Why Are We Here?

[buzzenator]

The age old question: Why are we here?

I thought a thread about why we are here would make a lot of sense for everyone to express themselves as to why they joined HF.com.

Typical responses could be:

1. I love Haley Reinhart!
2. I love Haley Reinhart and would love to hear from others on the subject.
3. I love good music and Haley Reinhart embodies the whole concept of good music.
4. I love Miguel and Haley Reinhart.
5. I hate Randy Jackson.
6. I'm not sure what I love, but I could be influenced.
7. I post therefore I am.
8. What's the question?
9. It's my lucky number and Haley's too.

Ok, so I'll go first. I'm here because Miguel started this site when the Idoloonies comment thread broke down in July, 2011 after a record 3600 comments. He had the foresight to continue the discussion about Haley that seemed to take on a life of its own from the Michael Slezak 5-part interview. I have enjoyed the ability of Miguel to moderate this site without the childish drama that some forums display. He has maintained a consistent approach while allowing a diversity of opinions on the primary topic of Haley Reinhart. It's a great forum and we are all pulling in the same direction for Haley Reinhart.

[Swansteel]

I'm here because I love Haley Reinhart and wanted an outlet to discuss her and her career. I had enjoyed being a member of Siofan.com back when I was a Siobhan Magnus fan (now I don't give a hoot about her) and was eager to join a similar forum about Haley. I tried a few fan sites that never took off and eventually crumbled away to nothingness or drifted off into the internet winds. I tried Twitter for a while, but how much can you express in 140 characters or less? Besides, I finally decided I was wasting too much time reading about what too many other people were doing with every minute of their lives (I still use Twitter, just in a modified way). I had enjoyed the Idoloonies comment thread while it lasted and never even realized that it was that forum that gave rise to this one (very interesting tidbit).

As far as why I love Haley so much? I suppose there are many reasons, most of which have been talked about already in this very site. What it all boils down to for me, really, is the music. I love music. I especially love music that touches my soul and means more than a good beat or top 40 popularity. Haley loves music too and it comes through in her singing. I actually get excited about a singer when I hear Haley. For me, she represents what music is all about. Best of all, she makes me look forward to the future and what she will do next.

[cherelann]

When things got a little cray-cray at Idoloonies Miguel posted that he was starting a forum for Haley fans so I clicked my way here. I have stayed around because I find the members to be fun, intelligent & humorous.

Although I don't post often, I am here everyday enjoying the friendly banter & being updated on all things Haley. Miguel has done a tremendous job of keeping us informed & prevented the trolls & spammers from annoying us.

Of course, it's the music that rings my bell...what was the question oh, yeah, my lucky number is 8.

Also, I noticed that I was given another star & the title of senior member so I guess it is not how often you post, but how often you show up that counts.

[Reinharted♥]

I'm here basically because I Haley and everything about her. I never loved an artist as much as I love her now. She's more than my favorite singer, she's probably my favorite person(haha!) And as a fan who lives thousands of miles away from her, this site keeps me updated and makes me feel even a bit closer to her. It also allows me to confess things that a non-Halien won't understand. And it's really amazing to know that I'm not alone in my Halien thoughts and dreams.

[makefigure8s]

I am a 3678

[Himm2]

Sure I'm here for the obvious reasons...worship & enhancement of the Halien/Reinhart Empire but an almost equally important reason is friendship with my fellow Haliens. I started on a Reality TV message board over 10 years ago and found it to be a wonderful social experience of meeting friends from all over the country & world. My wife doesn't watch TV much and was only involved in American Idol during Haley's Season so I need an outlet to discuss my thoughts, observations & feelings since I can't do so at home.

Thanks my fellow Halien friends (esp. Miguel) for making this a warm & friendly social gathering place.

[ISCAT4HALEY]

I joined Miguel’s site for a number of reasons.

Of course, as with you guys, I am in awe of Haley’s gift. She sings as no other artist does for me. When I hear her perform she delivers the song better than I could ever imagine it in my head. Her music hits me just right. I remember reading that the reason Burt Bacharach loved Dionne Warwick singing his songs is because she sang them exactly as he envisioned it in his head when he and Hal David were writing them. I am not a composer and don’t know how a song should sound but after Haley performs a song I feel exactly the same way. It is hard for me to explain. And only one other artist does this to me. This forum enables me to express these feelings I have in a way I cannot elsewhere. I discuss Haley’s music with my friends and although they think she is very talented, they are not as captivated with her as we are so I don’t talk very long or in much detail.

Another reason is I’ve never been able to follow an artist starting from the ground floor, some of you started following Haley from the basement, and enjoy the experience and the ride as I have with Haley as she grows and becomes more and more known in the music industry and throughout the world. It is quite fun and exciting. I don’t know where she will eventually land, but she has already accomplished so much and inspired so many people that she is and will continue to be a success no matter what. This site is a great and invaluable source of information about Haley’s career growth. I really don’t know how you guys do it. Miguel and some of you others must work for the CIA. This leads me to my last and most important reason for joining.

I had been a lurker for over a year reaping the benefits from all of your hard work in sharing news about Haley. I know you love to do it, but it still takes time and effort. I just wanted to join and say thank you. I try to do this as much as I can. What impresses me about Haliens is how good natured and funny you are, some of you quite the comedian, the many talents you have such as capturing audio and videos of Haley and her wonderful family, social networking and internet perusing to gather information about the latest scoop on Haley, the artistic Haley inspirations and just your overall music knowledge, I learn a lot. I think that Haley’s fan base is just a reflection of her good character.

