…COULD WE?
For the past month I’ve been excited about the upcoming release of this CD. Moving into 36 years now, I still get excited upon knowing that there is a new Barbra Streisand record on the way. The difference from being 4 years old and 40 moving into the 41st year is that I am not so open about my excitement. It’s not cool. Whatever.
Anyway, I got it tonight.
I plugged it in and laid down to get lost in that voice.
It’s not that the her performance was bad. I mean, this was the biggest selling concert tour of 2006 and it set records all over the country. But, this is the first time I have heard that voice unable to hold notes, hit the high ones and just old.
I had to turn it off in the middle of the 9th track.
I put disc one back in the jewel box and placed it in my CD cabinet. …where I guess it will stay.
It made me sad. Actually, it makes me real sad.
I will never listen to it again.
Matty's Bit Of Space 
ing replied:
Oh, I’m so sorry!
May 8, 2007 at 8:25 pm. Permalink.
Dessie replied:
hug for Matty 😦
May 8, 2007 at 9:49 pm. Permalink.
hot lunch replied:
oh Matty ! 😦 *big hugs*
May 9, 2007 at 8:39 am. Permalink.
ginab replied:
geez matty I’m sorry. seems someone would have said something, earlier? there’s nothing tacky in enjoying an artist so much as there is something downright criminal about throwing her out there like a trinket to sing and to dance for the money, when she can’t anymore.
-ginab
May 9, 2007 at 12:43 pm. Permalink.
Old Cheeser replied:
Oh nooo! Does her voice really sound that bad? Surely she’s not doing too badly for someone…ahem, her…age??
Sounds a bit like Kate Bush actually. If you listen to her voice on “Aerial” it’s not what it used to be. On some of the tracks her voice is dangerously off key and it’s rather sad. Apparently Ms Bush has a liking for red wine and wacky baccy and maybe that’s what’s taken its toll.
Do you think Ms Streisand has spent too many nights caning it – hence the reduced vocal performance?
May 9, 2007 at 3:01 pm. Permalink.
matty03 replied:
Ing, Dessie & Hot Lunch – LOL! Thanks! You know what’s funny is I was really down as I tried to listen to it. Really. Totally bummed. I was having a hard time putting my finger exactly on why it made me so sad. …end of an era or just that either she (or someone) is convincing her to do something that she probably shouldn’t do. ?
I mean, she certainly pulled in the the crowds. But, man, it bummed me out.
Maybe it made me more aware of the fact that I’m getting older, too. That the Babs in my head/heart is forever young — but the reality is that she is an older lady now. Closer to 70 than 60. oy.
May 9, 2007 at 4:56 pm. Permalink.
matty03 replied:
Ing, Dessie & Hot Lunch – LOL! Thanks! You know what’s funny is I was really down as I tried to listen to it. Really. Totally bummed. I was having a hard time putting my finger exactly on why it made me so sad. …end of an era or just that either she (or someone) is convincing her to do something that she probably shouldn’t do. ?
Maybe it made me more aware of the fact that I’m getting older, too. That the Babs in my head/heart is forever young — but the reality is that she is an older lady now. Closer to 70 than 60.
May 9, 2007 at 4:57 pm. Permalink.
matty03 replied:
Gina! I think that is it! You summed it up! …this is what makes me sad. She shouldn’t be finishing her career this way.
I know it is a big deal that she has raised all this money for charity, but other aging singers did this better. She should be going the route of Rosemary Clooney who never made a big deal about her looks after a certain age and who limited her singing to a range/key that was appropriate. Still, I wonder why someone who has always been such a perfectionist would go on tour like that?
sigh.
May 9, 2007 at 4:59 pm. Permalink.
matty03 replied:
Cool Old Cheeser! Well, maybe I listen to her with a more critical ear. I don’t know. But, B said it was making him kind of sad, too. I mean her voice used to just soar around notes. Now, it sounds like the husky voice of an older woman. …and she can’t hold the notes like she used to. Maybe she warmed up as she got further along — I stopped as she was singing Come Rain or Shine — it just hurt.
Babs doesn’t drink to excess as far as I know. Nor is she a smoker as far as I know. However, she has never really enjoyed singing and has always been very open about not wanting to bother to take care of her voice. I think it is that combined with the fact that she’s 65.
Kate Bush — hmmm… Yeah, I didn’t have an issue with her vocals on ARIEL. I had issue with some of the subject content on disc one. But, her voice just sounded like someone who was getting older. What? Bush is about 50 or 52 now, right? I think she stopped drinking when she got pregnant years ago. From all I’ve heard she is a total country soccer mom. …with a bit of a bent I’m sure! lol!
May 9, 2007 at 5:04 pm. Permalink.
ing replied:
I have no idea about the truth behind this idea, but do you think Barbra might have a method to her madness? For instance, maybe she decided the cause was more important than her reputation?
Whatever. Remember Babs in her glory & prime. She’s entered a NEW prime now and is switching paddles, that’s all. There comes a time (I think) when, if we should be so lucky, we all get to sit back and enjoy our achievements. If we’ve achieved something, that is. Barbra has achieved a great deal.
May 9, 2007 at 6:45 pm. Permalink.
matty03 replied:
Ing — I think you’re right. I just want her to stay the way she is in my head, heart and record collection.
…but, how awesome to have accomplished as much as she has.
May 9, 2007 at 7:14 pm. Permalink.
Josh Williams replied:
You need to buy Travels with Roscoe, read the entire book it is thin, but full of humor…$5.00 I am Roscoes publicist but all this aside, buy it now it will be a collectable, Racer X, Trail Rider, Reapirmanual.com and motohistory.com are all giving it the two thumbs up and it is not really about motorcycling…If you do not laugh at least once I will double your money back!err hell Triple your money back…JW
May 9, 2007 at 7:33 pm. Permalink.
matty03 replied:
Commander Josh – Yes, but will it bring Barbra’s voice back?!?!? Can Roscoe do that?
May 9, 2007 at 7:39 pm. Permalink.
Josh Williams replied:
Hell yes!….Hell yes!
May 9, 2007 at 9:15 pm. Permalink.