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Barbra: The Music...The Mem'ries...The Magic!
As the legendary Barbra Streisand approaches her 75th birthday, I was thrilled that I was able to view her latest concert experience before her birthday in April. This 2017 concert documents why this consummate artist continues to pack venues after 50 years in the business and if you're a Streisand-hater, stop reading now.
It started back in 1984 when Streisand agreed to do a fund raising concert in her own backyard called One Voice for nuclear disarmament. It would be the first time that Streisand would sing in public in 20 years. She charged $5000 a ticket and everyone who is anyone in Hollywood showed up and it eventually wound up on HBO. Since then, Barbra has been getting her act together and taking it on the road for almost three decades now, filling venues everywhere and proving that there still is an audience out there that adores this woman.
I have to admit that there was a dash of bittersweet that swept over me as I watched this concert. It's taken me awhile to reconcile myself to the fact that the singularly unique instrument that is the voice of Barbra Streisand, is not what it used to be and that's OK. What I've come to understand after watching One Voice and this concert, is that Streisand is aware of this as well and has adapted her choice of concert material to reflect that. Some of the vocal acrobatics that Barbra used to thrill us with are no longer possible, but she knows this and it has forced her to redefine herself as an artist and seek out music that she is still vocally capable of but still brings her audience exactly what they want to hear.
What I loved about this particular concert is that because she can't sing the way she used to, this concert found Barbra digging out some underrated gems from the past that she hasn't performed in a LONG time, like "Everything" from A Star is Born and "Isn't this Better?" from Funny Lady that might not be as theatrically exciting as some of the songs we expect from Barbra, but were equally effective, because Barbra makes each song a performance, like no other artist. I also continue to be impressed by the fact that, no matter how many times Barbra has sung some of these songs, she never performs a song the same way twice. Streisand also impresses with a surprise guest star and their choice of duet was even more surprising.
The film covers her arrival in Miami, offers some rehearsal footage and an overlong eulogy to her recently deceased dog Samantha. As always with concert films, we also get a lot of audience shots and with a Streisand concert, there are three things you are always going to see: Someone mouthing every word to every song, someone completely mesmerized, and someone wiping tears from their eyes. Yes, it's only for a specific fanbase, but if you love Barbra the way I do, celebrate her upcoming 75th birthday with this melodic and nostalgic musical feast.
As the legendary Barbra Streisand approaches her 75th birthday, I was thrilled that I was able to view her latest concert experience before her birthday in April. This 2017 concert documents why this consummate artist continues to pack venues after 50 years in the business and if you're a Streisand-hater, stop reading now.
It started back in 1984 when Streisand agreed to do a fund raising concert in her own backyard called One Voice for nuclear disarmament. It would be the first time that Streisand would sing in public in 20 years. She charged $5000 a ticket and everyone who is anyone in Hollywood showed up and it eventually wound up on HBO. Since then, Barbra has been getting her act together and taking it on the road for almost three decades now, filling venues everywhere and proving that there still is an audience out there that adores this woman.
I have to admit that there was a dash of bittersweet that swept over me as I watched this concert. It's taken me awhile to reconcile myself to the fact that the singularly unique instrument that is the voice of Barbra Streisand, is not what it used to be and that's OK. What I've come to understand after watching One Voice and this concert, is that Streisand is aware of this as well and has adapted her choice of concert material to reflect that. Some of the vocal acrobatics that Barbra used to thrill us with are no longer possible, but she knows this and it has forced her to redefine herself as an artist and seek out music that she is still vocally capable of but still brings her audience exactly what they want to hear.
What I loved about this particular concert is that because she can't sing the way she used to, this concert found Barbra digging out some underrated gems from the past that she hasn't performed in a LONG time, like "Everything" from A Star is Born and "Isn't this Better?" from Funny Lady that might not be as theatrically exciting as some of the songs we expect from Barbra, but were equally effective, because Barbra makes each song a performance, like no other artist. I also continue to be impressed by the fact that, no matter how many times Barbra has sung some of these songs, she never performs a song the same way twice. Streisand also impresses with a surprise guest star and their choice of duet was even more surprising.
The film covers her arrival in Miami, offers some rehearsal footage and an overlong eulogy to her recently deceased dog Samantha. As always with concert films, we also get a lot of audience shots and with a Streisand concert, there are three things you are always going to see: Someone mouthing every word to every song, someone completely mesmerized, and someone wiping tears from their eyes. Yes, it's only for a specific fanbase, but if you love Barbra the way I do, celebrate her upcoming 75th birthday with this melodic and nostalgic musical feast.