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Post by Simba on Jun 13, 2011 8:35:33 GMT
"I would not like it to become too subdued I think." Neither would I, but that doesn't mean it should dominate her voice, I think lesser reverb and more projection of her voice would be wonderful (but the awesome thing is, that's the exact difference I found when i listened to the japanese samples : D, so I hope it's true) Other than this issue, the recording itself is kind of like what youtube does, combine all stereo into mono, which in the end causes some jamming when too many instruments are played at once, I mean this I can make out only when I listen using head phones. In Amalia por Amor, when she says Sem sa ber A rezar, (and all other instances of that melody) when it moves over to the "uma voooz A cantar" the inbetween (ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!) Orchestration is all kind of jammed, that I can't make out individual instruments individually, this happens everywhere when the orchestration is powerful, which is a shame. So I wondered if it was my head phones and started listening to other hayley performances which had nice accompaniment like "I believe" and "My heart belongs to you", it's like more than perfect, and lastly Oh my, Here's to you...the one with the most combinations of instruments, full Jamming towards the end . So those who have got the Japanese CDs, please make my day! Already the term "FULLER" from dutchjoyce, makes me really happy as I think that's exactly what I wanted, just summarized as one term haha.
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Post by Libby on Jun 13, 2011 20:38:08 GMT
I thought when I listened to the clips, especially La Califfa, that some of the music I normally heard in the background almost seemed missing. Maybe it was just that part, but I still felt like some part of it was missing. For me, sounds, especially music, get so ingrained in my brain, that I immediately notice if it's different. And when I get so used to hearing a certain sound in a song, it's like I can't stand it if it's not the same. That's even why sometimes I don't enjoy live performances as much. Not that I don't enjoy Hayley's singing in the performances, it's just that sometimes she sings something a little bit different than the original recording. So it takes a while for me to like it, because my brain is so stuck on the sounds in the recording. That probably sounds crazy, but it's just the way it is for me. So, I probably will notice any differences. So again, I'll let you know. :wink: I still haven't had much time to try it out.
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Post by martindn on Jun 13, 2011 21:43:27 GMT
Hi Libby,
I know exactly what you mean. For many years I had the same problem. And perhaps I still do with pop music.
And tribute acts, have to be even more like the original artists that they were live. I have heard tributes to the Beatles, ABBA, Pink Floyd, and all of then sound more like the recodings than the original artists did when they performed live.
When I hear Hayley perform live something that she has recorded, I often hear differences. Often, if I am honest, they are improvements. But I always spot them. I gather not everybody does.
I think that Hayley is still continually improving, and her recordings are just a snapshot in time. Quite apart from the fact that when you hear her live, she seems to inject an extra level of life into her songs (you'll have to take my word for that) she does innovate and improve her performances with time. Some changes too I'm sure are responses to the way her voice has changed over the years. But whatever the reason, the changes don't grate with me, as they often have with some other artists. I just think, yes, she has improved on the recording.
Martin D
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Post by Simba on Jun 14, 2011 7:20:38 GMT
One of the important points why true singers tend to change bits (adjust the length of certain notes, make them long and short and such) in live performances is just to show they aren't lip syncing. While ofcourse the other is to make every performance unique in its own way.
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Post by Libby on Jun 14, 2011 19:19:30 GMT
Lately her voice has been sounding just as good, if not better, than the recordings (especially the Christmas songs). So it's not usually a difference in her voice itself that I won't like as much (but occasionally), but just a difference in the way she sings it. Mind you, this doesn't happen very often. And I'm not saying I don't like it at all, just not as much.
I started listening to the Japanese version, and I hardly notice any difference at all. The only thing might be that the music around her is a tiny bit softer, but not enough to notice very much. If there is any difference, it is very subtle. It probably is noticeable (if at all), in the songs where the music is louder in the song, than in other songs. I didn't notice at all in Whispers in a Dream. Maybe a little in Cinema and La Califfa, but not much.
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Post by Ross on Jun 15, 2011 4:47:34 GMT
I agree with Libby. There is virtually no difference in the Japanese version and the NZ version. However on my ipod the Japanese version does seem to have Hayley's voice a bit clearer as I can pick up the words a bit easier eg sigh and smile in Whispers In A Dream, I had trouble picking these words up in the NZ version. I think this is more likely because of the different type of CD used which is a SHM-CD (Super High Material CD). I do think that Hayley's voice is louder in the Japanese version of Cinema Paradiso.
