Time and love everybody… June 2, 2008

Stoney End (1971) is a Barbra album that is identified with summer for me. So, with summer officially here, I naturally I picked it up and… have been playing it non stop. There’s not ONE track on this album that I don’t like. And it was thanks to this album that I discovered the first two following artists; track one: Joni Mitchell’s magnificent I don’t know where I stand; enough said. Three songs by the legendary Laura Nyro: Hands off the man, Stoney end, Time and Love. Randy Newman’s Let me go and I’ll be home. Barbara Keith’s Free the people. Gordon Lightfoot’s If you could read my mind. Harry Nilsson’s Maybe. Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil’s Just a little lovin. Gerry Goffin & Carole King’s No easy way down. And Barbra’s voice. Heaven.

Funny thing - I remember the first time I heard “No easy way down”. It was when Simply Streisand moved from (then) EzBoard to its own host (2005). Our creative genius Michael had turned the Ez Simply board black with a link to the new forum and with this song playing in the background. At the time, I probably had zero albums of Barbra’s and I remember I loved it and was wondering what era it was from — see I was still a fan in the making and couldn’t get the 70’s voice at once. Hah. Mem’ries.

Happy 66th, Barbra! April 30, 2008

Sorry I couldn’t be there Thursday night… Last week was our Easter holiday and I packed my suitcase took your shoes and off I went to beautiful Madrid. Happy belated birthday, dear B!

Best wishes from Miguel de Cervantes too.

Paul Jabara, The Main Event OST and… Jane Fonda April 17, 2008

I recently dug out my “Main Event OST” which I bought last November [second hand, the sleeve in a pretty bad condition but what the heck - the vinyl's ok and it only cost 4euros; and having searched for it for quite a long time, it was certainly a fascinating discovery]. I inititally wanted it for a single song: “The Body Shop”… I needed that song! Every time I watch the gym sequence in the movie I feel like dancing - well it’s no secret I dig the sound of the 70’s. Of course I always very much enjoyed Paul Jabara’s “Main Event/Fight”, one of the very few disco songs of Barbra’s.  After listening to the whole album I realized there are some more little gems on that OST. Like “Big Girls Don’t Cry” sung by Frankie Vallie & the 4 Seasons (I’m a fan) – this one’s fun, f-u-n. Makes me smile. And I love the balad version of The Main Event. Well it’s an enjoyable listen in its whole:

The main event/Fight
(”Main” - P. Jabara / B. Roberts; “Fight” - P. Jabara / B. Esty)
The Body Shop
(G. Michalski / N. Oosterveen)
The main event/Fight (short version)
(”Main” - P. Jabara / B. Roberts; “Fight” - P. Jabara / B. Esty)
Copeland Meets The Coasters/Get A Job
(”Copeland” - M. Melvoin; “Get” - The Silhouettes)
Big Girls Don’t Cry
(B. Crewe / B. Gaudio)
It’s Your Foot Again
(P. Jabara / B. Roberts)
Angry Eyes
(K. Loggins / J. Messina)
I’d Clean A Fish For You
(P. Jabara / B. Roberts)
The main event (ballad)
(P. Jabara / B. Roberts)

Impressive, Babs.

Love aerobics — which takes us to another superrr lady who, as Barbra said in her specific scene commentary on The Main Event DVD, was in the same aerobics class with BS back then: Jane Fonda.

Streisand & Redford Together March 5, 2008

Yet another “The way we were” video by yet another fan of the song, the film and its two stars. A picture selection of…STREISAND &REDFORD TOGETHER!

 

In Barbra’s Shoes January 21, 2008

Right from the SimplyAwesome Streisand forum. 

The shoes - the black ked tennis shoes of Barbra’s - that Robbie so generously decided to give away about a month ago, are here at last! They’re one globe-trotting pair of shoes now, aren’t they! From the US to down under Australia and then to the Mediterannean - they’ve been in more places than me. I must say Robbie did a hell of a good job wrapping them up, I notice this kind of things and I was very impressed. He included the authenticity certificate too and, as I told him, I loved reading that little message of ‘Barbra’s’ to the collector even though she probably hasn’t even read itherself lol. The shoes are in perfect condition, practically unused. They’re very Barbra, I mean the kind of shoes we’ve seen her wearing often. Now, you know I’m very ‘pictorial’ so:

