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Post by Bamafan on Jan 24, 2014 22:48:02 GMT
Apparently, Celtic Woman has a new CD/DVD out in February entitled "Emerald - Musical Gems." You can find it HERE on Amazon. According to them, it "spotlights newly re-imagined performances of fan favorites from the group's treasure chest of Celtic songs." So basically, the new members doing covers of the old members' songs.  Oh well. At least they're getting back to more Celtic stuff. And I'm not sure whether to feel disappointed or relieved that they are't doing any of Hayley's songs. -Taylor  |
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Post by martindn on Jan 24, 2014 23:07:59 GMT
Hayley's songs weren't particularly Celtic of course.
Martin D
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Post by Libby on Jan 26, 2014 7:22:04 GMT
Hayley's songs weren't particularly Celtic of course. Martin D Nothing Celtic about Pie Jesu or The Prayer, either, is there? They're not supposed to be all Celtic anyway, though I often do wish for more Celtic and fewer pop songs thrown in. If there's nothing new on the new album, then I have very little interest in it. I'm sure they'll all be nice, but nothing will compare to Maev's and Orla's renditions of the songs they used to sing with the group. And heaven forbid they go into Chloe territory! Though I guess they might have to, to fill up the album.  Yeah, I think I'm going to have to pass, though I will be interested in which songs they do. |
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Post by martindn on Jan 26, 2014 18:15:49 GMT
I'm with you on that one Libby. I sort of lost interest since the original members mostly left.
Martin D
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Post by Bamafan on Feb 28, 2014 5:12:27 GMT
So, I finally got up the courage to look at the new version of "Mo Ghile Mear" from the "Emerald" DVD. Well. I wouldn't say it's bad. On the contrary, it's nice. But that's it. Just nice. Nothing more. There's not half as much passion, power, or excitement as there was in the "New Journey" recordings, both live and studio. And I think the overall quality of CW's production has gone down. The venues are no longer interesting, appropriate Irish and Scottish castles; nor a nicely outfitted hall such as they did several times at The Helix in Dublin; Just a concert hall with some stairs and a platform. Mairead is always wonderful with her energetic consistency, but she seems cramped here, with little room to run about freely and dance as she does. The girls are fairly talented, though not near as exceptional and unique as the 2005/2007 line-up. It's not bad at all, but I feel that the magic is gone...  -Taylor |
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Post by Simba on Mar 1, 2014 6:29:50 GMT
It would put things in perspective to note the fact that the New Journey 'live' that we're hearing wasn't live but studio recordings played back in the DVD. This is clearly live, and they're lacking 2 members. Not to mention Hayley is the difference, other than that I think some of the new singers especially Lisa Lambe, are much more proficient than the original line up (who nevertheless had pretty voices and uniqueness in tone). The range of tonal quality they had in the original line up is something they are yet to achieve, we had orla at alto, chloe doing high sopranos and Lisa and Meav with their balanced tones, and I always thought Hayley completed the team with her crystal clear voice giving the harmonies a sharp edge. Not too sure about Susan but the other two are wonderful. Should listen to "Auld Lang Syne" by Lisa Lambe in the recording of Home for Christmas. She sounds heavenly. The quality of production and arrangements in my opinion was better than the original Christmas album. That's when I learnt to accept the new team.  Maybe the magic is still there after all  |
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Post by Bamafan on Mar 1, 2014 18:36:16 GMT
It would put things in perspective to note the fact that the New Journey 'live' that we're hearing wasn't live but studio recordings played back in the DVD. This is clearly live... Sorry to burst your bubble, but it's the same thing with this performance. It's just the studio recording set over video (I played the iTunes sample over the YT video at the same time - no deviances whatsoever). At least with the NJ DVD they used alternative recordings to those used on the CD. -Taylor i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif |
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Jillian
Global Moderator
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Post by Jillian on Mar 1, 2014 23:38:21 GMT
Well, well... I might be a bit behind the times, but I never realised that the Celtic Woman DVDs were dubbed over. Although, I do presume that everyone sang live at the concerts themselves?
About the alternative recordings thing. That's what many artists that lipsynch do -- go into the studio and record different 'live' versions of songs to form the backing track so it's not as obvious during performances.
