Barbra Streisand solidified her name in the world of showbiz with some groundbreaking songs that earned her numerous awards. Some of these remain fan-favorites several decades later.
It’s hard to imagine what the world of music would be like without the likes of showbiz legend Barbra Streisand. The singer-songwriter, who also gained recognition as an actress has released some of the most classic hits in existence, making her a world-famous singer.
Hence, the idea of fellow country singer Robbie Williams knowing nothing about her identity seems far-fetched. Yet, such was the case when the duo met for the first time.
While appearing on Chris Stark and Scott Mills’ final BBC Radio Five Live morning show in August 2022, the singer admitted to not recognizing Streisand after running into her during his Tahiti vacation.
Williams’ oversight did not seem so brutal when the “Guilty” crooner failed to recognize him as well. His admission stunned many fans, who believed the two musical legends should have more knowledge of each other’s existence since they excelled in the same field.
Being an eighty-year-old entertainer with over five decades worth of experience, it is not uncommon to have some of her songs lost in the sands of time.
Yet, many songs by Barbra Streisand remain classic hits, even to new generations of music lovers. Let’s take a walk down memory lane to reflect on seven of the crooner’s most iconic songs yet.
1. “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)”
In 1979, Streisand teamed up with songstress Donna Summer to release the song, “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough), which became an instant hit.
Years later, the track, co-produced by Gary Klein and Giorgio Moroder remains a fan-favorite, crooned by millennials and lovers of old-school jams alike.
2. Shake Me, Wake Me
Long before disco became a thing, Barbra Streisand gave the world of pop a taste of the hypnotic rhythm saturated with explosive lyrical sounds with her song, “Shake me, Wake Me.”
The song eventually made it to No. 10 on Billboard’s Disco Singles chart. She went on to release a disco remix of the track, which remains the rarest and most collectible record in the entire Streisand discography.
3. “I Mean To Shine”
Pairing up with Steely co-founders Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, Barbara Streisand recorded “I Mean to Shine,” in 1971.
The song, which was part of the “Barbra Joan Streisand” album served as a big break for Becker and Fagen, despite being one of the songstress’ least successful songs.
4. “Guilty”
Another of Barbra Streisand’s songs to top the charts is the 1980 hit “Guilty,” from her album of the same title. While the album did not exactly perform well at the box office, the song itself proved beyond doubt that the crooner was one of the greatest vocal talents to walk the earth.
5. “The Way He Makes Me Feel”
In 1983, Streisand released back-to-back hits for the soundtrack of her self-written and produced film adaptation of the play “Yentl.” Two of these tracks, “The Way He Makes Me Feel,” and “Papa Can You Hear Me,” went on to tie for the Best Original Song Oscar nomination.
Perhaps, the tie divided Streisand’s votes, causing both tracks to lose to “Flashdance… What a Feeling.” Notwithstanding, “The Way He Makes Me Feel,” later released as a single in a more contemporary version, peaked at no. 40 on Billboard Hot 100. It spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard adult contemporary chart.
6. “It Had To Be You”
Released in 2014, Streisand’s “It Had to Be You,” remains the singer’s most recent single. Sung alongside Michael Buble, the track became a hit, with Streisand proving she still had it in her despite being in her prime.
7. “Tell Him”
Barbra Streisand made headlines in 1997 when she took a bathroom break during Celine Dion’s performance at the Academy Awards. Her strategic exit led to speculations that the two women had some sort of beef.
Hence, when the duo released the Linda Thompson-composed duet, “Tell Him,” later that year, it was a big deal as it squashed the feuding rumors for good. Ultimately, the song became an instant hit and remains one of their best-performing to date.
8. “People”
The 1964 hit, “People” was written by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill as one of the songs in the musical, “Funny Girl,” starring Barbra Streisand.
However, the producers deemed the song unsuitable and strived to keep it out of the show. That changed when Streisand busted it out during a “Funny Girl” preview, and it became a hit even before the film hit theatres.
“People” peaked at number 5 on Billboard Hot 100, cementing itself as one of the most iconic love songs ever performed.
Even at eighty, the music legend manages to keep her career afloat, gracing musical concerts and tours. But her most enviable moments are those spent with husband of 25 years Josh Brolin.
