Making it her own

[Tusk]

I was watching the video of "Free" from the Vegas show, curious why it' has regained some popularity?

It was the first of two videos I posted, and I get that these two, "Free" and "Song For My Father" have a head start on the others because they were the first vids I posted from an anticipated Vegas show/First Live Performance after the Interscope Split, so sure they should have the most views.

I was interested when, in the last couple days, the LV "Free" had a surge in views that boosted it ahead of SFMF, It had prevously been consistently behind SFMF 30 views or so. Now it has 50 more views than SFMF

I've always liked the original rendition of "Free" but it seemed, among most Haliens, that it had lost it's sheen,and wasn't really among the top favorites of most Halien lists from LU. So when it had fairly significant surge, from a song that many people are apathetic about, I noticed

Which had me thinking on past events and the possible evolution of songs on LU...maybe a reworking of "Undone" in the future :
-------------------------------------
As noticed before, "Listen Up!" has a sticker on it with three songs on it, presumably the 'strongest' of the disc. They were "Free", "Oh My" and "Undone", in that order and thought to be the songs that would be promoted from LU.

Fast foward to Lollapalooza. "Free" after initial good reviews does not translate into better sales, so OM becomes the heir apparent, and the gimmick of adding B.o.B to the track was a reason. Rumblings that OM would make it's 'single' debut at Lolla had people discussing the possibility of a B.o.B cameo.

For reasons unkown, the B.o.B/Reinhart live collaboration was not meant to be. Being the 'show must go on'/ Bringing her 'A' game person she is, Haley takes on and executes the rap on the Lolla Stage. Rolling out a 'rap' performance, while her fans loved the execution, Haley must not have, after taking it out on it's 'first drive'.



So what does she do? She brainstorms (with her Dad) and switches out the B.o.B. bridge replacing it with an almost middle eastern, smokey one that better fit her performance personality and vocals.



Given Haley's tendency to be forward looking, We will probably () never hear Haley rap the B.o.B lyrics again.

Fast forward to a couple weeks ago. We hear fewer and fewer live performances of "Free", a song many Haliens see as 'the song she did not write' so put it at a 'lesser' level. It's most likely because she is performing other songs that she was not performing "Free", but it is absent for many of performances.

Then the Interscope split happens. "Free"'s status as a "lesser/non radio friendl/Haley didn't write it" all of a sudden had a new byline:

""Free", the song that didn't 'win' Haley a second single"....

But that's not where the story ends... We're talking about Haley Effin' Reinhart. here (you thought it was 'Elizabeth', didn't you? ).

The song she has performed from LU more than any other song (second probably only to HOTRS or "Oh Darlin'") was now also symbolic of the Interscope "Failure". It would be completely understandable if she never sang that song again. There are at least three more songs from LU we have yet to hear...then there's Spiderweb ...her unreleased songs...new songs on her stops to the studio... Many, many, many reasons why she might NEVER perform "Free" again.... So WWHD? (What Would Haley Do?)

She picks up her old friend and collaborates with a couple cool dudes (Keith and Courtney) to breathe new life into "Free". Look everybody, Haley loves, "Free". It's really OK to like it again



-So we see Haley reworks and refreshes OM which now, without the rapping 'B.o.B lyrics, is a song she performs often.

-She takes a song in "Free", which she has no obligation to ever perform again, and convinces her fans to look again at it after she reworks it. And apparently they like it

So we come to "Undone"...... The true "Red Headed Step Child" from LU. Although Haley loves all the songs on the album, she appears to be uncomfortable with it, talking about it and performing it, we see Haley unable to connect her performance to the song like she has with practically every song she's tackled.



Despite Haley's communicated uneasiness with the song, it still continues to be tweeted about on Twitter partly due to it's appearance in a movie. Potentially an international, cross over, anthemic. Adele like hit. Did Interscope grin at it's potential? Probably, it didn't hurt "Undone"'s prospect as a second single. Still, Haley never appeared to find that 'fit' with Undone. She performed it expertly on iHeart, seeing it in it's Glory. Yet, she could never perform it with the ....passion... she could with the others.



As potentially 'Hit Worthy' as it appears to be, she choses to perform other songs over it, having performed it only twice? three times?

WWHD?.....

So we see, the 3 songs on the sticker. "Free", "OM" and "Undone". We have now seen Haley take two songs on a test drive, put it back in the garage, reworked it....then roll out songs that were more "Haley". They are the same songs....but "better", with more of her essence.

So, is "Undone" next?

