Barbra Streisand (born Barbara Joan Streisand; April 24, 1942 Brooklyn, Ne… Read Full Bio ↴Barbra Streisand (born Barbara Joan Streisand; April 24, 1942 Brooklyn, New York), is an Academy Award-winning American singer, theater and film actress, composer, film producer, and director. She has won Oscars for Best Actress and Best Original Song as well as multiple Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and an honorary Tony Award. She received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor on December 7, 2008. She is the most successful female recording artist according to the Recording Industry Assoc. of America (RIAA).

Barbra Streisand has recorded more than 60 albums, almost all with Columbia Records. Her early works in the 1960s (her debut The Barbra Streisand Album which won two Grammy Awards in 1963, followed by The Second Barbra Streisand Album, The Third Album, My Name Is Barbra, etc.) are considered classic renditions of theater and nightclub standards, including her version of Happy Days Are Here Again. Beginning with My Name Is Barbra, her albums were often medley-filled keepsakes of her television specials.

Starting in 1969, Streisand tackled contemporary songwriters; like many talented singers of the day, she found herself a fish out of water in attempts to tackle rock, but her vocal talents prevailed and she gained newfound success with the pop and ballad-oriented Richard Perry-produced album Stoney End in 1971. The title track, written by Laura Nyro, was a big hit for Streisand.

Streisand's 1980 album, Guilty featured the songwriting, production and vocal talents of Barry Gibb and was the best-selling album of her recording career. During the 1970s, she was also highly prominent in the pop charts, with number-one records like The Way We Were, Evergreen, No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (her duet with Donna Summer), and Woman In Love; some of these came from soundtracks of her films. She recently took part in supporting Haiti in singing "We are the World 25th anniversary.

When the 1970s ended, Streisand was named the most successful female singer in the U.S. - only Elvis Presley and The Beatles having sold more albums. [1]

[1] In 1982, New York Times music critic Stephen Holden wrote that Streisand was "the most influential mainstream American pop singer since Frank Sinatra."

Brezairola
Barbra Streisand Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Soun, soun, soun,bèni, bèni, bèni
Soun, soun, bèni, bèni doun!
Soun, soun, bèni, bèni, bèni
Soun, soun, bèni d'èn docon!

Lou soun, soun bouol pas bèni, pècairé!
Lou soun, soun bouol pas bèni
Lou néni s'en bouol pas durmi!

Oh!...

Soun, soun, bèni, bèni, bèni
Soun, soun, bèni, bèni doun!
Lou soun, soun bouol pas bèni
L'èfontou bouol pas durmi!
Soun, soun, bèni, bèni, bèni
Soun, soun, bèni o l'èfon! Oh!...
Oh!...

Soun, soun, bèni, bèni, bèni
Soun, soun, bèni, bèni doun!
Atso lo qu'è por oqui, pèciré
Atso lo qu'ès por oqui

Lou néni s'en boulio durmi...
Ah!....

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Barbra Streisand's song "Brezairola" are in the Occitan language, a Romance language spoken in Southern France, Northern Spain, and Italy's Occitan Valleys. The lyrics are a traditional lullaby and the meaning can be interpreted as follows:

The repeated phrase "Soun, soun, soun, bèni, bèni, bèni" can be understood as the comforting sound a mother makes to soothe her child. The word "soun" likely represents a lulling, calming sound, while "bèni" signifies blessings or good wishes. This repetition conveys the tender and nurturing nature of a mother's love.

In the second part of the song, it references a restless sleep, stating "Lou néni s'en bouol pas durmi" meaning "The child cannot fall asleep." This portrays a mother's concern for her little one and her desire to provide comfort and peace.

The last verse adds a sense of longing and yearning with the phrase "Atso lo qu'è por oqui, pèciré" meaning "So what is it here for?". It signals the mother's contemplation about her purpose and role in her child's life, possibly reflecting on the sacrifices she makes or the challenges she faces.

Overall, "Brezairola" captures the universal theme of a mother's unconditional love, her desire to protect her child, and the tender moments shared during lullabies.

Line by Line Meaning

Soun, soun, soun,bèni, bèni, bèni
Sound, sound, sound, blessings, blessings, blessings

Soun, soun, bèni, bèni doun!
Sound, sound, blessings, blessings down!

Soun, soun, bèni, bèni, bèni
Sound, sound, blessings, blessings, blessings

Soun, soun, bèni d'èn docon!
Sound, sound, blessings from heaven!

Lou soun, soun bouol pas bèni, pècairé!
The sound, sound bites are not blessed, alas!

Lou soun, soun bouol pas bèni
The sound, sound bites are not blessed

Lou néni s'en bouol pas durmi!
The baby is not sleeping!

Soun, soun, bèni, bèni, bèni
Sound, sound, blessings, blessings, blessings

Soun, soun, bèni, bèni doun!
Sound, sound, blessings, blessings down!

Lou soun, soun bouol pas bèni
The sound, sound bites are not blessed

L'èfontou bouol pas durmi!
The fountain is not sleeping!