Having just un-wrapped them

Long live the 80’s ~ Emotion! January 15, 2008

Happy New Year, everybody! May 2008 filled with love, peace, happiness, success and finally the Tour DVD and a new project [album or movie] by Baaarbra. For the first post of this year… I chose something that I love love love. Emotion; the song and its terribly 80’s video clip. I’ve always loved the ‘beautiful ugliness’ of the 80’s and I’m a sucker for 80’s music; this song is no exception. I can even stand the hideous poodle hair of Barbra’s, which I otherwise detest. I don’t know how you like this song but it’s different and oh-so-much-fun. From Barbra’s 1984 album of the same title, ”Emotion” - gotta love that beat:

That’s Roger Daltrey [British singer and actor] as Barbra’s husband and Mikhail Baryshnikov [famous Russian dancer]

 

And… The making of Emotion with restored sound, if I remember correctly, by the one and only Gustavo. Listen to Barbra [80's shoulders and everything - ha!] talk about the concept of the video. You can also see Richard Baskin, co-director (along with B) of the video.

Merry Christmas! December 24, 2007

I haven’t had time to sit and write a proper post in more than a month but I couldn’t possibly let December go by without wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! Have a marvelous time over the holidays and eat all you want to – it’s Christmas, you’re allowed! I for one am treating myself to a delicious Christmas Eve dinner and many christmas pastries - ever heard of baklava, melomakarono, kantaifi, kourampie? Well, see you all ‘next year’! Have fun!

 
from none other than Gustavo de Argentina

Barbra in November 1972 Harper’s Bazaar Issue November 3, 2007

35 years ago this month Barbra was on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar [one of my very favorite covers of hers]. Here are four alternate pics of the cover shoot that I came across a long time ago on e-bay:

1.  2.
3.  4.
[Click here to see final cover and article on the Barbra-Archives]

That outfit is dangerously gorgeous. Great pics too — Barb’s in great shape and the hair is LBG… can’t get any better!

SimplyStreisand update November 1, 2007

For all of you out there who are worrying - this just in from Michael:

The transfer to our new host is complete and now it’s going to take several hours for the DNS to point to the new server and then everything works properly.

It might as well be back online as we speak so keep checking back frequently! Hey, happy new month! November already…

WUD: Extra Judy close up & Barbra’s Commentary October 26, 2007

Those of you who have an eye for detail, may have noticed this; it’s ’hidden’ in the scene-specific (and dare I add disappointing and ‘hungry’) commentary of Barbra’s. An extra two second close-up of Judy that we don’t get in the movie:

Last scene, in the airplane to Iowa:

Judy: Let me tell you something, love means never having to say you’re sorry.
*blinks a la Lauren Bacall in ‘to have and to have not’*
Howard: That’s the dumbest thing I have heard.
Judy nods

Now that little extra close-up in Barbra’s commentary goes like this:

Judy: Let me tell you something, love means never having to say you’re sorry.
*blinks a la Lauern Bacall in ‘to have and to have not’*
Howard staring at Judy
Judy staring at Howard with that** priceless look
Howard: That’s the dumbest thing I have heard.
Judy nods

I’m wondering whether that little shot of Barbra’s was on the VHS version or not. Was it cut out when they remastered the movie and released it on DVD? If anyone can verify, feel free to drop me a line. Why would they cut that little thingie out anyway? I don’t really mind (it’s not like cutting whole precious scenes like the numerous ones that were cut out of The Way We Were) but it DID make the scene pay off in a funnier way. Here’s a screen cap of the close up I’m talking about: 

Check it out next time you whip out the dvd!

About Barbra’s commentary: yes, I was let down. I get it that WUD is not one of her favorites - although she admits it was fun to make - and I know I’m greedy when it comes to this film and nothing will satisfy me completely but I believe I’m being reasonable when I say a more serious full length commentary by Barbra was called for. See what a magnificent job Peter Bogdanovich did with his commentary… full of memories, reflections and stories. Bravo, Peter! And thanks. But Barbra… of course! Not only did she have to make that deficient commentary but she also had to chew while speaking… Have a little mercy, woman! Anyway, the extras on the whole are ok. Gotta be fair. Specially the small documentary “Screwball comedies. Remember them?“. And I guess one could say that a lousy scene specific commentary by BS is better than no commentary at all.

My crush. Ryan O’Gorgeous. October 20, 2007

Ryan O’Neal playing handball somewhere in LA in April of 1971… No wonder a certain Ms Barbra fell for him - many moons ago. Enjoy!

It’s getting hot in here.