[midnightblues]

I hope it is I really hope Undone will be a smash hit for her. Or at least the top 40. There's lots folks that say that Haley feels uncomfortable singing that song and it doesn't suit her. Well she had a hand in writing it it just shows a different part of Haley's emotions when she does that song. It's deep and it can touch you .plenty of artists and I mean plenty of them have done dramatic or sad Ballads. I think if were give it some exposure and Handled better that Free"it would be well received. Either you love it or you hate it." Leave a tender moment alone" IMO BTY John I saw the Dead at Golden Gate Park San Fran, in the summer of 1967

[Tom22]

I'm not as sold on that Vegas version of free. Its all a matter of opinion and personal taste of course, but the way she turns it into a ballad feels a bit forced.... the singing is beautiful but, I don't think it fits the song.

The song itself.. the words and the thoughts aren't half bad at all ... and there is a little sway to the tune that evokes the young relationship ending (and clearly its a younger ... going different ways in life , kind of break up.. not the end of a marriage or later in life sort of break up).

It isn't a terribly Inspiring sort of song though.. and all of Haley's songs kind of inspire .. with little veiled (but not said) "shove it , i'll do it my way's" undercurrents and there are more "how it can be" rather than "why can't it be" .. implying more a dream of something special rather than something falling short of adequate (why cant' it be sound like its falling short of adequate). Where does love go when its gone.. to me is such a inspirational though... that this beautiful thing drifted off into the stars and will land somewhere else with its blessing.. a cherished memory.. perhaps gone to soon but one you know is alive in its own way.

OK<

Back to free.. my philosophy aside, there was something to the lyrics and I think this rendition stays true to the song, gives it the life it can have.. without trying to twist it into something it isn't. What Haley sung in Vegas is the start to an entirely different song that haley could right for herself with some of the same thoughts..but different words and a different melody.. (LOL like I said. ...a different song)

He's the one I think did it the most justice that it could, given the songs limitations and playing up what strengths it has.

---

OH.. I need to say that I am 100% with your take on both Oh My and Undone.

That bridge replacement for the rap really is the best part of the song and flatters the other parts as well.

I thought that the iheart undone was perfect.. I don't think she needs to doll it up anymore. Sometimes I think she can fall victim to her playful side and kinda cheese some songs up for the fun and imagination of it .. but I like that in things like Santeria for sure!

[john]

^Not sure she will do anything with Undone. My sense when she performed the song was that she was getting pressure to do so from the record company. But whatever the reason, she hasn't taken the song out much. She might have even left out back behind the garage.

I enjoyed your post, Tusk, and it got me thinking....specifically this comment;

So we see, the 3 songs on the sticker. "Free", "OM" and "Undone". We have now seen Haley take two songs on a test drive, put it back in the garage, reworked it....then roll out songs that were more "Haley". They are the same songs....but "better", with more of her essence.

Of course, my thinking is pretty simple and it is this: When Haley records in the future, be it a song or an album, that music will be more "Haley" (as you aptly put it). That will be a result of the lessons learned in her second year course on how to be a star -- writing and recording. And she will connect with a label that lets her do her thing. There will be no speed dating with writers...she'll collaborate but without the broad sampling. There will be more songs with Haley as the first writer. It will be more "Haley's way" because she is getting clearer about what her way is.

Listening to the Vegas songs, and seeing Haley AI in general, I get the sense that she has been liberated and she is back in touch with parts of her musical self that have been missing for a while. Her Vegas performances were just so rich and authentic.

That's the Haley that writes, reworks, records, and does all the other things she's going to do.

[Tom22]

--

--

Did they play "now that you're here " in Las Vegas.

I love this performance 6 months (or more) ago that she did with the assistance of some real creativity from Keith and Courtney whitch was equally enjoyable to me as her singing ... complimentary maybe I should say.

I'd call this pretty close to a jazz performance?

[Tusk]

^I enjoyed your post, Tusk, and it got me thinking....specifically this comment;

So we see, the 3 songs on the sticker. "Free", "OM" and "Undone". We have now seen Haley take two songs on a test drive, put it back in the garage, reworked it....then roll out songs that were more "Haley". They are the same songs....but "better", with more of her essence.

Of course, my thinking is pretty simple and it is this: When Haley records in the future, be it a song or an album, that music will be more "Haley" (as you aptly put it). That will be a result of the lessons learned in her second year course on how to be a star -- writing and recording. And she will connect with a label that lets her do her thing. There will be no speed dating with writers...she'll collaborate but without the broad sampling. There will be more songs with Haley as the first writer. It will be more "Haley's way" because she is getting clearer about what her way is.

