Album Idea for Hayley: Inspirational music

[Libby]

As you all probably saw in another thread, I came up with an idea for a future album for Hayley (with accidental inspiration from comet). An album of "inspirational" music, such as hymnns/sacred religious songs, contemporary Christian music, or even some slightly more secular inspirational songs. She has included such songs on several of her albums, as well as some in concert that she's never recorded. The original thought was for a compilation of all these previous songs, plus some new ones. Now, I'm leaning towards a few older songs, like Amazing Grace and Ave Maria, but mostly new ones. There are so many great hymns out there that she'd sound amazing singing! Here are some songs I came up with (and I've thought of a lot!!), and I'd love to see any of yours, too.

Some of the ones by Christian artists are quite old, but they're still great songs.

Hymns:

Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
How Great Thou Art
Be Thou My Vision
It Is Well
Holy, Holy, Holy
In the Garden (He Walks with Me)
Be Still My Soul
The Lord's Prayer

Maybe include some old ones like Amazing Grace, Whispering Hope, and/or The Heart Worships.

It would also be wonderful to include I'll Make Music from the Karl Jenkins album, Gloria Te Deum. It's very beautiful.

Contemporary Pop/folk songs:

Down in the River to Pray (still dying to have that on CD!)
Majesty (other countries besides New Zealand need to have this exquisite cover of the Delirious song; the band was really popular in the US, I know that!)
Thy Word (Amy Grant)
El Shaddai
You Raise Me Up
I'll Fly Away
I Will Rise (Chris Tomlin)
All the Heavens (Third Day)
Strong Tower (Newsboys)

It's hard to say how well her voice would suit the songs originally by men, but then I never would have imagined her singing Majesty, either. I'm glad she did, though!

A Christmas song here and there would be fine, too. I'd love to hear her sing Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.


Edit by Richard: These posts in the Hayley on US Radio thread are relevant to this topic:

Jul 21, 2015 21:39:10 GMT martindn said:

Libby, I have a book here called "Forty Favourite Hymns" written by Aled Jones. There is the words of each hymn followed by a few pages of background information. Several of them are in your list, but others that might work are

Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
Love Divine
The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended
My Song is Love Unknown
Jerusalem (I've heard Hayley sing that live, it's on my YouTube)
Shine Jesus Shine
Nearer my God to Thee (Siobhan Owen recorded that)
Thine Be the Glory
I Vow to The My Coutry (Hayley sang that at Beaumanor too)
The Lord's my Shepherd
Great is Thy Faithfulness

and one for you Americans

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Martin D

Jul 21, 2015 21:48:35 GMT cloudbusting.heights said:

I'd really like to hear her sing Battle Hymn of the Republic!

Jul 21, 2015 21:58:17 GMT Libby said:

You Americans. Thanks, Martin. That's more of a patriotic song, though, I guess you wouldn't know that just by the lyrics. However, You Americans would take it as patriotic. I only know a few of the ones in your list, Martin. That's if they're the same songs I'm thinking of.

Jerusalem, Shine Jesus Shine, Nearer My God to Thee, and ... I think Thine Be the Glory. Oh, and The Lord's My Shepherd and Great is Thy Faithfulness. I Vow to Thee My Country does not quite fit into this category, Martin. I'd much rather here God Defend New Zealand from Hayley, and I've considered buying the NZ version of Treasure to get it. Or was that on their RoD? If it's still available, of course.

Jul 22, 2015 1:14:13 GMT frenchie said:

Wow! hahaha What a conversation!

We went from hearing Hayley playing on American radio to...
possible promotion strategies on American radio to...
planning her next one off record (record in-between "real" album releases).

I think the religious/inspirational thread that runs through Hayley's career to be unique and amazing. I think it's what makes her stand out along with her voice. With this being said, I am surprised Decca has not done anything with this theme yet! I agree with comet that this is one way to promote Hayley to broaden her fanbase. It's a way to promote Hayley if she is not doing anything strictly classical on this upcoming record. I think Libby's idea to have Decca create a record- I know your talking about commerical release- that was released with what Hayley has done both past and present when this new record comes out could help Hayley. I believe Hayley will have to spend a large chuck of marketing money in re-interoducting herself to the public (particulary in the USA), and this is one way to do just that! Christian artists have an additional benefit that most other genres don't have and that is their work gets performed/sung at churches across the country (and the world?) on a weekly basis. The churches are paying royalties to be able to sing popular Christian songs! And it could be Hayley's songs! With the Christian audience and the Celtic crowd, Hayley would have a great following here. Just saying....maybe allow more concerts and appearances that's all.