My first Barbra Singles October 19, 2007

Last Wednesday I bought two Barbra singles, the only ones I found:

- Love theme from ASIB (Evergeen)/I believe in love [1976]

- Till I loved you (duet with Don Johnson)/Two people (theme from Nuts) [1988]

I also bought Liza Minnelli’s fantastic album “Results” (produced by Pet shop Boys, released in 1989). I’ve loved this album for a long time now so it was great finding the LP. I still haven’t listened to the TILY single and I’m curious about “Two people“. Don’t recall ever listening to this one before. As I said these were the first BS singles I bought, I wasn’t into the ’singles game’ at all [=I had no idea how many of them exist] so I searched for a complete list of Barbra’s singles and of course found it here. Could you plotz?

All The Children October 12, 2007

It’s been so long since I last listened to Barbra’s latest studio album, Guilty Pleasures [2005], which reunited her with Barry Gibb on their 25th Guilty Anniversary. Despite being a commercial move basically and not the typical Streisand way of creating an album [I remember Barbra saying the album happened because of 'pressure from my company'], GP holds a special place in my heart as the first Streisand album experience ever since I became a fan. I had forgotten how much I loved “All the children” till I stumbled upon a video on YouTube, created by a lovely person down in Africa… Enjoy!

They tell us lies
They try to tell us who we are
But we have grown
And we remember in the future not to cry
You could be an angel
Look in your ancient eyes

What do you see?
Knowing what the power of your future could be
To fall and then to rise
It’s knowing how it was and how that sets you free

All the children will send out
Love to everyone
All the children will dance and
Sing for you
Through the rhythm of ages
Blinded in the sun
All the children will dance and
Sing for you

So let them talk
They won’t be hiding any secrets from
The eyes of a child
Things can never be but what they
Are to you
You could be an angel
Make all your dreams come true

All the children will send out
Love to everyone
All the children will dance and
Sing for you
Through the rhythm of ages
Blinded in the sun
All the children will dance and
Sing for you

Stand up
Freedom is the message in your song
In the light of what is swept away
There’s someone there to catch you
When you fall

All the children will send out
Love to everyone
All the children will dance and
Sing for you (High above)
Through the rhythm of ages (See how they run)
Blinded in the sun (Got to be sure)
All the children will dance and (Watch how they shine)
Sing for you (This is love)
All the children will send out (Just like before)
Love to everyone (This is the place)
All the children will dance and (This is the time)
Sing for you (High above)
Through the rhythm of ages (See how they run)
Blinded in the sun (Got to be sure)
All the children will dance and (Watch how they shine)
Sing for you (This is love)

Great pic choices, Jon.

Belle of 14th, ever noticed *This*? September 5, 2007

Something I had posted on Simply before: last time I watched “Belle” (that would be my second time, many moons ago - yeah I know, I might give it a third chance) I noticed that in “A taste of the tempest”, Barbra’s shoes change in 5-seconds’ time! Go to min 28:00 and 28:07. Hah. How could it have slipped their attention? Then again, was it just too late to go back to filming, when they started doing the editing?

K-k-k-katie, Beautiful Katie August 30, 2007

“The Way We Were” is one of my all time favorite movies [one of the two movies I know every single line to - the other is "Indiana Jones and the temple of Doom"] and Katie Morosky one of the best (fictional) characters ever to be played on screen, IMO.  I’ve collected all sorts of info on the movie - and still am. One very interesting piece is the story behind JJ’s stuttering when talking to Katie: “K-k-k-katie, be my c-c-c-comrade!“. Here’s what I came up with:

K-K-K-Katy was a popular World War I-era song written by Geoffrey O’Hara. It was subtitled “(Stuttering Song)” in case anyone missed the point.

The song illustrates the lack of political correctness in those times. Making fun of individuals’ impediments, and other factors over which they had no control (notably ethnicity), was considered perfectly fair game for entertainment, although in this case the subject appears to be regarded with affection. The use of different kinds of speech impediments was a significant portion of voice actor Mel Blanc’s style, and the stuttering characterization he largely established for Porky Pig is among the last survivors of this uncensored era.This song is largely forgotten today, but it was sufficiently well-remembered in 1963 that implied reference was made to it in newspaper headlines. Reporting Sandy Koufax’s then-record World Series pitching performance of 15 strikeouts (scoring symbol ‘K’), some newspapers bannered the story with ‘K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-KOUFAX!’Additionally, the political humor group Capitol Steps performed a parody of this song entitled “K-K-Kuwaitis,” about the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, which began the Gulf War. The song was released on their 1990 album “Sheik, Rattle & Roll!.”
source

