Customer Reviews

Funny Girl: The Original Soundtrack Recording

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The film soundtrack version of the "Funny Girl" score may lack some of the intimacy of it's Broadway counterpart, but Barbra's sensational belting is even more impressive the second time around. The film versions of "I'm The Greatest Star," "You Are Woman," "Sadie, Sadie," and especially "Don't Rain On My Parade" are actually superior to the earlier versions, with Barbra giving even better vocal performances. While it doesn't quite match the superior single version from 1964, the film version of "People" (the third studio recording of the song) is lush and very beautiful in it's own right.

The lovely "I'd Rather Be Blue Over You" and the stunning "My Man" (two of Fanny Brice's standard numbers) are worked into the score and prove to be highlights as does the title song, newly written for the film by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill. It's no surprise that Barbra received the Academy Award for best actress for her work in this film. The "Broadway Cast" album has a more intimate feel to it, but the film soundtrack version of "Funny Girl" is a master work in it's own right and just slightly surpasses the earlier recording.

This newly remastered 2002 edition(above and beyond the previous remastered CD that has the little white sticker added)has "Hello Gorgeous" sound. Everything is crystal clear. The men responsible for the great job are listed on the tray insert, so you know you have the correct edition. The only reason this didn't make 5 stars, as I thought there would be bonus tracks or expanded editions of some of the songs to fit the way they are presented in the film. With 80 minutes of time now available on CDs, this could've been possible. I absolutely adore this film and the score, but as a new edition, and the recent remastering of the film in Technicolor and Digital Sound, it would have been nice to add after the Overture (in the expanded version used on the DVD and Quad album), put the Opening Credits music, which has been presented as the Finale since the first album was released. "Don't Rain On My Parade" never includes the music and the boat whistle when she's running to get the tugboat that happens between "Hey, Mr. Arnstein, here I am" and "I'll march my band out" in front of the Statue of Liberty. "The Swan" is shorter than what was used in the film, and even what was used in the film is edited down. On the DVD I was disappointed that even as bonus footage, The Swan was not reconstructed in its full format prior to editing for the Road Show Release, as this was talked about. You also have the Entr'Acte music from the Intermission, and the music over the credits after My Man, and Exit Music. The Entr'Acte and Exit Music is now included on the DVD. If possible for the 40th Anniversary of the film in 2008, a complete soundtrack with the missing parts could be issued, and with bonus tracks featuring 45RPM single-only studio recordings of Funny Girl, I'd Rather Be Blue Over You and any other song be added on.

Barbra Streisand will forever be linked to the autobiographical Fanny Brice, a role she originally made her own on Broadway in 1964 and in London the following year; immortalised onscreen four years later (earning an Academy Award as well as countless other trophies). On the original soundtrack album, Ms Streisand is in prime vocal condition, though I do prefer her performance on the OBC album just a little bit more, for she is more brash and unkempt and far more vulnerable with her spin on Fanny. In the film, she is more confident and showman-like.

The film score of FUNNY GIRL does vary greatly from it's Broadway counterpart. The roles of Mrs Brice and Eddie Ryan don't get much to sing (with the deletion of "Who Taught Her Everything?" and "Find Yourself a Man"). Fanny's solo numbers "Who Are You Now?" and "The Music That Makes Me Dance" were abandoned in favour of numbers that the real Fanny was famous for ("I'd Rather Be Blue" and "My Man"). I believe the producers committed the cardinal sin with the deletion of "The Music That Makes Me Dance", a ballad far more memorable and moving than the show's big number "People" (and I know a lot of others feel the same way). Nevertheless, the film soundtrack of FUNNY GIRL is the perfect sonic representation of Streisand's greatest hour on celluloid.

I own the earlier Sony CD pressing (which is full of analogue hiss, reverb and noise), yet from what I hear about the more recent "remaster", the quality of the overall recording is virtually the same. Highly-recommended, but don't expect miracles with sound quality.

This movie soundtrack is as good as the Broadway original recording, with Barbra Streisand in both cases. A wonderful musical approach to the life of the divine Fanny Brice from the Zigfeld Follies. Classical songs with Streisand at her very best moment. Not to be missed.

