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Post by milewalker on Jan 14, 2008 1:40:33 GMT
Hello all,
I was one of the few people in the US enchanted with Hayley before she was famous so to speak, so did not hesitate to import this CD when it was released on the strength of her first CD.
I just replayed this CD for the first time in awhile and Im struck afresh by the odd combination of strengths and weaknesses it contains. It combines some samples of the most impressive singing I have ever heard her do with some arrangements which are - lets just say unusual.....Another problem is that the CD is pretty short. Overall it struck me at the time (and still does) as being something they kind of rushed to market to capitalize on the success of "Hayley Westenra" - and to be fair, perhaps to bridge the gap between that release and her forthcoming international debut as well. (If memory serves me correctly, there was already buzz that she was about to be picked up by Decca by the time this album was released)
I would like to point out that the above criticism doesnt imply that I dislike the album. If I were to rank her main releases by my personal preference, "Celtic Treasure" would come first, followed by "Hayley Westenra", "Odyssey", then "Pure" and finally. MGTY. (I generally like each succeeding album more than the one before it - with "HW" being the exception.) But at worst, it is my least favorite release by the artist I admire the most in the world....and as I have said elsewhere, the opening verse of "Pokarekare Ana" on this release remains the absolute best 30 seconds of singing I have heard from any performer at any time.....
Jon
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Post by comet on Oct 29, 2008 11:40:10 GMT
Quote Martin
Hayley in her book said she thought the title "My Gift to You was "cheesy". Actually I didsagree with her. It is not cheesy at all, and there are different ways to interpret that title
Hayley's gift to her fans, or "supporters" as she now calls us
Since it is a Christmas album, God's gift of his son to the world.
God's gift of her talent for singing - to Hayley
God's gift of Hayley's voice - to us.
And probably some more. Not cheesy at all in my opinion.
Martin
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I suppose the view of Christmas songs differs greatly between the north and southern hemispheres.
It must be difficult so sing about snow and sleighbells when the sun is belting down and tempreatures are over 30 degrees and you are on the beach, surfing in the warm sea...... which might explain the view of it appearing to be cheesy in the southern hemisphere.
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Post by milewalker on Oct 30, 2008 0:55:06 GMT
Of all of the albums Hayley has made, it doesnt surprise me in the least that it is this one which Hayley has found somewhat lacking. I doubt that it had much to do with Christmas songs at all.....some of the arrangements were simply ghastly.
Jon
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Post by Andrew on Oct 30, 2008 1:15:55 GMT
Of all of the albums Hayley has made, it doesnt surprise me in the least that it is this one which Hayley has found somewhat lacking. I doubt that it had much to do with Christmas songs at all.....some of the arrangements were simply ghastly. Jon Hi Jon, Have you ever read Hayley's book entitled: "The World at Her Feet"? If you've got it... you may need to read p73 again!!! Here's a quotation from it for you... "Everyone wanted the album to be more than just Christmas songs in order for it to have a sales life for the rest of the year. Decca were keen to use the album to push Hayley in a more internationally appealing direction than she had been working in so far". But that was the least of Hall's worries. "I only had about three weeks to do it, and less money for the whole album than one day's orchestra recording would have cost for [Hayley's later album] 'Pure'," says Hall. "As it turns out, a lot of it is midi [computer] orchestrated. But there was no option- even if I had the money I didn't have the time to put an orchestra in there." The album was completed in little more than a month." 'My Gift To You' was a miracle, if you put the album into its proper context, don't you think Jon?... If you don't, well that's up to you... I have nothing more to say!  Andrew  |
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Post by milewalker on Oct 30, 2008 19:10:11 GMT
Of all of the albums Hayley has made, it doesnt surprise me in the least that it is this one which Hayley has found somewhat lacking. I doubt that it had much to do with Christmas songs at all.....some of the arrangements were simply ghastly. Jon Hi Jon, Have you ever read Hayley's book entitled: "The World at Her Feet"? If you've got it... you may need to read p73 again!!! Here's a quotation from it for you... "Everyone wanted the album to be more than just Christmas songs in order for it to have a sales life for the rest of the year. Decca were keen to use the album to push Hayley in a more internationally appealing direction than she had been working in so far". But that was the least of Hall's worries. "I only had about three weeks to do it, and less money for the whole album than one day's orchestra recording would have cost for [Hayley's later album] 'Pure'," says Hall. "As it turns out, a lot of it is midi [computer] orchestrated. But there was no option- even if I had the money I didn't have the time to put an orchestra in there." The album was completed in little more than a month." 'My Gift To You' was a miracle, if you put the album into its proper context, don't you think Jon?... If you don't, well that's up to you... I have nothing more to say! Andrew Hi Andrew MGTY certainly does have one notable distinction. It was the only album Hayley ever did which did not go to no 1 in the New Zealand market. However, if you read above, I dont dislike the album. I merely find it far weaker than her other work. If I were a student who had to do a term paper, I wouldnt expect a great deal of sympathy because I waited until just before it was due to write it - therein turning out an inferior product. It isnt Mr Hall's fault, but your quote merely begs the question of just why he had to do this in three weeks and why it didnt have a bigger budget. I couldnt care less about the production issues involved - I do care a great deal about quality The album was done on a shoestring, and was rushed to market, and it shows. Jon |
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Post by comet on Oct 30, 2008 21:41:12 GMT
I love this album simply as a part of the history of Hayley's progress as a vocalist, The comments about production and sound quality may be true if you want to be picky, I am glad the recordings exist, every recording has a place in the history of the singer, I also have her earlier recordings which would probably be torn to shreds by the critics, but they exist and I am glad I have them, Every one of them , a snapshot in time, A demonstration that the artist had the talent and the potential if not the professional materials to work with and on. Let's call them early sketches or preliminary drawings for many may be recorded again ..
