Somewhere Hayley Westenra Barbra Striesand Katherine Jenkins

[nowbellhere]

Hey what's going on at 3:45! Back to the singing now interesting styles and voices. Katherine could have loosened up the classical approach to make it sound more natural in expression. Barbara's expression, total production and mixing is hard to beat. Hayley sounds wonderful but the arrangement may not quite match Barbara's recording. 

[bamahornplayer]

I love Hayley's version... but that was some odd years ago. Her voice has matured much since then, and I would love to hear her record this now.

[numbnuts234567]

I would like to hear Bob Dylan sing this song. I think that he could add a new masculine dimension to the song that would give it a whole new perspective.

[dryin]

Three distinct voices, love em all

[mornalika]

Give her another five years of experience and maturing and Hayley will beat them all into a cocked hat. She has crystal clarity in her voice. At the moment though she is lacking in emotional maturity. Barabara rules here. I am not keen on mezzo's so I can't really comment on Katherine but I don't think this is her thing.

[kkwilson27]

Babara's is a classic.

[gbnz53]

Hayley's version was the best. Maybe Barbara next.

[markfliance802]

young female singers, to prove their diva prowess, must do and popularize their own songs. They must not ride on the Barbra's popular songs, to get impression on the general public, because they merely appear as copy cats. Barbra's version has refined rhythm and melody that draws germane emotion from the listener, while the other versions only resonate as merely echoes similar to that of choir's rendition in closed arena...Just my two cents.

[alwayswildatheart]

Fancy trying to compare a mezzo soprano, a young immature soprano and Barbra (who is arguably the best soprano ever- certainly in terms of emotional injection). I don't know why someone would go to this trouble- what is there to prove?

[TheHayward46]

@alwayswildatheart What a load of crap

[zandj710]

they both put the second singer to shame , sorry, and though they are lovely and very beautiful singers, it was in bad taste to show just their breasts, they have class, much too much to have pigs just show their breasts, they could just as well be flat chested, that makes me so angry. barbara sings like an angel, up there with celine, unique, joining that class is now susan. not as lovely as those woman sorry. just not as gifted but surely gifted I admit

[mreunome]

There is no order . . . just a matter of taste as they are all excellent singers . . . you might want to check out Charlotte Church's version as her last note is so sublime and angelic, also her duet with Josh Groban is awesome as well. We all know Babs rules, lol. Hayley does a good version of Memory but Babs' is the best.

[brendamolecula]

Yeah, Charlotte version rules! (But I love Barbra's as well)

[khtx]

Hayley my opinion is the best. The sweetest and "most innocent" voice a have in mind for a Maria (etc).

[pugaroo]

Barbra's voice is full and beautiful, mystical and magical, and by far possesses the best vocals for this song.

[brotherjohn25]

Best version was Barbra. Hayley was better with other songs but not this one. Katherine, I'm not familiar but her voice was like resonating from a tunnel under the ground.

[Sqid101]

Tastes differ of course, but to my mind this is not Katherine's best performance, or, more to the point perhaps, maybe it is not a song that suits her. At her best Katherine has a beautiful rich voice, but here, to me anyway, she seems strangely strained and thin. I wouldn't judge her on this song alone. Barbra is one of the all time greats.

[dnmurphy48]

Streisand confuses loudness with emotion. She just shouts the song. You can easily tell which one is her as her voice is loud, powerful, and very nasally. Hayley has a lsightly thin, high sweet voice. katherine has a rich sweet voice lower down the scale to Hayley, she also tends to distort words as Opera skingers often do (Hayley is a soprano and Katherine a mezzo).

[marieangel222]

Yeap.  Barbra, Katherine, Hayley

[herbalvitality]

hayley is fantastic singer and barbaras stresiand version of this song has always appeared

[bwaygammagurl]

What was the order? Barbra, Katherine, Hayley?

[Sqid101]

Exactly, you got it in one!

[bwaygammagurl]

Cool, thanks.

[Siliven]

2:37 dress on Jenkins! Oh wow geeze! I want an exact replica! I really enjoyed Striesand's "Somwehere" I think the orecestra was much more powerful in hers compared to the other two. Ooh, 6:10- Hayley picture mood is beautiful.

Yeah, I agree with a previous comment below...she isn't very well known in North America. I often go to HMV to check if they have any new albums finally shipped here. And score! They brought in her "Best of Hayley" People don't know her here, but I'm working on it! Hehe

[actioncomet]

Nice bit of mixing Squid with three of my favourite artists.

