Celtic Treasure
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Music CD Cover Brand: Ignatius Press Performer: Hayley Westenra Edition: Music CD CD Release Date: 2007-03-13 Music Label: Decca Soundtracks:
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| New | New Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $9.01 | ||
| Used | Used Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $5.99 |
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Free Music Notes for Celtic Treasure Album
Free Music Review: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Hit: 2 Stars
I'm listening to Hayley's latest CD "Celtic Treasure" as I'm writing this review. I also own 3 of her previous CDs, ripped into my PC, for use as references - "Hayley Westenra", "Pure", and "Odyssey".
I am disappointed with "Celtic Treasure". Almost every song is sung in the manner of "The Water Is Wide", which becomes a strain during lengthy listening sessions. Does it surprise when "Summer Fly" comes as a refreshing break? I love Hayley's voice, but to have her sing in this range, pitch, and tone for extended periods over almost every song makes for an unsatisfying listening experience. Don't believe me? Pop in "Pure" and have a listen - what a difference!
With "Pure" you get a combination of "Never Say Goodbye--River Of Dreams--Benedictus--Hine E Hine--Across The Universe Of Time--Dark Waltz--In Trutina--Wuthering Heights", all sung differently.
And where is that beautifully rich, alto voice that I was expecting from "May It Be" on the "Odyssey" CD? One previous reviewer specially noted the word "then" from "One Fine Day" - so we get to hear Hayley in her lovely alto voice in one word out of the entire CD? In my previous review of Hayley's "Live From New Zealand" DVD, I wrote that her voice has matured, "...gaining a richness and depth in the lower registers, while maintaining that clarity in the upper octaves." Her voice definitely has alot of clarity in "Celtic Treasure", but is lacking in any richness and depth. Of course, it is not her voice that is problematic, it is some of the song selections and arrangements. "Summer Rain" is an example of a bad song selection. Does Hayley really need to be labelled as ripping off Enya's "Orinoco Flow"? Sheesh!
Hayley is older, but "Celtic Treasure" does not demonstrate an artist that is more mature. Thus, one step forward, two steps back. "Pure" and "Odyssey" are more mature releases - even the song "Walking In The Air" from Hayley's first CD (released when she was age 13) is sung more maturely and richly then most of the songs in "Celtic Treasure". I guess Hayley is still young at 20 years old, so the lack of consistency should be expected.
And what is with the various versions of Hayley's releases? This is ridiculous! I'm not sure if Hayley has a say in this, but if her management team wants her to become an International Superstar, her releases should only have one definitive version. To be honest, the various versions of the same release really does leave a bad taste in any buying consumer's mouth. It does mine, because I pay good money for the CDs. For example, I paid over $40 Canadian for the "UK Odyssey" release, only to find out shortly after that there is a second "UK Odyssey" release?! Then, I found out that I had to buy the "Japan Odyssey" to get "The Mummer's Dance"?! With "Celtic Treasure", I had to settle for the plain version - without "The Mummer's Dance" - because Walmart Canada does not carry the Walmart version. So after spending $60 and 2 CDs later, I still don't have "The Mummer's Dance"!
I can only draw 3 conclusions: first, the whole thing is a money grab; secondly, her management team thinks she is far too sophisticated for just one version of any particular CD release (and I don't mean it in a good way because a clown's makeup can be pretty sophisticated as well, but perhaps "vain" may be a better word); lastly, the people managing her just aren't music fans but are innately business people, which is really sad - any fan of any particular artist would naturally want all of the music of that artist he/she loves. Unfortunately, many of us aren't rich people, we have families to feed, or we live with budgets - we cannot afford to pay another full price for the other version of a CD so that we could have one or two more songs. So, does a person need to resort to downloading illegal copies to get all of Hayley's songs?! Is this the kind of potential fanbase Hayley and her management team wants to build?! Is anyone listening?!
There are a few positives about "Celtic Treasure": it is a new release, so we get to hear Hayley sing some new songs; we also get to see Hayley in some new photos; and ironically, Puccini's "One Fine Day" is the jewel of "Celtic Treasure" - this aria is gorgeous, and to hear it sung in English is a surprising delight.