Hayley's varied singing techniques and styles

[Bamafan]

Sept 2, 2013 5:54:05 GMT Libby said:

I certainly would be interested to hear how Hayley would do with OMC these days, but I don't see it happening. I wouldn't want her to sing that on DWTS, if that's what you mean, Taylor, because KJ already did.

No, no, I just said it would be interesting if she, for some reason, decided to perform it again.

-Taylor i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[martindn]

Well, Libby, Hayley has already done a film soundtrack of course. I dug it out and played the CD the other day. Composed by James Horner no less! But I suppose for it to work the way you suggest, they have to use it in the actual film!!
She has featured in other film soundtracks too such as Mulan 2.

Martin D

[Libby]

Sept 2, 2013 21:44:24 GMT martindn said:

Well, Libby, Hayley has already done a film soundtrack of course. I dug it out and played the CD the other day. Composed by James Horner no less! But I suppose for it to work the way you suggest, they have to use it in the actual film!!
She has featured in other film soundtracks too such as Mulan 2.

Martin D

Tell me something I don't know, Martin.

Obviously, those soundtracks didn't do her a whole lot of good, did they? Even if Listen to the Wind had actually been used for the movie, I don't think the movie itself was successful or popular enough to have done much good, either.

That is why I'm so bent on The Hobbit, because the Tolkien movies have such a huge following, aside from the fact it's among my favorite stories/movies. Also, I know of no other popular film story that I know is likely to even have a theme song the way the Tolkien films do. One time I looked up films that the great composers have done: James Horner, Hans Zimmer, other Howard Shore works, and even John Williams. I could find almost nothing in the way of theme songs; they're mostly just orchestral soundtracks. Most either had no special song, or if they had a song at the end, it was a borrowed song, nothing made for the movie itself. All I can think of off the top of my head is Titanic, and there are of course a few songs that were used in the Twilight movies. But, those movies have kind of a dark theme, and anyway, those movies are all over (thank goodness, lol). I have no idea if the Hunger Games have theme songs.

Nope, The Hobbit is the only thing there is.

You know you can't deny that Hayley's amazing singing technique would work very well with the elves. Also, the last movie will have a more emotional, dramatic ending, and would also include plenty of elves, so the last movie might be the best one for Hayley to do.

I'm guessing the upcoming movie music will be recorded soon, and this time it will be by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Last year it was the London Philharmonic... I think. It was London, anyway.

Oh, BTW, that SOS song Steve mentioned sounded great for Hayley back then, and I think something like that would sound great now, as well. I think he's actually onto something with that suggestion.

I'm very relieved that you didn't mean Rihanna's SOS, Steve. That would be a disaster. LOL

[Sing]

Sept 3, 2013 5:19:09 GMT Libby said:

I have no idea if the Hunger Games have theme songs.

Hi Libby,

The Hunger Games do have theme songs but they aren't the most popular part of the films if you see what I mean. They don't appear to have songs or music that is very catchy or well-known. Well the first one hasn't anyway, as it only really has Jennifer Lawrence singing a bit of a lullaby-type song in one of the scenes. The rest is instrumental.

The next one, Catching Fire, has Coldplay singing the main song, called Atlas, released on 6th Sept with the main film out in November, (my sister is a huge fan of both Coldplay and the Hunger Games so has been keeping me well informed of everything related to both-. I'm a fan of the film but not Coldplay so much, apart from one song, Fix You, which I think Hayley could sing very well, perhaps better than them lol. )

I know Coldplay are very popular and their music sort of fits in better with the Hunger Games theme than Hayley's music/ voice would IMO. That's not to say I don't think she could be good at it, of course she could be especially with the variety of singing styles she has developed over the years.

I think it would be good if Hayley could be on the soundtrack, I think it would give her a lot more publicity and more potential fans, as the films are very popular particularly amongst teenagers. I think there are parts in the stories which would suit Hayley very well, like the scene in the first one with Jennifer Lawrence, I actually think that song would have been good for Hushabye as its a lullaby album tbh. However the majority of the storyline is somewhat aggressive for want of a better word with children killing children, uprisings and revolutions etc. It kind of reminds me of Les Mis at times with the revolution bits lol, that I don't think it would suit Hayley very well, but one song promoted would be enough. There is a ligh-hearted side ish with the romantic element and love triangle etc which would also be better received I think if it had a song with it
It would also please me if she was involved with that soundtrack because maybe she could meet one of my favourite actors if she ever went to the premieres

I agree I think it would be great if Hayley was on the Hobbit soundtrack as it would be very popular and her voice is very suited to the type of music that would be used in the films, like you say particularly with the elves etc. I think May it Be proves that and I actually wish that she had been on the Lord of the Rings soundtrack with that song.

