Have to regain my manliness after Mr. Dreamy’s song yesterday, so I’m going back to the cute girl well.
Hayley Legg is an Australian with a ton of YouTube videos and her own Web site, which is a great testament to the possibilities afforded a musician in the new technological landscape. She’s unsigned and plays in bars and clubs like aspiring musicians have for eons, but she has a level of exposure unheard of a decade ago.
Whether or not her online efforts have resulted in any CD sales, who knows. But this cover of Outkast’s ‘Hey Ya’ has been viewed more than 54,000 times and it’s one of 70 videos she has posted on YouTube. Impressive.
Meet Me In Montauk 
She’s no Dan Hardin, but she’s cute enough. And she can strum the guitar. And, yes, it’s fascinating how MySpace and YouTube have enabled a musical artist to gain a following without a label or any marketing, or, often, even an album. All you need is talent and drive. After watching a disappointing American Idol last night, I do wonder why artists such as Dan and Hayley don’t seek out that sort of venue to get the national (international) exposure and potential record deals that have otherwise eluded them. Of course, maybe they have, and never got past the audition rounds. I doubt it, though. Regardless, back to Dan Hardin…
I never would have imagined this song performed in this manner. I really like the original (in spite of myself), but this threw me for a loop – in a good way, I guess. A little weird, though – it’s actually like a totally new song so I had to try not to think about and make comparisons to the original while listening to this version.
In any case, she has a lovely voice and I’ve no doubt she has a decent following for her local gigs. Another good find. 🙂
Dan, shman…I find this girl irrepresibly cute and talented. I’m mesmerized. Nice find, Clay.