Hayley in the newspaper

[stevemacdonald]

postscript said:

... May I suggest the nub of all this is not Hayley but our and the press's failure to separate the difference between private life and public life. The principle is absolute, regardless of who is in the spotlight. In this I am thinking of Prince Wiliam's girlfriend Kate Middleton. ...

Unfortunately, anyone who takes on a high profile that goes with such a role -- or in Hayley's case, such a brilliant music career -- will function as both a person and a symbol. It so happens Hayley was marketed as a symbol of purity, over and above her musical talent. She has something to live down if she's to put forward who she really is and bask in that greater freedom. The press can be only too willing to draw out the real Hayley if she lets her guard down, yet it also must be very tempting to draw the spotlight onto oneself when it would serve to show a new side. Kate's future is always to be a symbol, whereas Hayley has many opportunities to undo what she started out as.

[postscript]

Your post 25, thank you Monte.
Peter S.

[postscript]

david said:

Just wanted to put my own personal feelings on record here. Agree with what you've said there Peter. I respect and admire Hayley for her beautiful singing voice and the music she produces, and for the fantastic work she does for charity, but like any other human being she has her flaws and is not perfect, nobody is.

It saddens and troubles me when the media seem to spend so much time focusing on the troubles of people like Britney, who in my opinion needs to be left alone to deal with her problems.

Hope I haven't said anything inappropriate here.

Best wishes
David

I'm sure you haven't, David and I appreciate your intervention.

It is sometimes difficult to know when to stick in an oar and especially if many other people have said similar things, when to just keep quiet. On the whole, the volume of response is an indicator of the value of the thread and helps to provide a body of opinion which melds rather than divides, even if their are different shades in the whole.

edit I meant to say at the time of first writing how good it was to hear from you again.
Peter S.

[postscript]

Your reply 27 is a very good point, Steve and helps to add balance to the debate. Thank you.

Peter S.

[socalboy]

The real test, it seems to me, will come that inevitable day when Hayley is romantically linked with someone. If that person is also high profile, stand by. There will be speculation, distortion and every possible construct put on the relationship. And for the first time in her life Hayley will be judged not only by her own actions, but also by those of the couple. It is an almost unavoidable consequence of celebrity.

I don’t say this to be ominous or overly worrisome, but Hayley’s life arc to now has been unusually free of controversy for someone in her position, and the romantic angle is bound to put a new wrinkle on things. That’s why Jon’s caution about the pedestal is significant. I’ve no doubt that Hayley will handle such matters in the exemplary fashion we’ve come to expect, but the job will definitely get harder.

[david]

postscript said:

david said:

Just wanted to put my own personal feelings on record here. Agree with what you've said there Peter. I respect and admire Hayley for her beautiful singing voice and the music she produces, and for the fantastic work she does for charity, but like any other human being she has her flaws and is not perfect, nobody is.

It saddens and troubles me when the media seem to spend so much time focusing on the troubles of people like Britney, who in my opinion needs to be left alone to deal with her problems.

Hope I haven't said anything inappropriate here.

Best wishes
David

I'm sure you haven't, David and I appreciate your intervention.

It is sometimes difficult to know when to stick in an oar and especially if many other people have said similar things, when to just keep quiet. On the whole, the volume of response is an indicator of the value of the thread and helps to provide a body of opinion which melds rather than divides, even if their are different shades in the whole.

edit I meant to say at the time of first writing how good it was to hear from you again.
Peter S.

Thanks Peter for your understanding and kind words there, much appreciated. Look forward to seeing you at the next concert!

Best wishes
David

[howard]

Hi Stephany,

And Thank You so much!

And you finding the article, that was just great.
I always forget that I have the internet and can search all over the world...
the world is at my fingertips

Thank You again,
My Very Best,
Howard

[howard]

Hello my fellow Hayleyfans,

WOE...this thread is getting kind of heavy in thought, I really didn't think it would wind up this way, it's okay......BUT........I will explain.

Now this is for all the members from the USA, thinking about it though this is for all members (because the US can use some help).

Now there is a topic on this site entitled "Sure-Fire Ways for Hayley to Succeed in the USA"
(check it out for some heavy duty stuff).

Jon and I made the last 2 posts back in Dec '07...

Now I made some suggestions what we can do to get Hayleys name out in the US and I was told it was done all ready, or it won't work. Just a bunch of we can't do it...oh such doom and gloom!

Now I have not given up and I am more motivated than ever to have Hayley a household name in the USA, she is just too good not to.

Now with all of the imput that I have been reading here, there has been some deep thought put into what is written, whether one agrees with it or not.

Why can't we put our heads together (in a new forum), and come up with ways to make Hayley an impact in the USA?

Right now I have 3 more ideas, one I am not going to mention I tried it all ready and it did not work, but I have not given up I am going to try a different way to accomplish it, I need to get with someone first. Another idea that I have is in process now, have to wait and see what happens. The 3rd idea I will be working on shortly.

