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Post by Libby on Feb 7, 2014 20:51:51 GMT
Martin, that's actually what I meant; that she not only write them, but be allowed to record them on her album, too. I should have said that, but I guess I figured you all would know what I mean. Performing them live is great, but if I can only listen to it on the computer, that's a little disappointing. So to me, a live performance only isn't quite enough. Even if I got to be there myself, I would be ecstatic, but not having the song in portable form would be disappointing.
Yes, artistic progression is what I'd like, too. Everyone always seems to think I expect Hayley to suddenly put out an entire album full of songs all by her. I don't. I just want there to be a lot more songs she wrote than have been on her previous albums, that's all. Not only that, but I'd like it if she could do all her albums as she did with Treasure; by choosing everything she wanted to record before discussing things with Decca. Because so far that has been my favorite album, over all.
However, as much as I liked Treasure, now, 7 years later, I would hope that she could be allowed to move on in her artistic career, away from the Danny Boys and on to more personally-meaninful, mature songs. Even though I love Let Me Lie and Summer Rain, nowadays Summer Rain seems too girly, as far as the way it's sung (not necessarily the lyrics), and even the sound of the backing music. It's just very pretty, which is fine. However, she's matured a lot since then. I think I'm wanting something more womanly from Hayley, I guess. And that's something I feel sure she can do. Malena is an example of that.
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Post by martindn on Feb 7, 2014 22:47:58 GMT
Hi Libby and everyone, Yes I agree. That is exactly what I would like to see her do. Perhaps where I differ from you is that for me Hayley is very much more a live performer than a recording artist. Given that you Libby have never had the good fortune to see her live though, I can understand your position. But for me, her recordings don't do her justice, so if you love her because of her records, then I can assure you, there is much more to Hayley than that. And yes, amateur recordings of her concert performances don't do her justice either, but often you can feel the quality of her performances, especially if they serve as a reminder of a concert at which you were in the audience. Sometimes though we get to see professional recordings of her live performances, like the incredibly moving performance of "For the Fallen" at the Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall in 2010 ( www.hayley-westenra-international.com/content/fallen ), or some of her Songs of Praise recordings, and you just say Wow! Nothing on any of her commercial albums comes close in my opinion. Live she can be just stunning. But on her albums, as I have said before, I particularly treasure her own songs. These are the ones I really relate to. She has a real songwriting talent for sure, and I would like to see her develop that. Martin D |
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Post by Libby on Feb 9, 2014 21:03:40 GMT
I understand all that, Martin, but as I say, you can't take her live performances with you, other than the amateur recordings you mention. And those are rarely the best quality, at least for listening devices, even if a kind person shares their recording for download by others. Another thing I don't like about listening is having to endure the difficult-to-hear chatting beforehand. If the singing doesn't come out perfectly, then the talking is even worse, because it's hard to understand without blasting your eardrums. Even if the live performance, in person, was the best, does that mean a studio recording of the same song would be undesirable? I think not! Something is better than nothing, it's the next best thing, right? If nothing else, doesn't it at least bring back memories of seeing her sing the songs live? I have no experience with that, of course, but since I've been to other concerts, I can imagine.  For me, seeing Hayley live would be exciting partly because I would actually get to see her live; not just as the singer I've admired most for years, but also as a person I've admired and supported for all this time, too. I would desperately want to meet her, too, and going to her concert would be the best opportunity for that. Anyway, for those of us who still haven't been to a concert, we're not going to want to be deprived of a song just because it's better live than on an album. Even if you do get to hear it live, you might want to hear it again, wouldn't you? The only way to hear it again is either to wait months for her next concert, if you can go, or listen to it on a recording. What if you wanted to listen to the song everyday? Then you have to play the album, because she doesn't have a concert everyday of her life just for us. LOL |
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Post by martindn on Feb 9, 2014 21:21:25 GMT
And of course Libby, there are some wonderful songs that she had recorded that she has never performed live. Then we are all in the same boat. Songs like "I believe" which I always loved but only heard live for the first time at the Union Chapel. But then there are others like "Bridge Over Troubled Water", which I heard live before she recorded it. Plus some other songs she has never recoded (yet) like her "new one" at the Union Chapel, "Close to You". Sometimes I like to include Hayley's introductions in my YouTube videos, because it adds a sense of atmosphre, of what a Hayley concert feels like, and how she talks to her audience. I actually enjoy listening to her introductions, even if they are sometimes hard to hear clearly on amateur recordings.
