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Post by Bamafan on Dec 7, 2014 22:50:54 GMT
I have mixed opinions about WM. I guess I'm on both sides of the fence! While I am disappointed she didn't do more well-known songs (which probably would have made the album more palatable to the masses), I like how "different" the album is, how it strays from the every-day to the unexplored and new. I have my four top Christmas albums, because they are all just so different. (In no particular order) Bing Crosby's "Merry Christmas," for being the original, Michael Bublé's "Christmas," for revamping and giving new life to old classics by weaving his magic mix of pop and jazz, Josh Groban's "Noël," for making familiar songs sound the best they possibly can, and Hayley's WM, for venturing into the obscure while remaining pure and light, and adding a bit of different flavor and color to my collection. -Taylor i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif |
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Post by martindn on Dec 7, 2014 23:23:26 GMT
"Venturing into the obscure" is something that Hayley does I feel sure. She wants to be different to the rest. There are literally hundreds of singers that churn out the same old stuff. And even if we think Hayley could churn it out too and be better than anyone else, I'm not sure that would be her. She is an artist. She wants to be different and original. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But you can't fault her for trying.
And yes, I like Winter Magic too. And Noel if I'm honest. But Hayley tries to push the bounaries, and do something a bit different. I admire that. As a child of the sixties, that's what everybody did back then, which was why it was the most exciting time ever I think to be a music fan. You were new and original, or you died. And eve if you were new and original, but not actually very good yo stood a chance. These days your face has to fit our you are dead.
So Hayley is to be applauded for trying something new and different. I just hoe modern audiences can cope with it.
Martin D
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Post by Ross on Dec 9, 2014 0:39:06 GMT
Hayley has posted on Facebook asking us what our favorite song is from Winter Magic. I have put Peace Shall Come.
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Post by Libby on Dec 9, 2014 4:51:56 GMT
And even if we think Hayley could churn it out too and be better than anyone else, I'm not sure that would be her. She is an artist. She wants to be different and original. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But you can't fault her for trying. Martin D So, are you saying her Christmas concerts aren't her? Is the Christmas Presence concert "not her"? Of course, she probably hadn't come up with her own songs that far ahead of WM, but still, they were obviously carols she knew and liked. And obviously Martin, nobody's really "faulting" her. Anyway, despite my disappointments about the album, I think those songs she did sing were the best for her voice the way it was for that moment in time. The light and nasally fit the winter theme somewhat. But then again, Veni was exceptionally good; actually the few carols that did make it on the album sound wonderful. So, even with that year where her voice seemed to have lost some of its luster, she still could have done them justice (I do admit that Carol of the Bells was disappointingly weak, but I guess it's more effective when sung by a choir). But then there were the Battle of Britain concerts in 2010... so, so nasally and thin-sounding. But then, thankfully, Ennio Morricone got his hands on her; otherwise, I think her voice would have kept going that way, which would not have been a very good thing. She would never have been able to sing Have Yourself the way we've heard her sing it. She would've sounded very pretty, but she wouldn't have blown very many people away with it like she did. All this has always made me wonder about her singing lessons she said she had received from Dame Malvina Major in early 2009, and wondering if that had anything to do with things. If they had no effect, or they were what started her singing nasally (those would not be good singing lessons, imo). Or if her bronchitis had some affect on her singing for a while, but that shouldn't have done anything in 2010! |
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Post by Richard on Dec 9, 2014 9:04:43 GMT
Hayley's Facebook post is HERE: I've shared it on our Facebook page too.  Richard  |
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Post by comet on Dec 9, 2014 11:07:45 GMT
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Post by martindn on Dec 9, 2014 21:17:04 GMT
And even if we think Hayley could churn it out too and be better than anyone else, I'm not sure that would be her. She is an artist. She wants to be different and original. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But you can't fault her for trying. Martin D So, are you saying her Christmas concerts aren't her? Is the Christmas Presence concert "not her"? Of course, she probably hadn't come up with her own songs that far ahead of WM, but still, they were obviously carols she knew and liked. No, I'm not saying that. Only that she like to trow in some more obscure material to make things a bit different to the rest. Even on "Christmas Presence" she sang "Mary did you know". which is one you don't hear to often by other singers. Martin D |
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Post by Libby on Dec 10, 2014 4:09:54 GMT
So, are you saying her Christmas concerts aren't her? Is the Christmas Presence concert "not her"? Of course, she probably hadn't come up with her own songs that far ahead of WM, but still, they were obviously carols she knew and liked. No, I'm not saying that. Only that she like to trow in some more obscure material to make things a bit different to the rest. Even on "Christmas Presence" she sang "Mary did you know". which is one you don't hear to often by other singers. Martin D Mary Did You Know is a very, very well-known song over here. It was written by an American, Mark Lowry, who I used to see sometimes when my mom watched things on the channel, TBN, a Christian network over here. He sang it occasionally, and he was/is also known for a being a very funny speaker. We hear it on the radio during Christmas all the time by various artists. Clay Aiken of American Idol is one version I thought of off-hand. So, even though it's not a Christmas carol, it's a very popular radio song during Christmas.  |
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Post by martindn on Dec 10, 2014 12:27:49 GMT
That's a difference then Libby. I don't recall EVER hearing it before I heard Hayley sing it, actually live the first time I heard it. I've never heard it on the radio over here. OK Hayley did perform it in Cardiff for the BBC. (Christmas Presence).
