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Post by Elliot Kane on May 7, 2013 17:30:55 GMT
Totally agree with you, Libby. On the first page of this thread I said I thought a lullabye album was a terrible idea, whoever was doing it, and that's still true. I'm honestly stunned that Decca would suggest it or that Hayley would do it. A royal baby will never cause grown adults to suddenly rush out and buy lullabye albums, even in Britain. Why on Earth would it? We're not even talking about 'The Official Royal Lullabye Album', just something Decca thinks might sell in the aftermath. Amongst a guaranteed flood of about twenty trillion other attempts to cash in with Commemorative Everything, almost all of which will be ignored by the general population... I can honestly see this album performing worse than Winter Magic did, and I don't think anyone would honestly wish that on Hayley. It's just a terrible, terrible idea. Well, Elliot, I must admit I had my doubts at first but now the actual record producer has posted on this forum and having heard Paul Mealor's work on Youtube, I am somewhat reassured and will wait to hear the entire album. You never know, you might be pleasantly surprised ! 'Pleasantly utterly shocked' might be a better description, Jeff, I must admit!  To quote Hayley herself on Twitter: I'm sure she's right and that many will like it, but lullabies are just not my thing. Wrong type of Marmite, I guess! She won't be the first artist I love I've skipped a specific album by, and I'm sure she won't be the last either. |
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Post by cloudbusting.heights on May 7, 2013 18:08:57 GMT
Im not sure if it was in this thread or another that Bamafan mentioned and shared a link for the song "Baby", expressing the idea that it'd be a good song for Hayley to sing. I just came across her singing that song on YouTube during a 2013 concert! I wonder if this song might be on the album....
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Post by martindn on May 7, 2013 18:46:35 GMT
Thank you Jon for your post. It's very reassuring to read something that tells us that this is a serious project. I'm looking forward to hearing the album. I've always felt it will be a good one - I can't imagine that Hayley would want to be involved if it was a simple collection of kids songs. But if the reaction here is anything to go by, it might take a bit of persuading to get that across to potential buyers, but if it is as good as we are hearing, word will get around.
And as for promotion and coverage, it is getting rather a lot. I have a long list of articles from Google from newspapers all around the world. I won't post all the links unless someone really wants them but they include
People Magazine
E! Online
Calgary Herald
Hindustan Times
Wales Online
Belfast Telegraph
Edmonton Journal
Most of these a quite similar to the ones we have already seen, ie based on the same press release.
I'm told there are now 178 different variants of this article around the world. Didn't count them myself, but there are a lot.
Oh, and it is also reported that Harry has said that the baby will be a boy!
Martin D
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Post by Bamafan on May 7, 2013 23:32:40 GMT
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,700
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Post by Dave on May 8, 2013 0:57:55 GMT
One press release, 179 articles. The power of the Press Association... and royalty... Dave |
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Post by Bamafan on May 8, 2013 1:38:47 GMT
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Post by Paddy on May 8, 2013 2:14:24 GMT
I'm sure that your comments will help to calm the reservations that some members have expressed about Hushabye, though I have noticed a softening over the last day or two ..... Some of us have of course been pretty enthusiastic about it from the beginning and I for one have become increasingly so, Hayley's Twinkle Twinkle ..... It's delightful and sounds technically excellent too..... Cheers, Dave Yes! Time now to spread around a little more enthusiasm and support for Hayley and what she wishes to do in 'Hushabye'. I too was disappointed lately - not with 'Hushabye' or 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' - but with the lengthy tales of disappointed expectations and thwarted stereotypes of some, as if one's favourite teddybear was about to ignore one's dearest wishes. As soon as I heard 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star', I felt that something exciting and innovative was about to happen in 'Hushabye'. Just a simple childlike song but sung in a personal, intimate, expressive way (yet another of Hayley's talents - noticeable in some songs of Hayley's recent performances). Despite the prophets of doom, I'll put my trust in one who knows (Jon Cohen). I felt that I owed it to her to create something more special, and I put my heart and soul into creating an original unique arrangement. When Hayley put the vocal down with such feeling and sincerity, I wanted to record Hayley's voice in a way that hadn't really been done on her previous records, I really felt we had something magical.
