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Post by amptique on Dec 21, 2014 15:32:34 GMT
HI Bill, Thanks for finding Jimmy's report. Do you know if he found out where the Hayliens were going and if he followed them? I was unable to find any further news releases but I did find a copy of an internal memo from Jimmy to Mr. White. Apparently Jimmy searched the web, trying to find evidence of the Haylien movement and found that many of the members he had met the night before had aliases - Libby, Cimmeron22, amptique, etc. That discovery increased his anxiety about the ultimate goals of the group. He also searched the police reports for any unusual activity and found several reports. One report stated that, while walking down State St the evening of the initial Haylien encounter, they heard the most beautiful music ever coming from the Orpheum Theater. Several hours later a citizen reported that the one known as 'Libby' was spotted leaving the theater with a most pleasant, trance-like, smile on her face. It was also reported that she was walking without her feet actually touching the ground. Libby, I'm so glad that your experience was everything you hoped for and more. BillR |
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Post by amptique on Dec 21, 2014 18:13:56 GMT
We arrived at the theater about an hour before the Concert began and found our seats. I took a few practice photos to get ready for the real thing only to be told about 20 min before the Concert began that no pictures were allowed. I couldn't believe it. In fact, I chased the security guy down and asked him again if he was sure that was correct. It was. As soon as Hayley stepped on the stage, however, I forgot all about taking pictures. After 6yrs of waiting to see her perform live, the time was finally here. The thing that surprised me most is how different her voice is in person compared to her recordings. My appreciation for her amazing voice has, until now, been based solely on listening to her recordings. I had never heard a voice like that before - clear, pure, and true, nothing artificial or forced. Hearing her in person takes that to a completely new level. Those same qualities are present but with the addition of a sense of depth that doesn't come through in recordings. I would have never imagined that she had that much power. The dynamic range from very soft to very powerful is absolutely amazing. Perhaps the difference between studio recordings and hearing her live is due to the absence of the emotional connection Hayley has with her live audience. She is masterful at making that connection and I could feel it from the very start. Or, perhaps, it is simply that no-man made device can record such a heavenly sound. (I would still like to have a purely analog recording of her voice but that is not likely to happen.  ) The only solution to the problem is to go to more live concerts.  Hayley has been given the gift of a unique voice. To me, no other comes close. She, herself, has developed the means to control it and make it do what she wants. That ability to control her voice in any manner she desires, gives her full reign to interpret the music and make it uniquely hers. That ability was very evident in Over the Rainbow. Libby described it perfectly. I have always loved that song and have heard it sung by many artists but I have never, ever, heard it like that before. I was absolutely blown away. Every piece she performed was done flawlessly and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. You could tell that Hayley was really enjoying herself too. She appears to be truly in her element when she is performing live. For me, that was the fastest two hours of my life. I remember thinking that there should be something I could do to slow this thing down. It is going much too fast. After the concert, Susan asked me if there were any songs that made me 'tear up'. There were three - You Raise Me Up, Over the Rainbow, and Bridge Over Troubled Water. During 'You Raise Me Up' I looked over at Susan and she was trying her best not to cry. Hayley does that to you. I especially enjoyed Dream a Little Dream of Me. I have liked that song ever since hearing Louis Armstrong sing it many decades ago. Hayley's version was perfection and much different than the lullaby style on the Hushabye album. It would be marvelous if Hayley would perform more songs from that era. An image just popped in my head of a duet between Hayley and Louis singing 'Dream a Little Dream of Me'. I'm going to have to think about that. The common theme among the group of HWI members we hung out before and after the concert with was disbelief. 'I can't believe I'm going to see Hayley.' 'I can't believe she is in the same town as me.' 'I can't believe she is standing right there in front of me.' 'I can't believe I'm going to meet her.' 'I can't believe I'm having my picture taken with her.' 'I can't believe it's over.' This was one of the most incredible experiences in my 60+ years on this planet. I hope to repeat it soon and repeat it often. BillR |
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Post by comet on Dec 21, 2014 19:11:34 GMT
Hi Libby,
You have no idea how pleased I was to read your quite amazing report on "The experience".
Your joy and pleasure brought a tear to my eye,
I was worried and concerned that some trivial mishap or experience would have spoiled your trip and to read your report was a relief and a joy for me..bravo Our Girl from HWI and the Official Forum on the courage it took you to make this trip alone, facing many fears and obstacles which others may have trivialised, but were in fact very real for you. Well done Libby, your plane may have landed, but it may take some time yet before you return to Earth. Bravo !
Looking forward to the rest of the story.
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Post by gillette on Dec 21, 2014 21:03:57 GMT
Hi,
After reading Libby's wonderful initial installment reporting on the concert, I couldn't help but thinking back to all that she went through in deciding whether - could she/should she - attempt the trip. Had she decided not to try, and were to read her own first report as if someone else had written it, I dare say that she would be kicking herself for the rest of her life for not having gone. A great report!
Thanks to her for the alert that the next installment may be a while in coming because of her work schedule. Otherwise, we might be thinking, "Come on, Libby! Let's go. Where are you?" It makes the waiting just a little bit easier.
Waiting,
BobS
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Post by thomas on Dec 21, 2014 21:11:42 GMT
Hi! Thank you everybody for your reports. That sounds like you had quite a good time. Libby, I bet you're still walking in the air!  Let me assure you that this feeling won't fade on future concerts. Thomas |
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Post by gillette on Dec 21, 2014 21:17:14 GMT
Hi,
Many thanks to BillR for the fine detailed reporting, and pictures.
One thing that I haven't seen yet is a mention by anyone of the attendance, full house or not.
Cork was full house, and full house minus about 30. Madison attendance would be interesting to know.
