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."

I Have A Love / One Hand One Heart
Barbra Streisand Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴

[From "West Side Story"]

[Johnny Mathis:]
I have a love and it's all that I have
Right or wrong, what else can I do?

[Barbra:]
I love him

Overall Meaning

The song "I Have A Love / One Hand One Heart" from "West Side Story" features two parts sung by Johnny Mathis and Barbra Streisand respectively. It is a duet about the all-consuming nature of love and the pain and sacrifice that can come with it.

Johnny Mathis sings the first part, where he declares that his love is all he has and he has no choice but to love despite any potential consequences. His words reflect the intense and overwhelming feeling of love that can leave a person feeling helpless and powerless.

Barbra Streisand joins in with the second part and sings about her own love for the person, acknowledging the imperfections and difficulties that can come with such a passionate emotion. The lines "one hand, one heart" suggest the idea that the couple will make things work through thick and thin, and that their love is strong enough to overcome any obstacle.

Overall, the song is a beautiful and emotional duet about the power of love and the sacrifices one may have to make for it.

Contributed by Mia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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