This has been the case with all the tracks on the album.
I wanted to record Hayley's voice in a way that hadn't really been done on her previous records. .... But I've always heard another potential in her voice. I wanted to hear what she would sound like in an intimate recording context.
Hayley expressed a wish to explore this approach too, and we decided that we would make a very personal record, that the recordings would be really honest, and that she would never be competing with the music.
.... we knew that some people who want to hear Hayley the same way she's recorded in the past, may object to another approach. But my feeling was (and is) that people who can listen past their prejudices, would hear something very personal and special in these recordings. It's like she's right there with you, singing just to you. And she means every word. Time perhaps to trade the Hayley stereotypes for Hayley as she is (and as she chooses to do). I'm looking forward to another wonderful Hayley surprise. Paddy |
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Post by Bamafan on May 8, 2013 2:23:46 GMT
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Post by Libby on May 8, 2013 3:48:46 GMT
Im not sure if it was in this thread or another that Bamafan mentioned and shared a link for the song "Baby", expressing the idea that it'd be a good song for Hayley to sing. I just came across her singing that song on YouTube during a 2013 concert! I wonder if this song might be on the album.... Yep! You have to read every post, otherwise you miss stuff, since some of us are so chatty, myself included! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif |
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Post by Libby on May 8, 2013 4:04:28 GMT
I'm sure that your comments will help to calm the reservations that some members have expressed about Hushabye, though I have noticed a softening over the last day or two ..... Some of us have of course been pretty enthusiastic about it from the beginning and I for one have become increasingly so, Hayley's Twinkle Twinkle ..... It's delightful and sounds technically excellent too..... Cheers, Dave Yes! Time now to spread around a little more enthusiasm and support for Hayley and what she wishes to do in 'Hushabye'. I too was disappointed lately - not with 'Hushabye' or 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' - but with the lengthy tales of disappointed expectations and thwarted stereotypes of some, as if one's favourite teddybear was about to ignore one's dearest wishes. As soon as I heard 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star', I felt that something exciting and innovative was about to happen in 'Hushabye'. Just a simple childlike song but sung in a personal, intimate, expressive way (yet another of Hayley's talents - noticeable in some songs of Hayley's recent performances). Despite the prophets of doom, I'll put my trust in one who knows (Jon Cohen). I felt that I owed it to her to create something more special, and I put my heart and soul into creating an original unique arrangement. When Hayley put the vocal down with such feeling and sincerity, I wanted to record Hayley's voice in a way that hadn't really been done on her previous records, I really felt we had something magical.
This has been the case with all the tracks on the album.
I wanted to record Hayley's voice in a way that hadn't really been done on her previous records. .... But I've always heard another potential in her voice. I wanted to hear what she would sound like in an intimate recording context.
Hayley expressed a wish to explore this approach too, and we decided that we would make a very personal record, that the recordings would be really honest, and that she would never be competing with the music.
.... we knew that some people who want to hear Hayley the same way she's recorded in the past, may object to another approach. But my feeling was (and is) that people who can listen past their prejudices, would hear something very personal and special in these recordings. It's like she's right there with you, singing just to you. And she means every word. Time perhaps to trade the Hayley stereotypes for Hayley as she is (and as she chooses to do). I'm looking forward to another wonderful Hayley surprise. Paddy We're all free to have an opinion. I'm sure you must be including me in those condescending descriptions, since I tend to write "lengthy" posts. However, I certainly never prophesied doom anywhere. And as you've probably seen, quite a majority of the members who have posted have expressed at least some initial doubts or slight disappointment about this album. You can't expect everyone to be excited about lullabies, even if they are performed by Hayley. You shouldn't be surprised that some of us are disappointed not to get new songs by Hayley, which are sure to be much more amazing than Twinkle. I don't appreciate being spoken about as if I'm some ridiculous, ungrateful child. I don't consider Hayley to be my "teddy bear". I find it insulting that you would even say such things about those of us who are only expressing our honest opinions. We aren't criticizing Hayley herself; we're not mad at her. Also, in case you missed it, I said that I actually think Twinkle is very pleasant to