Martin D
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Post by Libby on Dec 10, 2014 20:23:59 GMT
I wonder if it's more popular in NZ, or if she also considered it a "different" Christmas song. I mean, it kind of is, because it's not one covered by everybody, like say Silent Night, O Holy Night, etc. But, remember the Hour of Power show she was on 3 times, if I remember correctly? That is also aired on that same network, TBN, that I always saw Mark Lowry perform/speak on. I think back when Hayley was on that show the last time, I heard somehow that people in NZ are familiar with that show, so I wonder if somehow TBN is aired in other countries. I mean, "religious" networks do tend to spread their message around the world, don't they? I don't know, just a thought. But otherwise, she might have heard it on the radio in NZ, because when she first recorded it, that's the only country she was spending much time in, that we know of.
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Post by martindn on Dec 10, 2014 23:20:47 GMT
I don't know. According to "The World at Her Feet" it was a song Hayley insisted on recording for "My Gift to You". She also re-recorded it for Pure. It is a favourite of hers apparently. I don't know how well known it is in NZ. In "In Her Own Voice" suggests that Hayley heard it for the first time when listening to an album by Kathleen Battle (an American singer) and fell in love with it. So it might not be that well known in NZ.
Martin D
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Post by Libby on Dec 11, 2014 3:24:01 GMT
I don't know. According to "The World at Her Feet" it was a song Hayley insisted on recording for "My Gift to You". She also re-recorded it for Pure. It is a favourite of hers apparently. I don't know how well known it is in NZ. In "In Her Own Voice" suggests that Hayley heard it for the first time when listening to an album by Kathleen Battle (an American singer) and fell in love with it. So it might not be that well known in NZ. Martin D Ah, that's probably what it was. I, on the other hand, had never heard of Kathleen Battle before Hayley mentioned her. So, you just never know; you can obviously be from the same country and not know a singer exists, so there's just no telling whether people will know a song/singer or not. And it's certainly no use getting dramatic over whether someone's heard of something or not. |
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Post by Richard on Dec 11, 2014 9:07:52 GMT
Hello Libby and Martin D!  I can't find a video of Kathleen Battle singing "Mary Did You Know?", but here's a live performance by Kathy Mattea: Hayley's voice is more suited to the song in my opinion.  Richard |
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Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
Posts: 3,339
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Post by Martin on Dec 6, 2015 10:43:28 GMT
Tis' the time to get out Winter Magic. It's the nearest I'll get to hear Hayley sing this year!  Now almost one year since the last concert (Cork) and two years since the last UK concert (except for 5 mins at the Albert Hall in April 2014). Let's hope for a resurgence in 2016. Martin |
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Post by Libby on Dec 17, 2015 7:13:54 GMT
Some recent tweets about Winter Magic; well, one of the songs isn't from WM:
This young lady is from Saskatchewan, Canada. First fan from Sask. I've ever seen! Though I would imagine there are more.
This tweet was "liked" by Hayley recently.
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