But Hayley is the voice I have waited for all my life , Long may it last

[swanningaround]

Compare these three with Kiri's version. All are lacking. Jenkins sounds strained, Hayley is going downhill fast and Streisand has her own special style, which is Streisand.

[Sqid101]

I suppose Enya does it better too? Someone who claims Te Kanablah's mutilating of "May It Be" is the best version can't be taken seriously. The NZ critics assessment of her "Somewhere" was that she should give up proving that she can't do crossover. We all know it. Except you.

[scttydoesntkn0]

Hayley wins, hands down.

[itchyguri]

Amaizing..!! I love Hayley Westenra

[hyogalovervashsama]

hayley's voice was indeed the best

[DaveLoneRanger]

The close-ups at 3:40 certainly weren't appreciated. *Frown*

[gerryrains]

DaveLoneRanger,

Agreed!

[Sqid101]

That's for Emmon Harris. Hayley appeared on his show, and he asked she not tell Kathy that he had been taking to her since the restraining order was to be lifted in a week and he hoped he and Kathy could renew their acquaintance without the misunderstandings that had previously occured. He wondered if there was bitchness between Hayley and Kathy and said he couldn't help noticing that Kathy had much bigger lungs. I posted this to show that Hayley has caught up significantly since then.

[DaveLoneRanger]

I still think it's rude and perverse. Every other artist is obsessed with using sex appeal. That's one of the things that sets Hayley apart from other artists, and here you are emphasizing it.

I couldn't even find any show hosted by an Emmon Harris. Where does it air? When did she appear on the show? What was her reaction to that kind of comment? Where can we hear the interview?

[Sqid101]

I'm sorry you feel that strongly about it. I am joking around here to some extent, but you are right about "Emmon Harris". I got the name badly wrong, it should be Eamonn Holmes. She appeared on the show on 24 September 2005, and you can hear the bit in question near the end of the video I have just uploaded here on YouTube. I thought she took it in good spirit, but you may disagree. There are more details and a link to the whole thing in the video description.

[DaveLoneRanger]

I looked at the video. She's a class act, and kind of answered the question in terms of singing capability rather than how he intended it.

[Sqid101]

I think he used a joking way of getting to a serious point. Whether the joke was in good taste is a matter of opinion. I believe he wouldn't have done it if he hadn't believed that Hayley was secure enough in herself not to get upset about it. This wasn't a "crucifiction" type interview as they are sometimes referred to. He didn't want to hurt or give real offence -- just be bold. To push it to the edge perhaps, but not go over. Well, this is my take anyway.

[Sqid101]

"I still think it's rude and perverse. Every other artist is obsessed with using sex appeal. That's one of the things that sets Hayley apart from other artists, and here you are emphasizing it."

No, she is emphasiaing it by wearing that dress. I need to get this off my chest. It is people like you who are giving her a hard time. Why can't you just let her live and be normal? She is not a saint or a nun; and and nor is every other artist obsessed wtih using sex appeal.

[swanningaround]

It has nothing to do with sex appeal. I don't care what dress she wears. Sure she is nice looking. But we are comparing voices are we not? Kiri is a better singer than Hayley, to my mind. I used to think Hayley had potential, but she seems to be going backwards at the moment. Kiri keeps going forwards, and she is in her 60s!! At Hayley's age, Kiri was racing ahead. I hope Hayley gets better soon.

[Sqid101]

Swanny, that post about the dress wasn't directed at you. The post under your post is. The post about the dress was to Daveloneranger. How is Hayley going backwards? She has had her best year ever in terms of events and awards. She has been in just about every major event there was and won the Variety Club "Classical Performer of the Year" for the first time. I don't mind you preferring Kiri, incidentally, but someone is not a fake unless they claim to be something they are not.

[swanningaround]

sqid. I never ever said Hayley was a fake. I know Kiri did, and I think she regrets ever saying it. What is "Classical Performer of the Year"? Is this a US award?

[Sqid101]

OK. No, it is a British award. Hayley is very big in the UK, but not well-know at all in the US. To get on the "classical" charts in the UK, an album must have 60% of the content either "classical" or "traditional", and there must be no "background synthesization". Don't ask me how any of those are defined. Hayley, Kathy Jenkins, Russell Watson, and others qualify, but Paul Potts and Il Divo don't.

