Saturday 23 August 2014

Barbra Streisand: One Of A Kind



Barbra Streisand:  One Of A Kind

          Barbra Streisand was in an all-white gown with the neck covered with fine fabric. There were some beads near the shoulders that glittered. Robin Williams did the opening act, all ad libs. Streisand had belted out four songs and all were warmly applauded. She paused, sipped tea and positioned herself on a stool. She looked at the audience, closed her eyes for a few seconds and started singing her 5th song for the night: "Isn't it rich, aren't we a pair?...Me here at last on the ground...You in mid-air...Send in the clowns...Isn't it bliss, don't you approve...One who keeps tearing around...One who can't move...Where are the clowns?....Send in the clowns."

Robin Williams performs the short opening act:  "I am $50 of the ticket price of $5,000."

With artificial smog as special stage effect, Streisand appears from the backstage, singing "Somewhere" to the thunderous applause of the crowd at her Malibu Ranch. (allaboutbarbrapic; caption is mine)

Streisand sings "Evergreen", theme song from the movie "A Star is Born":  "Love soft as an easy chair, love fresh as the morning air." The song garnered numerous awards for composers Streisand and Paul Williams.  The movie was a box office smash, earning $80,000,000. (article.wn pic; caption is mine)

Streisand's fifth song for the night, "Send in the Clowns", is perhaps the most poignant rendition of Sondheim's song. (shelf3dpic; caption is mine)

          Streisand was emoting, doing justice to Stephen Sondheim's song. She had that countenance that connected her easily to her viewers. The crowd was spellbound, captivated by a voice that was distinctively Streisand: "Just when I stopped opening doors...Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours...Making my entrance again with my usual flair...Sure of my lines no one is there." Many were teary eyed; some were holding back. For the song tells of lost love, of love that was not meant to be.


While singing Send in the Clowns, camera is focused on Barbra's face. She does it with feeling. Anything she expresses, it seems to come from the heart. She produces strong audience impact.  (barbrastreisandpic; caption is mine)

Streisand establishes rapport with the audience and then conveys the meaning of the song through good interpretation, superb voice quality and excellent facial expression. She connects with the audience at once and sustains it till the end of the show. (barbrastsreisandpic; caption is mine)
Holding back the tears
Another lady wiping her tears

        Barbra Streisand is Barbra Streisand. She is perhaps the most accomplished female singer of all time. All her albums were best sellers and all her concerts raked in money. For ten songs at a conference, for instance, she is paid more than $3 million. Streisand's net worth today is about $340 million. She is a kindhearted person who regularly donates millions to charities or foundations.

Streisand at home.  She is an authority in Interior Design. (thetelegraph pic; caption is mine)

Streisand's $13 million Malibu Mansion. She has donated this property to the State of California. (dailynewspic; caption is mine)

Streisand's Malibu property is overlooking the Pacific Ocean (zimbiopic; caption is mine)

Another shot of Streisand's Malibu Mansion (celebrityhomespic; caption is mine)

Beautiful landscaping at Streisand's vast Malibu Estate (urbansplatterpic; caption is mine)

A cozy place (urbansplatterpic; caption is mine)

(See video tour of Barbra Streisand's Malibu Ranch below)


          Streisand is a die-hard Democrat. She is identified with the Clinton Democrats. She helps in fund-raising activities. She expresses pro-environmental views and concerns. At 72, Streisand is still active and does not intend yet to rest on her laurels: 2 Academy Awards, 5 Emmy Awards, 8 Golden Globes, 3 People's Choice Awards, 2 Crystal Awards, 2 ASCAP Awards and many more. She plans to make duets albums with famous singers such as Michael Buble, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Andrea Bocelli, John Legend, son Jason Gould and, yes, Elvis Presley.

Barbra sings "Evergreen" at President Clinton's Inaugural Gala. (nothingimpossiblepic; caption is mine)

Streisand introduces President Clinton at the Inaugural Gala. (people.com pic; caption is mine)

President Bill Clinton and Barbra Streisand at the Inaugural Gala (dailynewspic; caption is mine)

Barbra was nominated for Best Director for the movie "The Prince of Tides" in 1991. (nothingsimpossiblepic; caption is mine)

Barbra Streisand with husband James Brolin (zimbiopic; caption is mine)

Old photo shows Barbra Streisand with first husband Elliot Gould and son Jason. (wikipic; caption is mine)

Barbra wins the Grammy Living Legend Award. (nothingisimpossiblepic; caption is mine)

Streisand with son Jason Gould on board their customized black Ford Explorer (allaboutbarbrapic; caption is mine)

          Back to the concert. Her audience that night included Whitney Houston, Sheena Easton, Bruce Willis, Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, Sydney Pollack, Jack Nicholson, Burt Bacharach, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Barbara Walters, Hugh Hefner, Barbara Jordan and Sen. Allan Cranston, among others. They, too, were mesmerized. And Streisand, that precise moment, was dropping the coup de grace in dramatic fashion: 


"Don't you love farce? My fault I fear
I thought you would want what I want
Sorry my dear but where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns, quick send in the clowns." 


"What a surprise, who could foresee?
I've come to feel about you what you feel about me
Why only now when I see you've drifted away
What a surprise, what a cliche"


"Isn't it rich, isn't it queer?
Losing my timing this late in my career
And where are the clowns? Quick send in the clowns. 
Don't bother, they're here."


- Konted
Youtube Send In The Clowns:
Streisand in her best element that night. (akosupafepic; caption is mine)

Streisand singing with the BeeGees' Barry Gibb, "Guilty" and "What Kind of Fool". Barry Gibb composed the song "Guilty" for Streisand's album which won a Grammy Award.(yourepeatpic; caption is mine)

Another Streisand signature song:  "The Way We Were". (pinterestpic; caption is mine)

The concert One Voice held at Streisand's Malibu Ranch in California.
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