OK, so why is she special. Well let me tell you a story. I will go back now to late march 2004. We went to a concert that night. And it snowed!
Some friends who we often go to concerts with had heard good reports of a young singer called Katherine Jenkins. This was in the days before Katherine's first album was released, and before she became the well known performer that she is now. Our friends were keen to see her, and it so happens that on this particular night she was appearing in Northampton's Derngate Theatre as a support act for Hayley Westenra. Now I had never listened to Hayley properly, although Sue had her album Pure, I just assumed that she was some sort od pale imitiator riding on the success of Charlotte Church. And although I liked Charlotte, I was not a huge fan of her or any other "child singer".
We arrived at the theatre and took our seats. At the start of the concert, a tiny skinny little girl in a green dress walked onto the stage, and looked nervously rounf the theatre. Standing in the spotlight, she reminded me of a rabbit, caught in car headlights. She gave the impression of being scared stiff. Perhaps she was.
I didn't expect much from her to be sure. She adjusted the microphone, then started to sing, the beautiful Maori love song Pokarekare Ana. My mouth dropped open in amazment. WOW WHAT A VOICE! Within seconds there was water in my eyes, and I was hooked. Her voice had the purity of the best boy sopranos, but with a feminine warmth that was truly gorgeous. And technically she was faultless. A truly world class singer I thought. I forgot all about Charlotte Church, this girl blew her out of the water!
When the song finished, I was so overcome that all I could do was mouth a few incoherent grunts at Sue. Hayley had rendered me speechless, as much in total surprise that ANY singer could affect me like that. What I had tried to say to Sue was that that was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. I have heard, but never experienced, love at first sight but this was love at first hearing. I have been a huge fan of Hayley ever since. She was 16 years old at that performance
After that I hardly noticed Katherine, except to note that she must be good not to sound out of place singing with Hayley. And Hayley even welcomed her little brother and sister onto the stage, aged 9 and 13 respectively. That was the most wonderful concert performance I have ever had the privilege to be present at I think, even though I have seen Hayley perform several times since, and I think her voice has become even more beautiful as she has matured.