In the end we all enjoy Hayley in our own way. I'm not sure whether if I only had her records and had never heard her live, I would still feel the same way about her. But maybe I would anyway.
Martin D
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Post by Libby on Feb 10, 2014 21:28:02 GMT
And of course Libby, there are some wonderful songs that she had recorded that she has never performed live. Then we are all in the same boat. Songs like "I believe" which I always loved but only heard live for the first time at the Union Chapel. But then there are others like "Bridge Over Troubled Water", which I heard live before she recorded it. Plus some other songs she has never recoded (yet) like her "new one" at the Union Chapel, "Close to You". Sometimes I like to include Hayley's introductions in my YouTube videos, because it adds a sense of atmosphre, of what a Hayley concert feels like, and how she talks to her audience. I actually enjoy listening to her introductions, even if they are sometimes hard to hear clearly on amateur recordings. In the end we all enjoy Hayley in our own way. I'm not sure whether if I only had her records and had never heard her live, I would still feel the same way about her. But maybe I would anyway. Martin D Are you saying if you'd never seen her perform live, you might not be as big of a fan? Because those of us who have never seen her live desperately want to, so I think that makes us equally devoted fans as those who have seen her live. The reason I don't care for the introductions when I'm just trying to listen to the song is just that: I just want to listen to the song! I don't usually feel like waiting through the talking and giggling. Anyway, my point is while I greatly appreciate the videos/sound files of her live songs, I would also very much like her to record them "properly" on a CD. If not for Martin, at least for Libby and Taylor and everyone else who never get to see her live. Okay?  |
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Post by martindn on Feb 10, 2014 23:31:14 GMT
Hi Libby, Yes, you are probably right. If I hadn't seem her live I might not have noticed what a fine singer she is. I tend to mostly buy records by people I have seen live, rather than the other way round. The fact that you are such a huge fan of someone you have never seen live probably means you are a more devoted fan than I am. I'm trying to think if there are any albums I have bought in recent years by people who I have never seen live, and it is quite difficult to think of one (I discount compilations and CD versions of vinyl albums I already own). Perhaps only Meav, but then she impressed me on the DVD of the CW New Journey DVD, and I probably wouldn't have known her if it hadn't been for Hayley. Then there is music that cannot be performed live (like Hayley's "When at Night"). But then I remember that Brian Wilson (of the Beach Boys) once claimed that their song "Good Vibrations", which I seem to remember took several months to make and cost an absolute fortune, could never be performed live. Yet at the Queen's jubilee concert a few years ago, he did just that, without the support of the other Beach Boys. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNHNl3Id2J4 And yes, I do own that record and no, I never saw them live. But that was then and this is now. Martin D |
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Post by Libby on Feb 11, 2014 22:23:12 GMT
I'm the opposite of you, Martin. I have never been to a concert without having bought the artist's album first or at least being familiar with the artist. Of course, there are supporting acts... actually, I know that after our first Josh Groban concert, my sister did buy William Joseph's album, since he was the opening act then. But other than that, I have never bought an artist's album from only seeing them in concert first. Why can't Hayley perform When at Night live? Because of the vocal layering? They can always play a backtrack with her, couldn't they? Oh well, it's not likely she'll be singing many lullabies to her audiences anyway. Also, I'm curious about Good Vibrations (don't worry, I have definitely heard that song many times!), but that's getting off-topic, or more so than we are already. |
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Post by susieverity on Feb 13, 2014 9:07:59 GMT
Hi Everyone
I think I am repeating what I said before, but I think I would love on the new album a mix of good covers and also Hayley's own stuff. This is mainly because I love the songs where she has written the lyrics and/or melody herself and so I think that this album needs to show people Hayley's full talent like none of her other albums have done. Also I think by writing her own music and showing her own style it separates her from other CC artists who mainly do covers and shows that she is different, a bit like Mary-Jess' album sounds so different to other CC albums I have because she wrote so many of the songs. Also what would be even better is if Hayley accompanied herself on the album with guitar and piano and maybe had less of an orchestra, I think that would be really interesting to listen to and different to her other stuff.
