One of the gems from Barbra's new CD "Love is the Answer" produced by Diana Krall to be released on September 29th in the US. This is Barbra at 67!!!! taking another classic and delivering a definitive rendition (IMHO). Just awesome and inspiring.
Barbra Streisand - If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas) - 2009
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2 comments:
Oí, Gil.
I agree that "Ne Me Quitte Pas" is definitely a gem, and displays Barbra's stylistic genius—especially the way she's able to mix variations in timbre with her incredible sense of phrasing to provide a totally fitting "vehicle" for delivery of a combination of music and lyrics.
As I mentioned elsewhere, the breathy quality Streisand uses in her rendition of "Ne Me Quitte Pas," combined at times with something approaching (but not quite reaching) harshness, makes her (in my opinion, anyway) sound very "French" even though she sings for the most part in English. The English version (in which the lyrics are totally different from the French original) and the one verse she sings in fairly good French seem to flow seamlessly from one to the other. Amazing!
I hope you'll be able to get the Deluxe Edition of the "Love is the Answer" CD. It would be fascinating to hear "typical" Barbra (backed by full orchestral accompaniment) with Barbra backed only by a jazz quartet (which was how, if I read the New York Times article correctly, Diana Krall began the recording process).
Take care, my friend.
Dennis
Thank you again my dear friend for such detailed(I'd say professional)review. Have you heard about the Lady having her new CD as Number One, which makes her the only female singer to have a Number One Album for 5 consecutive decades? She's simply the best.
Love to read from you.
BTW, though my student did buy the CD in NY he couldn't find it when he arrived here (this usually happens - people end up buying toomuch and then...). Anyway, another friend who happens to work with our dear Carla at Thomas is going to Chicago for a big event on Neuroscience or something next week and she's kindly offered to buy the CD for me. Barbra is on her way.
Tchau!
Gilmar
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