Like a painter can hardly be blamed for the work of the framer and the gallery that present the work, Hayley , herself can hardly be blamed for the final sound on the album.
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Post by I-H-F on Oct 30, 2008 22:02:51 GMT
I love this album simply as a part of the history of Hayley's progress as a vocalist, The comments about production and sound quality may be true if you want to be picky, I am glad the recordings exist, every recording has a place in the history of the singer, I also have her earlier recordings which would probably be torn to shreds by the critics, but they exist and I am glad I have them, Every one of them , a snapshot in time. Well said Comet. You certainly have a way with words. I agree with you. Although its probably not my favourite album of Hayley's, I'm glad I have a copy of it. |
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Post by martindn on Nov 1, 2008 1:05:12 GMT
No, it is not mine either, but I agree, well worth having. Her best album, in my opinion, is HSJS, the finest album ever recoded by a female vocalist, yet judged by her record company as unworthy of release outside Japan. One day, that will come back to haunt them (or as Hayley sings in one of that albums fabulously beautiful songs, one day, one day, flowers will reach full bloom). I seem to remember that Decca once rejected the Beatles! I'm not sure that much has changed.
Martin
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Post by dutchjoyce on Aug 30, 2009 13:18:42 GMT
HI,
Does someone know, if there are different versions of MGTY ??
I just won a bidding on Ebay, and the printing on the cd, is different than, the one i already have.
Art work, tracklist, and catalogue number are the same.
Greetz JOYCE.
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Post by Dori on Aug 30, 2009 14:36:36 GMT
Hi Joyce
I'm pretty certain there is only one version, but I thought there was another cover to the mainstream one. Can you send us the link to the cover photo from eBay?
Dori
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Post by dutchjoyce on Aug 30, 2009 15:39:57 GMT
Hi Dori,
It is not the cover that is different, but the printing on the disc.
You can find it on Ebay, worldwide, and look at completed listings.When you see the picture of the disk, it looks different, from what i have at home.
Greetz JOYCE
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Post by dutchjoyce on Sept 11, 2009 12:50:56 GMT
img12.imageshack.us/img12/3109/007sqx.jpgHi , just to show the difference of the cd's. Artwork, booklet, barcode....all exact the same...... only the printing on the disc is different. The one with My gift to you, printed on the disc ,is the one i already had. The cd above came in today from Australia. Greetz JOYCE ps....hope the link to the picture works.......
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Post by Dori on Sept 11, 2009 13:07:44 GMT
Oh ok, I see. A little different. Perhaps they ran out of the appropriate ink and needed a replacement design. :2fun:
Dori
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Post by dutchjoyce on Sept 11, 2009 14:12:14 GMT
Hi Dori,
As a collector, i noticed the difference, when the cd was on sale on Ebay. Now i have it here, i'm very happy with it.
What the reason is for the difference, i don't know, maybe there was a first, and later,a second pressing.
Maybe someone knows, and could give the answer.
Greetz JOYCE
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Post by frenchie on Nov 10, 2015 4:36:21 GMT
Do you guys know is there is two versions of the album? Joyce's picture above is not showing anymore. At marbecks, they say there are 11 tracks while amazon.com shows 12 tracks. The extra track being "All I Have to Give". Hoping to get Hayley's second Christmas CD for the season...pre-Christmas shopping!  Thank you! |
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Thank you!