And I am always thinking what else I can do.....I am not giving up.

And if ideas can be discussed with others....WOW...that is the most fantastic thing, an explosion, who knows what can come out of it.

But it should not be a debate or it won't work or I give up....
NO...to do this it has to be something positive, something that you want to be involved and make it work and nothing will stand in your way....

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS I CAN't......

And besides it is fun and what a feeling you get when it works, believe me when I saw my article in the paper with Hayleys' name I was flying high, I was in the clouds, I felt so good.
Even though and believe me it was something very very small, it was not a full page ad, it was a little clipping. But hey you never know who may read it.

Maybe we can call that forum "Help for America"
And I can use the help.

Well that's my deep thought.

Wish you ALL the Very Best,
Howard
USA

[Libby]

That's great that you had the idea to write this, and that they actually printed it!

It will probably take a long time for Hayley to be more popular in the U.S., if she ever is. However, I always think of how many little things that have introduced Americans to Hayley: the Live from NZ PBS special; the Celtic Woman PBS special/DVD; her tour with Celtic Woman; her appearance on Kurt Browning's Gotta Skate, promoting Odyssey, and dueting with Andrea Bocelli; her performance at the Crystal Cathedral on the Hour of Power show; Hayley's songs on a Wii game; someone skating to her song, Prayer, on another skating special; the tour with Il Divo; her song on The New World soundtrack...
I realize these are all very, very tiny things, and won't help her come on a big tour here anytime soon, but they are certainly better than nothing.

Months ago, I e-mailed the local Christian music station, requesting that they play Hayley's "Abide with Me". They never responded, and of course they never played it. It wasn't really surprising, because most of the music they play is contemporary Christian music, and not hymns.

I see no reason why American radio stations couldn't play Hayley's more "poppy" songs, like "Who Painted the Moon Black?" "Never Saw Blue", "My Heart Belongs to You", "Summer Rain".
Do you think a radio station that plays a few Enya and Josh Groban songs would consider playing Hayley?

One thing that I think would boost Hayley's popularity in the U.S. would be for Hayley to do a duet with Josh Groban, which would hopefully be on both of their CDs, but especially Josh's (he has a lot more fans that would buy the CD, and then discover Hayley's beautiful voice).

[postscript]

Hi Socal boy.

Yes, your point on romantic assignations is a good point and that reasonably may be the 'next' progression. However, whether with another celebrity--which could help the situation since he will be as familiar as she as to what is involved--or someone 'normal' I would guess they would both have fun as well as intending seriously to keep the matter very much under wraps until they are certain or wish to say something publicly. Memories of Princess Di hiding in the back of an estate car under wraps, literally, come to mind and I would imagine Hayley having great fun doing just that! It would have to be that way round because I don't know if she has a license to drive... I think not.

Peter S.

[elizabeth786]

stevemacdonald said:

joe said:

Steve, are you OK? How could you even say such words?

Heh, by isolating that line, Joe, you removed those words from their full context. The reason I'd rather read about Britney was already given, but I'll state it again: By concentrating on over-the-top Britney the media keeps the truly talented ones like Hayley out of its cynical crosshairs. I want Hayley to have a wonderful career and be forever unperturbed by the tabloids and the paparazzi. Luckily for Hayley they're all too busy with Britney, Amy, Lindsay and Paris.

Also, the sad spectacle that is Britney has been the subject of way too much moralising and condemnation, so I kinda feel for her. Clearly, her over-the-top antics are a cry for help. If we're gonna be so high and mighty, let's also pray she gets all the help she so desperately needs.

Hi everyone
I didn't see this thread going until today, but I just wanted to respond to what Steve said about Britney needing some help. My aunt Linda is a makeup artist, and worked with Britney Spears on a regular basis from the time she was 16 until she was about 18. My aunt said that she had never met a sweeter or kinder girl. Although my aunt hasn't talked to her in a while, I think its clear that Britney does need help, and in that respect I totally agree with you Steve. Her situation should not be used as tabloid fodder, but instead she should be left alone to pull her life back together. The success that came to her at such a young age is staggering, and for even the most mature of performers, would be very hard to deal with. I think that the "right" reason for Hayley to be in the Newspaper would be to promote her music, not to be compared to Britney spears.

But I do applaud you Howard for trying to get Hayley's career more attention in the United States because any effort to help Hayley out is certainly a worthwhile task.

[socalboy]

Thank you for sharing that story Elizabeth. Like you and Steve, I’m thoroughly fed up with Britney stories, and refuse to read or watch them. This penchant for building up our celebrities only to revel in their public decline is really appalling. Most of us cannot fathom how difficult it is to be glorified your entire young life, and then suddenly have the world turn on you.

