Dame Kiri puts Hayley out in the cold - NZ Herald

[Gene]

dave said:

stephany said:

.....Jon, I too suspect that this whole affair was engineered by Kiri and her publicity people and it worked - it got her in the news for the first time for ages! But let's not forget, it got Hayley in the news too as the "injured party" in a way that will do her no harm at all......
Dave

Dave, I completely agree. In my opinion, this was planned and the writer made some tax-free money. Sometimes, bad publicity is good publicity. For Hayley in this instance, I believe that this holds true.
Gene

[Mark]

Hi everyone

I haven't commented on this thread as yet - although I have read through it. I didn't really even want to acknowledge what Dame Kiri had said - like Hayley, I didnt want to be drawn

However, the last "sensitive" article (or should I say Blog - thanks Steve) that you have just posted Stephany, has made me so aggitated, I just had to add a couple of comments.

As has been said, I do agree with one statement Dame Kiri made and that is that Hayley is definately not in her world - if she were, I for one wouldnt be interested. Hayley is not and has never tried to be an opera singer - has she even listened to Hayley sing ??

The writer of this latest article also seems to have totally missed the point as he writes,

If personable young things like Hayley can prosper in the genre of homogenised bland that some folk confuse with ‘operatic,’ good luck to them. Let’s just not pretend that this has anything to with talent.

. When did I, or any of us on this forum, or any other Hayley fan, confuse Hayley's wonderful voice with that of an opera singer. I suggest for this person, its just a matter of expressing his personal choice - its just a shame that he has to rubbish Hayley whilst doing it.

In conclusion, trying to compare Hayley with Dame Kiri is like trying to compare apples and pears - it can't be done. Whilst I don't think Dame Kiri should have made these comments publicly and although I am not a fan of her style of singing, I would never say that she had no talent.

There - Ive got it off my chest now.

Mark

[Gene]

dori said:

This is shocking, Stephany. What an embarrassement to New Zealand. She should be ashamed of herself.
I have just sent a letter to the editor or the NZ Herald. I sure hope it gets published!
Dori

Hi Dori,
Did your letter get published? I certainly hope so.
Regards, Gene

[Steve H]

Hi Mark,

I go away for a few days and I can't believe I have missed so much, I think like you I will not add much other than to say I am very disappointed with Dame Kiri and like Dave I think Hayley will not do badly out of this episode, she and her family have been the ones who have shown the restraint and dignity that I would have expected.

It seems every time Hayley goes home and sings for her home fans, someone has to spoil it, In 2006 it was a Christchurch Journalist now it is Dame Kiri, jealousy is a funny thing isn't it.

IMHO - Hayley has handled this very well and will be seen as the true stateswoman who has shone through this.

Steve H

[roger]

According to some reports that we have seen today, Te Kanawa has claimed that her words were seen "out of context". That, in itself, is an admission that she said them at all. Therefore, any doubt that one or two members expressed last night can now be dismissed.

As for the odious rant by the pompous buffoon at SOLO, I will treat his worthless opinion with the contempt it deserves.

Roger

[fusilier23]

stephany said:

Here's a very sensitive press release from SOLO-International.

Courageous Kiri Clobbers the Common Clods
SOLO-International Press Release
Sunday February 24, 2008

Opera star Kiri Te Kanawa should be made a double-dame for standing up for excellence in music, says SOLO Principal Lindsay Perigo.

“It’s not the first time Kiri has offended the Politically Correct and the mediocrity-mongers, which is an excellent thing in itself. It’s to be hoped she won’t back down and go on television and weep.”

Perigo is commenting on the brouhaha that has greeted Dame Kiri’s reference to birdseed soprano Haley Westenra as a “fake singer” who is “not in my world.”

“Kiri’s quite right. Hayley is a fake singer, and she’s most certainly not in Kiri’s world. Kiri has a voice; Hayley has a squeak. Kiri sings; Hayley whines, more or less on pitch. The fact that illiterate hordes can’t tell the difference, and actually prefer Hayley, is neither here nor there. Diamonds are rare; pebbles are everywhere. The ubiquitous preference for pebbles is the aesthetic AIDS of our time.

