|
|
Post by nicola on Jul 3, 2009 16:39:58 GMT
Mr MacLean's a very lucky man! I knew she was Townsend before, but I had come across her new name before - I have even corresponded with her husband once, I just couldn't for the life of me remember his name.
I think she adopts just 'Yulia' for her stage name.
|
|
|
|
Post by stevemacdonald on Jul 3, 2009 17:16:52 GMT
I don't think the technical elements of Hayley's vocals can be faulted. I think she does have a little issue of diction, but it's too miniscule to lose a star over when everything else is perfect. Besides, I understand her perfectly when she sings live. Hayley's "little issue of diction" is probably due to the fact that her recordings are digital and not analog on vinyl. I was listening to a few LPs recently and was amazed at the sharper sound of voices, even the slurred ones of raspy rockers. Everything comes through crisp and clear. If Hayley were heard on such a platform you'd be amazed at how improved her diction would sound. |
|
|
|
Post by larryhauck on Jul 3, 2009 17:32:40 GMT
Hi Steve and Nicola,
I think Hayley's diction has improved immensely since she has gotten older. Also you must take into the fact that she has a strong Kiwi accent to overcome to anglicize her vocals.
I agree, Steve, that the modulation process could play a part in the clarity of her vocals.
Larry
|
|
|
|
Post by nicola on Jul 3, 2009 17:57:01 GMT
That is probably the issue, because as I said, I understand her perfectly when listening to her live. But then there are other artists I listen to on CD who I understand very well, so with that in mind, perhaps Hayley has very good diction, just not as good as others. It's all a minor blip for me anyway. I have heard bad diction, and Hayley is nowhere near what I would call "bad". Listen to Keedie sing the chorus of the song 'My Reason' and that's bad diction. It surprises some people to learn that she's actually singing in English.
|
|
|
|
Post by postscript on Jul 3, 2009 19:44:39 GMT
Interesting observation. I am glad someone else has noticed, it is not just my hearing, although it may be her accent occasionally coming through. However, this has a cross-reference to our/my experience with Fiona in St James. As Ian acknowledged any form of amplification can distort and we were hearing Fiona directly. It does make a difference!
For comparison Faryl is incredible in her English pronounciation, yet talk to her normally and she slips comfortably back into her natural Brummy voice. What I admire about her is her English singing is not in any way artificial, it comes as natural to her as her home town accent.
Peter S.
|
|
|
|
Post by martindn on Jul 3, 2009 21:59:05 GMT
Hi Peter,
Er.. "home town accent". Faryl's home town is Kettering, not Birmingham, and the two are quite different. I would expect a Kettering accent to be nearer to Northampton than Birmingham. I live nearer th Birmingham than she does, and I doubt anyone would confuse a Leicester accent with Brummy.
Perhaps her parents are from Birmingham, and that would influence her. But to my ears she doesn't sound like a Brummy.
But West Midalnds accents are a minefield to the unititiated. Birmingham is different from Wolverhampton, each of the potteries towns has a different accent. You need a good ear. But Faryl is, at least according to some less than purists, an East Midlander. (for purists the East Midlands consists of Leicestershire, Derbyshire (which reaches almost to Manchester) and Nottinghamshire. perhaps if you stretch it parts of Staffordshire and Lincolnshire). But I've heard people from Milton Keynes claim to be East Midlanders.
Even I can notice the difference between North London and South London accents. The same distinctions apply further north. I remember my wife Sue's Leicester accent being mistaken for Yorkshire by someone in Wales. OK her mum was a Geordie, and Yorkshire is half way, but I would never confuse the two.
Sorry mods, I've gone off topic again. You must be fed up with me doing that!
Martin
|
|
|
|
Post by Ross on Jul 4, 2009 4:29:41 GMT
I have looked at Yulia's Profile and it is mostly right. Yulia is actually a very good guitar player which she has used in her concerts. Her first album got to No. 1 in NZ. She was my second most favourite singer to Hayley but she has dropped out of sight since meeting her husband and lives in Wellington. But hopefully next year she will be touring NZ as on her My Space web page she has asked her fans for what crossover singers they want to duet with her.
|
|
|
|
Post by nicola on Jul 5, 2009 22:26:54 GMT
Yay, I've written my first review for this website.  And it wasn't harsh. In celebration I have created how album ratings work. If you have always wondered why I'm so negative about every album that passes me by, you can check out my ridiculously high standards here (it uses the star system again): Album Ranking System. And I'll put the websites main url in my signature, I guess. Thanks for the tips on Yulia, I have changed it accordingly. |
|
|
|
Post by stevemacdonald on Jul 7, 2009 17:08:39 GMT
Hi Steve and Nicola, I think Hayley's diction has improved immensely since she has gotten older. Also you must take into the fact that she has a strong Kiwi accent to overcome to anglicize her vocals. I agree, Steve, that the modulation process could play a part in the clarity of her vocals. Larry I don't think anyone would be criticizing her diction if they were to hear her in optimal sound quality -- which is impossible now that the world has gone digital. And digital lends itself to piracy like nothing else. No doubt a voice like Hayley's would have had a much better chance of making it big 30 years ago. |
|
|
|
Post by nicola on Jul 7, 2009 18:33:48 GMT
Are CD recordings digital?
[/stupid ignorant question]
|
|
Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,700
|
Post by Dave on Jul 7, 2009 18:59:11 GMT
Are CD recordings digital? [/stupid ignorant question] Hello Nicola, And it isn't a stupid/ignorant question at all as although the answer is "yes", there are other aspects to it. All CDs are digital as manufactured and played but they may contain recordings that started life as analogue tape recordings and were later converted to digital. This is mainly for historic material... but there's a lot of that about. Modern studio or concert recordings are nearly always done digitally from start to finish, either on tape (digitally) or direct onto hard drives or other media and of course they end up on CDs DVDs or as digital downloads. Digital downloads are obviously digital too but they are almost always lower in intrinsic quality than CDs because they are compressed to create smaller file sizes and save internet (and iPod) bandwidth. Things are improving though, they are less compressed these days than they used to be. CDs are not usually compressed at all in that sense, although they are often compressed dynamically for other reasons, a practice of which I strongly disapprove. Cheers, Dave |
|
|
|
Post by nicola on Jul 15, 2009 12:31:16 GMT
Thanks for letting me know, Dave. I have read about the effects that digitalising have, but I wasnt' sure if they were just referring to digital downloads, or CDs too. My new website has a lot more content now (Hayley's profile has been expanded), and it has changed quite a bit. It will be going to a new home soon, and be properly launched. Its new location will be at www.classical-crossover.co.uk At the moment, it's current home classicalcrossover.wordpress.com is just a basic mock up of what the real site will be like. Any feedback or advice on what you think should be included in the real thing would be appreciated.  |
|
|
|
Post by larryhauck on Aug 13, 2009 0:47:30 GMT
Off topic. When are they ever going to decide on the Linerick Concert. I need to make plans.
Larry
|
|
|
|
Post by larryhauck on Aug 13, 2009 0:49:05 GMT
AS long as I'm off topic I think I'll post this to reach 500 posts. I have no shame. Larry Edit by Dave:
Off topic pointless post - deleted. Second thoughts OK I'll leave it... but only this time!   |
|
Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,700
|
Post by Dave on Aug 13, 2009 2:07:27 GMT
Hi Larry, Congrats on your 500th post... by the skin of your teeth! Cheers, Dave |
|
And it wasn't harsh. 
