FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Unusual Ways

By: May. 07, 2010
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For this week's FLASHBACK FRIDAY we are bringing together the subjects of my two other columns from this week - SOUND OFF: The Way We Are and InDepth InterView: Maury Yeston - with a perfect performance showcasing the supreme l'actrice/chanteuse Streisand's take on a song from Yeston's 1982 Best Musical and Best Score Tony-winner NINE: the evocative, eerie, sensual "Unusual Way".

Taken from a live concert taped in 2006 (available for purchase here) comes this luscious rendering of an exquisite song. Streisand's phrasing on each and every lyric is positively sublime and brings to mind the sensual reading of songs like "If You Go Away" by Jacques Brel as it was flawlessly performed in the masterful Village Vanguard concert which is also available this week on CD/DVD/Blu-Ray. It seems that for theatre fans, Streisand is the only performer who consistently stays at the top of the charts while still giving her regards to Broadway, as this exemplary performance from a huge-selling DVD attests in her inimitable invocation of the hit song from NINE. In a not so unusual way, Barbra has found a way to make Broadway fans feel, well, "whole." Enjoy, it is impossible not to!

Also, check out this slightly more reserved and scornful take on the song taken from a concert performance in Paris, 2007. The song seems to be a very extension of her soul as she sings - or should I say: devours - it here. This is Barbra The Actress at the height of her powers whereas the performance above may be technically slightly preferable to some. Yet, this performance has a bit more raw passion and devastating pathos imbued in it and she nails each and every nuance set up in the delicate, devastating lyrics. See which oNe You prefer, though it is nearly impossible to choose as I'm sure you'll soon see!

That's all for this week, and remember if you would like to see a particularly fun, hilarious, bizarre or just all-around excellent performance from the past highlighted here be sure to send us a link! Until next time...



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