Susie
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Post by Libby on Apr 23, 2014 3:45:45 GMT
Going by Hayley's comments in the J-wave radio interview in Japan, I think we can rule out 2014. She says she's been writing for her next album, but it might take a while before it comes out. I'm not quoting exactly, though, but that's pretty much what she said. Going by that, I would say even early 2015 could be stretching it. It doesn't sound like she's even ready to record anytime soon, or at least not that she's ready/able to reveal. But since it seems as though the rest of this year is pretty empty as far as concerts, so far, it seems like an ideal time to get started. But, if she's (or Decca) not ready, she's not ready.
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Jillian
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Post by Jillian on Apr 23, 2014 12:14:02 GMT
Going by Hayley's comments in the J-wave radio interview in Japan, I think we can rule out 2014. She says she's been writing for her next album, but it might take a while before it comes out. I'm not quoting exactly, though, but that's pretty much what she said. Going by that, I would say even early 2015 could be stretching it. It doesn't sound like she's even ready to record anytime soon, or at least not that she's ready/able to reveal. But since it seems as though the rest of this year is pretty empty as far as concerts, so far, it seems like an ideal time to get started. But, if she's (or Decca) not ready, she's not ready. Hi Libby, I just had a quick listen to that section of the interview and it did sound like things are still in the early stages or at the least there's nothing concrete planned. Maybe the Japan Best Of counted as the release for 2014? As there's nothing else in Hayley's concert calendar beyond the appearance at the Classic FM concert it looks like this might be a fairly quiet year. |
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Post by Libby on Apr 24, 2014 3:24:41 GMT
Oh, I forgot all about the Classic FM one. I don't even remember when that is, I'll have to look... Oh, it's a week from yesterday!  |
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Post by comet on Aug 8, 2014 11:56:44 GMT
When this thread started I was looking forward to a new album, expecting something in a matter of months..
I thought an album was well under way and was only postponed or delayed to facilitate the recording and release of Hushabye.
As more time passed I became more concerned that nothing was forthcoming, Not even for the Chinese market.
I have now reached the stage of physical anxiety, No album, no concerts, Has Hayley retired ?
I can only hope an album appears before Christmas,
good cover versions of less well known songs would do me fine.
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Martin
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HWI Management Team
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Post by Martin on Aug 8, 2014 18:11:14 GMT
I have now reached the stage of physical anxiety, No album, no concerts, Has Hayley retired ? Not exactly retired, more a sabbatical I think. I must admit though having followed Hayley since 2006 I have never known such a quiet period. This period of inactivity may be intentional, perhaps to recharge the batteries, or just that there are no opportunities presenting either performing, in the media, or recording. Whatever the reason I am not reading anything sinister into it and I am sure Hayley will surprise us soon than later. Martin |
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Post by Bamafan on Aug 8, 2014 20:50:17 GMT
^Same. I think Hayley might just be having an Enya-type period; not retired, but taking things slow to 1) Spend time with Arnaud, make a home relax, etc, and 2) let her creativity be her work for a while, instead of trying to be creative during her work schedule. But I do really hope we hear something soon. Who knows? Maybe tomorrow she'll do a surprise Beyoncé-style album drop. Probably not, but I can dream, right? -Taylor i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif |
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Post by martindn on Aug 8, 2014 21:14:33 GMT
I actually suspected something like this might happen after all the effort she put into the Union Chapel and Dublin concerts. It was as if she was preparing us for a quiet period. I think she might want to raise a family perhaps, and be trying for one, if not actually expecting (she doesn't look as though she is in recent photos, but these mostly don't show the appropriate parts of the body). If she is trying for a family, good on her, she will be a great mother I am sure. And we should appreciate that and give her the time. It is her life. And I am sure many more here will be ready to support her whatever she chooses to do. I know we are hungry for more of her music, but she has her own life too. She deserves that.
Martin D
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