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Post by martindn on Jul 31, 2015 10:47:26 GMT
I always loved this recording too. It sounds more natural than the performance on the album, perhaps because she is not using a separate microphone. I have always said that the less that is done to Hayley's voice the better, and I think that shows here.
Martin D
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
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Post by Dave on Jul 31, 2015 22:49:32 GMT
OK, my original choice was chosen by Ross before me so I will suggest one or two others, the first is: Cinema Paradiso (Profumo Di Limone) on Rhydian, in 2011. There are a few reasons. First, Paradiso is IMO a greatly underrated album that deserved far more sales than it got, and this song is one of the best on it. Then, I love the song and this excellent performance. Finally, glancing at the comments by Youtubers on this video, they are mainly in foreign languages, many of them Italian but also Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese and others, but what caught my eye after feeding the last 20 (sorted in date order) into Google Translate, is the universal praise for it from people who do not seem to be mainstream Hayley fans. This one in Spanish is typical: " Simplemente hermosa la versión de Hayley Westenra, un regalo para nuestro oido y sensibilidad." which translated is: "Simply beautiful version of Hayley Westenra , a gift for our hearing and sensitivity.". It's marvellous to see so many non-English speakers praising Hayley's performance and I suggest that it is one of her best - it is better than the album version in my humble opinion. Cheers, Dave |
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Post by Richard on Aug 1, 2015 8:56:14 GMT
I've been struggling to make a choice, but this video just grabbed my attention when I saw it on Twitter. This is Hayley singing "La Califfa" at Classic FM Live in the Royal Albert Hall, 29 April 2014. I was there, and I remember it was a truly wonderful and powerful performance.  Richard  |
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Post by Libby on Aug 2, 2015 5:15:05 GMT
I've been struggling to make a choice, but this video just grabbed my attention when I saw it on Twitter. This is Hayley singing "La Califfa" at Classic FM Live in the Royal Albert Hall, 29 April 2014. I was there, and I remember it was a truly wonderful and powerful performance. Richard It was certainly excellent in Madison, as well. There wasn't any song that wasn't, though.  |
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Post by Simba on Aug 2, 2015 19:18:27 GMT
Martin! How can I forget that video, that is easily up Hayley's top 10 live performances, well up in the list. One of the few good quality recordings of Hayley singing live with just a piano. No stage reverb, just humble room acoustics, brilliant piano and vocals. And Richard and Libby, I'm guessing since you heard those versions live in person they would seem substantially better, but as far as La Califfa is concerned, I think those performances falls short of the great vocal precision and emotion of this version. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jny8scBFcgc Maybe Jillian can tell us how it was to actually hear that live! |
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Post by dreaminfusion on Aug 3, 2015 7:24:20 GMT
Far too long ago, I had what I thought was a very deep and meaningful relationship with who I believed was a most wonderful woman. Being from Wisconsin, I have experienced some serious bone chilling cold in my lifetime. It, however, did not begin to prepare me for the deep freeze I experienced that awful night when she told me on the phone that she was seeing someone else. My body has been cold before, but this was the first time my soul froze; it knocked the breath right out of me. I withdrew and pined away for far too long. My point in relating this story is to share the almost magical moment I experienced at the Madison show. Bearing in mind that I had not heard most of her songs before, one of them in particular grabbed me and became more of an epiphany than a tune. The first two lines were questions- ones with which I could totally relate. Then I was asked (in a voice to rival the choir of the Muses) Who painted the moon black? I was immidiately stunned by the fact that it was a question, and not an accusation- i.e. "You painted the moon black", as would have been all too tempting to say. The answer was obvious- I did. And the moon is not black; I choose to see it that way. She hurt me. I painted the moon black. Quod erat demonstrandum. It really helped kick me out of my den of self pity.... Then I saw the video, and it served to reinforce the point. The background throughout much of the video appears to be projected on three walls surrounding Hayley, giving an effect of being boxed in as a world of beautiful things passes by. She rubs her hand on one wall causing ripples indicating that it is fluid, and needs not be so. Yet she does not push through and remains boxed in. The video ends with her looking sadly at the camera, and walking off alone into the distance. Powerful images. I know she didn't write the song, but her performance breathes life into the poetry giving it a soul of it's own. I recall Hayley saying in her book that she hopes her music can make a difference in peoples lives. I testify that it does. You raise me up, and God bless you Hayley.
