Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Children Will Listen - Barbra Streisand

Bullying starts at home for some children. Parenting obviously is the hardest job. Stephen Sondheim has written some wise words on the subject and placed them on top of a beautiful melody delivered by La Streisand.


                                                    



                                                   

Friday, October 18, 2013

Songbird Barbra Streisand

Barbra Streisand is by far the number one songbird in the world. She is an original and a ground breaker. Her voice and music - her interpretations are sublime. Streisand has managed to remain relevant for her entire five decade career putting forth a large body of work that has never ceased to amaze me. She is theater when she sings. She is a storyteller - an actress - a diva supreme and a superior musician. She is music!
                                                      


STREISAND  SONGBIRD



                                        

Saturday, October 12, 2013

SONGBIRDS Melissa Manchester - Still Myself

I Begin my Songbirds series with a singer who gets no respect as Rodney Dangerfield would say. Well, Melissa Manchester gets barrels of respect from me.
                                            
                                                          SONGBIRD #1
                                              MELISSA MANCHESTER

Under rated and under appreciated Melissa Manchester seems to have been completely forgotten. I never hear her songs played on radio or other venues. Here is a woman singer song writer every bit as good and even better than many of her male counterparts. Yet, the guys of her generation get played and praised and remembered. Melissa Manchester has had more top ten hits then most when top ten hits meant quality. Her albums are chock full of meaningful portraits and tributes to the human spirit - melodies and words of substance - performed with the emotions of a great actress. Here is "Still Myself" a relatively current piece that evokes self awareness in the light of some sad truth. Listen and be awestruck. Listen twice after reading all the stuff I posted that seemed relevant at the time I was putting this together. My mistake BUT the song sings for itself and Melissa will compel you to hear her.