| SPIRIT OF PIAF AND OTHER FRENCH LEGENDS |
- VONKSept 2007 – Ilza Roggeband
“Die album word oorheers deur Piaf en as daar ‘n vrou is wat dit mag doen is dit Helena Hettema … dit is ‘n album vir romantiese siele…vir luister.”
- BEELD 15 Augustus 2007-Anna-Retha Bouwer
“Hettema verlei met ‘n sensuele CD – gee met haar diep stem, lang rollende r'e en ‘n allemintige klomp instrumente lewe aan Piaf.”
- VROUEKEUR – 9 Nov 2007-CjtheDJ – Oppinoot
“Sy beskik oor die perfekte timbre in haar vertolkings … puik produksie …met ‘n wêreldklas interpretasie en meevoerend vertolking…wat stem, siel en tegniek in luisterryke kuns verwerk.”
- CLASSIC FEEL – Oct 2007 “New and exciting”
“Helena Hettema is one of SA's most accomplished cabaret artists …album can be commended for its superb quality of fine musicianship. Her Piaf playfully included a SA feel as the Soweto String Quartet adds a delightful Kwela twist…”
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| This is what the PE critics said that resulted in her winning the Showtime Award from The Herald newspaper in January 2005 for the Best Cabaret at The Barn, Opera House PE. |
- “The voice is there – but cabaret is about emotion and connecting with your audience something at which Helena is a past master…
- “The genuine feeling of someone who has experienced what she is portraying, moved her audience, including more than one male, to tears”. (Roline Norval – The Herald, August 23, 2004.)
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| About Helena's album Divided Heart the Press has written: |
- “South Africa has its own folk poet in the form of singer/songwriter Helena Hettema. This child of the cosmos brings an ethereal, thoughtful vision to Divided Heart, her sixth CD. The result is an evocative, gently stirring album that will enchant the discerning listener. ****(Christina Kennedy –Citizen- 21 June 2004)
- “Sy het haar eie stem gevind, ‘n klank en versameling wat reg aan haar vermoëns laat geskied, tog is dit met haar eie musiek en lirieke wat sy die meeste beïndruk” (Mariana Malan – ****Die Burger – April 2004)
- “An enchanting album. Hettema has honed her songwriting skills ….Celtic quality – sweet music done with great care and simplicity.” (Diane de Beer – Pretoria News – 28 April 2004)
- “Eie komposisies wat haar ryk misterieuse resonante stem en kabaretstyl tot hul voortreflike reg laat kom. ‘n Weldeurdagte verameling eg SA liedjies met ‘n splinternuwe vermenging van die polsende ritmes en eksotiese klanke van instrumente soos die Australiese didgeridoo, Indiese tabla en sitar tot “potbelly” dromme. (Eastern Pretoria – May 2004)
- “Divided Heart boei, voer mee en bekoor. Dit verdien volpunte! DH – deurwinter tog vars, eksotiese maar gestroopte Afrika-aards. Daar is baie sangeresse maar min vertolkers. DH is ‘n spog vertoonvenster vir SA musiektalent. Haar kreatiewe vertolkingsvermoë skitter. Helena Hettema bied fynproewersmusiek.” (CJ the DJ- Vrouekeur -4 Junie – 2004)
- “Sy maak een goeie CD na die ander. Sy skryf haar eie musiek en doen dit baie goed. Sy het ‘n unieke stem. Divided Heart se musiek is sielvol en dwing jou om werklik te luister.” Ilza Roggeband – Huisgenoot – 27 Mei 2004.
- “Een van ons beste sangeresse.” (Rapport)
- Helena has twice been nominated for the Vita Theatre Award for stage performances and for a SAMA Award for her CD “Highlights”. Read more about her career on her website: www.helenahettema.com
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- "Divas Divine" - "And boy can she sing, Hettema has a voice that ranges from crushed silk to wet gravel and she uses it with sensitivity and skill. It was a stirring performance...great opportunity to see one of South Africa's finest performers in action." - Peter van der Merwe - The Pretoria News (22 November 2006)
- "Passionate tribute...Excellent compostions...Sensitive & accomplished pianist" - The Star (Johannesburg)
- "Powerful voice that touches the heart strings" - Business Day (Johannesburg)
- "Top class performer...oodles of talent...Soulful sensitive voice" - Citizen (Johannesburg)
- "She has established herself as one of our most proficient singers" - Beeld (Johannesburg)
- "One of the best cabarets to see the light this year, she has mastered Brel...made it her own" - Noord-Transvaler Metro (Pretoria)
- "Sparkling originality, songwriting talent" - Pretoria News
- "Hettema is multi-textured and resonant, a voice that aches yet soothes" - Weekly Mail and Guardian (Johannesburg)
- "Her music is impressive, mostly because of her remakably deep and resonant voice - the songs touch on a wide range of topics, such as love, peace, the environment, violence and the future" Weekend Argus (Cape Town)
- "Hettema impresses with 2nd CD. This CD (Jasmine Lament) can be regarded as one of the most original local CDs available at present" - Beeld (Johannesburg)
- ''Her interpretations of the music of Piaf and Brel are almost legendary. She is one of South Africa's glossy by-products of the cabaret circuit" - Rooi Rose
- "Hettema spins a mystic web of lost love, longing and raw emotion around her audience" Volksblad (Bloemfontein)
- "Superb piano accompaniment, emotive, sensitive yet authoritative, magnificent poweful voice, casptivating stage presence. Audience in raptures." Botswana
- ''Her renditions are full of fire and passion ...deep, soulful and expressive style. She has star qualitiy ...the presence, vocal power and interpretive skills to spellbind her audience...also a competent composer and lyricist of note" - Audio-Video (review countrywide distribution)
- "Her renditions are passionate and theatrical...with her beautiful voice and interpretative skills we will hear more of this talented singer" -Air Tales (Comair inflight magazine)
- "Helena is deep, lighthearted, witty and intuitive in her songwriting. Hers is a sensitive and soulful performance." The Star and South African Times International (London)
- "Helena sing en sny dieper as die vel. Een van die beste oorspronklike CD's op die plaaslike mark." Marietjie Roos - Beeld (oor die "Fool's Gold" CD)
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