Hayley Sings Japanese Songs [Import]

Hayley Westenra | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 21, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal Int'l
• ASIN: B0017W7EGS
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,789 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Amazing Grace

2. Hanamizuki

3. Yuki No Hana

4. Shiroi Iro Wa Koibito No Ito

5. Sen No Kaze Ni Natte

6. Hana

7. Nada Soso

8. Tsubasa Wo Kudasai

9. Sotsugyo Shasin

10. Jidai

11. I Believe

12. Shiroi Iro Wa Koibito No Ito [Japanese Version][*]

Editorial Reviews

Japanese-only 2008 release from the New Zealand vocalist, a collection of classic Japanese songs covered in English. Also includes the bonus track, 'Amazing Grace', a duet with singer Honda Minako. Westenra is a New Zealand soprano and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached #1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide. Westenra has received numerous awards for her contributions to music, both in New Zealand and elsewhere. In November 2008, she was named "classical performer of the year" at the Variety Club's annual awards in London. 11 tracks. Universal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hayley Sings Japanese Songs, August 8, 2008

By 

Aurora Borealis "(Morningside)" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hayley Sings Japanese Songs (Audio CD)

This CD is amazing! Here's the track by track review!

1) Amazing Grace Duet With Minako Honda 7/10
Beautiful! Those who loved her solo version should definately hear this! Hayley sings in Japanese (although it's just one verse.)

2) Hanamizuki 9/10
I LOVE the chorus! I know it was originally written in Japanese but the lyrics flow so smoothly. "The Dreams that shine like rosen gold" has to be one of the most beautiful lines I've heard Hayley sing.

3) Yuki No Hana 8/10
This means 'Snowflowers'. One of the love songs in this CD and it's definately VERY good! The melody and lyrics are just perfect even in English and I'm so going to learn how to play this on the piano.

4)Shiroi Iro Ha Koibito No Iro 6/10
The literal translation is 'White is the colour of sweet true love'. And yes, its a love song too. This time it is a song about first loves, sweet true loves and memories. It has a more folky melody and sound but it's still good!!

5)I Am A Thousand Winds 8/10
Sad sad sad!! About this lady singing to her loved one about how she's not sleeping in her grave but she's flying about as wind and that he should not cry for her anymore. Beautiful melody and story.

6)Blooming Flower 7/10
A song in a flower's point of view. Interesting and I think I've heard it before (in the Japanese version) but I definately like Hayley's more. There's nothing wrong with it and I love the name but trust me, there are better songs on the album. (To me, anyway)

7) Nada Sousou 10/10
THE BEST SONG ON THE ALBUM EVERR!! It was the song that convinced me to get it instantly! It's so beautiful and the melody matches the song PERFECRLY.

8) Tsubasa Wo Kudasai 8/10
Love it too! Not much to say about this but it's really great! That's for sure!! The title translation is 'To the Sun that lights the day'.

9) Sotsugyou Shashin 8/10
Another good one! The chorus is great! These few songs can't be described very well until you hear the beauty and simplicity of them. This one strangely has a more 'jazzy' feel.

10) Time Goes Around 7/10
An interesting fact to note: Hayley translated this song herself.
The lyrics are good but the melody is a little choppy. Not flowing like her other ballads.

11) I Believe 8/10
Another great song! The opening chords were enough to make me decide that. A greaattt way to end a beautiful album!!

12) (BONUS TRACK) Japanese version of track 4.
Yes, Hayley sings in Japanese! She sounds beautiful as always and only proves that she can sing anything and make it work. Lucky her.

THE CD:
It's an extremely beautiful (okay how many times I have used that word) album that comes with a lyric booklet and a picture booklet. For the lyric booklet, a FEW songs (not all) have Japanese and English translations. The rest are in plain English. For the picture booklet, there are many pictures that you can easily find on her website under the 'Celtic Treasure/Treasure' photoshoot. There is also Hayley's bio in Japanese on a piece of paper.

SONGS:
Very good selection. Hayley translated 5 songs with Suzi Kim and 3 songs by herself. And that only proves not only can Hayley sing, she can write gorgeous lyrics too. Life's not fair.

VOICE:
As always, beautiful. I give up, you can't beat Hayley.

OVERALL:
GET THIS ALBUM!! It's worth everything. If I had to, I'd compare it to 'Pure'. Don't know why, I'd just would.

~ Aurora B

PS: Although Amazon says it's Hayley Westenra MEETS Japanese songs, on the cd cover it says Hayley Westenra SINGS Japanses songs. Just in case you think they are different.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It doesn't get much better than this.., September 5, 2008

By 

1littlegirl (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hayley Sings Japanese Songs (Audio CD)

Hayley Westenra is by far my favourite singer. I have all her albums and love each and every one of her songs. When I received this album and listened to it for the first time, I couldn't believe how amazing it was. I mean, she is an extremely talented singer, but I didn't really think it was possible for music to be this beautiful. It's just plain phenomenal. Buy it. You won't regret it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC !!!, August 26, 2009

By 

AD "AD" (Lakewood, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hayley Sings Japanese Songs (Audio CD)

Hayley does it again! I don't know how any listening adventure could be better or more beautiful than this. Unless it is another Hayley Album.