Listening to the Vegas songs, and seeing Haley AI in general, I get the sense that she has been liberated and she is back in touch with parts of her musical self that have been missing for a while. Her Vegas performances were just so rich and authentic.

That's the Haley that writes, reworks, records, and does all the other things she's going to do.

Thnx for getting the jist of my post, John. I know it's hard to see since it's such a long post, but I wanted to set the factors to my point before I presented it.

My point wasn't necessarily that I liked the Vegas "Free" better than the studio composition, the point is that she wasn't ready to give up on it, so she worked with it and put something out that was the same, but different. That she did the same with OM, and I was wondering if she continues this potential pattern and thinks about reworking "Undone", making it "her own".

Not only is Haley feeling her way through her talent, not afraid to apply different treatments to familiar songs, but now there does seem to be a 'freedom' and ease about her. At least that's my read on the performances in Vegas. I like that she's able to give us different sides of her own songs.

--

--

Did they play "now that you're here " in Las Vegas.

I love this performance 6 months (or more) ago that she did with the assistance of some real creativity from Keith and Courtney whitch was equally enjoyable to me as her singing ... complimentary maybe I should say.

I'd call this pretty close to a jazz performance?

That was where I first met Haley, Courtney and Keith. It might have been Keith's first performance with Haley, in Spokane Washington. This was where I planned to first use the camera I use now, but they wouldn't allow filming or photography.

And yes she did perform NTYH in Vegas

[mercfan3]

Interesting. I've been wondering how much Haley has to change a song for her to record it with a different label and call it a new song, for the sake of releasing them. It would really be a sham of "Oh My" wasn't a single.

Two things. Although I liked that version of "Free" my favorite is still "The View" version of it. And if Haley had sung it like that on Idol, I honestly think it would have done significantly better.

Second, things still don't add up with her losing her deal.

You don't release "Free" and expect it to be a hit. Particularly when you only release it to HAC. And without a hit, and without an extreme amount of promotion, Haley was not going to sell. So that was just losing money.

Second, Free, particularly the unplugged version, is a classic way to introduce Haley to radio. Get a moderate amount of airplay, and release a song more likely to be a hit. If they were working a "ground up campaign" this would be a fine strategy. But it takes time, effort and money. Interscope knows all of this. So why would you start it, and not at least try the second step? Then add in that Haley was saying there would "Definitely" be a second single. Makes me think that perhaps there was a conflict over what should be the next single, and the split wasn't a drop..but rather Haley having other options, and both choosing to part ways. (Which would be the only way, I would think, Haley would risk losing her record deal over a single choice.)

I suppose the third explanation, besides Interscope being inept and conflict, was that they gave Haley an option. Because she didn't want to do what most idols do and rush out her music, perhaps Interscope gave her control, with the condition that the song they own (Free) be the single, and a moderate financial limit on promotion. And when the time came for a second single, Interscope realized they weren't going to make the money back on Haley's album, and any other song they released she was going to make a lot more money off of, because she wrote them. Thus the financial decision was made to cut ties. Still strange, is this option was pretty much a guarantee to lose money, unless they were hoping that an idol performance and Conan performance (when the album wasn't even out...) would boom sales.

[rmd1064]

Still strange, is this option was pretty much a guarantee to lose money, unless they were hoping that an idol performance and Conan performance (when the album wasn't even out...) would boom sales.

The whole thing is so strange. You have a gorgeous, talented and popular singer who releases what some have called one of the best Idol CDs ever released. With glowing reviews from NY Times, USA Today, LA Times, etc along with all the people's reviews on Amazon and Itunes.

You release one single--"Free" a 4+ minute, midtempo, piano song about a break up with no real hook. Other songs from the CD are so good that they are featured widely on ABC, ESPN and other media outlets.

Yet, another single is never released.

You have already invested time and money on the release of the CD. Why not at least give it a chance? Throw one more single out there, "Oh My" or "Undone"...see if it builds an audience. Who knows? What is there to lose?

And, as noted by others, no real promotion or marketing of her groundbreaking appearance at Lollapalooza or Carnegie Hall. Nothing, nada...

Here is my theory: When the first week sales only hit about 20K, I think the decision was made shortly after that to let her wind down and move on from her.

