Pure (Hayley Westenra album)


Pure is the first internationally released album by Christchurch, New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra. It became the highest selling New Zealand Album, which Westenra was awarded by at the New Zealand Music Awards of 2004. It was published by the Decca Music Group label in 2003. It was distributed in the United States by Universal Classics in 2004. During its first week of sales it sold 19,068 copies. As of 2007, Pure is the best selling classical album for the 21st century in the UK, and in New Zealand remains the best selling album from a New Zealand artist.
Pure gives a new freshness to well known classical repertoire, as well as exploring the world of pop and traditional Maori choral singing, including renditions of "Who Painted the Moon Black?", "Hine e Hine", "In Trutina", from Orff's Carmina Burana, "Wuthering Heights", and the perennial spiritual classic "Amazing Grace". Sir George Martin co-wrote the track "Beat of Your Heart" just for the album. Also on the album is "Pokarekare Ana", a New Zealand love song which has enduring popularity, and has become Hayley's signature song. "Never Say Goodbye" is an adaptation of the tune from Maurice Ravel's solo piano piece Pavane pour une infante défunte.
Pure topped the New Zealand Album Chart for eighteen weeks, being certified 12x Platinum, as well as topping the Australian and UK Classical Album Charts.
Pure was recorded at Air Lyndhurst, Eastcote Studios, London, England.

Track listing

New Zealand version

  1. Who Painted the Moon Black
  2. Beat of Your Heart
  3. Never Say Goodbye
  4. Dark Waltz
  5. Heaven
  6. In Trutina
  7. Across the Universe of Time
  8. River of Dreams
  9. Wuthering Heights
  10. My Heart and I
  11. Benedictus
  12. Hine E Hine
Collector's edition bonus CD
  1. Pokarekare Ana
  2. Amazing Grace
  3. The Mummers' Dance
  4. Mary Did You Know
  5. Silent Night Holy Night
  6. Away in a Manger

    Australian version

  7. Across The Universe of Time
  8. Never Say Goodbye
  9. Beat of Your Heart
  10. Pokarekare Ana
  11. Who Painted The Moon Black?
  12. River of Dreams
  13. Benedictus
  14. Hine E Hine
  15. Dark Waltz
  16. Amazing Grace
  17. My Heart And I
  18. In Trutina
  19. Heaven
  20. Wuthering Heights
  21. Pokarekare Ana
Collector's edition bonus CD
  1. Silent Night
  2. Away in a Manger
  3. Mary Did You Know
  4. The Mummers' Dance

    UK version

  5. Pokarekare Ana
  6. Never Say Goodbye
  7. Who Painted the Moon Black?
  8. River of Dreams
  9. Benedictus
  10. Hine e Hine
  11. Dark Waltz
  12. Amazing Grace
  13. In Trutina
  14. Beat of Your Heart
  15. Heaven
  16. Wuthering Heights
  17. Hine e Hine
Collector's edition bonus CD
  1. Mary Did You Know
  2. Bridal Ballad
  3. Pokarekare Ana
  4. My Heart And I
  5. Across the Universe of Time
  6. Silent Night, Holy Night
  7. Away in a Manger

    US version

  8. Pokarekare Ana – 3:18
  9. Never Say Goodbye – 3:13
  10. Who Painted the Moon Black? – 3:38
  11. River of Dreams – 4:21
  12. Beat of Your Heart – 3:13
  13. Amazing Grace – 3:42
  14. Benedictus – 3:50
  15. Hine E Hine – 5:06
  16. Across the Universe of Time – 3:42
  17. Dark Waltz – 4:18
  18. In Trutina – 2:22
  19. Heaven – 4:09
  20. Wuthering Heights – 3:44

    Japanese version

  21. ポカレカレ・アナ
  22. ネヴァー・セイ・グッバイ（ラヴェル：亡き王女のためのパヴァヌからの編曲）
  23. フー・ペインティッド・ザ・ムーン・ブラック
  24. リヴァー・オブ・ドリームス
  25. ベネディクトゥス
  26. ヒネ・エ・ヒネ
  27. ダーク・ワルツ
  28. マイ・ハート・アンド・アイ
  29. イン・トゥルティナ
  30. ビート・ユア・ハート
  31. アクロス・ザ・ユニバース・オブ・タイム
  32. ヘヴン
  33. 嵐が丘
  34. ．メアリー・ディド・ユー・ノウ？
  35. ．アメイジング・グレイス

    International version

  36. Pokarekare Ana
  37. Never Say Goodbye
  38. Who Painted the Moon Black
  39. River of Dreams
  40. Benedictus
  41. Hine E Hine
  42. Dark Waltz
  43. Amazing Grace
  44. My Heart & I
  45. In Trutina
  46. Beat of Your Heart
  47. Across the Universe of Time
  48. Heaven
  49. Wuthering Heights

    Personnel

Chart data from the BBC and http://hayleywestenra.com
YearChartPosition
2003UK Classical# 1
2003UK Popentered as # 8
2003UK Top Albumsentered as # 7 ended as # 24
2003New Zealand Pop ChartsStayed # 1 for 18 weeks
2003Australia Pop Chartsentered as # 7
2003Australia Classical Chartsentered as # 1
2003HMV Classical Chartsentered as # 1
2003Hong Kong and Singapore Top 40 Pop Chartsentered as # 6
2004US Billboard's Top 200entered as # 70
2004US Billboard Top HeatseekersPeaked at # 13
2004Crossover chartentered as # 2
2004Internet chartentered as # 34

Sales and certifications