Fortunately, I don’t think we have to worry about Hayley. Her career path is quite different, and if there is a more emotionally healthy young person roaming the globe, I haven’t seen her.

[fusilier23]

I actually posted on Townhall.com when they ran Michelle Malkin's article "Where Have All the Good Girls Gone?" telling it like it is about a certain other artist's fall (or leap, I think) off the pedestal, saying there are still plenty of good girls around, and my first example was Hayley. Unfortunately, as was pointed out earlier, no one writes about the liquor store that didn't get held up, or the patrol in Iraq that returned uneventfully. Hayley has achieved great things, and is likely to achieve more, but awards and achievements get relegated to the inside pages. It's easy to look away from a beautiful work of art, but morbid fascination keeps you staring at a train wreck.

However, as I pointed out in another thread, I think the morbid fascination might have reached saturation point in 2007. We saw Anna Nicole die from her excesses. Not go into rehab, not get into mild trouble, but DIE before her 40th birthday, leaving her daughter to grow up without a mom. Paris Hilton went to JAIL when she had the misfortune to draw a judge who was not going to wink at her disgraceful behavior, and she didn't handle it too well, did she? Lindsay Lohan got snagged driving on a suspended license with cocaine in her pocket, and the reaction was disgust, not defense. And let's not forget Britney's little sister, 16 and she's gonna have a baby, woohoo!

As for Brit herself, she may have been decent at 16 or 18, but that sweet kid is long gone, we've seen her for the trailer-park trash she is; marrying a loser, having two babies in quick succession then taking bad care of them, and now completely snapping. Amy Winehouse is still worse, marrying a criminal and obviously using drugs in public.

But most folks aren't defending this nonsense anymore. The majority of us normal folks are basically decent and honest people who come to work, do our jobs, stay out of trouble, and count ourselves lucky if at the end of the day we have something to put in our pockets after the bills are paid. We do occasionally indulge in a little fun, but we don't parade it for all the world to see, nor do we overdo it, because we know tomorrow's waiting in the wings. We can relate to Hayley, who does what she is supposed to when she is supposed to and appreciates what she has, or we could if we got the chance. Maybe we (in the sense of the general public) will get the chance after all this election stuff dies down.

[grant]

Hello everyone

I've been following this thread quietly and am feeling that perhaps enough has been said now. It is true that there are some celebrities that have not handled their fame well. It must be very difficult for them sometimes with all the media hype.

It has already been said that people like Britney need to be left alone, yet here we are discussing her sad life in this thread. I am not a fan of any of these people, but they do have genuine fans who must be very distressed at the way things are turning out.

I feel very sorry for those other celebrities and their fans who have to put up with one bit of bad news after another, whilst we have a very special gift in Hayley and her music.

Let's just enjoy that!

Best wishes
Grant

[milewalker]

Hi Grant

The unspoken catch 22 here is that this thread is about getting Hayley more exposure - that was the purpose of Grant's letter. If you look into some interviews with Hayley (and her mother) you find also discover that Hayley herself wouldnt mind more exposure.

If you look through the postings here, it would appear we want it both ways. Since I have to pick on someone above, I will choose Steve Macdonald, because he is a long-standing friend. He wants the media to keep covering Britney et al so they can continue to ignore Hayley - yet wants Hayley to have a "wonderful" career. It isnt only him. There may well be a middle ground somewhere, but I dont think you can have one or the other.

Similarly Peter, I think that the real situaiton is a bit more complex than just boycotting the media when they cross the line. I agree wholeheartedly that the spectacle of having them follow someone around 24/7 is pretty obnoxious. Having said this, most stars have a relationship with the media that is both synergyistic and dysfunctional at the same time. The media needs the star obviously to sell newspapers and television coverage - but lets not forget that the star also needs the media because it provides free exposure. Show me a big enough star - and with only one or two exceptions I will show you one with at least some kind of tabloid profile, though in many cases, the information contained in there is usually not really all that risque.

Stars also occasionally find the need to make a public pronouncement of some kind - maybe because they want to express an opinion, maybe because they need to set the record straight, or need to move their image pro or con. Once again, for all of its flaws the media provides that service for free as well. Most stars are willing to divulge at least some personal information - at times too much information in my opinion - but at least they get their own statement of the truth out there.

Getting this back on thread - Howard feels that Hayley needs more exposure. Hayley evidently agrees, or at least did as of last year.
There was an interview from New Zealand - probably about a year ago where the topic came up, and Jill Westenra told us that Hayley had actually tried to get some tabloid coverage in the UK.

It isnt impossible (Enya comes to mind) - but I would be very greatly surprised if Hayley's career progresses very far beyond where it is without some degree of coverage that I rather suspect that many people here wouldnt wish to see. For the record, i dont wish to see it either - but as Hayley herself said several years ago "It's part of the territory, isnt it?

Jon - who wishes to thank Howard again, because his success here does keep getting lost in the greater discussion