Hayley Westenra: One of the Most Beautiful Voices

[Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 17
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Hi everyone,

I first stumbled across Hayley Westenra a couple of years ago and ever since then I've been totally entranced! She has one of the most perfect, clear voices you'll ever hear!

Does anyone else here like her?

She's released a heap of albums: 9 original studio albums and 15 if you count compilations. Her most recent album is a Christmas album called Winter Magic. Pretty impressive seeing as she's only 22!


She's sung with Jonathan Ansell from G4 fame:

She also duetted with Rhydian from X Factor:

Does an Amazing cover of Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights:

My Favourite:

Clips from Winter Magic:
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Comments

  • TOOTandcomeinTOOTandcomein Posts: 986
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    I'm a fan, loved her for years now and this is one of my favs.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoSEEc7DSkk
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 17
    Forum Member
    Hi Tootandcomein,

    That's an incredible video, isn't it? It was shot in New Zealand. If you're a fan of the Narnia movies, you'll notice that the same location was used for the part when the Pevensies arrived back in Narnia in Prince Caspian to find Cair Paravel ruined.

    I read an interview with Hayley about the making of that video. She said that she was having so much fun at that beautiful beach that it hardly seemed like work at all!

    Hayley has also sung with Lee Mead (from Any Dream Will Do) on the song 'Stars Go Blue'. I absolutely adore this:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQFjahE6nWo
  • TheGrouchTheGrouch Posts: 143
    Forum Member
    Hi,

    'One of the most beautiful voices' would be an understatement.

    It's a shame for Hayley that most people have either never heard of her or thinks she sings opera (she doesn't!). She sings all kinds of genres, including pop.

    This song was the first song I ever heard her sing. Just stopped me in my tracks. The 'pureness' of her voice is magical and she can sing live!

    It's Joni Mitchell's 'Both Sides Now'.


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yQ4mzPKTew

    Regards
    TG
  • suniilsuniil Posts: 2,612
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    I absolutely love her voice and owns every single album of hers, including winter magic.
  • TheGrouchTheGrouch Posts: 143
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    Hi,

    Well done Suniil!Hope you've had chance to see Hayley live as well. I would have no hesitation in saying she sounds EVEN BETTER live than on record.

    Regards
    TG
  • zx50zx50 Posts: 91,227
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    Hayley definitely has a gorgeous voice. It's like she's just ripe for singing. Her voice is exquisite. If there was a song where she pushed her talent, she'd likely be outstanding. If Hayley 'got put out there' she'd likely start making piles of cash through her popularity soaring.
  • lisa02lisa02 Posts: 1,105
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    I very rarely venture into the Music forums but had to after seeing Jilians post on another forum about joining Digital Spy.

    I wasn't all that interested at first when my husband started listening to her music (I'm a rock music gal) but one song really caught my attention and I have been hooked ever since.

    Hayley is now one of my favourite artists. :)
  • 83ray183ray1 Posts: 2,963
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    Who painted the moon black is awesome.

    If you like her you'll also like Tarja Turunen

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_vMEvcPDGs
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 12
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    There is just so much stuff out there, because Hayley is a truly international artist. The first time i heard Hayley sing was live, and she literally left me speechless. For me she is the best female singer i have ever heard. And I've heard a lot with big reputations.

    Been doing a bit of research, looking at the ratio of popularity against media hype. Hayley has by far the least media presence of any artist I looked at in relation to her popularity, for example Leona Lewis is hypes at least 100 times as much inrelation to her support. Hayley must be the best kept secret in the whole of music.
  • Awshum-YawnAwshum-Yawn Posts: 1,718
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    this was the year Treasure was released (2007) and it was the first Album of hers I purchased.

    I now own them all and been to see her live several times... next Tuesday night being the next!

    She is amazing, her voice is soo pure and Angelic, it sends you somewhere blissful when you hear her singing.

    I only wish she was better known.... soo:

    www.hayleywestenra.com

    ps. Her latest album "Winter Magic" came out this week! :p
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 17
    Forum Member
    Hi everyone,

    So glad to see that there's a lot of Hayley fans lurking about the place! It is such a pity that she isn't as well known as she ought to be -- hopefully that will change as quickly as possible, but for now I guess all we can do is spread the word!

    83ray1, I love 'Who Painted The Moon Black' too! Have you seen the promo video for it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Lgtod-et24 It's a little on the low budget side, but it's still very nice.

    zx50, I too love it when there's songs that really explore the range of Hayley's voice! Which songs do you think do that the best? You can really hear Hayley belt it out in the song 'Time To Say Goodbye' which I posted above: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpX4PxIsaLk But it is a bit hard to tell because a member of the audience just recorded that audio!

    There's also a fantastic high note at the end of Corpus Christi Carol (off Winter Magic): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZRzSCkR4cg It's so effortless and subtle -- not like some singers who half scream/screech out the high notes.

    Lisa02, which song was it that caught your attention?

