrong, some Christmas albums are amazing (i.e. JG's Noël, WM, etc), but they all have many of the same songs, which takes away from (what I think) is the point of making an album: to be original and unique. I guess that same reason could be applied to Paradiso and Hushabye; they were both unique, and wonderful, but they lacked the "originality" factor. Most of the songs were well known, and some covered many, many, many times. Each has its exceptions to this, but I think for the greater part, it's true.
I've never had a problem with orchestra backing if it fits the song. Especially if Decca is going to keep her for a while, she might need a few songs of that calibre, at least.
I can't imagine why, though. Are they related to Scrooge? :2fun:
I hate it because I have to work on that day every year, and it pretty much ruins Thanksgiving, by having that horrendous sales day looming ahead. Home improvement stores aren't nearly as bad as the department stores, but we do always have big sales on certain tools, flashlights, etc.