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Post by Libby on Mar 2, 2014 4:41:44 GMT
It would put things in perspective to note the fact that the New Journey 'live' that we're hearing wasn't live but studio recordings played back in the DVD. This is clearly live... Sorry to burst your bubble, but it's the same thing with this performance. It's just the studio recording set over video (I played the iTunes sample over the YT video at the same time - no deviances whatsoever). At least with the NJ DVD they used alternative recordings to those used on the CD. -Taylor I don't know how you know all this, but I've heard the DVD and the CD, and they do sound slightly different from each other. So, what's the point of the microphones then? Just for show?  |
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Post by Simba on Mar 2, 2014 10:39:17 GMT
Taylor, Sorry to ruffle your feathers but it doesn't make this any less a live performance just because it matched the itune samples, simply because those recordings are off the LIVE performance. Obviously it'll be the same. Crafty little things the Celtic woman production team are though, the Home for Christmas live from Dublin was also lip synced. Very upsetting. They are brave and talented enough to do the 'lip syncing' perfectly, but little did they think about logical loop holes. The Home for Christmas audio CD was recorded with Lisa Lambe, Meave and Chloe in 2012 and the DVD on 2013 with Susan instead of Chloe, seamlessly have they removed Chloe's vocals and replaced it with Susan's while the other two's are the same in both. Sad right? Because I loved the Home for Christmas DVD I thought it was wonderful. I wish I had not known it wasn't live, not taking anything away from the fact that they can perform amazingly live. Bonus songs ofcourse were the live ones as they are (atleast that's what I think...no way of telling as the lip-syncing that they're capable of doing is a talent worthy of appreciation) They never sounded as good as the new journey DVD when they sang live on those TV shows, it was great, but the DVD was too perfect. And this even with the old members. So what has been lost? Nothing? Maybe if we start looking at the fact that they are doing more of their video appearances live these days, expected quality is lacking? You know what, I'm more happier with the raw live performances than the polished studio ones when I'm looking at live videos. Oh and Libby, I think I explained quite a bit as to how I know they lip sync, but in addition to that, it's interesting to note how in the DVD there are some extra sounds like lets say the percussionist's vocals in Dulaman, (the Hay!) missing in the studio version, but the rest of the singing and instruments are the same. The truth is also reinforced if we take into account that among the very few songs that were different in the studio album and DVD, The Blessing, had to be different because it was piano accompanied and piano free play without a metronome doesn't have a clear tempo. Hence it becomes impossible to lip sync to live piano playing (If I recall correctly I think this is the only track that's different for said reasons) That said, I repeat myself that the talent of the new singers shouldn't be questioned, infact some of them might be better than all the previous members. As to the magic being lost, are we sure this magic is associated with the people themselves (sure to an extent) or the over-production of live performances. Perhaps the comparison should be made between their actual live performances and the DVD ones. (I'm talking about the old line up) www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjrEvoxRrvo (Have your self a merry little Christmas acapella + violin) Mairead Carlin: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBOcT9Hi9mc (Silent night) I thought the first one was magical. It was a live performance, and I don't think I've heard the original singers do something like this live, as good as this. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkFaGa2uK1M here's some of the old members in a similar set up, acoustic. Yes that's how they really sound together. It was great sure, but nothing like the DVDs right? Yes the ethereal reverb, professional mixing in a studio to get the right sound is the reason. For those who might argue about the quality of mentioned live performances, here's an unamplified acoustic version of the same song by the new line up, by what might possibly be a phone camera. No microphones, www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QgUGxhO7sE And I like this better than the one I previously posted too. It can't get any real than this can it ? And I thought it was magical. |
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Post by Simba on Mar 2, 2014 10:46:44 GMT
Here's a wonderful "LIVE" performance from the Emeralnd Musical Gems concert, www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0ZNXxPP10I The only thing making it less magical is Chloe there. She used to be one of my favourite, the new journey times, but now she's just overdoing it, making it sound too pop. (She's still singing it great, but not in the gentle way let's say Lisa Lambe is handling the notes). I was slightly upset on Chloe's departure nevertheless but pleasantly surprised that a better singer ever so befitting took her place. This performance I'm sure would've been better with Mairead. |
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Joe
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Supporting Hayley since 2003!
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Post by Joe on Mar 2, 2014 15:38:23 GMT
There is a Celtic Woman: Emerald PBS TV special as well. WVIA, my local PBS station, will air the special at 3 PM today. The show's description: Celtic Woman celebrates the Emerald Isles' musical heritage. Songs include "Awakening,'' "Danny Boy,'' "Amazing Grace'' and "Shenandoah.'' |
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Martin
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HWI Management Team
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Post by Martin on Apr 18, 2014 13:44:49 GMT
The Emerald Musical Gems concert is being shown tonight at 8.00pm on Sky Arts 2.
Martin
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Oh well. At least they're getting back to more Celtic stuff. And I'm not sure whether to feel disappointed or relieved that they are't doing any of Hayley's songs. 
Yeah, I think I'm going to have to pass, though I will be interested in which songs they do.
Maybe the magic is still there after all 