As far as the CD you guys are planning, I would love a more powerful version of Bridge Over Troubled Water and I think they should include I Believe. One of Hayley's best!! Also the way she does Over the Rainbow would be good too! If they were to do a CD like this, I think either they (Decca) would include more songs or would cast as big a net as possible by including inspirational songs like BOTW and I Believe for the not so Christian person. They are in the business to sell and make a profit! I know, I know...it stinks! Hence why we are waiting for the real Hayley album to come.

Jul 22, 2015 12:18:57 GMT martindn said:

Yes, "I Believe", how did I forget that one. And "God Defend New Zealand" would be good too.

"Immortal Invisible" is another well know hymn she cold include.

And of course both "Jerusalem" and "I Vow to The My Country" are considered English patriotic songs.

And Frenchie. I assume you mean the Tim Evans arrangement of "Over the Rainbow" rather than the one she recorded on "My Gift to You".

As for "I Vow to Thee My Country" there is lots of interesting (to me anyway) information about it in Aled's book. The words were written by an English diplomat, Cecil Spring-Rice, and quotes from Proverbs 3:17. The tune (Thaxted)of course is from Holst's "Jupiter" from "The Planets". Aled says that he has never performed this Hymn, which has been recorded by Charlotte Church, Katherine Jenkins and G4 among others. It was a favourite of Princess Diana, and was sung at both her wedding and her funeral.

Martin D

Jul 23, 2015 1:03:13 GMT frenchie said:

Yes. Tim Evan's arrangement of Over the Rainbow. It was very beautiful at the concert.

[Libby]

Okay, now, this isn't necessarily a recommendation for Hayley, but I just recalled this fun, Celtic-sounding rendition of The Lord's Prayer. It's called the Prayer Anthem, by Carman. I always loved watching this video on TBN when it was more recent. I do think Hayley would sound great singing it, but the more traditional version would be nice, too.

[Libby]

One of the songs I listed in the first post was a song called Strong Tower by the Christian group, the Newsboys, who have been popular in the US for quite some time (the current band has a different lead singer now, yet are still very popular). It's a very enjoyable song. It sort of has a hymn quality, yet it's upbeat, not really the kind you'd play at an organ. There is no music video of the Newsboys' version that I can share here, but I did find this very nice cover of the song. It's a choir from Palikir, Pohnpei (in the Micronesian Islands). I thought they did a great job with it. It's simple but joyful. The guy playing the drum is smiling, which I thought made it even more enjoyable. It's also interesting for me that people from an island I've never heard of know this song. I think it's great, though. I listen to covers of songs originally by men so it's easier to imagine how Hayley might sound singing it. I can imagine her singing it very well, though the verses are a bit low. I always harmonize when I sing along with it, but not sure how that works when you're the main singer. Oh well, she did great with Majesty, so I'm sure she could work this one out, too, if she wanted to. Anyway, here it is.



If anyone's interested in the original version, just search in youtube (there is another song with the same title that will come up, so only click it if it says Newsboys).

Peter Furler, the former (and better) lead singer from Australia, has a pleasant voice full of conviction, which is a very effective quality in a song about God. He has a way of making the message of a song powerful and meaningful, at least in my experience. He is my favorite Christian singer. There is another former member from the group from New Zealand named Phil Joel who was another favorite of mine. I much prefer their voices over Martin Smith of Delirious, even though I always loved their song Majesty (which Hayley made a hundred times more beautiful, of course). I miss the band the way it was, though Michael Tait is a very good singer, as well. It's just that changing lead singers basically changes the whole face of a band.

I suppose all this is more information than most of you care about, but the Newsboys were my favorite artists before I got into classical crossover music. Being from New Zealand, I would be shocked if Hayley had never heard of the group with 2 Australians and a Kiwi.

[comet]

Here's a site I never came across before with a section on Hayley.

J Gospel ON THE WINGS OF TIME



The most beautiful song of all time! On The Wings of Time (Toki no Tsubasa ni notte) -- Lyrics written by Hayley. Will be a bonus track on Hayley's forthcoming Japanese album 冬の輝き -恋人たちのピュア・ヴォイス" or "Winter Glow - A Pure Voice for Loving Couples".

