Barbra Streisand

Coda · October-10th-2006, 10:54 AM

Personally I don't find her music to be all that memorable. I've read several reviews of her recent concert in NYC, here is a snippet:

One of the pleasures of a Streisand concert is hearing this diva of divas live, her voice unembellished by “improvements” carried out in the recording studio.

In her drive for technical perfection, Ms. Streisand has a longstanding tendency to apply too many coats of aural varnish to her records.

She should realize that sounding like an imperfect human being is more expressive than trying to sound like God, and her singing last night was frequently magnificent. Her voice is fuller than it used to be and still drips with the juice most singers begin to lose at 50. (Ms. Streisand is 64).

Am I missing something? I find her as unbearable as Chris A. attending a Wynton Marsalis concert.

Paul B · October-10th-2006, 11:33 AM

I don't think you'll find too many Streisand fans around here. I'd put her a notch below Mr. Marsalis on the list of people I'd go hear--and he's about as low on my list as anybody...

Bye-ya

jazzy mary · October-10th-2006, 11:38 AM

I am with you guys. I wouldn't go to a Streisand concert even if you paid me $100.00. Really, there have to be easier ways to earn $.
I can't abide her singing.

jaka · October-10th-2006, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzy mary

I am with you guys. I wouldn't go to a Streisand concert even if you paid me $100.00. Really, there have to be easier ways to earn $.
I can't abide her singing.

Having misread your post and thinking it was $10000, my first thought was I WOULD even go to a Marsalis/Streisand duet show, but considering the real amount, I'm with you on this.

Valerie · October-10th-2006, 11:52 AM

i don't know whether i'd go to see her in person, whatever the price, but through the years i've certainly enjoyed listening to her for many an hour.

Squaredancecalling Steve · October-10th-2006, 12:11 PM

Streisand worked with a George Bush impersonator, and when a loud heckler persisted she told him to "Shut the f*ck up!"

I used to listen to her sometimes, she did a nice job on "Suppertime" and some others, but I haven't listened in years.

clinthopson · October-10th-2006, 12:21 PM

She's responsible for the generation of skreetching girl singers.

Her evil will live after her.

jazzy mary · October-10th-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaka

Having misread your post and thinking it was $10000, my first thought was I WOULD even go to a Marsalis/Streisand duet show, but considering the real amount, I'm with you on this.

Oh yeah, make it $125.00 (at the minimum) and I would sit through a Streisand show. Actually, would I have to sit through the whole thing--or could I just "clock in", get my check & run? LOL!

Scott Dolan · October-10th-2006, 12:45 PM

Never have been able to understand what people get out of her. Crappy actress, so-so singer, I suppose.

But, I never understood all the hoopla surrounding Sinatra either.

Paul B · October-10th-2006, 01:00 PM

Sinatra is in a whole different league, Mr. D. Someday, late at night, drinking a stiff one at a quiet bar, you'll hear a Sinatra tune on the jukebox and have the epiphany....

Enforcer · October-10th-2006, 01:06 PM

Honestly, I never minded Streisand. I think she had a really nice voice, especially early in her career. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan. But she doesn't really bother me. Well, except for that abortion of an attempt to sing Jingle Bells. "J-j-j-j-j-j-jingle bells, j-j-j-j-j-j-jangle bells." Ouch.

Scott Dolan · October-10th-2006, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

Sinatra is in a whole different league, Mr. D. Someday, late at night, drinking a stiff one at a quiet bar, you'll hear a Sinatra tune on the jukebox and have the epiphany....

I don't deny the possibility.

Gentle Giant · October-10th-2006, 01:20 PM

I'm a fan, unabashedly and unapologetically. She has a magnificent instrument and knows how to use it better than most. I think too often people "hear" her personality rather than her singing. Listen to her early albums, before she became an outspoken movie star and political fundraiser. She took the world by storm for good reason.

That said, I'd rather listen to a CD than see her in concert. Less patter, and much, much cheaper.

Chris D · October-10th-2006, 02:01 PM

She sure sang the hell out of "Stoney End."