[sisterspure]

Apart from her superb voice, which was at its very best at age 17, it is Hayley's boldly conservative demeanour that has earned her reputation as the "Pure" one.

[Sqid101]

She seems to be getting more conservative, but I don't understand your comment about her "boldly conservative demeanour".

[sisterspure]

Ever since the release of her first CD, Pure, she has been a protected species, so to speak. Hayley has not fallen into the traps of fame that many have in that she has been able to resist the fast life which alters the person they once were. She has not been afraid to preserve, in a bold way, her conservative style of singing and code of dress. This is one reason for her being admired by hugely different audiences around the world.

[Sqid101]

I don't disagree with most of what you say, sisterpure, but I don't see Hayley's dress as that conservative. Is it really different from Natasha Marsh, Elizabeth Marvelly, and most of the other crossover classical singers? I don't think so. She actually somehow gets away with showing quite a bit of skin without appearing raunchy. The British Newspapers were all predicting her going off the rails, one aaid she was from NZ, and therefore wouldn't be "sreetwise".

[sisterspure]

Raunchy conservatism? ... no, only joking!

[Sqid101]

Are the terms really mutually exclusive - only joking! I have the impression that the current fashion in women's evening dresses is to be low cut. A NZ fashion comentator said Hayley dressed classily without looking trashy. She argued many teenagers found looking trashy easy. True, I'm afraid. Hayley once wore a scarlett dress with a black bra. I know about the bra, not just because the straps were very visible, but part of it protuded above the dress. Somehow, she seemed to get away with this.

[Sqid101]

Let's say that she has taken up fewer column inches in the tabloids than in stories about the classical Brits, whtich is a relief to most of us who have begun to tire of the antics that have gone on in recent times. And comments to the effect that she was bound to crash because she was from small and "conservative New Zealand" and therefore wouldn't be able to handle the pressure, have ensured she gets plenty of support from home. ;=)

[bkalei]

Sqid101: All three women are beautiful singers but different genres, Barbara pop, Katherine opera, and Hayley classical. You know me, I don't like to compare singers. I rather enjoy each of them as they are. I saw the video and I agree with you,that guy was an ass to say the least. People like to compare Hayley with opera singers. Hayley is not an opera singer, she is classical, and I prefer it that way. Unlike classical singers, there's not many opera singers that I do like.

[jd9438jim]

very good version!

[paquitin9]

Well crafted, Squid. Thanks. Three of my favorite 4!!

[valleymrytrs]

I think Hayley's version was only last year when she released "West Side Story" CD with Vittorio something....so her voice should have been already matured as of now....

[Sqid101]

It was at Woburn Abbey about the time WST was released with Vittorio Grigolo. He's featured in one at least one the stills in the Video. Women's voices go on maturing up to the age of 30 odd or even longer. Hayley's voice has seemed to mature between the time of this recording and Belfast 2008. she has noticably developed phsyically in the last 18 months or so, and the voice may mature with other things... ahem. She may be a latish developer too and her voice keep developing for a long time.

[valleymrytrs]

Seems Hayley's voice now cannot reach as high as before, is it due to the maturing of her voice too? Sometimes she can still reach it but with much more difficulty. the good news is her voice now seems to be richer than before.

[Sqid101]

There is an interview on YT where she says her range has gone down as she's gotten older. I understand this is almost invariably what happens with women. On a fan site it says she now can't sing "full voiced" as high as before, but this doesn't apply to her "whistle voice". (I report this without understanding it.) I agree that her voice seems richer and she seems to have gained a lot of power (this could be changing technique). And she seems a lot more comfortable in the lower ranges.

[Zencat24]

Love Barbra's Somewhere, but prefer her The Concert version. I would love to hear Hayley sing it now that her voice has matured.  Don't like the Jenkins version at all.

[Siliven]

I guess I'm just biased? I prefer Hayley Westenra's version. I did like Barbra, it was refreshing, and I just found that Jenkins...I don't know, I guess her voice doesn't fit the song. (well I think) Too rich - deep. For the song I mean.

LOL. Hayley doing chemistry! (ah, my favorite subject...not. =P)

[Sqid101]

I'd agree that the song doesn't seem to suit Kathy Jenkins. I like Barbra too, she put a bit of variation and expression into it. I'm pretty sure there is an interview somewhere where Hayley said she was thinking of maybe doing a science degree if she got enough money from "Pure"! Not so easy to imagine now.

[jd9438jim]

amen on last sentence. 'bout chemistry that is