This song is the theme song for the Exhibition of Paul Gauguin currently held at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

J Gospel - Hayley

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[Libby]

This has always been my favorite part of the Live from New Zealand DVD (the other songs in that medley, too). The song is just so catchy, and I used to love singing along with it. Even though it's been a long time since she's performed the song, finally having the song on CD would sure be nice! I don't know what the Musical Island boys are doing these days, but including them wouldn't be bad, either!

[Libby]

I just remembered the song Laudate Dominum from Odyssey. That would count as a more "sacred" song. Something like this would probably help keep the album classical... though are the type of hymns mentioned above considered classical according to the charts, I wonder? Any thoughts?

I've thought of a couple other hymns, of course. I'm thinking of too many; she can't sing all of them, but I'll just remember that if she sings any of the ones I suggested, she would sound amazing singing.

Just a Closer Walk with Thee
All the Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

[Libby]

Someone on twitter seems keen on this sort of album, as well:

[Libby]

Sept 13, 2015 23:58:54 GMT Libby said:

Someone on twitter seems keen on this sort of album, as well:

The conversation continues:

As you can see, I'm having a little too much fun trying out my newly-discovered trick of embedding tweets onto this forum. But also to show that, despite the fact that I now seem to be talking to myself on this subject, plenty of other members/fans like the idea, as well! (BTW, atrendiwoman is a member of the official forum).

[cloudbusting.heights]

I don't know if it's just my phone, but I can't see the embedded tweets

[Libby]

Oh no, can anyone else see them?

Here's the original tweet by Katie Rebekah:

.@hayleywestenra neeeeeeds to record a hymns album!!!!! #PleasePleasePlease!!!!


I replied saying that I agree, and then she said "She's the best!"

Someone from the OF replied and said: Ja. While lullabies are wonderful, & Hayley could make a phone book sound great, hymns are perfect-

Katie said: yessss!!! SO true!!!


She seems very enthusiastic. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[Joe]

Sept 15, 2015 22:23:22 GMT Libby said:

Oh no, can anyone else see them?

Hi Libby and Paige,

I can see your embedded tweets just fine!  Paige, are you getting an empty box, blank space, etc., in place of them?   We will get this workin' for ya! 

[cloudbusting.heights]

Sept 16, 2015 1:04:50 GMT Joe said:

Sept 15, 2015 22:23:22 GMT Libby said:

Oh no, can anyone else see them?

Hi Libby and Paige,

I can see your embedded tweets just fine!  Paige, are you getting an empty box, blank space, etc., in place of them?   We will get this workin' for ya! 

Joe,
All I see is a blank space. This happens on some other threads as well.

[Libby]

This used to happen to me with even just regular photos! But it hasn't happened in a long time. I'm not using a phone, just a regular computer.

[Joe]

Sept 26, 2015 2:00:54 GMT cloudbusting.heights said:

Sept 16, 2015 1:04:50 GMT Joe said:

Hi Libby and Paige,

I can see your embedded tweets just fine!  Paige, are you getting an empty box, blank space, etc., in place of them?   We will get this workin' for ya! 

Joe,
All I see is a blank space. This happens on some other threads as well.

Sorry about this issue about the embedded tweets, Paige.  I will ask the ProBoards folks about this.  Can you kindly send me a Private Message and mention what phone model and its web browser version?  Also if you utilize the ProBoards app on occasion. We'll get this sorted.

Libby, thanks very much for sharing what Hayley tweets, retweets etc. Much appreciated!!

[Libby]

I've thought of another song, a classical one.

After I started listening to Sarah Brightman and buying her music, one of the songs that quickly became a favorite was Solo Con Te from La Luna. Her voice and the music are so beautiful and exquisite, that listening to it feels like being sent to heaven. I thought it sounded like it was from some classical piece, and it turns out it's from Handel's Dank Sei Dirr Herr (Thanks be to Thee). I think this would be a great classical piece for Hayley to do, whether she does the hymns album or not. But especially if she does, this would be a wonderful song to include.

I tried out several versions on youtube. The really heavy opera singers turned me away, but I discovered a version by Barbra Streisand, as well, which was very beautiful, and made it easier to imagine Hayley singing it. However, since I can't share that video here, I found this one instead, which is also very nice: