Early Hayley memories

roger_m_hw · Joined: Jan 15, 2006 Posts: 29 Location: UK

TELL ME I‚ÄôM NOT DREAMING
A personal account of how I came to know Hayley

It all began one morning in October 2003. I had taken some time off work to decorate my kitchen; a mundane activity which I never expected would be mentioned on the Internet! On this particular morning, as is the case every morning, I awoke to find my left arm waving about in the darkness until it found the ‚Äòon‚Äô button of my bedside CD/radio/cassette thingy. I heard some nameless work by, um, Bach or someone, playing on Classic FM and promptly turned over with the intention of going back to sleep. Before that happened however, I heard the most gorgeous voice ever‚Ä¶.

I propped myself up on my left elbow to listen closely. ‚ÄúWho could this be?‚Äù, I wondered. I had to know. I had never heard anything so lovely and eagerly awaited the announcement that followed. Eventually I heard the name ‚ÄúHayley Westenra‚Äù and the rest, as they say, is history.

Within two hours I had bought ‚ÄòPure‚Äô. I sat in my lounge with the smell of paint from the previous day‚Äôs work drifting through and pressed ‚Äòplay‚Äô. I was totally beguiled by the sweetest, loveliest, purest voice that I had ever heard singing ‚ÄòPokarekare Ana‚Äô. Instantly, I knew that Hayley was more than just someone whose singing I would enjoy; more than someone whose concerts would thrill me; more than someone whose career I would follow for many years. I knew she was going to be very, very special. But I had no idea just how special she was to become or how soon it would happen‚Ä¶.

I heard about Hayley‚Äôs UK tour with Aled Jones only to discover that it had ended the previous day! By now I knew that Hayley came from New Zealand and assumed that she would be returning to her homeland. Thankfully, I was wrong.

The next significant occasion was in early November when Hayley appeared in the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and which was televised. On the evening in question I installed myself comfortably in front of the television. Although I was excited by the prospect of seeing her perform, a feeling of great contentment came over me because I knew that it was only moments away. I heard her being introduced. I saw a general view and was desperately looking for Hayley. No sign of her yet. There was a close-up shot of a harp but still no Hayley. Then suddenly there she was, not just in a photograph but actually moving about!

The tune was now familiar to me but the words were different. Of course ‚ÄòPokarekare Ana‚Äô would not be appropriate for the occasion and I was intrigued to hear how this new version would unfold. The result was ‚ÄòTonight We‚Äôll Light A Candle‚Äô, the words of which were very poetic, highly appropriate, and utterly beautiful.

‚ÄúTonight, we‚Äôll light a candle,
Light a candle to remember,
To remember all our loved ones
And the days we left behind‚Ä¶.‚Äù

Hayley, you should record this version; it is quite lovely. But oh, how quickly it was over. Later in the programme she returned to lead the singing of ‚ÄòThe Day Thou Gavest‚Äô and although her lovely voice could be heard throughout, we didn‚Äôt see her for more than a few seconds of the opening verse. What a shame!

Let‚Äôs move on. I was still going mad on ‚ÄòPure‚Äô and trying to choose a favourite track. Initially it was ‚ÄòPokarekare Ana‚Äô but I was greatly impressed by ‚ÄòRiver of Dreams‚Äô. Other contenders were ‚ÄòWho Painted the Moon Black?‚Äô, ‚ÄòBenedictus‚Äô and ‚ÄòHine e Hine‚Äô. I never did decide which would be my outright favourite! They all are!

Occasionally you just know something is going to happen. Call it instinct or just wishful thinking, it doesn‚Äôt matter - you just know. I was convinced that Hayley would appear in the Royal Variety Performance to be held later in the month. Maybe I just felt that she deserved to be. And was she? Of course she was‚Ä¶.

Once again I eagerly awaited Hayley‚Äôs appearance when, suddenly, I heard the distinct sound of Maori singing. This had to be it surely? It was. There at last was my lovely Hayley! She appeared from the back of the stage and walked slowly upstage during the first line of the song. Of course, on a show like that no one artist gets very long. Would she be able to use this prestigious occasion to display her great variety of musical styles, each of which she sings so well? Of course she would.

The clever arrangement of Amazing Grace sandwiched in between two sections of ‚ÄòPokarekare Ana‚Äô was inspired. I know her time was restricted but only one verse of ‚ÄòPokarekare Ana‚Äô just begged for more. However, the transition into ‚ÄòAmazing Grace‚Äô enabled one song to compliment the other very well. Initially, ‚ÄòAmazing Grace‚Äô was sung to orchestral backing which then gave way, appropriately as it was in Edinburgh, to the sound of pipes and drums. Here came a key change, which allowed Hayley to sing in a significantly higher register thereby demonstrating her vast range. Then came the recapitulation back to ‚ÄòPokarekare Ana‚Äô which would have made the performance sound perfectly complete had it not been for the mistimed applause from the audience who apparently believed that Hayley‚Äôs time was over.

Throughout the performance, Hayley looked perfectly at home. She then gracefully took a bow to the front and then to the Royal Box before leaving the stage.

During the finale, when the entire cast were on stage, we caught the occasional glimpse of Hayley standing behind Ronnie Corbett! Also present were, among others, Amanda Holden, Gloria Estefan, The Osmonds, Frank Bruno, Dame Edna Everage, Katie Melua, Westlife and Luciano Pavarotti. Later we saw the celebrities being presented to the Queen when it was noticeable that Her Majesty seemed to speak to Hayley for slightly longer than she did to anyone else. According to Hayley during a subsequent interview, the Queen is supposed to have mentioned that she had met her earlier in the week! I have no information as to whether she has yet bought ‚ÄòPure‚Äô!

It was soon after this that things really began to take off (for me ‚Äì they did so for Hayley long ago!). In early December I took another week off work simply to use up the remainder of my annual holiday entitlement. I knew there was to be one spectacular highlight of the week but, other than that, I had no plans but it proved to be a remarkable week. It was such fun, wildly exciting and packed full of the most amazing surprises. The expected highlight was to come on Wednesday evening when I had a ticket to see Hayley at the Royal Albert Hall but as it turned out, that was just a tiny part of what was in store‚Ä¶.

Saturday: Hayley was to appear in an open-air Christmas Concert in aid of Amnesty International in Trafalgar Square in London. By now, I was so devoted to her and her music that I just had to get myself there in the hope that I might catch a glimpse of her from a distance through the crowds.

As I reported in my Review of that event, I did more than catch a distant glimpse. I stood just three or four yards in front of her as she sang ‚ÄòAway In A Manger‚Äô and ‚ÄòSilent Night‚Äô. Exquisite. When I saw her leave the stage and head towards the Christmas tree, I suddenly felt this overwhelming urge to stand beside that very tree!

We chatted for several minutes and she told me that she had recorded her appearance on ‚ÄòParkinson‚Äô that very afternoon (to be screened on Christmas Day), and that she would be in the Carol Service form Manchester Cathedral on Christmas Eve and the Frank Skinner show on the following Monday. She signed my copy of ‚ÄòPure‚Äô and we shook hands! For several days after that I kept staring at the palm of my right hand and telling myself that, for a fleeting moment, it had actually held Hayley‚Äôs! Aah! I came home feeling elated. I continued to play ‚ÄòPure‚Äô daily, only now I kept looking at the cover to see where Hayley had signed it.

Monday: I browsed Hayley‚Äôs various websites. I had dipped into several of them over the past few weeks but I had more time now so was able to afford them a deeper exploration. I visited HWI and remained there for seven hours, entranced by so much information about her, so many lovely pictures of her and all her family and, of course, by the beauty of ‚ÄòPure‚Äô which I played continuously. I came to the Guest Book and, once I had read every existing entry, decided to add one myself, the consequences of which were truly spectacular‚Ä¶.

Within an hour, I received an e-mail from Keith who introduced himself as the owner of the HWI website and who asked me to write a review on the Trafalgar Square concert. I wrote it there and then and e-mailed it straight back to him. I mentioned that I was going to the concert on Wednesday and it wasn‚Äôt long before he asked me to write a review of that event too! As I said in my reply, I had been hoping he would! But that wasn‚Äôt all. He asked if I would consider becoming a Correspondent for HWI!! I have never been so honoured, so thrilled and so excited. The irony is that only a few weeks earlier I had said to someone that, if I could live my life over again, I would like to have got into journalism, ideally within the music industry. I had come to terms with the realisation that it was not likely to happen and contented myself with the knowledge that I once had a brief excursion into the field. (I once ran a fan club and produced a thrice-yearly magazine for The Seekers.)

