Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Response is needed!!!!!!!, December 24, 2003
By A Customer
While Streisand's strong personality has always evoked strong reactions, some of the comments rating this superb jazzy, slower-tempo, less over-the-top, film noir CD are clearly not aimed at the CD but at the strong reaction that Streisand brings on, even after 43 years in the business. I found particularly offensive the recent review entitled, "Streisand is overrated". The CD and Streisand's work are not reviewed, but we are exposed to an outrageously angry tyrrany about the semitic look in Hollywood!!!!!!!!!!!! Read the review carefully and you will see that the reviewer asks for a call to times when movie and music stars resemble those that he/she actually names. They are all of one type - those that he degrades as pushy and whiny are clearly of a different type, both male and female. The message is clear. However, the reviewer completely misses the point of Streisand, In the 1960s, Hollywood did not go out of its way to create a different role model and try to find Streisand in her Brooklyn high school. Her unusual and remarkable talent and style quickly became wildly popular throughout all ethnic groups and most of the world - the point being that Hollywood did not look to change the way a star looks and acts - Streisand's talent led the change to easily accepted Sarah Jessica Parkers, Adam Sandlers, etc, that the reviewer disaprages but most of the world has made enormously popular. This is a country that fortunately allows all of us to have our opinions, and that reviewer's opinions are quite clear and biased. But, not to recognize that Streisand changed the face of Hollywood through talent and hard work, is to go beyond opinion and alter history. Examination of the popularity of Streisand's work over the past 43 years across all groups and awards such as People's Choice, box office star, most sales of albums by any female artist, etc, etc, should inform the reviewer in question that the landscape has changed and America and the world has embraced this change. Many, myself included, have found Streisand to be actually beautiful, even if in a unique and different way. Have the reviewer watch "What's Up Doc?' and see absolutely no beauty there - they would be wearing tinted/tainted glasses. As for Streisand and the current CD - bravo!! Thank you for maintaining your standards and quality with this different and soothing production!!!
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
May be the best pieces of music I have ever heard, April 4, 2006
Now I know that this album in particular has had really mixed reviews, and I know I may not be completely trusted in giving it five stars amidst many hideous reviews. However, I do believe music is subjectively reviewed, and my opinion may differ from others, so here it is.
This album, is undoubtedly one of my top five Barbra albums ever, if not my favorite, and it may possibly be the best pieces of music ever to reach my ears, heart and soul. I love almost every single song on the album, I love the song choice, the delivery, the orchestration and arrangement, mainly everything.
First things first. Let's settle this issue. Has Barbra lost her voice? Is it deteriorating, and will her next album be croaking? Well, Guilty Pleasures is out, and we all got the answer. But frankly, we didn't need Guilty Pleasures for the answer. Barbra's voice is a little different from previous albums, it's a bit deeper, and the album is in a low kew. However, Barbra's voice is the farthest it can get from deterioration. Its deeper and broader (and sometimes a bit huskier) quality give it a velvety feel which is just sublime. Her voice is still unbelievably beautiful, and in no way worse than any other albums. It is at some of the most emotional it's ever been, and obviously so since the song choice is greatly personal.
There, since we've settled that issue, we go on to the songs.
1. Smile: Before I begin, I am biased when I review this song, it being my favorite song of all time. So, if you want something completely objective, move on to track 2. This song is flawless! Wow! What orchestration, what delivery, what emotion! The violin solo is breathtaking, and the final note with the slight huskiness at its beginning makes me want to weep. I adore this piece, a great opener.
2. Moon River: I never enjoyed the Sinatra cover, but I loved this. Something in Barbra's voice makes this song amazingly romantic. Truly a beautiful number, what an orchestration!(Note: I do prefer this version over that in Just For the Record.)
3. I'm in the Mood For Love: Barbra at 61 can sound a million times sexier (in a beautiful way) than all these young girls singing today put together. This song is so beautifully done, so melodically perfected (even better than that of The Concert) that you feel so romantic you want to fall in love while listening to it.
4. Wild is the Wind: WOW! What a performance, what a song! I have never heard Barbra so emotionally captivated in a melody and lyric(what a lyric), and she becomes an instrument of her own. On a more technical note, watch for the beautiful 22 second final note.
5. Emily: Barbra may be the only singer alive who can make you visualize exactly what she's saying. The way she says Emily in this beautifully caressing way makes you wonder how it was ever meant for a man to sing. This song is one of my favorites, and the way it musically flows is just right. Also, can you think of anyone else who can pronounce the word "visualise" better than Barbra? What a performance.
6. More in Love With You: O.K. This song does take a few listens to understand and comprehend because of its complex arrangement. It takes time to fully get it, but I think it's very beautiful. The violin solo is heavenly. And what an interpretation! I do have one complaint, though. When Barbra's singing the high notes at the end, the music's a bit too loud. It really shouldn't cover up for Barbra's voice, we all know she can hit the notes well (which she does). Other than that, beautiful.
