Dean reviews Streisand and other concert observations
WHILE CONFETTI WAS FALLING AT HOTEL BALLROOMS AFTER THE ELECTION LAST NIGHT, BARBRA STRIESAND SHOWERED THE UNITED CENTER WITH 2 HOURS OF HITS!
IT WAS HER FIRST CONCERT HERE IN 40 YEARS. 19 SONGS, TWO ENCORES, A 50 PIECE ORCHESTRA...A VERY SPECIAL EVENT TO SEE. BARBRA WAS IN GREAT VOICE FOR THE START OF THE SHOW BUT BY THE END, A LITTLE RASPY AND HAVING TROUBLE HOLDING THE HIGH NOTES.
FROM A SIMPLE SET WITHOUT ANY MULTI-MEDIA NOR DANCERS, THE 64 YEAR OLD DELIVERED MOSTLY "EARLY CAREER" CLASSICS; "THE WAY WE WERE", SEVERAL SONGS FROM 'FUNNY GIRL" INCLUDING, "PEOPLE" AND "MY MAN"; SOME BROADWAY FAVORITES LIKE "SOMEWHERE" AND ""MUSIC OF THE NIGHT" AND OF COURSE, "EVERGREEN" ON WHICH SHE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE QUARTET, IL DIVO.
IL DIVO THEY SOUNDED NICE, BUT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING EXCEPT ROBOTICALLY WALK AROUND THE STAGE DURING THEIR 3 SONG SET, DISTRACTINGLY PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE IST ACT, STOPPING THE SHOW AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY.
IT WAS A MOSTLY MELLOW 2ND ACT THAT COULD HAVE USED THE ENERGY THAT SHE DELIVERED DURING, THE HIGHLIGHT, "DON'T RAIN ON MY PARADE",
POLITICS WERE THERE BUT NOT PREVELANT. SHE DID A FEW RED STATE-BLUE STATE JOKES AND TALKED ABOUT HOW, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE OUR DIFFERENCES, WE'RE ALL AMERICANS. HER, NOW FAMOUS, GEORGE BUSH IMPERSONATOR, HAD THE NIGHT OFF BUT WILL BE AT HER THURSDAY SHOW. I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT SHE DIDN'T CURSE ANYONE OUT AS SHE DID DURING A PREVIOUS SHOW WITH A HECKLER WHO DIDN'T WANT POLITICS IN THE CONCERT. AFTER INTERMISSION, SHE GAVE AN ELECTION UPDATE AND LAUNCHED INTO "HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN."
THE WELL MANNERED, MOSTLY 50-PLUS CROWD LOVED EVERY MINUTE...SOME WERE IN TEARS. I LIKED THE SHOW, AFTER ALL IT'S STREISAND; BUT AS STAGE SHOWS GO, IT WAS MORE MINIMAL THAN A 750 DOLLAR TICKET PAYER DESERVES.
ROSIE O'DONNELL WAS THERE; SHE'S APPARENTLY DOING A DOCUMENTARY ON STREISAND. SHE LOOKED GREAT UP CLOSE BEING VERY FRIENDLY WITH THE AUDIENCE OUTSIDE THE VENUE AND ALSO INSIDE AS SHE WORKED HER WAY TO HER PRIMO SEATS WITH A CAMERA CREW IN TOE.
BABS LOOKED GREAT, SPORTING 3 SIMPLE, BASIC BLACK OUTFIT CHANGES DURING THE SHOW.
NEARLY EVERY WORD OF THE SHOW; THE SONGS AND THE WELL REHEARSED BANTER, WERE SCRIPTED ON GIANT TELEPROMPTERS. IT TAKES A LOT OF THE SPONTANIETY OUT OF A SHOW WHEN YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG NEARLY EVERY WORD. AMONG HER SCRIPTED COMMENTS WERE WELL INTENTIONED CHICAGO REFERENCES TO DEEP DISH PIZZA, CHICAGO STYLE HOTDOGS, THE BEARS (MISPRONOUNCING BRIAN URLACHER'S NAME) AND THE BULLS. I GUESS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO THINK THAT SHE REALLY CONNECTS TO OUR CITY, EVEN THOUGH SHE HASN'T BEEN HERE FOR 40 YEARS. AT LEAST PICK SOME LESS STEREOTYPICAL CHICAGO CONNECTIONS.
OVERALL, I LIKED IT. IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE BUT IF IT WASN'T STREISAND, WE'D BE SAYING IT WAS AN OK SHOW WITH NO BELLS OR WHISTLES THAT WE'RE USED TO IN CONCERT-GOING THESE DAYS.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!
DEAN
Comments
I think she is the devil.
Posted by: Konrad | November 8, 2006 8:36 AM
Dean, Were we at the same show? Barbara was great! The sound system wasn't. I thought that the orchestra was too loud for the first half of the show which caused the performers to sing too loudly.
Barbara appeared to be very comfortable on stage, the old stage fright was gone. Sure she memorized places of interest to us City dwellers, but it was her way of endearing herself to her audience. It was well worth the $350.00 I paid.
Posted by: Linda Salustro | November 8, 2006 8:43 AM
Barbra was magnificent and her voice glorious. You and Mr. Konrad have a personal vendetta probably because of her politics. Too bad for you. Also, she doesn't need "bells and whistles". Her presence and voice are all her fans need. I will be going again on Thursday. She is worth every penny and I can't wait!
Vince: I'm glad you liked it better than I did but there's no question that her voice was raspy from the second act on.
I'm not a superfan like some but I do like mos tof her songs.
I can't speak for Paul but politics have nothing to do with my review. I probably agree with her more often than I don't. I judge the show on the show. Dean
Posted by: Vince Kind | November 8, 2006 9:20 AM
Hi Dean, I am a huge Barbra fan I've been listening to her for over 30 years. I saw her in Las Vegas in 1999-2000. Yes I agree that her voice was a little raspy, perhaps she had a little cold. And she is 64 yrs old. I enjoyed the show and felt honored to be there. She is the Greatest!!!!!!!
Posted by: Gina Delach | November 8, 2006 4:52 PM
I forgot my name on the last comment. But I would like to add that people shouldn't judge her because of her politics. Her voice is prestine, and she has more accomplishments than any other performer in history. Anybody should fell honored to have had the chance to see this legend in person. Gina Delach
Posted by: Gina Delach | November 8, 2006 4:57 PM