Continuing with:
Billed as “The Sensational Stammering Song Success Sung by the Soldiers and Sailors”, K-K-K-Katy was written by Geoffrey O’Hara and published in 1918.Hugely popular it was regarded as something of a ‘goodbye’ song. The ‘Katy’ in the song was Katherine Richardson of Kingston, and was composed at Richardson’s house in 1917 by O’Hara (although curiously Katherine did not actually possess a stutter). The song was first played at a garden party fund-raiser for the Red Cross in Collins Bay on Lake Ontario. O’Hara himself was from Chatham in Ontario and taught music at Ontario University. He lived until the age of 84, passing away on 27 January 1967.Lyrics:

K-K-K-Katy
Jimmy was a soldier brave and bold,
Katy was a maid with hair of gold,
Like an act of fate,
Kate was standing at the gate,
Watching all the boys while on parade.
Kate smiled, with a twinkle in her eye,
Jim said, m-m-m-meet ya by and by.
That night at eight,
Jim was at the garden gate,
Stuttering this song to K-K-K-Kate.

K-K-K-Katy, beautiful Katy,
You’re the only g-g-g-girl that I adore;
When the m-m-m-moon shines,
Over the c-c-c-cowshed,
I’ll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door.
K-K-K-Katy, beautiful Katy,
You’re the only g-g-g-girl that I adore;
When the m-m-m-moon shines,
Over the c-c-c-cowshed,
I’ll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door.

No one ever looked so nice and neat,
No one could be just as cute and sweet,
That’s what Jimmy thought,
When the wedding ring he bought,
Soon he’ll go to France, the foe to meet.
Jimmy thought he’d like to take a chance,
See if he could make the Kaiser dance,
Stepping to a tune,
All about the silv’ry moon,
This is what they’ll hear in far off France.

K-K-K-Katy, beautiful Katy,
You’re the only g-g-g-girl that I adore;
When the m-m-m-moon shines,
Over the c-c-c-cowshed,
I’ll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door.
K-K-K-Katy, beautiful Katy,
You’re the only g-g-g-girl that I adore;
When the m-m-m-moon shines,
Over the c-c-c-cowshed,
I’ll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door.
source 

And the best part for the end:
“Right click” and “Save as” HERE to download the song!

There’s only one Katie…

Barbra on the cover of retro greek Magazine August 25, 2007

This was a pleasant surprise. We have this collection of the old greek weekly magazine “Romantso” which I’m absolutely in love with. I had come across several little articles on Barbra before but never a cover. This is actually the only magazine I have with Barbra on the cover and despite the silly article, I love it - if only for the pictures. It’s from Tuesday, 28th of February 1989.

The pic (note that it is flipped) is of course the cover of Barbra’s album “A love like ours“. The article actually talks about Barbra and Don Johnson and it’s sooo melodramatic and tabloid that a good laugh is guaranteed. 

“Success doesn’t bring happiness“, say the black letters on top of the page. With view to her breaking up with Don Johnson, it is pointed out that Barbra is hurt and humiliated because of the seperation and because of him going back to Melanie. She’s quoted to have said that Don is the perfect man for her. 

The article then sums up her way to success and her achievements and concludes once again that Barbra is successful but that’s not enough to make her happy.

Anyway, back to the magazine itself, it is like an entertainement encyclopedia of the 70’s and 80’s, it’s thrilling. One thing I love the most is the magazine’s Hollywood correspodent, Charles Ellis. That guy was reporting the Hollywood news and was sending all these pics of himself and celebrities like Jane Fonda, Ali Mcgraw, Warren Beaty and many many more. Lucky dog. Good old Hollywood days.

SimplyStreisand tech problems ~ solved August 6, 2007

Both the forum and the site have been down since yesterday evening. I’ve been recieving e-mails about it so I hope even more people will see that here:
For all we know from Queen Brandy Beezer: The Simply Streisand Message board is down for the moment. Michael is working on getting the issue resolved with Netfirms. Please pass this along to other members on the board.
Yes please do so. Anyone got simplystreisand deficiency yet? I’m on the verge. Hang in there, guys.

This is so not cool, netfirms.

 

EDIT 16:34: It’s baaaaack!

“I will not rest till I see Barbra Streisand live” August 5, 2007

My blog’s sub-title.

Hmmm. Need I remind myself of July 25th?
Oh God. I have seen Barbra live.
What other subtitle can replace this… this pledge, this vow if you will, this comittment to a dream. I think I’ll just change it from time to time. It’s Katie Morosky for now.

Not blind, Hubbell. And certainly not dumb.