That night, everything that I might otherwise have been doing came to an abrupt halt so that I could watch Hayley on the Frank Skinner Show.

I sat through the majority of the show in anticipation rather than with any genuine enthusiasm for any other celebrities who appeared. At last, Hayley was introduced. Frank‚Äôs questions were very good; I just wish he had appeared more interested in the answers. Instead, he frequently interrupted with inappropriate comments, which may be his way but didn‚Äôt please those of us who wanted to hear what Hayley was saying. It is to her great credit that she dealt with this so well, took his comments in good part and did not appear at all uncomfortable with his, at times, distasteful sense of humour.

A short excerpt of Hayley‚Äôs promotional video was shown in which she was seen standing in the sea and walking a horse along the beach. She spoke of the occasion two weeks earlier when she had sung ‚ÄòNo Matter What‚Äô during a private concert for President Bush, the Queen and Tony Blair, referred to the Royal Variety Performance and her tour with Aled Jones. Her busking days in Christchurch were discussed and a photograph of Hayley with her sister Sophie was shown. (Sophie, you‚Äôve been on British television - so you‚Äôre famous too!)

Hayley then sang ‚ÄòNo Matter What‚Äô‚Ä¶. But why, oh why, could she not have been given a few minutes of air time on what I understand is a very popular show to do what Hayley does best‚Ä¶. Sing‚Ä¶. On her own‚Ä¶. NOT with Frank Skinner attempting to ‚Äòsing‚Äô with her? Never mind, she still sounded lovely and I suppose there will be other times.

Wednesday: It was the night of the concert with Jose Carreras at the Royal Albert Hall and I found myself in London ridiculously early. I went to the Box Office in the hope that they still had a ticket for Friday‚Äôs concert in which Hayley was also to appear. They did! I bought it! I almost danced my way down Exhibition Road to South Kensington underground station (and, believe me, I‚Äôm no Fred Astaire!).

Next I went to the Box Office of the London Palladium to ask if they were taking bookings for as far ahead as 29th March. They were. After a mix-up because they assumed I wanted to see ‚ÄòChitty Chitty Bang Bang‚Äô, I eventually bought a ticket for Hayley‚Äôs concert. Will March ever come?

There were still two or three hours before I needed to be back at the Albert Hall. I ventured into HMV in Oxford Street, which has been described as the largest music store in Europe. (Did you know that Edward Elgar officially opened the original store, further along the road?)

I was browsing in the classical department and saw ‚ÄòPure‚Äô sitting there on the rack. I don‚Äôt know why it is but even though I have had it for some time now, whenever I see it I have to pick it up and cherish it for a few moments. This I did. As I was replacing it, my eyes glanced down to the rack below and I saw a CD with a picture of Hayley on it - but it was a different photo! For a moment I was puzzled as to why a different picture had been used for what must surely have been the same CD. After all, there has only been one released in the UK. I picked it up and examined it closely. I nearly dropped it! I think I gasped out loud when I realised that it was not ‚ÄòPure‚Äô but Hayley‚Äôs first CD ever to go on general release in New Zealand - and ONLY in New Zealand. And there it was in London! Better still, it was in my hand! I glanced towards the rack from where I had taken it in total disbelief‚Ä¶.

‚ÄúNEVER‚Äù I said aloud. But yes, it was true. There was the other CD, ‚ÄòMy Gift To You‚Äô, again only ever released in New Zealand! Now I was standing with one CD in each hand knowing that my Hayley collection had just trebled! I was absolutely jubilant. I asked the assistant how these recordings came to be in the store and she went to considerable lengths to find out. I would like to thank the young lady for her help as I regret I may not have done so at the time, such was my amazement, delight and total bewilderment! Apparently HMV have dealers all over the world. These CDs had appeared in a catalogue and a New Zealand dealer had been instructed to import them. The store does not necessarily mark such items up as ‚Äòimports‚Äô as I had believed. To be honest, I didn‚Äôt really care how they came to be there. I just knew that one copy of each would not remain there for long. Within half an hour, I returned and bought another copy of each ‚Äì I haven‚Äôt yet decided why!