BobS
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Post by martindn on Dec 21, 2014 21:52:24 GMT
Yes, I sincerely hope that Madison was sold out. Those who know about Hayley would be there if they could. Those who don't are probably in the majority everywhere - she doesn't get much help from the media, perhaps she doesn't want or need it. All you who went know it is a wonderful experience, probably the best concert you have ever been to. Libby isn't the only one who comes out of Hayley's concerts floating on air - I do too and I've been to well over 20 of them.
Martin D
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Post by martindn on Dec 21, 2014 22:24:00 GMT
Somehow you know it is always the new songs that seem to impress the most when you hear them for the first time. So I was blown away by Bridge Over Troubled Water, Over the Rainbow, Close to You, and you tend to be less impressed by things that she has been doing for a long time like Amazing Grace and Who Painted the Moon Black. I heard BOTW the first time she performed it publicly, and was disappointed that she only did it in the sound check and not the actual concert. I thought it was fabulous, Simon and Garfunkel eat your hearts out, even though we know Paul Simon wrote that fabulous song. It was one that was waiting for a singer of Hayley's calibre to perform it.
Hayley clearly knows what works. BOTW has since become her finale of choice. That used to be Wuthering Heights, but now that is second last. And it is still a wonderfully impressive piece of singing, even though she sings it in just about every concert and has done for years.
She finished the first half with "Peace Shall Come". I wonder if that was a response to the way that song went down at Cork. Several of us said it was the stand out song. For me it was the highlight of the concerts. A song that so wonderfully expresses the excitement, wonder and above all joy of Christmas. It is interesting that nobody who was at Madison has mentioned that as a highlight. But then, I guess nobody in America had ever heard OTR or BOTW sung live by Hayley.
So it is when she sings something new, or brings back an old song she has not performed for a while, that we notice the difference and improvement in her performance. Her development as an artist that is thrillingly still ongoing.
You have read in the reports above what sort of experience a Hayley concert can be. You can't know that until you have been there, and you won't go there if you think she is just another singer among thousands. You don't think it is worth the effort. But Hayley is different and it is. I can't say that strongly enough.
Martin D
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Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,715 
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Post by Joe on Dec 22, 2014 5:19:33 GMT
Hello to all in attendance in Madison!
Many thanks to Alicia, Bill, Larry, Melody and Kimberly for sharing your memories and reports with us.
Libby, your review is extraordinary in detail. What a dream this was for you...I cannot wait to read more about it!
Bill, your references to "Jimmy Olsen's Scoop" was a great touch...so neat! One thinks of the above-named members who are super to me. Real-life heroes who journey far to meet a weaver of music...stories worthy of a great novel.
Pity that no photography was allowed during the performances, but those images of Hayley will be forever in your minds and hearts. I was so happy that there was a opportunity to meet with Hayley after the shows (most likely insistent by her to the venue).
Thank you all so much...it is humble people such as yourselves who make this forum shine.
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Post by Libby on Dec 22, 2014 6:32:27 GMT
I'll start out by reiterating what I said in the Cork thread, as well: Having now experienced seeing her live has not only served to make me myself want to go to more concerts, but has increased my determination to help make other fans' dreams come true, so they can experience it and be blown away, just as I was. I feel bad that Taylor and others were not able to make it, especially now knowing what a truly extraordinary experience it is. I want them to have a chance to feel the way I did at my first concert, as well. I just now put my pictures on my computer, but I don't have time to upload them here tonight. I have to do photobucket first, as I'm sure they'll turn out too large if I don't re-size them. Anyway, I don't think I can upload them here from my computer, so either way I have to use photobucket. Maybe tomorrow. |
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Post by Richard on Dec 22, 2014 7:50:50 GMT
Hello Libby!  From my own experience with Photobucket, I believe the site automatically resizes large images to a maximum dimension of 1024 pixels, which is fine for the forum. Don't forget that the forum's dynamic resizing feature will always reduce larger images to fit the screen width, except in signatures. Richard  |
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Post by amptique on Dec 22, 2014 16:01:49 GMT
Hello to all in attendance in Madison! Many thanks to Alicia, Bill, Larry, Melody and Kimberly for sharing your memories and reports with us. Libby, your review is extraordinary in detail. What a dream this was for you...I cannot wait to read more about it! Bill, your references to "Jimmy Olsen's Scoop" was a great touch...so neat! One thinks of the above-named members who are super to me. Real-life heroes who journey far to meet a weaver of music...stories worthy of a great novel. Pity that no photography was allowed during the performances, but those images of Hayley will be forever in your minds and hearts. I was so happy that there was a opportunity to meet with Hayley after the shows (most likely insistent by her to the venue). Thank you all so much...it is humble people such as yourselves who make this forum shine. HI Joe and All, I believe you are correct that the opportunity to meet with Hayley after the concert was at Hayley's insistence. I introduced myself to Tim after the concert. While we were watching Hayley interact with her fans he indicated that it was 'every bit of Hayley's doing'. What a nice fellow he is. I asked him about his time working with Hayley and I told him how much I enjoyed his contribution to the concert. He was most gracious, kind and very easy to talk to. I can see why he and Hayley work so well together. BillR |
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Post by gillette on Dec 23, 2014 3:42:51 GMT
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Post by gillette on Dec 23, 2014 7:30:30 GMT
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Post by Richard on Dec 23, 2014 8:11:15 GMT
Thanks for the links, Bob! I've added the photos and captions to your posts. I'm now going to post a link to this thread on our Facebook page, starting at page 19, and I'll draw attention to Libby's heart-warming story.  Richard |
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) The only solution to the problem is to go to more live concerts. 
Let me assure you that this feeling won't fade on future concerts. 