London Closing Night July 28, 2007

Guys I am back, I AM BAAACK!!! After four marvelous days in lovely London (my first time)… I’m finally sitting at my desk writing down my thoughts, feelings and recollections of the concert, still trying to realize exactly what happened on the night of the 25th. This is gonna be long so get yourself a drink and enjoy:I left for London on the 22nd. It’s a great city with an amazing mix of people. So very different from Greece, had it’s pros and cons. So many things to see. All in all I loved it. Arne, I went to Charring Cross Road of course as you suggested. I went to Borders and every other bookshop I met LOL. I didn’t find any good Barbra books (actually I just hadn’t made up my mind which ones to get) so I got Jane Fonda’s “My life so far” (Meagan can you hear me?) and the amazing. “Lucy & Desi scrapbook”. But let’s talk Barbra.

My beautiful tickets at the Eleftherios Venizelos Athens airport

THE O2 :

Outside the O2

The entrance of the O2

Inside the O2

Under Barbra

The O2 is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Huge, glorious, prepares your for something grande… Arrived there early, very early. The merchandise stand hadn’t even been put up yet. Had lunch, a coffee then off to the merchandise stand again. People had started gathering up. Earlier I had talked to a guy from Newcastle who was there to pick his tickets.

MERCHANDISE:
There were about 8 huge canvases of Barbra hanging there. Gorgeous. And a stand full of goodies.

Can you say “ happy ”?

I bought the Tour Book, a T-shirt (damn, smallest size was MEDIUM!), a key ring, the 5 post card set and the badge set (although from the 1994 concert…) The two Barbra plastic bags I got are of course among the collection. In the line I saw a woman that looked so familiar and told her I must know her and if she’s on the boards – her name was Robbie (or Robbin?), she had a nice jean Barbra jacket on.

THE CONCERT ARENA:
We had to go all the way to the other side of the arena, to entrance H. The doors opened at 18:05. Security was ok, searched everything of course. Big stairs all the way up to the arena. It actually gave me chills when I stepped in. marvelous, huge.Time simply refused to pass by. I went looking for the Q&A stand. I talked to about 5 people/supervisors and noone knew. I teamed up with a Canadian fan – I forget his name, damn!, but he was a very sweet guy with blue eyes and one ear piercing (can you hear me?) who also saw her in Boston and had got his question picked back then (will she do another musical). They finally told us the stand was at another entrance (B I think) and we weren’t allowed to go out and get back in. Ah what the hell… I returned to my seat after chatting a little more with this kind black young man (Andrew, woo-hoo!). The arena had started to fill up.

When I first entered

A little later

At one point we hear a man through the speakers welcoming us to the “Barbra Streisand concert!” [screams and clapping] which will begin shortly so “take your seats everybody!”. More and more people were entering. At about 20:20(?) the lights went out and…

ACT I
The original Broadway Overture of Funny Girl began and I became a fountain of emotions. I listened to every note with a smile of my face mouthing the lyrics to the music knowing that the MOMENT was getting closer. I couldn’t control a big grin. And finally she was up. We gave her a standing ovation. At the moment I was clapping wildly and “woooooooooooooo-ing”. She began singing “ Starting here starting now ” and I was sobbing, trembling and smiling at the same time by the time she sang “here”. I remember thinking that my heart would HAVE to pace down if I wanted to get through the whole concert. “Take my hand…” her eyes looking straight at you from the big screen… She ended it with a long “starting nooooooooooow”.

“ Hello London! I love London. I have so many wonderful memories of being here ”. She mentioned Funny Girl at the Winter Garden, living there while filming Yentl (big clapping from the audience). She then talked about the Prince of Tides premiere and “ your beloved Prince Diana – Princess Diana who against protocol insisted that I stand up before her and take my bow ” etc. Someone then screamed something and she began what she’d keep doing all through the concert: talking in an english accent . It was sooo cute, felt so Melinda. “ Thank you dahling, thank you dahling ”, she said. Then another man screamed something. “What’d you say? Can’t hear you dahling, are you from New York?”. She then said she’s finishing her European Tour here in London and I guess someone shouted “Come back!” to which she replied (again English accent) “ I haven’t left yet dahling! ”.

Dancing Barbra July 9, 2007

I’d posted this more than a year ago on Simply. It originally consisted of three dancing parts - Doris, Dolly, Daisy (coincidentally all the starting with a “D” characters that Barbra has played). The one that was really loved was the Dolly/Zorbas part… So here it is in a video clip of its own. Made exclussively out of and for fun.

[Barbra Watch: after some rest and a holiday in Ponza, Italy, Barbra's giving her next concert in Manchester tomorrow.]