“One mediocrity-monger, unable to refute the obvious, has resorted to accusing Kiri of appalling rudeness to a fellow-New Zealander. If this be rudeness, let there be a symphony of it. Militant mediocrity has had everything its own way for a long time now; a little dose of ‘rude’ truth is long overdue.

“If personable young things like Hayley can prosper in the genre of homogenised bland that some folk confuse with ‘operatic,’ good luck to them. Let’s just not pretend that this has anything to with talent.

“Evidently Hayley is appearing tonight with the very worst singer in the world, the execrable and seemingly inescapable Dave Dobbyn. Any discerning punter who stumbles upon this excruciating combo by accident should count himself fortunate that the venue is the Villa Maria winery, where copious and strong libation will presumably be on hand,” Perigo concludes.

Stephany

One of the downsides to the internet is that it allows this [censored] to flow. This sounds like the self-important, self-indulgent, hypercritical garbage I used to hear from one of my best friends in college because he was an operat fanatic who appreciated no genre outside of classical and no performance that was not so perfect it didn't feel untouched by human hands. He was my friend, but whenever he'd go in this direction, I would switch off. Now people post this junk on the internet and we're supposed to take it as respectable commentary? Uh huh. In the end opinions are like backsides, everybody has one and most of them stink. Dame Kiri needed a boost, so she threw mud at Hayley and called her fake. Frankly Hayley would be well within her rights to call Dame Kiri the dried-up old witch that she is, complete with colorful anatomical references, but she has wisely kept quiet, a war of the words would not benefit her. In the law we say if you stand well you stand silent, and Hayley clearly knows that lesson.

[Stephany]

There is now even a video that aired on TV3 about this "hot issue". You can view it here.
Journalists are discussing their opinion about what Kiri said.

Stephany

[stevemacdonald]

Be sure to vote for Hayley in the NZ Stuff opinion poll!

[scoobedoo]

Hi everyone, I am not surprised at this so called report from an old has been TV current affairs frontman Lindsay Perigo. Who,incidentally has not been seen on free to air TV channels for a large number of years, however I don't know whether or not he is still on the Sky digital pay channels, he could be.

I wouldn't read too much into what (Perigo) says he's just an old has been,clearly out of touch.

The spat still continues though, check out this link and read what Hayley's NZ Manager says

nz.news.yahoo.com/080223/3/45hl.html?f=mv

cheers,

Rodders

[Gene]

stephany said:

There is now even a video that aired on TV3 about this "hot issue". You can view it here.
Journalists are discussing their opinion about what Kiri said.
Stephany

Thanks, Stephany. Seems like more support for Hayley. Words such as "disappointed", "diva" and "not dignified" were all used to describe Kiri. They also said that "Hayley's camp came back strongly". Where and when? I'd like to read what was said by "Hayley's camp".
Regards, Gene
Gene

[roger]

Thanks for the link to the poll, Steve. Unfortunately, the question is "Who would win in a fight?" which is not quite the question that we wish to answer. Nevertheless, members might like to show their support for Hayley by giving her a vote. The result so far is disappointing:

Hayley: 502 (34.6%)
Kiri: 850 (58.6%)
Too close to call: 99 (6.8%)

Roger (0% as usual!)

[grant]

Hello everyone

I've just voted for Hayley, but she needs a lot more votes to take the lead!

Come on people!!

Best wishes
Grant

[fusilier23]

Hmmm, I'd gladly supply Hayley with a monkey wrench if it cam down to it. Dame Kiri is long overdue for a visit to Bruise City or making a deposit at the First National BONK!

[Caitlin]

Did you know you can vote more than once?

<3 Caitlin (who hasn't voted more than twice...)

[lebkuecher]

Hmmm we can vote more the once? I know what I'm doing tonight.

I am very happy Hayley is showing her class in this mess!! Way to go Hayley!!