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Post by stevemacdonald on Dec 14, 2009 19:19:59 GMT
Hayley has an amazing voice, we all agree. As a singer she has set the bar so high that for some of us it's hard to appreciate anyone else. This is a shame, because other singers are amazing too, and can be thoroughly enjoyed just as much if one takes the proper effort.
Recent comments about Camilla and Faryl have led me to wonder just what it might take for Hayley's super-loyalists to warm up to them in particular. Camilla has an astonishingly pleasant voice and Faryl is clearly one in a million in terms of ability. If either of them had arrived before Hayley many of us would be their devotees for sure. I know I would have gone way out of my way to catch Camilla. Like Hayley, she stopped me in my tracks upon first hearing.
I think I know what it might take to get HW fans more enthusiastic about the others: See them perform in person! Nothing engages a listener's full interest in a singer as well as a direct experience of that voice in concert. I remember how I was unconvinced that Katherine Jenkins was all that until I sat seven feet away from her while she effortlessly belted out "Habanera". Then I was overwhelmed by how great a singer she was.
Camilla and Faryl are going to prosper in the years ahead because they'll win converts everywhere they go, just as Hayley did. Quite a few of these converts will become uber-fans who follow them around and get all the best pictures. It's inevitable, because their talent is so extremely rare. All it will take for the most stubborn to get on the bandwagon will be a personal experience--if they're the least bit willing.
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Post by nicola on Dec 14, 2009 19:33:19 GMT
I think the issue is larger than that with any fanbase. Since I started my website I have witnessed very sad attitudes of people just being a fan of one artist, and then being jealous of anyone similar to their artist, either vocally or stylistically. You see, my initial concept was that if an artist is similar to another, then it follows that a fan of the first would like the second. It was based on this concept that I built my website. But I found, to my sadness, that they are actually taken as a threat ("Hmph! As if I would like Jonathan Ansell! Russell is far superior!" said one Russell fan when they saw the 'You may like Russell if you like...' list).
One thread on the official Sarah Brightman forum is titled I am sorry to say Sarah, but you must take her down.. They are referring to Katherine Jenkins. The whole thread is a hate thread towards her. They are basically green with envy at KJ's success in the UK - something Sarah has never acheived.
Go to any forum, and you find attitudes like these. It makes me sick. People need to grow up, and if they could open up a little, they would find a lot more music to enjoy. I would pity these people if they didn't annoy me so much. They really are my number one pet hate at the moment.
(This is not aiming at people who simply do not like other artists because of taste, this is simply referring to immature twits that attack out of spite and jealousy).
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Post by mihizawi on Dec 14, 2009 19:47:55 GMT
True, Nicola, it's sad.... It's sad to see how a love for one person can turn into hate for other people... And it's sad to see how fan get into fights when their favorite, even when rivalizing in the charts, are friendly to eachother... It is bad for the artists and for the music itself. But, I may not be credited to say it, since I am very new to this forum, but for what I could see here, there's no such a feeling, at least not in a general way (one of our most active boards is the one dedicated to the "other music")... I've seen people manifesting that they like Hayley much, much more than any other artists, but I don't think I've seen here someone spreading hate or being unrespectful, although as I say, I am new here. Oh, and if I am wrong and there were such cases, I am sure our moderators and administrators have made their work, they have a quite interventionist style  , but I think they are quite responsiible  . Michal |
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Post by nicola on Dec 14, 2009 20:11:09 GMT
Hello Michal,
I apologise to Steve, actually. What I said wasn't what he was getting at, but I just used the thread as a platform to rant about something that I have wanted to rant about for a while now! This forum has the odd fanatic, but none have manifested into a hate parade. There's been a few haters in the past, but their reasons were different to the one I suggested, and they aren't regulars. This is an open minded fan forum, and if someone did start spurting out irrational hate towards another, I don't think the rest of the members here would take that kindly!
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Post by Elliot Kane on Dec 14, 2009 21:03:49 GMT
Given that I listen to pretty much anything except Rap these days (It was Rap & Country, but Taylor Swift put paid to that...) I don't have huge problems with Hayley comparisons, personally. She has the best female voice on planet Earth and if real angels exist, they must surely sound like Hayley (Or at least wish they did!  ). But Hayley's real strength as a singer is that her voice is unique. No-one else can sound quite like her and that is what most attracts me to ANY singer. It's the same thing with Faryl, with Skye Sweetnam (Who has a unique bounce to her voice), with Freddie Mercury (Who could EVER sound like Freddie?) and with every other singer I truly rate. Identikit singers are ten a penny and I don't care how technically wonderful their voices may be. All I want to know is what they can bring to a song that no other singer can. Hayley brings the vocal purity and can transform any song with it. But that's not to say other artists can't bring their own sound, their own uniqueness, their own talent. That's how I see it, at least  |
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Post by Ross on Dec 14, 2009 21:05:04 GMT
I agree entirely Nicola, In my case I have to thank Hayley for opening up a whole new genre for me. My music collection is now about half classical/crossover. Recently I have bought Grace Bawden, Linda Tolchard, Zoe Mace and the latest Priest album. Still to arrive (hopefully today) is Camilla and Rhydian. So I think that if you limit yourself to one artist you miss out on all the other good artists. And Nicola I do appreciate your website as it gives me access to new artists.
