Customer Reviews

Hayley Sings Japanese Songs

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

At first glance you will find that this c.d. package is mainly written in Japanese. As you listen from the first few seconds of Amazing Grace to the ending bonus track, your tastes will be satisfied. You'll be singing along for certain. This is one of those c.d.'s that you want to turn the volume up so to surround yourself with the singer(s) voices and the quality recording. BRAVO!

I have just now opened this collection of beautiful ballads, most of them Japanese gems sung in English (mainly). As with all Hayley efforts, this is melodically rich and gorgeously arranged. Hayley's voice, as ever, is delicately delicious; a kissable treat for the ears and spirit. Don't let the brief forays into Japanese or the lack of English song titles scare you off: This CD includes an English lyric booklet, and the soothing gentle beauty of Hayley's voice transcends all languages! The disc opens with a very nice rendition of "Amazing Grace" in English and Japanese. My personal early favorite is track 4, a pleasantly lilting little number which I believe would translate as "White Is The Colour Of Lovers." Get this disc NOW before it disappears---you'll never tire of scrumptious ear candy like this! Love ya, Hayley! :)

I have a few copies of this album since it's release date in Japan.
It is a gorgeous warm album with an addictive quality, the more you hear it the more you enjoy it, the more you want to play it again.
This album is a wonderful example of Hayley's broadening musical horizons,
I have one in the car and one in a five disc player in the house and another at work.

A wonderful grouping of songs that touch both the heart and the soul. You can feel her love for the music in every note, without a doubt Hayley poured herself into this recording. Native to the USA I have no background in Japanese music, my choices are based purely on listening pleasure.
My favorite is #8 Tsubasa Wo Kudasai (To the Sun that Lights the Day)- This is a beautiful pop song and Hayley's voice soars with the words and music. This could be a #1 hit if released as a single. One can almost imagine a young swan praying for her wings as she watches her parents glide about the skies. Next is #9 Sotsugyou shashin - A really neat jazzy style reminisant of what you might hear in an upscale small club in the USA. SMOOTH and SWEET! I would name it "Distant Guiding Star" This should be played on the soft Jazz stations.
In "I Believe" you can feel the Hayley reaching down into her soul to recall every doubt she ever had and saying "believe in yourself and you can overcome adversity." Great Song!
The remainder of the songs are just a treat to those who love beautiful melodies filled with the passion of love for music. A very nice mix of classical and pop stylings. One even has a country pop flair(White is the color). Thank you Hayley! GBY!
My thanks to the person who wrote that great breakdown review of the record, translating the Japanese into English(ese) readable titles you were a great help. JFGlenn

I listened to this CD for the first time today, and Wow! I knew I loved Hayley's voice, but was slightly hesitant on buying this CD because of the price, but it's so worth it! And I'm glad I got the more expensive verson with the extra track. The music on this CD is so soothing and uplifting at the same time. Hayley's voice has perfect pitch, her voice is absolute perfection. Hayley does it again! :-)

This CD is just beautiful. I was afraid it would be sang in Japanese, but was very surprised to hear it in English! Those who love Hayley's music should buy this one. I love it!

Hayley m'a ouvert une fenêtre sur la musique japonaise, bien plus près de la nôtre que je l'imaginais. Un répertoire de ballades douces et parfois enjouées, une spécialité que sa merveilleuse voix rend de façon parfaite! Le choix des chansons fait ressortir bien des facettes de l'exceptionnelle beauté de son timbre de voix, qu'elle livre avec beaucoup d'émotion et de profondeur. Je ne cesse de l'écouter, un pur chef-d'oeuvre !!