7. How Do You Keep the Music Playing?: This is perhaps, though very far from it, the most "pop" song on the album. I love its classical twist, and Barbra seems very at ease and loving the melody. And is there a more beautiful melodic line than "How do you not run out of new things"...and, hold your breath...."to say?". This line kills me, she sings it perfectly. I adore this song.
8. But Beautiful: I'm gonna burst a few bubbles here and say, I don't really like this song. Its lyrics are kind of.. blah! It just doesn't do it for me. On a more positive note, Barbra's vocals are especially beautiful here.
9. Calling You: Wow!Wow!Wow! I love this song. The melody is one almost none but Barbra can pull off (it is insanely difficult to sing), and it has some of the best lyrics ever! The bookend between the beginning and end is beautiful, and Barbra is obviously in love with this song. Her voice changes to give exactly the right mood for this style. Really, really awesome.
10. The Second Time Around: I'm also going to hated for this one: I don't like this song too much either. It's nice, but not as beautiful as the others. However, I am quite young and inexperienced in the love area, so I may not get this song as much as those who have been through what it talks about.
11. Goodbye for Now: A hint of The Broadway Album and Back to Broadway, but with a beautiful simplicity that wasn't there in the albums. The song is simple, straightforward, but unforgettable. The lyrics are clear but complex, and Barbra sings it as if she is really in the middle of a conversation. It really does come to show you that it also takes a great actress to sing these songs the way Barbra does.
12. You're Gonna Hear From Me: Showstopper! I love this sensational song, done beautifully. Classic Barbra! My one complaint is if it were more uptempo, it probably would have been more effective. It seems to be lagging a bit. However, Barbra is in her comfort zone, she knows exactly what she's doing, and the end growl is incapable of being a greater sign of Barbra's timeless vocal abilities.
I adore this album. It's quite slow, and may need to be listened to in small pieces because of its complexity, but it is undoubtedly one of my all time favorite Streisand albums and definitely some of the best music I have ever heard.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just when one might think it's over...., January 26, 2004
By A Customer
....she does it again. Of course we know there are the "Barbra-Haters" out there...their heads shoved far up their collective fundaments...bleating their mindless chatter, pretending what they blather is a "review" of a project. But...most know better...and are not fooled by such empty-headed meanderings.It simply amazes me how this woman can continue to produce records with a vocal quality that defies her age. Come on...Mariah Carey is but a child compared to Barbra...yet Mariah's pipes are giving out as I write this...as are Whitney's...perhaps Celine will be Barbra's only equal in this regard. Time will tell. Barbra continues to deliver with a set of pipes that ceased to age at around...oh...35 with "Songbird". Playing this recording side by side with that album and her albums of that era...the vocal quality is identical...the vocal delivery, lyrical interpretation...the power and artistic expression, phrasing and exquisite precision of each note and lyric...hasn't diminished one...single...iota. And any honest musician will admit this. It's rare to see this sort of purity in a voice over 60 years old. Somewhere around the age of 35 her voice developed this lower register...enabling her to delve into the deeper portions of her voice, allowing her a place to growl and purr...delivering to the listener yet another new and delightful place to enjoy her music. It seems strange to say...but at this rate it's not hard to imagine 20 more years of recordings from Streisand. Again...time will tell. I am a huge fan of her music before 1970...her voice then had this raw, intense, emotionally-charged quality...and you can hear that after she turned 30, it changed...but it never got worse...most would agree that it got better (decide for yourself)...her voice then was powerful and genius...but even she admits it was a bit shrieky and tinny and out of control at times...but I, for one, loved it. In no place does she sing better than on "When The Sun Comes Out" or "Never Will I Marry" or any song on her first 3 albums. Now, for the past 30 years we've had the same voice we're hearing now...it's still in top form, no question...and she is still the most precise of singers...the most lyrically interpretive...and is so finely attuned to the musical experience that it's virtually impossible to get a bad song from her. There are no flat notes...as one "politically-aggressive" poster barked...Streisand is perhaps one of only about 3 vocalists with perfect pitch (yes, I realize perfect pitch doesn't indicate an ability to stay in tune) and a perfect ear for intonation. Even live, I don't ever recall an "off" note. Simply put, Streisand is obviousy many years removed from being "retired" from singing...and that galls these "politically-aggressive" fools who make these ridiculous attempts at a "critique"...usually give themselves away by never actually saying anything *about* the project they are allegedly "critiquing". I am delighted with Barbra's latest release...delighted to hear that her voice not only has not diminished...but in some ways has flourished and matured...and am secure in the knowledge that Barbra will continue to deliver to the world and to her fans new music that soars in the manner only achievable by a very, very select few in the annals of musical history. Barbra Streisand is the greatest female entertainer of all time...and this latest recording only serves to underscore this well-known and observable fact.
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