I was drunk with excitement but have some vague recollection of walking down what must have been Regent Street for no particular reason other than to kill time. I was finding it quite difficult to fight back tears of joy. You won‚Äôt believe this but for a while I completely forgot that I was going to a concert in the evening!

I must have walked full circle because I ended up back in Oxford Street but this time towards the Tottenham Court Road end of it and ventured into the Virgin Megastore. Still browsing in a stupefied state I believed that I couldn‚Äôt possibly find anything else of interest because I thought I had everything that had ever been made commercially available (by Hayley, that is!). I spotted the DVD of Russell Watson Live and remembered that Hayley had once appeared with him. Surely this could not be that very performance? It was! The result of the next transaction is that I now have yet another review to write! It will follow in due course!

I made my way back to the Royal Albert Hall (for which I wrote a separate review at the time).

What a day! What a week! What a star! It is as well that I could not have known what was going to happen two days later as I‚Äôm sure I would have died of excitement and absolute joy.

Friday: There I was, back in London again! This was the evening of the Sargent Concert at the Royal Albert Hall featuring, among others, Hayley.

This was the first time I had met Keith and Simon from HWI. We met up briefly before the concert started, began to get to know one another a little bit during the interval (and had some laughs along the way) and had the time of our lives afterwards‚Ä¶.

We left the Hall and walked down the road to the Artists‚Äô Entrance and, well, we just walked in! We loitered with intent in the corridor along which any departing artist would have to pass. Someone walked through and noticed the sweatshirts that Keith and Simon were wearing which displayed the name ‚ÄòHayley Westenra International‚Äô. The hitherto unnamed man stopped in his tracks and exclaimed his interest. He then introduced himself and said he was Hayley‚Äôs manager. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you sincerely, Steve, for you kindness that night and for making what followed possible.

In those last few seconds I attempted to straighten my hair and comb my tie at the same time with only minimal success on either count! Then, glancing through a doorway I saw Hayley approaching. I swear that as soon as she saw us, her face lit up. She came in and started chatting with us all. An additional bonus for us was the fact that her mum was with her. I don‚Äôt mean to embarrass you, Jill, but I want to tell everyone that I think you are one of the loveliest people I have ever met.

We must have remained there for‚Ä¶. What was it? Perhaps half an hour. Having already spoken to Hayley for ten minutes or so on the previous Saturday, I felt so honoured and really could not believe my luck. It was a truly delightful occasion, which, of course, meant so much to us all. Many photographs were taken of each of us in turn with Hayley and Jill. One of me with them is now on display on my desk in the office where I work. It is causing significant interest from my colleagues!

The Royal Albert Hall security staff had some idea about locking up so, in the expectation that our meeting with Hayley, Jill and Steve was about to be concluded, I did something that I had promised myself I would not do (for Hayley‚Äôs sake). But, when the time came, I just couldn‚Äôt resist it. I leant forward slightly, put one hand on her shoulder and said, ‚ÄúMay I?‚Äù.

I didn‚Äôt hear a reply ‚Äì I was so entranced that I probably would not have heard a nuclear explosion! All I remember is that I gave Hayley a little kiss on the cheek and ended up holding her in my arms for a little cuddle, during which I truly believed I was holding an angel.

Very soon we were all back on the street but still chatting. Dear Jill was asking if everyone had taken all the photographs that we wanted and whether we needed anything else signed. Even though they had to make a two-hour journey that night and Hayley had a video shoot at eight o‚Äôclock the following morning, she (Jill) was still determined to ensure that we were not wanting anything else. How could we when they had both given us so much?

Their car pulled up and we said our final goodbyes. I even kissed Jill! Then, to my astonishment but absolute joy, I found myself holding Hayley in my arms again and giving her another kiss. The other cheek this time ‚Äì I made sure of that!

I don‚Äôt remember coming home but apparently I did! Over the next few days I began writing this review, which has enabled me to re-live that beautiful, fantastic, joyous week over and over again. Now, only two things remain for me to do. First of all, I must tell you that I did finish decorating the kitchen. It‚Äôs yellow! Secondly, I would like to ask you all a question‚Ä¶.