Sing

[Libby]

I've never seen the Hunger Games, so hardly know anything about it. A girl with a bow and arrrow and some weird people with ugly makeup and pink wigs. That's about all I know of it. LOL I know my sister saw it, and I think when my dad saw it, he liked it so much, he bought the DVD! (Incidentally, my dad is the one who first discovered Hayley.) So it's not just teenagers who like it. But I think the Tolkien films have a much larger following. The Tolkien stories were written decades ago; The Hobbit itself was written over 75 years ago! So, except for Tolkien purists, people of all ages like this stuff! Anyway, if the music of HG isn't all that popular, like you say, then it might not be the thing for Hayley.

There's no way Hayley could have been on the LOTR soundtracks, as she was just barely being discovered in NZ, and anyway, I don't know how her voice back then would have done with May it Be... Anyway, it was Enya herself who wrote the song, so again, not possible. I'm glad Enya did it, she's a beautiful singer, and her voice fit perfectly with the theme, too.

The more masculine Song of the Lonely Mountain by Neil Finn worried me a little that maybe Hayley's feminine sound might not work... but then I keep remembering all the elves of Mirkwood, including a newly-created female role called Tauriel. However, she's more of a tough cookie than Arwen or Galadriel, but I don't think that should matter. I think Hayley's voice would fit in with the elves, even without a female lead. There's supposed to be music and singing from the Mirkwood elves, at least according to the book. And I do hope they don't stray from the book too much. Adding Legolas and Tauriel is already too much for some people. LOL Thranduil is Legolas' father, though, so it's completely plausible to think that Legolas might have been involved in the events at that time. (Yes, Tolkien had the entire history of Middle Earth all figured out.)

Yes, I think Hayley would definitely sound prettier singing Fix You. But I do kind of like Coldplay's songs, especially their newer Paradise song, or whatever it's called. But I wouldn't say I'm a fan, really, and I don't own any of their albums.

[Simba]

I really want her to sing in some kind of a magical movie too, that way they'd make her sing in that ethereal angelic way and she'd have no other go www.youtube.com/watch?v=313jG0txxTY Like this piece here, I love how her voice is the best for all these kind of stuff.
But I'm also afraid people who are introduced to her through her latest albums won't hear this tone which would be most popular in the kind of movies you mentioned Libby, like the Hobbit. Let's see all other topics like "KJ returns to Decca" and Hayley's success hints her collaboration with another major deal, we'll hope that happens next year along with her next album, it'd really be a milestone that way.

[martindn]

I mention The New World becuse it is a wonderful example, perhaps the best there is, of Hayley using her voice as an orchestral instrument. It is one of the things she is brilliant at.
I mention elsewhere her ability to perform a wide range of material, Abba, Vera Lynn, Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton, and arguably do it better than the originals.
I'm sure equally she would take on board whatever was thrown at her in the way of a movie score. But I do have to ask the question. When we think about movies what names come to mind? I think it is mostly the actors. Then perhaps the director and producer. I think the music is usually a long way down the list, unless it is a musical, and the composer will even then get more credit than the singer. Convince me I am wrong somebody.

Martin D

[Libby]

Sept 3, 2013 21:55:36 GMT martindn said:

But I do have to ask the question. When we think about movies what names come to mind? I think it is mostly the actors. Then perhaps the director and producer. I think the music is usually a long way down the list, unless it is a musical, and the composer will even then get more credit than the singer. Convince me I am wrong somebody.

Martin D

You're not wrong about that, except when you're talking about Tolkien and Peter Jackson. I've explained this numerous times here, but the really big fans of the LOTR and The Hobbit (and there are a LOT of obsessed fans), like EVERYTHING about the films. Yes, there are the girls in love with Orlando Bloom, Viggo Mortenson, etc., but I can assure you the love of everything Tolkien does not stop at the actors.

