Hayley As A Composer

[larryhauck]

This thread will probably die with this post; but I couldn't find another quite germane to the subject.
There seem to be posts that suggest Hayley write the lyrics and music for her performances. Why should a talented vocalist such as Hayley need to write her own music and lyrics. It would seem to me that composers would be delighted to write for Hayley.
I just can't understand why she should be chastised for not writing her own music and lyrics.

Larry

[stevemacdonald]

There are many terrific singers who compose their own songs. Hayley has an excellent chance of writing something remarkable since she knows music so well and has had exposure to all the best songs. I think her standards would be extremely high and she would aspire to producing something exceptionally worthy. Her past forays into songwriting were sweet and show promise. I say let her keep at it as long as it fulfills her. In time the world may be singing her original songs.

[martindn]

I think there is an important thing that is being missed in this discussion. If Hayley writes her own songs, she can write them for her own voice. It's true that other composers can do the same, if the songs are written specifically for Hayley. Otherwise she has to choose existing songs that she likes and might suit her voice.

But since Hayley has an exceptional voice, she will find that most songs do not fully show it off, since they are written for lesser singers. Hayley can write her own songs, for her own voice, and it doesn't matter if nobody else on the planet can sing them. That way, we get to hear Hayley sing songs that do her justice.

I think "Talk to Me" is a case in point. I doubt that many singers would even attempt it. I think the same might go for Wuthering Heights too. I get the impression that Hayley relishes a challenging song (the Caccini Ave Maria comes to mind, with all those long notes you have to get the breathing exactly right), and I like to hear her sing that kind of material (well, I like to hear her sing ANY material to be honest).

If she wants to sing songs that do her wonderful voice justice, she may have to write them herself. After all, she has done most of the classical crossover standards, so all that is left is new music, unless she goes pop.

I think taking on songwriting takes a certain amount of bravery. How does she know if her compositions are any good? But so far I for one have enjoyed them, and I think it would be good to encourage her to continue to develop her songwriting.

Martin D

[Libby]

For one thing, the songs she writes are wonderful. Why wouldn't you want Hayley to write songs? Don't you like the songs she writes? Also, it helps her stand out as an original artist, not just another pretty voice - even if she is the prettiest!
I don't think she should stop singing cover songs forever, I just wouldn't want that to be all she sings. Even Pure had a lot of new songs written for her, so even then she didn't do all covers. So, I'm all for songs being written for her, but I really prefer songs by Hayley herself. I don't expect Hayley to compose her own songs, but it would be great if she did some, if she feels confident enough to do so. I don't expect her to do anything, although I might hope.

I enjoy anything she sings, no matter who wrote it, so I say let Hayley do whatever she wants, and I'll be happy with it.

[roger]

Well said, Libby.

I think her fans should give her the freedom to do whatever she chooses. By all means support her, of course, but to encourage her towards further songwriting as has been suggested could be perceived as trying to influence her and that is not what HWI was all about in my day and I don't believe it is now.

Roger

[Ross]

I think Hayley has learn't how to play the piano and the guitar so that she can start playing around with chords etc and start the process of song writing. I think in the not too far future she will be writing her own songs and not just the lyrics. That is what I hope will happen. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[martindn]

I couldn't agree more about trying to infuence her, that is not what we are about. What she choses to do is entirely up to her, and I have to say so far she hasn't put a foot wrong as far as I am concerned.
But feedback helps her to know what works and what doesn't, she has always been open to it, and we in turn should not be afraid to be honest about what we think. The trouble is with Hayley, I have loved everything she has done as many of us have, so she doen't get much construtive criticism from the likes of me.

So we should let her know that we enjoy her songs (or that we don't), and she might then feel confident enough to do more, such as a complete singer-songwriter album. I know I would enjoy it, and considering the way she was talking earlier in the year, I think she enjoys her songwriting too.

Martin D

[grant]

Hello everyone

I don't think anyone is trying to influence Hayley, more showing encouragement for what many of us sense in our hearts is the way Hayley is naturally heading anyway.