"Funny Girl" was one of the greatest musicals and cast recordings to come ouf of broadway and it created one of the world's greatest performers ever. Happily Barbra Streisand successfully transported herself to film and out came one of the most enjoyable soundtracks ever produced for a film. The film score is so minutely different, the show's composers Styne and Merrill had to take out a couple of songs from the show and wrote the beautiful "Funny Girl" in it's place for the film. This soundtrack tends to in my opinion be more authentic than the original cast recording because they put in non-original material such as "I'd Rather Be Blue Over You (Than Happy with Somebody Else)" written by Billy Rose who would much later marry Fanny Brice and it fits the early 1900's era for which "Funny Girl" is set and Barbra's comedic skills are timeless on this song you may not see it but you can hear it in her voice such as with "The Swan" .Another song they use at the film's climax is "My Man" not only was it a staple in the real Fanny Brice's act it is a power-house. Barbra insisted to sing the first part live on screen and record the latter part it is so effective and you do get all the advantages of this on the soundtrack. One more bonus to this recording is the overture composed for the film is gorgeous and they never played it in the film only on the soundtrack, interestingly they used the the opening theme music from the film as the closing music to the soundtrack. Definitely get this soundtrack it is one of the most delightful scores to one of Hollywood's greatest musicals adapted from the stage and that can't be said too often. "Funny Girl was also one of the last great musicals ever produced out of Hollywood and the linear notes in the CD are informative and fun for musical lovers.

This is the first Barbra Streisand album that I had purchased. The experience of seeing the movie, Funny Girl, in September 1968, forever changed me. By the age of 10, I already had an innate sense of the popular music of the day. Being the youngest of three, I had been exposed to the Beach Boys, the Beatles and every pop song since I was born. But I had yet to experience complete awe and adulation for a singer -- that was until Funny Girl and Barbra Streisand. Not only had I never heard vocals so utterly astounding, I never experienced such an array of emotion from a singer. My virgin ears finally heard perfection and it was the first time I got those famous Streisand goose bumps that so many people had talked and written about.

The brilliant score was written by the legendary Jule Styne and Bob Merrill and included such Streisand classics as "I'm The Greatest Star," "Don't Rain On My Parade" Streisand's signature song, "People."

Ten of the fourteen tracks were sung by Streisand with the exception of "If A Girl Isn't Pretty" and "Roller Skate Rag." "You Are Woman, I Am Man" is an hysterically funny duet with Omar Sharif, and two songs that weren't written by Styne and Merrill; "I'd Rather Be Blue Over You (Than Be Happy With Somebody Else)" and "My Man," a song closely identified with Fanny Brice and Barbra Streisand, demonstrate the depth and range of Streisand's emotion. She could be cooing and joking at one moment on the famous bride number; "His Love Makes Me Beautiful," breaking your heart on the Oscar-nominated title cut written specifically for the film, and send your head reeling with her gutsy and explosive vocals on "Don't Rain On My Parade." All of the songs showcase Streisand's versatility as the actress who sings.

Purists might say the Original Broadway Cast Album from 1964 was better, maybe because they were there to witness the 22 year-old ingénue unknown named Barbra Streisand. But when you take a listen to the vocals and the arrangements on this soundtrack, it's hard to argue with aforementioned songs such as "I'd Rather Be Blue," "People," Don't Rain On My Parade" and the finale of all finale's "My Man." At 25 years old, Streisand never sounded stronger or with sang with more conviction.

How many singers can you name that can belt a song like "I'm The Greatest Star" and get away with it?

Absolutely my favorite musical! Streisand's voice soars on "Don't Rain On My Parade", and has the right note of sadness on "Funny Girl" and "My Man". Even the non-Streisand cuts, "Roller Skate Rag" and "If A Girl Isn't Pretty" are fun. One of the best movie soundtracks ever made.

I am a twelve year old Barbra Streisand fan. I bought this CD, and I absolutely loved it. The songs are lively, and there are times when Barbra tries to sound comical. I had seen the movie before buying it, and I was able to recall all of the moments while listening to the CD. I can listen to this CD over and over. Songs like "I'd Rather be Blue", are catchy and you can imitate Barbra rollerblading. Among the best are "Sadie, Sadie", and "Don't Rain On My Parade." If you are a first time buyer than this CD is worth your money.

When I got this CD I was a ten-yeared Funny Girl fan. Barbara is outstanding(as always) and the songs really bring you back to the movie. The broadway version is just as good and just as full of show stopping tunes to sing to all day. Great buy for your musical collection the sound is very clear and the voices are in not clangy.

In a word, amazing! You will wonder why you have not bought earlier. The score, the story, the emotion, and the truth. All things that help to make Barbra what she has become. It all started here as her first show, and as her first movie. If you like this one, you'll love everything else that comes after. Thank God for Barbra Streisand.