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Post by Simba on Jun 15, 2011 8:57:46 GMT
Okay, I think I'm guessing there is enough difference to make me feel happy XD...based on the two comments haha
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Post by Libby on Jun 15, 2011 20:38:33 GMT
Yes, Hayley's voice sounds a tiny bit clearer in some songs. If it does, I'm sure it's because of the high-quality CD, as Ross says, not because they've changed anything. I do thing maybe Hayley's voice isn't quite as drowned, but this is not the case in Metti, at the end. It's just as buried as ever as the music fades out. One thing I noticed in Would He Even Know Me Now was in the second verse where she says "he used to love me then", I heard something in the word "then" that I'd never noticed before. Almost a tremor in her voice, but more of an emotional one, not an error in her singing. I never noticed this in the other version before. And since I'm not sure what you mean by the music getting "jammed", I can't tell you whether that is the same or not. The music sounded the same in Amalia, if that helps. Personally, I've never had any problem with the way the music sounds in any part of the album, and I like it. I really don't think other Americans will have a problem, either.
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Post by Simba on Jun 16, 2011 7:01:23 GMT
Hmm, you guys talking about High quality CDs is worrying me....I downloaded it off Itunes (Man...being in India and not getting her CDs right way is a pain XD) But then again her other songs are perfect, hmmm......
By Jammed I meant, all the instruments interfere with one and other, and in the end I hear a "mono" sound, as in everything is mixed together. When it's like this, the player tries to identify and separate each wave form, and as a result it becomes unsuccessful when too complicated pieces sound together, and becomes jammed.
BTW what player do you guys use?
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Post by comet on Jun 16, 2011 15:24:08 GMT
I wouldn't take the trouble to write this if it were not important to me. I suppose it is going to offend at least a few people, I apologise in advance if it does. Did they use a set of pool balls to determine the track sequence on this album ? I have been listening to the NZ edition since early April and have given it serious thought and consideration. This album contains some of the most beautiful music ever made... Ever. By anyone. And just to complicate things a little more I now have the extra tracks on the Japanese edition to consider. Whispers in a dream sets the mood beautifully as the first track, Beautiful lyrics, just perfect.. It moves along nicely. Not quite sure about Metti Una Sera A Cena, Maybe it should be the second last track coming in before Here's to you as the last track. I'm fairly sure Here's to you should be the last track. Per Natale comes in and completely destroys the mood, It's pretty but it belongs on Winter Magic. The same applies to Lezione Di Musica..It's independently great fun but it belongs on Different Voices perhaps. Try skipping them or making a custom CD without them, or place them after Here's to you. Here's a suggested track listing for a custom CD, If you have some spare time, and all the better if you have the Japanese edition give it a try. Before you shoot me It makes it a completely different album. 1 Gabriel's Oboe (Whispers In A Dream) lyrics by Hayley Westenra 2 Cinema Paradiso: Profumo Di Limone lyrics by Ennio Morricone 3 La Califfa lyrics by Ennio Morricone & Hayley Westenra 4 Once Upon A Time In The West lyrics by Ennio Morricone 5 Cinema Paradiso: Would He Even Know Me Now? lyrics by Don Black 6 I Knew I Loved You lyrics by Ennio Morricone, Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman 7 Da Quel Sorriso Che Non Ride Piu lyrics by Ennio Morricone 8 The Edge Of Love lyrics by Tim Rice 9 Amália Por Amor lyrics by Joao Mendonca 10 Malena lyrics by Hayley Westenra 11 Profumo Di Limone (Japanese Lyrics) xx Metti Una Sera A Cena lyrics by Ennio Morricone xx Here's To You lyrics by Joan Baez 00 If you can, put in a long silence here 1 to 2 minutes, Here's to you deserves a break after it. Then add the other tracks if you really want them. Per Natale (L'Esprit de Noël) lyrics by Josephine Drai Lezione Di Musica lyrics by Ennio Morricone Amazing Grace (English and Japanese lyrics)
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Post by martindn on Jun 16, 2011 16:28:04 GMT
Hi Comet,
I disagree completely. The way you have it there are far too many slow songs together. You need the occasional more up tempo number to break it up a bit and prevent things becoming too dreary. Looking at the track order, it is clear that that is exactly what they have done. And in my humble opinion, it works.
Tracks 5, 6,7 and 8 are all very similar in the way that Hayley uses her voice. It doesn't show off her versatility if you put them together.
I have mentioned this in that past as a criticism of some of Hayley's earlier albums - perhaps she has taken it to heart. But it is common sense anyway.
Well Lezione is one of my top 3 tracks (as voted for on HWI), I certainly want it since it is unique - Hayley doing things with her voice that I doubt anyone else could emulate. If I were going to omit a track, it would be Here's to You! Even I could sing that one!
