Okay, first and foremost, a rider...You have to understand that my brain happily exploded so much from this concert, I am still crawling around on my hands and knees picking up the peices and some of those peices I don't even need anymore. So this blog entry is unfinished and unfocused (who cares, right?) and I will finish it over time... I just wanted to get it up and out there...
Also, the picture to the left is a composite I made from pictures my cousin Kathy took with her camera phone. I was actually closer to the stage as is shown in this picture. Objects may appear larger than they appear...
Barbra Two Too...
During intermission we all looked at each other in a kind of shock at what we had just been seeing. Well, atleast, I was but I truly felt that everyone was really amazed that the money they shelled out was well worth it. Everyone seemed to have a sense of knowing. And I admired everyone in that venue because they all had the good sense and taste to come hear Barbra in concert. I was proud of them and proud of me and proud of Barbra.
So Oprah was suddenly up the stairs with her body guard. She had to go potty. A man ran up after her after finding out that it really WAS Oprah. I watched as he went up right behind her and started babbling at her and she kind of nodded and tried to be nice. I went to the bathroom and then returned. Oprah returned. Jason was thrilled because he called out her name and in the muddle, she actually looked into his eyes. Jason said, “Thank you.” And she very sincerely told Jason that he was welcome. He was on the moon. I said Hi to Oprah too as she walked by and she replied, “Hi...” a bit harried. I felt sorry for her. She was being mobbed. She looked fabulous in a chocolate brown suit. Just beautiful and much thinner in real life. The camera actually does her a major injustice. How ironic that this is her line of work.
Now it was time to watch Act two. How wonderful. I was on cloud seventy three.
The entracte was great. It started with the opening strains from the film version of “Funny Girl.” God this was a great orchestra. I am so glad this is being recorded for posterity. I am also glad I got to experience it twice. Anyway, this led into a very lovely medley of Barbra's hit songs and songs she wrote. During “On A Clear Day” there was one moment that was really weird. It sort of made me think that maybe the arranger was having a momentary lapse of judgement. But it was what it was. Who cared? Barbra was going to be comingout soon and in a new outfit.
So out comes Il Divo. They start singing, “Music of The Night.” Anna, next to me is a bit annoyed with them as I am. They kind of suck. But then she realizes, “Oh right... Barbra will come in on the second verse.” Very good Anna. I like Anna... she's nuts, a nutty Barbra fan with a hand made t-shirt. She is enhancing the concert experience for me and I am glad to share the experience with her.
So Barbra ascends the back staircase and joins the boys. This has never been a favorite song. The whole era of cheezie Lloyd Webber (some of which I just love...) but I think this show is so over-exploited. Anyways, they sing it, hold a great last note and then the boys kiss Barbra goodbye and off they go. Goodbye.
So Barbra then sings, “Carefully Taught” from South Pacific. This leads into “Children Will Listen” from Sondheims, “Into The Woods.” Boy, for someone who is so self proposed nervous as hell to be in front of people, she sure appears completely poised and absolutely perfect.
So now she stands at the microphone and does what she does best, just stand there, open her mouth and deliver a dramatic ballad. She sings Maury Yestons, “Unusual Way” from the musical “Nine.” Just watching her standing there these very few feet away, I think of the tale of Barbra and how she made her debut in a teeny tiny gay bar in the village, The Lion in June, 1960. A year before I was born. What was it like? Here is this woman, 64 years young and demonstrating the sheer power of her physical and vocal presence on a huge concert stage in front of 20,000 people. All of this space to absorb her power. What was it like to be at the tiny Lion Bar and see all of this magic happen for the first time? I have been at the former Lion Bar which is now a fine dining restaurant. I sat and had dinner with my friend Matt Shea just a few feet from where she must have stood and sang. The room was narrow but the ceilings very high. I imagined through the clink of dining what it had been like when Barbara with all of the original a's in place sang, “A Sleepin' Bee.” It felt like being in a time tunnel. Once again, I was just so happy to be where I was and being part of this “happening” at United Center.
Now as if that ballad wasn't good enough, maybe now Barb was showing off a bit... keep it up, keep it up... she walks over to the piano, leans up against it and sings, “What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life?” She talks beforehand saying that Unusual Way was about a troubled relationship, but that this song was for the long lasting ones... the lucky ones.
