Customer Reviews

Je M'Appelle Barbra

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This album devoted to songs penned by French composers marks Streisand's first collaboration with producer/composer Michael Legrand, whom would go on to write the brilliant score for Yentl in 1983. It provides the singer with a bit of challenge, seeing that it calls upon her to sing not only in English but also French for the first time as well. Not surprisingly, she pulls off the numbers splendidly and JE M'APPELLE BARBRA is yet another exceptional release from Streisand's sixties catalogue. Barbra gives definitive renditions of the French classics "Autumn Leaves," "Clopin Clopant," "Speak To Me Of Love," and the breathtaking "Once Upon A Summertime." The lessor-known material ("What Now My Love," "I Wish You Love") is just as good, with "Free Again" (which had been performed in French as "Non C'est Rien" on Color Me Barbra) standing strong as one of her most amazing vocal performances. The disc also finds Barbra composing her first melody ("Ma Premiere Chanson," which showcases her considerable writing talent in it's early stages), as well as tackling a song that was originally written for Edith Piaf ("Le Mer"), on which Streisand really excels. A delightful departure for the singer, JE M'APPELLE BARBRA Barbra became Streisand's 8 straight Top Five album on the Billboard Hot 200 and eventually went Gold several years later.

Je suis un fan Français de Barbra Streisand depuis 18 ans. "Je m'Appelle Barbra" est à mon avis, le meilleur album français/anglais enregistré ce jour par une chanteuses. Même Yves Montand n'arrive pas à faire oublier l'interprétation de Barbra dans "Les Feuilles Mortes". Barbra Streisand est l'équivalent de Edith Piaf... deux très grandes chanteuses à voix, dont l'interprétation bouleverse. De plus en plus rare de nos jours ou toutes ses chanteuses ditent à voix, ne font que crier... Américain vous ne savez pas la chance que vous avez de posséder une si grande vocaliste dans votre culture musicale.

Streisand, at the height of her 60's-phase, is flamboyantly "Barbra" on this album. At times quiet and touching, and then loud and over the top, this album is a mixture of styles and quite good.

"Ma Premiere Chanson" is Barbra's "first song". It is simple and elegant. "I Wish You Love" is performed as a swinging revenge song. I love Barbra's reading of the lyric here -- she sounds like she's seething with anger: "And in Julyyyy, a lemonade, to coooool you in a leafy glade..." It's really wonderful.

"Martina" is very moving. And "Once Upon A Summertime" and "Autumn Leaves" are brilliant, classic songs which lend authority to this album. Barbra's performances are flawless and the arrangements are quite beautiful.

I don't have many of Streisand's albums because I have only recently become a fan, however I have been collecting as quickly as possible. This is my favorite so far. MARTINA is heart-breaking, FREE AGAIN is also, and Barbra adds great poignancy to the French songs, even though I don't know what the lyrics mean I have a general ideal because of her brilliance as an actress.

I just bought the cd to replace a well worn vinyl copy. This album includes some songs which remain obscure (martina, le mur) but which are among the best barbra has recorded. the arrangements by michel legrand (YENTL) are absolutely stunning and, except for "what now my love" which was arranged by ray ellis (the one responsible for the strings on Billie Holiday's LADY IN SATIN), still sound classic and contemporary all at once. a special highlight is the beginning of autumn leaves with just voice and violin. here's hoping barbra does another bilingual album!

Out of the 60+ albums of an artist whose career has spanned over 45 years, I would have to choose this one as my favorite. Barbra's voice, in 1966, was at its youthful peak. Her presentation and phrasing are unique and excellent, and the fact that the album is half in French gives it a touch of sophistication and culture, so much so that I don't believe it can ever be equalled by any other American artist. The CD begins powerfully as "Free Again" and Barbra's interpretation of the very popular and oft-covered "What Now My Love" elevate popular music to nearly an operatic level, with the latter in particular being a tour de force all by itself. "Autumn Leaves" is supremely tasteful in its elegant spareness of production - just Barbra and strings. "Ma Premiere Chanson", "Speak to Me of Love" and "Once Upon a Summertime" are as drenched in French atmosphere as a stroll down the Champs-Elysees at sunset. In "I Wish You Love", as with "What Now My Love", Barbra shows her artistry with both ballads and up-tempos in one song. (This song, by the way, was used to haunting effect in the film "Eye of the Beholder", but it wasn't Barbra's version.) And "I've Been Here" sounds fiercely triumphant in both the English version and the French ("Le Mur"). Alors, Mesdames et Messieurs, popular adult contemporary music just doesn't get any better than this, the creme de la creme from a timeless artist who strives for excellence and perfection in each and every endeavor. There's help from modern technology, too; the digital remastering makes something that sounded wondrous in 1966 sound even better.

this has always been one of my very favorite streisand albums... i first listened to it when it came out, and the intensity and beauty of this recording really spoke to my teenage intensity... this album shows the greatness of barbra streisand's range and emotional intensity.. it was among the first i purchased on cd when i replaced my lp streisand collection....

one of miss streisands most ambitious albums a very romantic yet powerful tour de force,the material is exceptionally well chosen one of the songs , le mur was written for piaf herself and michel legrand's orchestration is miraculous.

Remarkable albeit unexpected--these songs are pure early Streisand, and it's fun to think that this album was only four years before "Stony End" and then "Barbra Joan Streisand"--Barbra's entry into 70's rock. Her metamorphosis as an artist is mind-boggling. Never content to sit on her laurels, this album demonstrates that even in her youth, Barbra was struggling to push the artistic envelope and--lucky for us all--her body of work has been the most dynamic in recorded history. C'est Bon!

I loved this album because it has such a fresh sound from her prior albums and utilizes material with which she feels intimate. This album was also recorded in a time period where she was becoming more comfortable with her voice and it shows. A definate jewel in her collection and one of the top 5 albums that I consider my favorites!