listen to, it's just that the idea itself of a lullaby album does not thrill me a whole lot. I don't mind you amiably disagreeing, as many others already have. What I do mind is making it sound like those of us who aren't especially excited about lullabies ought to be ashamed of ourselves. I am not ashamed for having an honest opinion, even if isn't one everyone agrees with. I'm doing my best to stay positive about it, and as I've already said, these articles and Jon's reassuring post have helped a lot. Though I can't help but have some lingering doubts, but again, as I already said, I'm hoping those doubts will go away once I've heard the album. I'm not expecting to dislike the album as a whole, and I certainly hope it does Hayley some good. But I will be awaiting her next album that much more anxiously now, worrying whether she'll ever be allowed to just be Hayley. |
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Post by Libby on May 8, 2013 5:09:05 GMT
Here's an interesting tidbit. If you search for Hayley Westenra with Dream a Little Dream on Google, it not only comes up with the same allmusic.com page, but I'm also finding it listed on actual radio station websites. As in, American radio stations. They all show the date of June 11, 2013. Not sure if these are just Internet stations, or what. One of them was in New Orleans, another was Santa Cruz, and the other one was Sussex County in New Jersey. I'm beginning to wonder if, assuming there is a release for the US (which these sites are indicating), we might get a different title, and might be sort of like Celtic Treasure, in that it's made to appeal to Americans, at least according to Decca. Maybe that means this release will be less "Hushabye" and more "Dream a Little Dream" than the UK release. I never like there being too many versions of one of her albums, but maybe this title will help it sell better.  I'm guessing the only major difference will be the title. I would imagine the tracklist to be the same. And as I predicted, the Celtic Woman fans on the forum are all very excited about the album so far, as you can see here: www.celticwomanforum.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=f6dc392671fd22b0103d8ddb10024e0f&topic=18864.new#newPrecisely why there needs to be an American release. |
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Post by Simba on May 8, 2013 5:51:53 GMT
I could relate to "Mother's prayer" to a lullaby....You know david foster's prayer? And how he asked if Hayley has recorded it and that she should? I'm guessing an intimate acoustic solo harmonized performance of that is coming our way....And thinking along side Guitar and Piano, I think Hallelujah is a high possibility! It wouldn't even be suprising if there's an acoustic version of My heart will go on! "Every night in my dreams....."
The possibilities of the awesome tracks that could fit under this title! I think we are having something huge coming towards us.
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Post by Jeff on May 8, 2013 10:33:36 GMT
It has to be said that our expectations were sky-high after "Paradiso" and Hayley's best ever album was always going to be a hard act to follow and whereas I can't see myself chilling out to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" after a long day, the new album is not so much a step backwards as a step in an entirely new direction. Whether it's a direction that many people will follow remains to be seen. I have visions of sitting in a concert hall on the yet-to-be-announced "Hushabye" tour surrounded by young mums with squealing babies but just grateful that none of them are mine !!
Many years ago I once joked with Roger that people would buy a Hayley CD even if she sang "Three Blind Mice" and we're not far off that, are we ?! It seemed unthinkable at the time but it looks as if my theory will be put to the test. I'm with you, Libby. I'm wondering what the album after this one will be. You never know, we could go from one extreme to the other. With the Vera Lynn connection we may get an album of wartime songs, to be enjoyed by elderly folks in nursing homes !
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,700
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Post by Dave on May 8, 2013 13:10:00 GMT
I have visions of sitting in a concert hall on the yet-to-be-announced "Hushabye" tour surrounded by young mums with squealing babies but just grateful that none of them are mine !! On the other hand, it could be more like Christmas Presence in 2006, the two traditional Christmas songs Hayley sang when surrounded by a well behaved children's choir have always been firm favourites of mine, The Prayer too... my kind of Hayley music! Hayley with the kids: Away In A Manger (Silent Night is before it, The Prayer after). Cheers, Dave |
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Post by martindn on May 8, 2013 13:22:37 GMT
I may have to get more new speakers Well, I can't wait to play Twinkle and the rest of Hushabye on something better than my laptop, even though my machine has a good sound system and I use external speakers. Short of burning it onto a CD though, I'll have to wait for the release of the album. Martin D |
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X #hushabye
X #hushabye