I believe, but am not certain, that Hayley has already composed some melodies but maybe only in part, and I would be very surprised if Hayley hasn't been 'songwriting' for quite some time but has only recently felt her lyrics to be worthy of performing.

It wasn't very long ago that we were all delighted that Hayley was being referred to as a "singer songwriter" - there must be huge satisfaction for a performer to have a portfolio of their own material to share with their fans; and even greater satisfaction to have other performers sing songs that they have written.

I think Hayley has already demonstrated an ability to create her own material and I have loved everything she has written so far. I very much hope she will write more in the future - I am sure however, that she is continually looking at ways to develop her career and I will happily continue to support her whatever she chooses to do in the future.

Best wishes
Grant

[stevemacdonald]

Aug 9, 2010 12:12:21 GMT grant said:

... I believe, but am not certain, that Hayley has already composed some melodies but maybe only in part ...

Composing melodies is something we all do from time to time. Haven't we all whistled or hummed a unique tune that came to us almost out of nowhere? Maybe it's just me, but it happens a lot. Composers simply get paid for it because they're disciplined enough to write it down. Collaboration helps, too, if it liberates one to put the improvised tune out there for immediate appraisal -- which is how Lennon & McCartney worked. Maybe Hayley and her siblings, who are all musical, could cook up some cool ditties when inspired. Maybe all Hayley needs is an appreciative co-composer to launch her musical ideas forward. I don't think it's a matter of "influencing" her so much as challenging her to explore this relatively easy creative process. Maybe if she knew some of us want her to compose it would stir her imagination all the more. There's absolutely no pressure implied, just an invitation to have fun in a way that might work miracles down the road.

[Libby]

According to "The World At Her Feet", Hayley started writing songs when she was 6, about her toys. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

And she also learned piano early on, but I don't think it was just so she could compose her own songs. It seems her family was very busy with all kinds of extra-curricular activities back then. She also learned violin.

[mihizawi]

Backng most of what have been said, I want to get back to the original question: "Why should a talented vocalist such as Hayley need to write her own music and lyrics?" Well, for me, the first answer is very easy: because she wants to.

There would be no need for her doing it in terms of pure business: her success is due to her voice and with her extraordinary ability to adapt her singing to anything she sings, there would never be a lack of material for her. Also, recent news have proven that world-class composers such as Karl Jenkins or Ennio Morricone, are interested in writing specifically for her voice, and that tells so much about it.Thinking she is obligued to write by any external reasons or preassures is missing the point of it, and nothing good would come if it was that way.

But the point is that Hayley is a great singer, and she loves to sing, and it's what she is best at, but... I believe she loves music, and not only singing, and that makes the difference between a singer and a musician. That's why she is always amazing us with all that crazy activity pace, which would be impossible if she didn't love what she was doing: singing, songwriting, composing, playing the piano and guitar, and other experiments like the sleigh bells... Her dedication to music is far beyond earning money to live a wealthy live... And that's why she is so good at it, and she is amazingly lucky to be able to do that in her life, as she recognized herself on many ocasions.

Michal

[martindn]

Hi Michal,

Well said, I agree.

Hayley can express herself through her singing, and she does so, brilliantly, by putting her own special personal stamp on everything she sings. But to sing her own words, her own songs written about her own experiences in life - that is even more expressive and even more personal. Somehow I think, when a singer sings about such things, that is so much more convincing than "acting" the emotions of other people's songs however well you understand them ( and Hayley does that brilliantly, sometimes I think better than the original artist).

Often for me, Hayley can bring a song to life that I have heard many times before, and make me feel that at last I understand what that song is about. But I love her own songs too, and would encourage her to develop her songwriting skills.

It also bodes well for her commercial success I think. However well she sings a well known song, or a song primarily associated with someone else, it will always be a cover.

Her own songs are hers. She understands them in a way that nobody else ever can or will, and although she talks of writing songs for other singers, she would alost certainly upstage them if she ever performed them herself.

Martin D