Barbra Streisand - Love is the Answer (Deluxe Edition)
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Free Music Notes for Love is the Answer (Deluxe Edition)
Free Music Review: The Singing Actress
Hit: 5 Stars
I've been listening to Barbra Streisand since 1964. I still remember being about 11 years old and putting my parents' copy of The Second Barbra Streisand Album on the stereo in our living room. She started "When the Sun Comes Out," and by the time she was finished I was sitting in an easy chair with my mouth hanging open. When I saw My Name is Barbra in 1965, I was hooked for life. But I am by no means a "mindless fan" who thinks every thing she does is manna from Heaven. Still, I wanted to answer some of the reviews on this site that have complained because they feel her voice is not comparable to the way it was in the 1960s. You know, "it's over, she should retire," etc.
First of all, let's cut the lady some slack, shall we? Albums such as My Name is Barbra, The Third Album, People, and Color Me Barbra were recorded about 45 years ago. Did Sinatra sound the way he did in the 1940s in the 1980s? I don't think so. That said, her voice is in remarkable shape. Still, I can empathize somewhat with the devotees of her 60s and even 70s work. One of the most exciting things about listening to a Streisand album in those days was that you never knew WHAT she would sound like from song to song. As Glenn Gould has written, she has an almost "infinite timbral resource" that could go from the wistful, plaintive, pure "Who Will Buy?" on the Second Album to the all-stops out, almost growling "When the Sun Comes Out." Those days do seem to be gone for the most part. But the singing actress is very much with us. Just listen to the quartet version of Smoke Gets in Your Eyes on Disc 2. Pay keen attention to the phrasing. Notice how, in the second chorus when she sings "Now laughing friends deride," that her voice cracks just the tiniest bit -- as if she can't quite reach the note. In the next line, however, she reaches it without any problem. Think this is an accident, that her voice suddenly failed her? Not likely. She's interpreting her "character's" feelings toward the laughter -- feeling the pain as it were. And it makes the whole performance, which is stunning, that much more remarkable.
After listening to Barbra for 45 years, I have never wavered in my judgment that few can match her. She takes a lot of flack, I think partially because she never seems to "suffer" like so many other singers have at one time or another in their careers. She's never been to rehab, had drug or alcohol problems, or severe career slumps like Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Judy Garland, Stevie Nicks, Mariah Carey, fill in your own blanks. She seems untouchable, the master of her own domain -- rich, secure, happily married. Well, all I can say is, anyone who has been singing like this for -- what is it, over 46 years now? -- deserves all the happiness she can get. Love is the Answer is a fine, beautifully crafted late career album. Oh, and before I forget, kudos to Diana Krall and Johnny Mandel also.
Free Music Review: Ask Barbra, she knows!
Hit: 5 Stars
The Deluxe Edition is simply superb. No question, this is unequivocally, one of Streisand's best albums in years!
Barbra Streisand, the entertainment grande dame, returns with one of her most beautiful albums in a long time! With an exquisite cover and marvelous artists at the controls.. Love is the Answer is a truly a marvelous recording. The shimmering strings and harp glissando outro on "Gentle Rain", makes those rainy nights seem irresistible. "Make Someone Happy" can make even the hardest music critic misty eyed. It is any wonder that this album was co-produced by Tommy LiPuma? (he worked with Natalie Cole on her Grammy sweeping tour-de-force "Unforgettable" in 1991.) Not at all, the album is a perfect collaboration between Diana Krall, LiPuma, Streisand and Johnny Mandel. At 67, Streisand's voice is at once both mature and still stunningly beautiful.
What makes this album so fantastic is the conviction in Barbra's voice. She knows better any other vocalist the art of delivery. The emotional clarity, lyric phrasing, depth and how to get across her message through the orchestration and her own innate musical abilities. Not only with the deluxe album is a listen given a chance to hear Streisand with the beautiful orchestral touches of Mandel, but on Disc 2, Diana Krall's genius skills are a beautiful compliment to the "One Voice." The emotion is palpable in and throughout "Love is the Answer".
Streisand doesn't need to gyrate, or hide behind flashy production. She is the master at giving many a listener what they don't know they really want: clarity, emotional, lyrical depth and a vocal ability unmatched.
Why should we rush? Light some candles, put a few logs on the fire for that nippy evening. "Love is the Answer" is an album tailored made for an evening of solitude or that special moment with a lover.
Favourite Tracks: In the Wee Small Hours, Gentle Rain, Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most, Make Someone Happy, A Time For Love, Here's That Rainy Day, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, and Some Other Time are just MARVELOUS with both orchestra and the quartet!
Save yourself the aggravation of reading the Billboard or Entertainment Weekly reviews of the album. Find out how much of a gem our Streisand still is and ALWAYS will be for yourself!!!
Ask Barbra, she knows not only a thing or two about Love and how to "Make Someone Happy" but that indeed, Love is the Answer!
Free Music Review: Let's Give Thanks To Ms Diana Krall and her team Barbra at her Best!!