    Hayley has also duetted with Ronan Keating on Winter Magic with a song called 'It's Only Christmas'. Hayley recently performed with him at his Emeralds & Ivy Ball. Here's a photo of them performing:

    http://www.life.com/image/93301590
  • lisa02lisa02 Posts: 1,105
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    Jilian wrote: »
    Lisa02, which song was it that caught your attention?

    Summer Fly from the album Treasure. I also loved Santa Lucia, and Sonny from that album too.
  • fraserafrasera Posts: 8,271
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    i prefer renee olstead:)
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 17
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    Hi Lisa02,

    You might like this cracking live performance of 'Summer Fly' then! I love it!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl_lnM21pb4

    Hayley sounds so good when she sings upbeat songs! You can really hear the power in her voice!
  • lisa02lisa02 Posts: 1,105
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    Jilian wrote: »
    Hi Lisa02,

    You might like this cracking live performance of 'Summer Fly' then! I love it!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl_lnM21pb4

    Hayley sounds so good when she sings upbeat songs! You can really hear the power in her voice!

    I've seen Hayley sing it live before. Amazing.

    I am actually going to see her again on Tuesday but no Summer Fly this time.

    RTE have got this as the program for the evening.

    Coventry Carol
    Away in a Manger
    Silent Night
    O Holy Night
    Little Drummer Boy
    Little road to Bethlehem
    Chestnuts Roasting (The Christmas Song)
    Hine E Hine
    Gabriel's message
    Ave Maria (Caccini)
    Love Came Down at Christmas
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 17
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    Hi,

    You will really enjoy that! People who have been are saying that this tour includes some Hayley's best ever performances! She plays the piano and even the sleigh bells! LOL

    For those who don't know, Hayley is also on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Hayleywestenra She updates pretty much every day.
  • TheGrouchTheGrouch Posts: 143
    Forum Member
    Jilian wrote: »
    Hi,

    You will really enjoy that! People who have been are saying that this tour includes some Hayley's best ever performances! She plays the piano and even the sleigh bells! LOL

    Hi Lisa02 and Jilian,

    Yes, it's a wonderful show although Hayley does sometimes get into a pickle trying to play the piano/keyboards whilst wearing her high heels. :)

    Regards
    TG
  • Havelock VetinariHavelock Vetinari Posts: 13,874
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    I love Hayley's voice it's magical. I like 83ray1 love "Who Painted The Moon Black" it's my favourite of hers. I have her main 3 albums. Pure, Odyssey & Treasure.
    Such a beautiful talent, and still so very young her future will only get brighter as she gets older.
  • TheGrouchTheGrouch Posts: 143
    Forum Member
    Hi,

    Here's Hayley singing a pop song, 'My Heart Belongs To You'. Judging from the comments, this is gaining popularity as a wedding song!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcy2zOsmK48

    Regards
    TG
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 17
    Forum Member
    Hi Havelhockvetinari,

    I also agree that she's getting better as she's getting older. Her next album will be very interesting indeed -- I'm intriguied as to what direction she'll go in. Whether to stick to the more classical formula or experiment more with pop (like she's been doing recently). When I say 'pop' I don't mean Charlotte Church 'Crazy Chick' style (LOL) but just more songs like she did on Hayley Sings Japanese Songs.

    The only frustrating thing is how such a great talent seems to fly under the radar so much -- she doesn't get anywhere near the amount of media exposure that she deserves.

    Jillian
  • TheGrouchTheGrouch Posts: 143
    Forum Member
    MartinDn wrote: »
    There is just so much stuff out there, because Hayley is a truly international artist. The first time i heard Hayley sing was live, and she literally left me speechless. For me she is the best female singer i have ever heard. And I've heard a lot with big reputations.

    Hi Martin,

    Couldn't agree more. I THOUGHT I knew what good singing was, that was before I heard Hayley.

    This is one of her most popular Youtube videos, 'Dark Waltz', set to scenes from 'Phantom of the Opera'.

    Just listen to those high notes from 3:23. Miraculous!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5VnBTnI3s4

    Regards
    TG
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 17
    Forum Member
    I think I remember someone saying that Hayley refused to speak for a couple of days before the recording of Dark Waltz, just to make sure that she hit the high note perfectly -- is that true?
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 12
    Forum Member
    For something different, my own video from an outdoor concert close to where I live. The rain was bucketing down at the time (this is England) but nobody moved, such is Hayley's magnetism.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7Q7mI_VChQ

    Martin
  • TheGrouchTheGrouch Posts: 143
    Forum Member
    Jilian wrote: »
    I think I remember someone saying that Hayley refused to speak for a couple of days before the recording of Dark Waltz, just to make sure that she hit the high note perfectly -- is that true?

    Hi Jilian,

    If true, that must have been torture for Hayley as she's usually so chatty and bubbly. Mind you, the end result was worth it!

    Regards
    TG
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 17
    Forum Member
    I've posted some photos on: http://www.fanpop.com/spots/hayley-westenra/images if you want to check them out. There's the Hi-Res ones from the Winter Magic shoot and the Emeralds & Ivy Ball plus a tonne of others!
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