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Post by tom12x on Dec 14, 2009 22:41:15 GMT
I think it comes down to personality. I have a friend, who doesn't listen to any kind of music except a sub-genre of classical. He says he's managed to find the "perfect" music and doesn't want to waste his time on listening to anything else. I can't imagine myself doing that - I'm always excited to discover new artists or even new genres. They all have their unique values that make it worth listening to them. Even though Hayley is still my #1 singer, this doesn't prevent me from enjoying the music of Yulia, Siobhan, Camilla or Rhydian, just to mention a few excellent artists I've discovered recently. (If I only had more time... ) |
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Post by comet on Dec 14, 2009 23:05:12 GMT
I have three five disc players between where I work and live, I would generally have three different artists and maybe two compilations in each machine.
If I am going to be in a given room for a prolonged period I will put the machine on random, it can often throw up some amazing juxtapositions, putting odd songs and singers together in sequence. Doing this can also make me realise just how exceptional and unique Hayley sounds.
it is like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly sometimes.
Hayley Westenra followed by Tori Amos and then the foul mouth of P. J. Harvey .
If you don't listen to other material at least once, you can be come a bit single minded about what is good, as you then have nothing else to reference it too.
Pop music is great too. I still listen to radio as well, in the car and in the workshop,
I've grown really fond of Robbie Williams's Bodies, Really interesting song.
Certain "NEW" songs just reach out and grab you. Pop music will always be "Of it's time" a fresh song or sound, that a year or two later can seem dated.
Hayley's song with Ronan is Pure pop music. Just great, perfect for radio play.
My children have introduced me to some weird and wonderful music over the years too.
The only music I can't stand is the rap music which single mindedly incites young people to violence. I think that is a disgusting use of their position as peer and role model. I don't mind hearing that these guys are shooting each other, what a blast ? Eh !
and Steve, I saw Katherine Jenkins in concert recently at very close quarters, about ten feet, she really is playful and funny, and she ain't half bad lookin' either, we met her after the concert with just about ten other fans and she happily signed and chatted with us for some time. I have to say I admire her more now for having admitted her humanity and slight weakness and the incident with the white stuff.
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,700
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Post by Dave on Dec 14, 2009 23:53:41 GMT
...and if someone did start spurting out irrational hate towards another, I don't think the rest of the members here would take that kindly! Hi Nicola, Neither would the forum staff... but that kind of post is fairly easy to identify and deal with. There is no 'ban' on members expressing negative opinions about a singer musician or genre, as long as the posts are respectful and the member doesn't try to "take over" an Other Music thread with repeated negative posts. The main problems that can arise are marginal cases, where people can easily have different views about what action (if any) should be taken. Cheers, Dave |
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Post by amptique on Dec 15, 2009 14:43:06 GMT
For many months after first hearing Hayley's voice it was difficult for me to listen to anything else. I felt that I was wasting my limited listening time on other artists and was somehow being "unfaithful". It has been over a year since I first experienced that "Hayley moment" and I'm gradually bringing back the music I have enjoyed in the past - Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Led Zeppelin, etc. However, every music session has to end with at least one Hayley song. She has forever changed my music listening habits and I thank her for that. Bill |
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Post by stevemacdonald on Dec 16, 2009 0:17:19 GMT
For many months after first hearing Hayley's voice it was difficult for me to listen to anything else. I felt that I was wasting my limited listening time on other artists and was somehow being "unfaithful". It has been over a year since I first experienced that "Hayley moment" and I'm gradually bringing back the music I have enjoyed in the past - Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Led Zeppelin, etc. However, every music session has to end with at least one Hayley song. She has forever changed my music listening habits and I thank her for that. Bill I know exacly how you feel, Bill. Like it or not, Hayley ruins it for many other singers because her voice is that unique and heavenly. Once you become Hayley-wowed it's all you want to hear. However, there are others out there who can do the same thing. It's just that Hayley got there first. She reminds me in that way of Judy Collins who made it hard to enjoy Joan Baez anymore. Or the Beatles who made it boring to listen to the Beach Boys. I think of Camilla as the next Hayley in that she will captivate like no other if she gets in first. There are still many people worldwide who haven't experienced Hayley, and if they happen to catch Camilla first they will see her as the one to beat. I think Faryl is also in that category. |
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