I actually bought two-one for the house, and
#Barbra streisand christmas memories songs full
Grade: B-.An Christmas CD full of love, joy, and peace It’s just Babs’ first two Christmas albums, combined into one. Listen Here The Classic Christmas Album: 2013 Exceptions were “Grown-Up Christmas List” which has a live orchestra and a stirring beat, “Closer” which was dedicated to Streisand’s dear friend Stephen Weiss who passed away earlier that year (fun fact: he was married to designer Donna Karan), and “One God,” which I like to think of Babs’ subtle nod to that *other* monotheistic religion not being represented on this record. Gotta be honest: I had to skip ahead on several tracks, as they just weren’t doing it for me. Some critics speculated that the darker mood was on purpose, as this was released a month after 9/11, though she started recording the songs that previous July, so I’m going to start a new theory that Barbra was actually just sad about having to do a Christmas album. It’s pretty melancholy, which can be said for most of this album. We get a cover of “I Remember” by Stephen Sondheim (a Jew… you do realize that most Christmas songs were written by Jews, right?). Up next is “A Christmas Love Song,” which is not a cover but may as well be - it pretty much sounds like every other Christmas song out there. We open with “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” which starts slow and soft, but about halfway through, a smooth jazz beat comes along which had me grooving in my office chair. I must start with the name of this album, which makes me wonder, does Barbra Streisand actually have any Christmas memories? Unclear.Īnyway, like the one that came 34 years before it, this record is mostly covers of classic Christmas songs, though Streisand is definitely taking more liberties this time around. If you’re looking for a Barbra Streisand Christmas album that isn’t too much Barbra, this one’s for you. Guest tracks include Doris Day doing “Silver Bells” which is a classic and just very good, Jim Nabors’ “Jingle Bells” (they should have included Babs’ version instead), and some medleys from Andre Kostelanetz and his orchestra (who is, you guessed it, another Jew). However, it appears to be a handful of songs from her first Christmas album (see above) and some other recordings from, well, her friends. Sadly, this one is not on my music streaming service of choice, so I couldn’t actually listen to it. Listen Here Season’s Greetings from Barbra Streisand… And Friends (1969) It would be a full letter grade lower if not for “Jingle Bells?” Grade: B.
Definite bonus points for doing “Guonod’s Ave Maria” in Latin, and I will say closing out the album with a very dramatic, nearly operatic rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer” is a power move I can get behind.Ī Christmas Album remains one of Streisand’s best-selling records as well as one of the best-selling Christmas albums of all time. Still, I’d say it leans a little too Christmas-y and not enough Babs-y. Her version of “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music is slowed down, turning the original upbeat bopper into a moody romantic croon (I prefer the original).
The rest of the songs on this album stay pretty classic and traditional - her renditions of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Sleep in Heavenly Peace (Silent Night)” are slow, heartfelt, and highlight Streisand’s stellar voice, but I’m going to be honest: They’re also pretty boring.
But there’s no doubt, by the end of this fast-paced take on the classic “Jingle Bells” ditty, that Streisand is diving headfirst into the Christmas spirit, no holds barred. This album opens with a true banger, appropriately titled “Jingle Bells?” Note the question mark: I like to read this as a nod to Babs’ skepticism to be entering into the Christmas sphere as such an iconic Jewess.
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