[suggahinyerteeth]

I joined Miguel’s site for a number of reasons.

Of course, as with you guys, I am in awe of Haley’s gift. She sings as no other artist does for me. When I hear her perform she delivers the song better than I could ever imagine it in my head. Her music hits me just right. I remember reading that the reason Burt Bacharach loved Dionne Warwick singing his songs is because she sang them exactly as he envisioned it in his head when he and Hal David were writing them. I am not a composer and don’t know how a song should sound but after Haley performs a song I feel exactly the same way. It is hard for me to explain. And only one other artist does this to me. This forum enables me to express these feelings I have in a way I cannot elsewhere. I discuss Haley’s music with my friends and although they think she is very talented, they are not as captivated with her as we are so I don’t talk very long or in much detail.

Another reason is I’ve never been able to follow an artist starting from the ground floor, some of you started following Haley from the basement, and enjoy the experience and the ride as I have with Haley as she grows and becomes more and more known in the music industry and throughout the world. It is quite fun and exciting. I don’t know where she will eventually land, but she has already accomplished so much and inspired so many people that she is and will continue to be a success no matter what. This site is a great and invaluable source of information about Haley’s career growth. I really don’t know how you guys do it. Miguel and some of you others must work for the CIA. This leads me to my last and most important reason for joining.

I had been a lurker for over a year reaping the benefits from all of your hard work in sharing news about Haley. I know you love to do it, but it still takes time and effort. I just wanted to join and say thank you. I try to do this as much as I can. What impresses me about Haliens is how good natured and funny you are, some of you quite the comedian, the many talents you have such as capturing audio and videos of Haley and her wonderful family, social networking and internet perusing to gather information about the latest scoop on Haley, the artistic Haley inspirations and just your overall music knowledge, I learn a lot. I think that Haley’s fan base is just a reflection of her good character.

^THIS^ I feel the same way. Thanks Iscat for saving me a lot of typing

[Babbs234]

I am here because number one, I love everything about Haley. Her looks, her smile, her style, and of course her music! It's hard to articulate just how she draws you in. She just has something sooooo special about her that the other artists don't have. I have always loved music, and attended many concerts and such over the years. I even married a musician! But have never followed anyone like this.

I have enjoyed so much following Haley's rise in the music industry, and watching her grow and become more well known. It has been interesting learning a little about the music business and how it works, learning names of producers, songwriters, how songs are written and recorded etc.

Miguel runs a wonderful site here, and I appreciate all his hard work to keep us updated on all things Haley. And you Haliens on this site are a friendly group and I have enjoyed interacting with all of you. I actually joined HF and IDF after having met Himm and Tusk at Haley gigs!

I started following Haley back in Hollywood week on American Idol and cheered her on from the sidelines. I followed Idoloonies and saw the comments that people were moving to a new forum, but didn't realize it was this site. It has been so nice to be able share my thoughts and feelings about Haley here, as I really can't do that at home, or with my friends too much.

Having met Haley's parents and attending several of their gigs has also made it special for me. You can see where Haley gets some her fashion choices from, her charm, her stage presence etc. It's been a fun ride and I am a fan for life.

[BrandHaley]

WOW!!! I see I haven’t logged in for 6 months! But I’ve been here (almost daily) being the non- contributing consumer of all the great efforts so many of you put in to this forum. (Why am I admitting to this?!?!?...anyway,….). Believe me, we are all the better for it that I mainly watch from my quiet bleacher seat! Eloquence-challenged, no video equipment to my name, a passport unstamped by any of the momentous venues of Haleydom, and yet you frequent flyers are all so generous in sharing your own experiences and insights. Thank you all!
Together, those are some of the reasons why I am here.
In addition, I basically am here because Haley won’t let me leave! She’s got all of us in her spider web, and as long as she does, we’re here! So it’s all her fault!
How she made that happen started out for me as a rather slow burn. But then came Moanin’ and I was totally owned! Before that life-changing moment in Season 10 I had been fairly pining for Pia. I had noticed Haley as a cute kid with a great voice, but there was something about her taking off on that Moanin’ romp that made AI transform into the likes of a grade school talent show. Except for Haley! Her looks, her drama, her comfort performing in that genre, her confidence, the scatting, the range and whistle notes, and the synergy between her and Casey…..it was all a game-changer for me.
That was the pull.
The push was much more visceral. It was when randy Jackson assaulted her with that blistering attack following her rendition of Earth Song. Every cell in my body wanted him to cease and desist, and it didn’t really matter much to me how it was done, as long as it included nigel lythgoe, as well.
The damsel was certainly in distress and some of us took that personally. In doing so, it galvanized a thong of fans who were already prepared to crown her American Idol of the century on talent and presentation alone. After that, those of us who became crazed Haliens needed a place to rendezvous or we would individually be seeking 12-step programs for a touch of OCD. How else can we explain our radar for knowledge of every detail and moment of her life, her friends, family, pet (may he RIP), vitae of all her band members (did you know Neara Russell played the glockenspiel in high school?!?), co-song writers, producers, et al; the movie credits of her favorite movie, the medical history of her next-door neighbor, ad infinitum.
As is the case with many here I have been on other forums and fan sites but this one has been the one I keep coming to, and is now the only one I follow. Miguel steers a great forum and consistently goes deep on research and interesting in his own comments. If he could somehow make it a little boring and off topic it would be a whole lot easier to avoid. Until then I am probably pleasantly stuck here.