If you look at the artists on the Interscope label (Aerosmith, Lady Gaga, U2, No Doubt, BlackEyedPeas, Madonna), Haley is unfortunately very small potatoes and even if another single did double or triple her sales, it was not worth it in their eyes.

Other Idols from her season have been successful: Scotty has moved over a million CDs and Lauren Alaina I believe over 300K. Country audiences still buy CDs! And now, on the horizon is Jessica Sanchez who they may launch in 2013.

So Haley just did not fit in the picture or their plans. As someone noted, Interscope is NOT the label for young artist development. Unless you catch fire right away and are a huge seller out of the gate, they don’t keep you around.

Maybe there was an option given to Haley about "Undone" and she did not want that song to be her breakthrough hit. She did not want to have to sing that song over and over and over. That song is just not her---. But, I find hard to believe she would throw away a whole record deal with one of the biggest players in the industry because of a difference of opinion on her direction. But maybe that happened...who knows.

But as noted, the whole thing is just so strange and puzzling. There is probably more to the story...maybe we will find out in the future. (sorry for the long post...)

[Tusk]

LOL wrong place to 'apologise' about 'long posts'...lol

I'm da King of Long posts

Personally, I tend to think that it was a mutual parting of the ways based on a difference of opinion.
(whether it was a 'battle' between "Undone" and OM, artistic differences, difference in direction...or something else..)

Risky for Haley, yes, but don't forget, she has an ace in the hole regarding a career in music. She probably knew all along, her 'money maker' is her background in performance. She is fearless in putting out a tremendous product when she performs and has met the challenge on the big stage as well.

We all know, how little of the profits the talent actually gets in these record deals, unless you're a mega star, an album or single is basically a means to an end. A tool to create new fans and get your fans to get out and see you. You then can make money from the shows, marketing and so on and so forth. (The Dixie Chicks came to a similar realisation with their record company...was it Sony? They knew their best money was in performance and merchandising)

So given that, she knows that alot of performing is definitely in her future, maybe gave her 'options', room to make decisions if she was really strongly in disagreement with an aspect of her relationship with Interscope.
....of course that implies she's the one in the driver seat in this scenario which is unlikely....

All speculation based on no inside info and IMO

[john]

I am of the mind that there was a conflict with Interscope regarding which song should be released as a single next, and perhaps future directions in general. I recall several times Haley introducing Oh My! with a comment that she hoped it would be her next single or something to that effect. But the record company wanted Undone as the next single, if there was to be a single. Haley approached the matter as an artist and Interscope approached it as a business.

When the talk of a second single started Undone was getting buzz from that movie. And she sings Undone a couple of times along with Oh My! At the IHeartRadio gig she comes out and starts singing Undone without mentioning the name of the song. When she is done she introduces Oh My! enthusiastically.

But soon (Nov. 8) she tweets...

Haley Reinhart ‏@HaleyReinhart
It's all about the ride baby.. Don't matter where you been or what the future holds.. As long as you enjoy the ride.

Uh oh! We all know what happened next and she hasn't performed Undone since.

I recall when she talked to the Grammy Camp participants she spoke of pursuing one's passion

A risk-taker on her own, Reinhart refused to settle when it came to her debut album, Listen Up! Playing an active role in the creative process, she didn't allow herself to be another piece in the record labels’ and music industry's games. Adapting to the fast-paced nature of the music industry, Reinhart had to produce all these tracks in a matter of three months, while connecting with various producers. The connection for her has remained the greatest part. Crediting the producers, Reinhart added, "The best part was walking in and talking about where you want to go with the music and the messages. All these things are important and you find yourself."



Not only did the recording and writing processes aid Reinhart in finding herself, it also helped her maintain her traditional moralistic values and protect her distinguished integrity. In an industry where you can easily be taken advantage of if you do not protect your integrity and savor those values most important to you, Reinhart can easily say now that she has created an album that she is "very, very proud of."

And to Idol contestants she recommends going with your gut, being true to your self..
Video is Here

She has been consistent in expressing that perspective.

In this July interview she talks about the next single (at 2:24). Focus in on Oh My! and how she already had ideas for the video. Interesting that she goes on to talk about a rock album. At the time of this interview she seems pretty confident about a single and a new album. Her relationship with Interscope changed in subsequent months.

The interest in Undone generated by the movie a few weeks later may have actually stepped on Oh My! and screwed things up vis a vis Haley's wishes.


I think Haley "walks the talk" in that she is true to what she believes and what her instincts tell her. But that might have clashed with the views of the executives at Interscope. (see K'naan opinion piece in the NYT)