Then Barbra did her Q&A choosing questions from cards people filled out before the show. I didn't know anything about this and didn't know where you could get the cards. Even after the first show... didn't see anywhere in the lobby where you could do this. What would I have asked her? Which of all her albums is her favorite?
Anyway, someone asked how she keeps herself looking so good for her age and she said that she was hiding alot of sins under her dress. “And I enjoyed everyone of them.”
Then came the George Bush skit. It began with her choosing a card from a “George from Texas.” Ok, duh... I was so caught up in it all that this went right over my head. I was actually thinking it was from some guy in the audience from Texas. He was asking her why she doesn't sing, “Come To The Supermarket in Old Peking” anymore. I am sitting there thinking, “Yeah Barb... why AREN'T you singing this song anymore?” And then the joke is revealed. Out came the Bush impersonater to the strains of the Presidents theme song... what is that called again? It was funny. It was especially fun to see Barbra authentically amused by him and giggling. I love her laugh. He was saying he was a big fan and asked her about music she listens to at home. He made the insinuation that he has her house bugged. Barbra's acted reaction was great. A big scary look to the audience. It was vaudeville.
Then George is off and Barbra sings “Woman in the Moon” from “A Star Is Born.” She dedicates this to newly appointed speaker of the house, Nancy Pelosi. Barbra is clearly thrilled and happy singing this song for her. It's a special night. She had claimed that she was a bit hoarse this evening because she was screaming and cheering tuesday night.
Another one of my favorite songs that Barbra sings is a song she has been singing from the very, very beginning... “Have I Stayed Too Long At The Fair.” She crosses to her stage left side (our right) and is up on a platform, greeting the people who have seats up in that area. She doesn't make any significant mention that this song is a song that has been in her repertoire forever, she just sings it. I have a recording of Barbra singing this on an RCA demo she cut long before “Funny Girl” and before she even had a recording contract. It's raw and dramatic. She at the age of 18 or 19 when she is making the recording is in over her head just by her age alone. It's a song a lost and older woman would sing. Ofcourse at her young age Barbra nailed it. It eventually appeared on “The Second Barbra Streisand Album” (again my favorite record of hers) and now all these years later, she revisits the song and she comes full circle. “No Daddy dear... you never would have known, that I would be successful yet so very much alone...” This is also as far as I can tell, the first time she hums the intro to a song (which became a trademark of hers.) Again, hearing her do this live is overwhelming. I can see and hear all the Barbra's through the years. It's like seeing HER life flash before your eyes. That's what happens when someone who has been in the business as long as she has stands before you. It's shocking to an admirer like me. I think, “all these years of being a fan, it's all coming together right now before me. I have wanted to meet her, see her in person for so long and it's as simple as her just standing on stage now in front of me. And she's singing.”
I want to jump ahead now to the absolute highlight of the evening for me.
If I would have known that this was going to happen... let me rephrase that... I KNEW something like this would happen. It HAD to happen.
Ok, first of all, MY Streisand experience includes taking part in Rosie O'Donnells documentary about Streisand fans. Ofcourse, I should end up in it.
Second of all, I end up in the fourth row with one of the best seats in the entire venue.
Third of all, when Barbra get's to my favorite part of my favorite song, “Don't Rain On My Parade,” she is standing directly in front of me.
Fourth of all, ofcourse, I am on my feet and I reach out to her... yes, out of control. Ofcourse, I am out of control. I have lost my mind and this takes me even further over the edge.
FIFTH... wonderful FIFTH of all... BARBRA sees me reaching to her and she reaches back, making a vocal gesture, like a “yeah!” and looks into my eyes holding the big note.
Ofcourse, it's over in a flash, but it was a moment. A moment I got to share with my favorite artist of all time. A teeny tiny and very dynamic moment. I stride home with a prize souvenier and literally, floating on air.
Jason and Katie both look at me thrilled for me. I am stunned and so damn happy I don't know what to do but just be thankful that I had the good sense to just make damn sure that I would not only see her once but make sure I got on the main floor and as close as I could get to the stage.
Mission so accomplished I have to know dig for other missions.