But, as I've seen written in articles before, the true star is Tolkien himself, not the actors. It's the story people love, most of all. They love hobbits, elves, dwarves. They even love Gollum (well, I do! lol) I even saw an article recently that suggests that New Zealand itself is a bigger star than the actors, too. I think that is true. People love the story, the characters, the scenery, the director, the music, and yes, the composer. They love May it Be and Into the West, so essentially, Enya and Annie Lennox, as well. Some people (including me) weren't too sure about Song of the Lonely Mountain at first, because we got used to the more ethereal, emotional songs from before. But SOTLM is a very catchy song, and I absolutely love it now.

True, the casual Hobbit movie-goer might not care about the theme song very much. But for every one of them, there are thousands of excited fans, many of whom will be lining up or camping out by the movie theater hours ahead of time, wearing their hobbit, dwarf, elf, Sauron costumes. Those people, I assure you, will be very much interested in the song at the end, and the music within the movie. I don't have any Tolkien outfits, but my sister does own an Evenstar... a very cheap one, mind you. LOL (That's the necklace that Arwen wore, and gave to Aragorn in the LOTR).

[nvrbckdwn]

Does anyone here thinks that Hayley's voice change doesn't come from technical reason, but a natural change or problem of vocal cord. I compared her talk between 2008 and 2013, they're completely different. I'm not sure but may anyone can change their voice like what we have talked about Hayley? I tried and at last still don't know how to do it, even in talk, but Hayley, you can see that she's still able to sing high notes in full voice (both live and CD). Finally, there's no reason for someone to change a perfect thing, I, you, everyone and even Hayley have the same thought, right?

[Libby]

I'm sure her voice has changed naturally. Also, she's learned to use more emotion and power in her voice than she used to, so I think her voice is actually stronger. She has more depth to her voice now. Lower notes are easier to hear than they used to be, and they actually sound really good.

[martindn]

Voices mature and change. Nothing ever stays the same. I enjoyed Hayley's voice as a 16 year old, it was pure and beautiful, but that has gone now. But in place of that, she has more depth and technique. And still has the most beautiful voice I have ever heard. She can still hit the high notes as you say. It is likely that she still hasn't reached her peak, which we are told for most singers is around age 30.
I haven't heard her live for over a year now, and am looking forward to hearing her at the Union Chapel. I'm sure she will surprise and delight us.

Martin D

[Simba]

*REQUEST - Please read the following fully and listen to the attached clip throughout before commenting*

I'm sure we've had debates discussing how Hayley's voice has matured and how her the old voice is long gone and we should welcome this new voice which opens doors into new genres. And sure the new songs are brilliant. But is that associated to the new technique? I wasn't sure. So I had to go through a lot of her songs by year, and live performances, fan shot and professional ones to see what actually went through in hayley's vocal transformation.
Sure Hayley tried to account for criticism made regarding emotion, but that voice which made us all stop everything we were doing and get addicted to it, is it still there? I had my doubts.
A few comparisons made from old and present/recent of same songs gave shocking results.
It saddens me to say that she's not even pitch perfect(yes I know what I'm talking about) anymore with this "new technique".

I was literally taken aback when everyone thought Hayley sounded great/normal in this recent "Christmas dream" single. Today I played it to some friends who knew and didn't know hayley, it was interesting to see their faces as Hayley's part began, for which they remarked it to be an 'unpleasant' sound.
To the few who knew Hayley's voice didn't recognize her, and when told so didn't believe it right away.
Yes, it lacked depth, it was 'thin'.
This is not a new genre but bad singing technique.

Before you listen to this audio where I've tried to explain this
1. I have severe cold, so singing is greatly affected.
2. I'm not even close to as amazing as hayley is at singing, so I'm not trying to prove that I can do it better.
3. You don't have to be better at something to know something is wrong.
4. Listen with an open mind, some portions might be exaggerated to make the point clear.
5. And I don't know German XD Sorry for killing that song.

CLICK HERE TO PLAY

But ultimately I don't think anyone can deny that this is what Hayley is doing to her voice.
This was obvious to some members with her rendition of Amazing Grace from the Paradiso album and they were not sure how to describe it.