Gentle Giant · October-10th-2006, 04:38 PM

Can't Argue With Success Dept. Stats from her website:

For her very first record album, "The Barbra Streisand Album," she won two 1963 Grammy Awards. One of these was Album of the Year; and she was then the youngest artist to have received that award.

She is the first female composer ever to win an Academy Award, this for her song, "Evergreen," the love theme from her 1976 hit film, "A Star Is Born."

With fifty gold albums, she is second in the all-time charts, ahead of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, exceeded only by Elvis. Thus, she is the only artist among the top four all-time gold record sellers who was not part of the rock & roll revolution which has dominated the record business for four decades. Her thirty platinum albums, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, exceeds all other female singers. That organization also noted that she is the only female artist ever to have achieved thirteen multi-platinum albums (including the soundtrack for her motion picture "A Star Is Born"), earning her eight Grammy Awards and Grammy's Lifetime Achievement and Legend Awards in the process.

She continues to be the highest-selling female recording artist ever and has had number one albums in each of the last four decades. Her number one albums span a period of nearly 35 years, the greatest longevity in that statistic for any solo recording artist. A recent poll by the Reuters news agency identified her as the favorite female singer of the 20th Century and Frank Sinatra as the favorite male singer.

Barbra Streisand is the music industry's #1 best-selling female artist and the only female on the RIAA's Top 10 list of artists.

R.I.A.A. Totals as of 5/06
* 50 Gold Albums
* 30 Platinum Albums
* 13 Multi-platinum Albums
* 9 Gold Singles 5 Platinum Singles
* 7 Gold Videos
* 4 Platinum Videos
* 3 Multi-platinum Video

Root Doctor · October-12th-2006, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

She's responsible for the generation of skreetching girl singers.

Her evil will live after her.

Amen to both observations.

Monte Smith · October-12th-2006, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

I'm a fan, unabashedly and unapologetically.

GG explodes the day Brian Wilson collaborates with Barbra on "The Way We Were (Bloated and Self-Involved)."

Dr Dave · October-12th-2006, 09:52 PM

Right up to about 1970 she was magic. She had a huge instrument, yet she managed to keep it in check. Over the course of a song, there might be a moment--no more--when she'd show her power. She was an "actressy" singer, but I don't think she ever "sold" a song.

Then it all went to hell. I like to think the turning point was "The Way We Were," (1973) where the actress finally got the better of the singer. That was followed by "Butterfly" featuring a ludicrous rendition of "Guava Jelly." That's when I stopped listening to her.

Today, I'm in the you-couldn't-pay-me-to-see-her crowd.

stonemonkts · October-12th-2006, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

Sinatra is in a whole different league, Mr. D. Someday, late at night, drinking a stiff one at a quiet bar, you'll hear a Sinatra tune on the jukebox and have the epiphany....

It certainly happened to me. I used to hate him, now I consider him one of the best vocalists I've ever heard. I've been on a Sinatra kick for several months. I can't get enough of his late Capitol/early Reprise years.

Streisand is horrible.

burning dog · October-16th-2006, 07:30 PM

I'd take the $100 a show to hear Streisand if it was a regular gig and in walking distance. Sick pay and holidays mind!

Gentle Giant · October-17th-2006, 10:51 AM

YouTube clips of Barbra and Judy Garland, 1963:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHAgGJ2g1tc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZnp6Txxmao

steve(thelil) · October-17th-2006, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonemonkts

It certainly happened to me. I used to hate him (Sinatra), now I consider him one of the best vocalists I've ever heard. I've been on a Sinatra kick for several months. I can't get enough of his late Capitol/early Reprise years.

As a teenaged hippie type in the 60's,early 70's, I assumed Sinatra stood for the enemy. Originally, like alot of my contemporaries, I originally judged him based on the music of his later years, when his material and voice were not as good as they had been and he had become somewhat of a self-caricature.

He was also judged for factors totally unrelated to his music (the mob stuff, the "broads", the negative comments about rock music, etc.) But his best music - The Capitol Years/ Nelson Riddle stuff - is beautiful.

Witchcraft, baby.