NZ Herald - 28 April 2007 "tough chick..."

[jons]

milewalker said:

Jon S

I would merely raise one caution here. Hayley is human. The higher her star rises, the more media exposure she will get, and the greater the chance that someday she might say something that she wishes later that she hadnt.

Someday she is going to be doing a nine o clock interview on short sleep after working 12 days in a row, with an interviewer who she isnt getting along with - and the published results might be different than those we have seen.

I think we were discussing something like this in the 'Diva Tenancies' thread. Most people augured she wouldn't change. But if she did become as big as say 'Avril Lavigne' that could happen or could it? Who knows? I think that caution applies to everyone, Jon. But Hayley is very popular at the position she is at the moment. How big does Hayley want to become?

[milewalker]

Of course this caution applies to everyone Jon - but Hayley happens to be the focus here.....

There is no such thing as "no change". Equilbrium is the hardest state in nature to maintain - in fact given enough time it is impossible to maintain. Take a big enough view of nature, and you will find that everything is either in a state of wax or wane....I think a career works the same way - if it isnt growing there is a pretty good chance that decline will soon follow. Entropy is the strongest force in nature once you leave the sub atomic level.....and the only way to counter it is to continue to put more energy into the system.

However, I wasnt saying that it would happen by design Jon - just that it could happen. She is human, and might have a bad day even under the present circumstances. I was merely saying that the odds of such a thing occuring do increase with the amount of media exposure that there is. I dont think it says anything about her if it does happen btw, except that it attests to her humanity.

Jon - the other

[jons]

Hi Jon,

I get what you mean. I know that Hayley's career will change, I just hope it doesn't go down a pop route (I don't think anybody would want that - and she did mention she doesn't like pop.) No, I think what I mean is her career might turn out like many other top classical singers like Leslie Garret and Sissel where they don't get followed by paparazzi all the time and it becomes to much. She'll get bigger but without any of the showbiz side effects, I think thats what everyone wants for Hayley.

She has mentioned she has off days like having to learn lots of songs quickly which makes her cry. Or what about that time when she got 'Sick of' the article on the animals making noises to her singing.

So Hayley is human, her career will grow, but hopefully in a way similar to those other singers where things are relatively smooth.

[Dave]

milewalker said:

Of course this caution applies to everyone Jon - but Hayley happens to be the focus here.....

There is no such thing as "no change". Equilbrium is the hardest state in nature to maintain - in fact given enough time it is impossible to maintain. Take a big enough view of nature, and you will find that everything is either in a state of wax or wane....I think a career works the same way - if it isnt growing there is a pretty good chance that decline will soon follow.

Hello Jon the other!

Gosh, we keep returning to this subject, don't we!

Whilst I don't disagree with your above comments, I think it's important to realise that the waxing or waning of a career is not (in my opinion) the most important aspect of it. What is most important is having a successful career and there is no obvious reason why Hayley's currently successful career should stop being successful; not even if her current level of album sales slowly declines. She has a nice little niche in the market and while she continues to earn a good and satisfying living for herself by performing in concert, on TV, movie soundtracks or albums, she will continue to be "successful" by her own standards. I think that will be for a very long time.

But we, the fans, should be careful to avoid placing Hayley on a pedestal... in general, that is not a good thing.

That's my take on it, anyway.

Cheers, Dave

[milewalker]

Dave,

The problem is that people keep making the same kind of comment. One way or another they are quite happy with aspect a b and c of Hayley and dont like the idea of it changing. It is a very human thing, and harmless enough were it not for the fact that it is unnatural. The other day somebody made a comment to the effect that Hayley had already learned all the important stuff about life. This is possibly flattering - but doesnt that sentance her to a life of anti-climatic boredom?

Let me make one final comment, and then I will shut up about this (for now ). If Hayley's career were a stock I would have to think long and hard before I could give a professional recommendation to buy it. This is for a variety of reasons, most of which have been covered elsewhere. The bottom line is that she was sold in a certain way, and so far hasnt really produced at the level that the initial hype suggested she would. She can certainly have a career of the sort you are suggesting - and I will continue to follow her as long as she is singing - but I think she was promised more, I think she deserves more, and to at least some degree I think she expected more.

In the meantime, I would like to ask one question - . Check out the websites of various singers - actually Sissel and Lesley Garrett are good places to start since they were mentioned above. I suspect you will find that this site is very different, and has no real analogue in the case of either of those singers. Why do you think this is? It is hard for me to accept such comparisons with Hayley when there are already such notable differences in the mechanics of their success.....

Jon (the unbearable)

[postscript]

Quite agree Dave (post 48) don't place the tough chick on a pedestal. She certainly would not want that. Its such an effort climbing back on it when you've stepped off to chat with your fans!

Peter S.