For her more pop songs this might not sound really bad, which makes us think this new voice helps her sing more songs in this genre. But I'd say she always was able to sing those songs better than now. The SOS cover of Hayley from 2004 stands as a testimony.

Hayley had nothing short of a perfect technique to begin with. Perfect control, perfect pitch and control. Now it's just incomplete and loud at unnecessary places. Too much vibrato and it's not even classical, which atleast is acceptable.
Simply put, with this technique she's not handling the notes/songs as gently as she always used to.

I'd like to explain for some offensive comments that might come up because of this,

First off, this is not something to insult or criticize hayley, and it doesn't require a genius to know something is wrong either. I'm one of her diehard fans ever, my singing inspiration and my role model. And I think it's of a great concern for me that Hayley is likely to lose qualities that made Hayley, Hayley.

1. "Old Hayley's gone! Learn to accept the new one, that's the way it is!"

Truth is, it's just the technique, and she can choose to sing the old way whenever she wishes to. She's proved that with Malena/La Califfa from Paradiso.

2. "Hayley can sing however she wants, she's a professional!"

She's a professional, all the very reason for her to do it properly, it wouldn't have been too much of an obligation if she was like this from the beginning. She was perfect to begin with, she doesn't even sing 100% in tune, some notes are dodgy.

3. "You're being over critical! So many singers can't even come close to Hayley"

Yes that was then, but to what she's singing now, I can name so many people who are better. Sissel, Lisa Lambe from the semi classical side, Celine dion from a more pop point of view, to name a few. Don't agree? Sure then compare Hayley to Hayley herself, she should only better it, not get worse.


4. "If there was something wrong, somebody more knowledgeable than you are should have told...Hayley would know better"

That's taking it for granted, like I always say, even the greatest people can overlook small/obvious mistakes.


Please respond after applying some thought and be open-minded.

Thank you.

[martindn]

That link gives me "Sorry, we can't find that track"!

Martin D

[Bamafan]

Yep. Link doesn't work.

[Jillian]

Hi Simba,

You might have the privacy settings set to private on that tracks.

But I will comment generally. I think Hayley is currently in musical limbo at the moment. The majority of her repertoire is becoming quite old and she is still regularly touring with it. I wonder if any attempted change in technique or singing styles is a result of trying to freshen up material Hayley has been singing for as long as 12 years. I do understand how it can seem odd when artists change up the way they perform songs which were perfect in the way they were originally recorded.

I note that you look favourably on some of the Paradiso recordings. I think that a lot of fans would consider that album to be some of Hayley's finest work alongside Pure. A lot of credit needs to be given to the work of Ennio Morriconne there. I heard that he would stand in the recording booth pointing at Hayley until the perfect recording was achieved. There was no rushing or attitudes of 'a quick cheap record is a good record' and it shows.

You can't really look at the Japanese bonus tracks to Paradiso as any indication of anything, though. They sounded exceedingly low budget. I also expect that the Christmas single was recorded and produced quickly and cheaply too.

It seriously doesn't help the situation that everything since Paradiso has been cheaply and quickly recorded or is actually a fan recording (lol no offence to those brilliant people with their cameras!)

If Hayley's voice or preferred technique has changed, repertoire suited to what she wants to do going forward would be very beneficial. Pop music shows that songs cleverly crafted to a performer's voice can really bring out strengths.

It's a difficult reality for Hayley that at almost 27, she is still defined by a recording she made when she was 15. The vocal style stood out so much because the purity was so unique. Perhaps it was just a case of capturing the right moment in time.

Voices do change, but that doesn't mean the end of everything. There's things Hayley can so with her voice now that she couldn't then. But she will always be competing with those recordings. What is needed is a 'new era' album to suit her new voice and mark independence from Pure. The closest thing to that has been the HSJS discs, but unfortunately they were never internationally released.

It has to be remembered that Hayley hasn't properly been in the studio since 2010 when Paradiso was recorded. That's a little while ago now. It seems to me that Hayley is itching to do something different, but still doesn't have any new material to use. Quite possibly it's hidden away waiting to be revealed 2014/2015 in her new album.

I thought Hayley sounded great with Talk to Me and I suspect it might be because that was written for her own voice.