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."
Harold Sings Arlen
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
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Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead.
Wake up - sleepy head, rub your eyes, get out of bed.
Wake up, the Wicked Witch is dead. She's gone where the goblins go,
let's open up and sing and ring the bells out.
Ding Dong' the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Witch is dead!
These lyrics from Barbra Streisand's rendition of "Harold Sings Arlen" capture a jubilant and celebratory moment, evoking the classic scene from "The Wizard of Oz" where the Wicked Witch of the West is finally defeated. The opening lines immediately set the tone of triumph and relief, as the repeated declaration of "Ding Dong! The Witch is dead" signals the end of a long-standing menace.
As the lyrics progress, the emphasis shifts towards the newfound freedom and lightness that comes with the Witch's demise. The call to "Wake up - sleepy head, rub your eyes, get out of bed" conveys a sense of awakening and renewal, urging listeners to shake off any lingering darkness now that the Wicked Witch is no more. The repetition of "Wake up, the Wicked Witch is dead" reinforces this theme of liberation and new beginnings.
The imagery of the Witch going "where the goblins go, below - below - below" adds a fantastical element to the song, painting a vivid picture of the evils being banished to the depths below. The playful "Yo-ho" interjection further enhances the whimsical nature of the scene, inviting listeners to join in the celebration and revelry that accompanies the Witch's demise.
In the final verses, the lyrics call for a communal expression of joy and relief, as the characters in the song are encouraged to "open up and sing and ring the bells out" in a triumphant chorus. The repeated exclamation of "Ding Dong' the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low" underscores the infectious and uplifting spirit of the moment, as the news of the Wicked Witch's demise is spread far and wide. Ultimately, the song encapsulates a sense of victory and unity in the face of adversity, celebrating the defeat of a formidable foe and the dawn of a new chapter filled with hope and joy.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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