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United StatesGrammy performance
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2
United States
Monday, February 14, 2011 - 00:26
mri:
Grammy performance
What a thrill to hear Barbra sing! Inspiring as always! She was the highlight of the Grammy's for me.
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Time to finish my thoughts on Barbra's performance at the 2011 Grammy's.
I had some terrific insights, but now I wonder...what's all the fuss? Why scrutinize every move, every note, every subtle vibration that pours from her being?
I wanted to say something about this particular performance, but it is also, for me, tied to the first time I saw her perform live.
It was 1999, and I remember seeing Barbra at an arena in Detroit. Aside from being in total shock that I was within 100 feet of OMG! BARBRA STREISAND!, I remember being so nervous. But why was I nervous? It's her show, not mine.
But I realized something later that evening. I was actually nervous for her. I did feel a sense of responsibility for how she performed. This may sound odd, but if we, the audience, weren't sending her love and positive energy, her performance would be empty. There was a moment when she looked out at our row and I wondered, did she look at me? did she see me? It didn't matter, but right then, I felt so proud of her. That she was beating her fears of performing live. I wanted to give her a hug and tell her what an awesome act of courage she undertook.
I saw something similar in her Grammy performance of Evergreen. She looked so beautiful. I could sense that she was nervous. Her shyness came out for a minute, but it didn't stop her. She looked vulnerable and I think she might have been scared.
I cried off and on the rest of that day. I cried because I thought she somehow lost her confidence. My mind went back to the first time I saw her live. For whatever reason, I felt an overwhelming need to protect her. Then and now.
The Grammy performance was a transformation time for Barbra. It felt like a farewell to the Barbra we knew so well, a closing of another chapter, and it was an introduction to the current Barbra. People wonder if she's going to stop performing. Maybe she'll record less frequently. But you know what? When the day comes and she turns off the microphone, we'll be very sad. I'll have a sob-fest for sure, cry me a river. more like an ocean. But, let's not be selfish, instead I hope we're happy for Barbra. Wish for her that she always has love, and spends her time in some joyous pursuit of creating more beauty and more peace.
My feeling was that Barbra appeared very nervous and less confident on the night of the Grammy's. However, remember that she sang a medley of her songs, plus a couple of songs, like Windmills of Your Mind (a capello, in part) and "The Promise" (which I adore and she sang magnificently!!) the previous night at the Musicare presentation - all live, of course. Her voice was pretty fantastic that night. I felt she ended stronger than she began. So, I too felt pretty sad and afraid she might stop singing live again after the Grammies. But then, I found her strength in her Musicares performance,
And, finally, "What Matters Most" is going to be released next month. If you have heard the two mp3 downloads yet, it puts you right up on a "Barbra, please dont' EVER stop" high. She is truly magnificent!!! What was really funny - - - the two mp3 files downloaded into iTunes right after my "My Name is Barbra" album! For real, it went from one of the songs on her first record to "That Face" and it was VERY hard to tell that there was a 50 year difference in time!!! The voice was the same, the key was the same, the style was the same. Well, maybe not exactly, but SO close. I chuckled and thought, "Barbra Streisand is just THE most amazing person in this century!"
So Ms Streisand, put the microphone down when you believe you need to or want to. Your true fans will probably cry crocodile tears for a long time. I, for one, also respect your work and treasure what you have provided us to do any more than be very, very sad when you make that decision. As Jameshoeve said above, you deserve all the love, happiness, peace and joy that you have earned. But, in the meantime, I can't wait until August 23, am praying that I am the lucky one to meet you this month, and will enjoy any more work with which you choose to grace us.
BTW, Happy Anniversary!!! A couple of hours late!