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Post by comet on Aug 3, 2015 11:41:05 GMT
Thanks Simba for that link to Jillian's Video from Christchurch. It accidentally led me to this lady Mireille Mathieu. 1200 songs recorded and 122 million albums sold,  I am just going outside and may be some time. |
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Post by Libby on Aug 4, 2015 6:07:00 GMT
Far too long ago, I had what I thought was a very deep and meaningful relationship with who I believed was a most wonderful woman. Being from Wisconsin, I have experienced some serious bone chilling cold in my lifetime. It, however, did not begin to prepare me for the deep freeze I experienced that awful night when she told me on the phone that she was seeing someone else. My body has been cold before, but this was the first time my soul froze; it knocked the breath right out of me. I withdrew and pined away for far too long. My point in relating this story is to share the almost magical moment I experienced at the Madison show. Bearing in mind that I had not heard most of her songs before, one of them in particular grabbed me and became more of an epiphany than a tune. The first two lines were questions- ones with which I could totally relate. Then I was asked (in a voice to rival the choir of the Muses) Who painted the moon black? I was immidiately stunned by the fact that it was a question, and not an accusation- i.e. "You painted the moon black", as would have been all too tempting to say. The answer was obvious- I did. And the moon is not black; I choose to see it that way. She hurt me. I painted the moon black. Quod erat demonstrandum. It really helped kick me out of my den of self pity.... Then I saw the video, and it served to reinforce the point. The background throughout much of the video appears to be projected on three walls surrounding Hayley, giving an effect of being boxed in as a world of beautiful things passes by. She rubs her hand on one wall causing ripples indicating that it is fluid, and needs not be so. Yet she does not push through and remains boxed in. The video ends with her looking sadly at the camera, and walking off alone into the distance. Powerful images. I know she didn't write the song, but her performance breathes life into the poetry giving it a soul of it's own. I recall Hayley saying in her book that she hopes her music can make a difference in peoples lives. I testify that it does. You raise me up, and God bless you Hayley. Thank you for sharing your story, as well as your interpretation of the music video to Who Painted the Moon Black. None of that ever occurred to me, and I have to wonder if it has to anyone else either, because I've never seen a discussion on the significance of the various scenes in the video. |
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Post by martindn on Aug 7, 2015 22:07:08 GMT
I'd forgotten about this one, if I ever saw it. But I love it. I think we have out friend Taylor to thank for this.
Martin D
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Post by gillette on Sept 27, 2015 5:27:13 GMT
Hi,
With all the attention that Hayley's "World In Union" has been getting lately, this thread has come to mind. Couldn't at the time, still can't, and doubt that I ever could settle on one song, but this one (Loose Women version) is amongst those at the top of the pile for me. Looking back, I see where Comet mentioned it on July 28th, before the current resurgence. It is a beauty!
BobS
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Post by comet on Sept 27, 2015 12:37:50 GMT
Hi, With all the attention that Hayley's "World In Union" has been getting lately, this thread has come to mind. Couldn't at the time, still can't, and doubt that I ever could settle on one song, but this one (Loose Women version) is amongst those at the top of the pile for me. Looking back, I see where Comet mentioned it on July 28th, before the current resurgence. It is a beauty! BobS Yes, The Loose Women one, what a performance.. |
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Post by Richard on Sept 28, 2015 7:06:29 GMT
The link has disappeared from Bob's post, so here's the Loose Women video: Richard |
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Post by dreaminfusion on Sept 28, 2015 20:14:12 GMT
Hi, With all the attention that Hayley's "World In Union" has been getting lately, this thread has come to mind. Couldn't at the time, still can't, and doubt that I ever could settle on one song, but this one (Loose Women version) is amongst those at the top of the pile for me. Looking back, I see where Comet mentioned it on July 28th, before the current resurgence. It is a beauty! BobS Yes, The Loose Women one, what a performance.. Indeed. I find many of her performances to be less "performance" and more like witnessing the reaching out of a soul so filled with beautiful song that she cannot contain it. I've found a bit of danger in that, over time, she raises the bar so high that other favorites of mine sound a bit dull.... To me, she often bridges that gap between mere entertainment and musical spiritual fulfillment. |
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Post by comet on Sept 28, 2015 21:03:58 GMT
I suspect many of our concert going members have another memory in mind, but the question was as the title of the thread is.
Hayley's best 'live' performance - what is it and why?
I does not ask what was your best personal experience of a Hayley performance ?
The reason is that you may have imagined it, you may have imagined that Hayley turned to you and looked into your eyes as she sang and that she could see into your very soul and soothe it. Most people want to keep an experience like that to themselves, a little piece of heaven to remember in those quieter moments.
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Post by martindn on Sept 29, 2015 11:58:30 GMT
The reason is that you may have imagined it, you may have imagined that Hayley turned to you and looked into your eyes as she sang and that she could see into your very soul and soothe it. Most people want to keep an experience like that to themselves, a little piece of heaven to remember in those quieter moments. Oh no, I have video evidence... Of course, it might be that she spotted my camera...... Martin D |
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