Hit: 5 Stars
First of all Barbra by far is still our #1 Female singer today no tricks all "voice". With age she sings from the soul and yes can still hit the notes. I prefer disc 2 because Diana Krall brought out a different Barbra in terms of a singer taking on a song in a different direction. Why not do a complete album/CD in a jazzy format believe it or not Barbra in her last two live concerts has done it live, think about it fans. I believe Ms Krall also picked up on the vib when she saw Barbra live and said let me show case this side of the "singer". And remind the public yes Barbra can swing and it's in the pocket with Ms Diana Krall and her great team of players. Diana can throw down with the best and to have Barbra doing the vocals is the cherry on the cake. I very much fore see a live pairing in the future these two Streisand & Krall should tour together in early 2010 swing it Live On The Road. A small tour but oh what a tour it shall be!! Columbia Records and Verve Music Group you really need to consider this a "green light". Also needed our Anthony Wilson, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, Tommy LiPuma, Al Schmitt and a great team to film this for a DVD release. This CD should gather a few Grammys come Febrary 2010 listen up all you Grammys voters this New CD crosses over on many levels music wise. Barbra how's this for a title for the tour "Streisand and Krall A Special Intimacy In Songs". A Time For Love, If You Go Away, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Love Dance, Here's That Rainy Day are the gems here!! Mr. Bill Charlap a man who can play the piano on the Bergman's song You Must Believe In Spring. Diana Krall found the song for Barbra to record. In closing if you enjoy real music then you Must listen to Love is the Answer and as true music luvers "we must keep true music alive". It's a feel good CD from start to finish thanks to Diana Krall. Saw you in concert in July at Red Butle Gardens Amphitheatre in Salt Lake City Utah. You gave a Great funful concert and tore up that piano girl!! Please bring Streisand here next summer 2010 you will once again sell out the Amphitheatre we all had a great time.Luv Always a Streisand & Krall music fan take care!!Free Music Review: ONE OF HER BEST ALBUMS EVER. PERIOD.
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first heard that Diana Krall was producing this album for Barbra I wondered how the end results would sound. Barbra has
always been known as a super-dramatic singer, whereas Diana is the
very essence of icy cool, kind of a latter-day Peggy Lee. I feared
the final product might be an unfortunate clash of styles, but my
fears were misplaced. This is hands down one of Barbra's finest
moments. No, her voice doesn't sound like it did at 30 (or 40 or 50
for that matter) but it is still a sublime instrument with a gorgeous,
unmatchable tone that is still evident. But Barbra's interpretive
powers are at a peak here. This is the most intimate and emotionally
charged batch of songs she has recorded in a long time, and she does
them proud. The arrangements use just the kind of instrumentation
that allows her to flex her muscles without sounding overbearing, and
she dances through this song selection with panache, heartfelt emotion, longing and wisdom that you'd expect from someone who's been
at the top of their game for almost FIVE decades. I can't decide if
I prefer the orchestrated cd over the quartet cd, but the quartet
does allow the listener to experience Barbra in "extreme closeup" as
never before. The closely miked vocals remind me of the sound of
those great old Verve lp's from the 50s. And the song selection is
for the most part just great. Everyone will have their favorites but
I love "Here's To Life", "If You Go Away", "Some Other Time" and "You
Must Believe In Spring" for starters. I'm surprised that some reviews
have said that this cd is boring. Are you kidding me? Are you people
listening to what's being expressed here, or are you waiting to tap
your feet? This is not an "up" album. It's a quiet reflection on life and love that reaps repeated pleasures with each listen, IF you
actually listen. I think Barbra and Diana--and their stellar musical
accompaniment--have done a TREMENDOUS job.
Free Music Review: HERE'S TO BARBRA!
Hit: 5 Stars
In 1972 I was 14 years old and my mom and I went to the movie theater to see "What's Up, Doc?," and I fell in love with Barbra and I've been hopelessly in love with her ever since.
Every moment, every day week month year of my life I can relate it to something to do with Barbra. On April 24, 1977 I went to Washington DC to visit a friend and we went to the Lost & Found and that was where I 'came out' as a gay man. Barbra's 35th birthday... In 1979 and 1980 I went to all sorts of gay clubs and danced to "The Main Event/Fight" and "Enough is Enough" and "Guilty" and "Promises"... In 1985 I was a bar waiter at a club in Pittsburgh that played music videos on the huge screen above the dance floor, and every time Barbra's "Somewhere" video came on, I would stop what I was doing and just stand and love watching it. Ten years later my dad was dying of cancer; on April 24 he took a sudden turn for the worse. I remember looking at him and saying, "Please, Dad, not today, not on Barbra Streisand's birthday." But a few minutes later he died... For a long time afterward I couldn't listen to any Barbra Streisand song. Then one day just by accident I reached for a CD to play and I put it in and suddenly Barbra was singing "People"-- and it was okay.
Barbra came here to Atlanta on Thursday, November 2, 2006, and that forever will be the most unbelievable night of my life. I'd always thought I'd never ever get to see her, hear her sing her songs that were such an important part of my life. I paid over $[...] for the two tickets but it was the best money I've ever spent. Every song Batbra sang, I cried and cried... for happiness. She is the greatest singer ever ever ever.
And this new album is her greatest album ever ever ever. For 24 years I've thought that "The Broadway Album" was her absolute masterpiece and she would never be able to top it, but--- she has topped it with "Love is the Answer."
BARBRA, YOU ARE MAGNIFICENT.