And Profumo is perfect as a track2 in my opinion.
No, I think they got the track order pretty much right.
Martin D
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Post by Simba on Jun 16, 2011 16:40:23 GMT
Yeah I agree with martin too, the one thing people say about Hayley albums generally is that, from start to end it sounds like a "single song", well clearly Paradiso can never be criticized using that claim anymore! I loved the track ordering, it was very neat. But ofcourse comet, you clearly said how it was only your opinion I appreciate it, and I too, sometimes would like to hear all slow, melodious songs in a line! hey that's why we're given the opportunity to make custom playlists
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Post by grant on Jun 16, 2011 17:47:26 GMT
Hi Comet and everyone It must be quite a task deciding which order to place tracks on a CD once they've been chosen; and I guess everyone has their own idea of how things should "sound" when the CD is actually played. For me, Paradiso, throws me from one emotion to another - a bit like a roller coaster - or a good thriller: First comes the Ooooohhs! and the shivers down the spine and maybe a tear or two; lulled into that euphoric state we're surprised and our moods lighten - further on, we're even offered the chance of a giggle or two. Amalia takes us to another dimension - WOW! Did Hayley sing THAT?? Gosh! and a very dramatic climax that stirs the very soul - and drops us in a flash. Regaining our earlier mood we're back to the oohh's and aaahh's with Malena. I also considered that Here's To You might be better as the final track but the dramatic and sudden ending does leave you hanging. No! I think they got the track order just about right (for me anyway ) Best wishes Grant
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Post by susieverity on Jun 16, 2011 23:18:14 GMT
Hi everyone,
I think that the way it is done is really good, I think that you need to mix up the fast and slow. What I really love about the way the songs are ordered is that it seems to go full circle almost with Malena at the end- the lyrics fit perfectly with it being the last song 'till the end I would stand by your side'. I wonder how much say Hayley got in what order they go, I remember reading in an interview that Ennio chose all the songs that she did- which is not necessarily a bad thing as it is his music so he should get a say in what he wants to record or arrange or have lyrics written to, also how much is the record company involved- I'm not really sure how these things work! I think that they got it pretty much right though as you have the slow songs and then certain tracks,especially Lezione come as a bit of a suprise compared to I Knew I Loved You and Da Quel which are on either side and its like an interlude almost like the comic relief in a tragic play.
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Post by Libby on Jun 17, 2011 4:17:01 GMT
I think the arrangement of the songs is mostly pretty good. The choice of some of the most beautiful and exquisite songs on the album as the first few was great, because they're so beautiful that anybody who loves beautiful songs, and loves Hayley's voice, will be hooked by the time these songs finish. Also, they are probably among the most familiar of Ennio's songs to most people, so that's another reason they probably put them first. People can start by hearing Hayley sing the most beautiful/well-known songs of them all. Then Metti starts to liven things up a bit. Then you have another slow one, lovely yet maybe not quite as heavenly as the first. Still, a very nice song. Then the cheerful Per Natale. Comet, I do agree with you a bit on this one. I really can't imagine why they put a Christmas song on there. It's very cheerful, with a delightful tune, but why Christmas in August and October (let alone June and April!) ? Of course they couldn't have put it on Winter Magic, since they did that before she began working with Morricone. I do think Per Natale and Lezione are a little close together, being similar in their very classical, old-fashioned style. Which by the way, my sister does not care for overly-much, but then she's a little picky when it comes to Hayley songs she likes. But the reason she doesn't like them is because she thinks they sound too "old-fashioned". I kind of agree, especially about Lezione. I still wonder why they chose that over others. Sure, it shows off her vocal skills, but then so does Amalia, which is 10 times better, IMO. Other than the vocal ability, kind of a pointless song for an album. It does have a very pleasant tune. But as I pointed out a long time ago when we were still speculating on what the album would be like, for the most part I prefer songs with words. With the exception of Once Upon a Time in the West, of course. But then that's a more serious, beautiful melody, rather than this almost childish, cartoon movie sounding song. Sorry, but it does kind of sound that way. Especially after seeing the thing on youtube with the original piece, with birds chirping (with a Hayley slideshow). I Knew I Loved You and Malena are so similar that I always get them both stuck in my head at once, and they overlap! But Malena always wins, because it's the last one I hear, and I like it a little bit better. And I think Malena is a good song for the end, because I think the end of an album should be equally as stunning as the beginning, to remind the listener how wonderful she is, if they had any doubts in between (and there likely will be some).
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