Will someone out there, please‚Ä¶. Tell me I‚Äôm not dreaming?

Roger
21/12/2003

[Update] Since then, much has happened. I now have versions of Pure and Odyssey from all over the world, many signed programmes, photographs and the memories of having seen Hayley live in concert on 31 occasions and meeting her at all but four of them. Best of all, I have come to know not just Hayley, but all her family.

My good friend Keith who, together with Simon, was the co-owner of HWI, sadly passed away in December following his courageous battle with cancer. He will be a hard act to follow but it means a lot to me to know that he wanted me to take over as the front man for that site. It is my privilege to do so.

16/01/06

roger_m_hw · Joined: Jan 15, 2006 Posts: 29 Location: UK

Sorry I went on a bit - it won't happen again!

Roger

kcuteus · Joined: Jan 14, 2006 Posts: 172

that was a long post roger. Very Happy

roger_m_hw · Joined: Jan 15, 2006 Posts: 29 Location: UK

It had to be, Kim. It ws a long time ago! Wink

Roger

Nicola · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 10:54 pm Post subject:

God, help me Roger, but I actually read all of it. It was very interesting! I didn't know a thing about you really and this shows some insight. I had written a review for Hayley at the Loose lips appearence, but it was on Andys site and he closed it Sad

I don't know if HWI took it or not. Would have been happy if it did.

When did Keith and Simon first meet Hayley? I noticed when I frst met her SImon and Keith were getting their cds signed...
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Ellie-May · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:01 pm Post subject:

Roger, I read all of it to, a lovely read. Thank you. Very Happy

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Russell Watson introduced me to Classical Music - thx mate. Cool

roger_m_hw · Joined: Jan 15, 2006 Posts: 29 Location: UK

Haha, don't encourage me, ladies. I've got dozens more reviews like that!!!

Hi, Nicola. HWI would never take a review from another site. We would have been delighted to use yours if you or Andy had sent it in but I don't recall seeing it. Presumably, you don't have a copy somewhere?

Keith first saw Hayley at the Faenol Festival in North Wales. It was before I knew him (or her!) but I think it was about 2002. I'm not sure if Simon was there or not but he certainly saw Hayley before I did.

Thanks for reading my verbal meanderings! You too, Ellie-May. You both deserve medals! Smile

Roger

Nicola · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:52 am Post subject:

I don't have a saved copy of it no Sad

I can't write it now as I don't have the memory fresh in my mind. Of course I remember the bear bones of it but I think you need detail to write a review Smile

Ah, I thought I had witnessed a milestone in HWI history - when Simon and Keith first met Hayley. Sigh, it was never to be.
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Comprehensive Buying Guide: Sarah Brightman's Discography

kiwihutchie · Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 2

Hi Roger and Nicola,

Yes the Faenol concert is where Keith first met Hayley and Gerald,
That weekend i was in contact with both Keith and Gerald by email,
Gerald was worried about the weather ,Lucky the weather stayed fine and the concert went ahead. i told him keith may approach him,so when he did,Gerald said you must be Keith to keiths surprise.
I had said to Keith if he saw Hayley's dad to go up to him as he is very approachable and would be out front taking photo's etc.
Keith waited to after the show and went up and started to talk to Gerald
{this is what Keith said re Gerald}I spoke to Gerald and he made a big impression.What a wonderful friendly man.I am so glad that i did as you suggested,Belinda,He quickly makes you feel like a friend and puts you at ease
Gerald then went and got Hayley to sign Keiths cd inserts,when he returned he beckoned keith to go through the security barrier to meet Hayley. (The first meeting)
Keith said this of Hayley What a truly beautiful person she is,it was such an honour to meet her. She is so attentive when you are talking to her she makes you feel important and what you are saying is of real interest to her
.
And this is still true of Hayley
Belinda

arsenal1 · Joined: Mar 28, 2007 Posts: 31 Location: tring

Just a quick question for you, when did aled first meet hayley.
I thought that it was at the classical brit awards in 2003, but I might be wrong on that one.

arrow: I thought that the song that they sang together was beautiful though.

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