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."
If a Girl Isn
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a Miss Atlantic City
All she gets in life is pity
And a pat
Kindly name a star who hasn't
Won a contest or a pageant
If she hasn't she just never
She must shine in every detail
Like a ring, you're buying retail
Be a standard size that
Fits a standard dress
When a girl's incidentals
Are no bigger than two lentils
Then to me it doesn't spell
Success
Frumpy faces that could cause ya
To have temporary nausea
Do I have to hear a lecture
Such as that?
Is a nose with deviation
Such a crime against the nation?
Should I throw her into jail
Or drown the cat?
So she looks a bit off balance
She possesses golden talents
Or is that a pill too bitter
To digest?
Oh, she's got very nice deportment, hmm
But when they see that at Ortmund's
From the gallery they'll be
Throwing fruit
The lyrics of Barbra Streisand's song "If A Girl Isn't Pretty" satirize the societal standards for female beauty. The song portrays the idea that beauty is the most important quality for a woman to possess and that those who don't meet the conventional standard are viewed as inferior.
The first verse talks about how a woman who isn't conventionally attractive doesn't get much in life besides pity and a pat on the back. The second verse reveals that in order to be successful, a woman needs to win beauty contests or pageants. If a woman hasn't achieved this, she won't "get to bat", meaning she won't have a chance to succeed.
The pre-chorus and third verse describe the specific standards that a woman needs to meet to be considered beautiful. She must shine in every detail, be a standard size that fits a standard dress, and have incidentals (such as facial features) that aren't too big or too small. The lyrics also mention that women who don't meet these standards are seen as frumpy and can cause nausea.
The chorus then questions whether a woman's physical appearance is really the most important thing. The lyrics suggest that a woman's talents and skills should also be valued or whether a slightly unattractive, yet talented woman would be thrown out or ridiculed by the public.
Overall, the song is a commentary on how the societal beauty standards for women can be harmful and limiting, and how women should be appreciated for more than just their looks.
Line by Line Meaning
If a girl isn't pretty
According to society, if a girl is not physically attractive
Like a Miss Atlantic City
Comparable to a beauty pageant contestant
All she gets in life is pity
People tend to feel sorry for her and show empathy
And a pat
A small gesture of encouragement, but no real acknowledgement
Kindly name a star who hasn't
Can you think of a famous person who has not won a contest or competition?
Won a contest or a pageant
Achieved recognition for their beauty, talent or achievement
If she hasn't she just never
If she has never been recognized, then
Gets to bat
She never gets a chance to shine or show her worth
She must shine in every detail
For her to be accepted, she has to be perfect in every way
Like a ring, you're buying retail
As if she is a product that has to meet certain standards
Be a standard size that
She has to fit specific measurements
Fits a standard dress
To fit into the norm set by society
When a girl's incidentals
When her features and traits
Are no bigger than two lentils
Are considered too small or insignificant
Then to me it doesn't spell
To me, it does not indicate
Success
Achievement or recognition
Frumpy faces that could cause ya
Faces that are unattractive in nature,
To have temporary nausea
To cause discomfort and disgust in others
Do I have to hear a lecture
Do I have to listen to criticism
Such as that?
About something she cannot change?
Is a nose with deviation
To have a nose that is not straight or symmetrical
Such a crime against the nation?
Is it such a terrible thing?
Should I throw her into jail
Should I punish her for her appearance?
Or drown the cat?
Or focus on something else entirely?
So she looks a bit off balance
So she appears awkward in some way
She possesses golden talents
But she has skills and abilities that are admirable
Or is that a pill too bitter
Or is that too hard to swallow
To digest?
To accept and appreciate?
Oh, she's got very nice deportment, hmm
She has good posture and manners
But when they see that at Ortmund's
But when shown to a specific group of people
From the gallery they'll be
They will show their disapproval
Throwing fruit
Expressing their disdain through throwing objects
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB MERRILL, JULE STYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mac
[FUNNY GIRL is the life of vaudeville comedienne Fanny Brice (1891-1951),
starting in 1910. Actually the show starts after she has become a success
on stage and flashes back to her origins. It opens in Fanny's dressing room.
She is waiting for her husband, Nick Arnstein, to return after being in prison.
She looks back to when she was a 19-year old hopeful. Her mother's poker
buddies think she's wasting her life trying to break into show business.]
[Mrs. Strakosh:]
Fanny, when people pay good money in the the-ay-ter--
especially the male element--they want something to look at!
If a girl isn't pretty
Like a Miss Atlantic City,
All she gets in life
Is pity and a pat.
[Mrs. Brice:]
Is a nose with deviation
Such a crime against the nation?
Should I throw her into jail
Or drown the cat?
[Mrs. Strakosh, O' Malley and Meeker:]
She must shine in ev'ry detail
Like a ring you're buying retail,
Be a standard size that
Fits a standard dress.
[Mrs. Strakosh:]
When a girl's incidentals
Are no bigger than two lentils
[Mrs. Strakosh, O' Malley and Meeker:]
Then to me that doesn't spell success.
Fanny auditions for Keeney's Music Hall but Keeney kicks
her out of the chorus because she doesn't look like the
others. Eddie Ryan, dance director for Keeney, agrees:
[Eddie:]
If a girl isn't pretty
Like a Miss Atlantic City,
She should dump the stage
And try another route.
Any guy who pays a quarter
For a seat just feels he oughter
See a figger that his wife can't
Substitute.
Kid, my heart ain't made of marble
But your rhythm's really horr'ble
And that map of yours just ain't no
Valentine.
Everything you got's about right,
But the damn thing don't come out right
So forget it, kid,
And just resign.
[Chorus:]
If a girl isn't pretty,
If a girl isn't pretty,
If a girl isn't pretty,
If a girl isn't pretty,
If a girl isn't pretty,
She should get a job,
Go get a job--
Get any job
Get a weekly pay,
'Cause if a girl isn't pretty
Like a Miss Atlantic City,
She's a real Miss Nobody, U.S.A
Saige Summer
If a girl isn't pretty
Like a Miss Atlantic City
All she gets in life is pity
And a pat
Kindly name a star who hasn't
Won a contest or a pageant
If she hasn't she just never
Gets to bat
She must shine in every detail
Like a ring, you're buying retail
Be a standard size that
Fits a standard dress
When a girl's incidentals
Are no bigger than two lentils
Then to me it doesn't spell
Success
Frumpy faces that could cause ya
To have temporary nausea
Do I have to hear a lecture
Such as that?
Is a nose with deviation
Such a crime against the nation?
Should I throw her into jail
Or drown the cat?
So she looks a bit off balance
She possesses golden talents
Or is that a pill too bitter
To digest?
Oh, she's got very nice deportment, hmm
But when they see that at Ortmund's
From the gallery they'll be
Throwing fruit
Noe Berengena
I always marvel at how a threesome turns into a full chorus as this song reaches its end. I don't know much about Broadway but I would imagine this is fairly standard for certain songs. The big ending.
arthistoryliterature
Brilliant, clever lyrics by Bob Merrill
TJanelle
Im playing Mrs. Strakosh in our highschool production :D
Broadway Baby
TJanelle ik this is 5 years later but how did it go? 😊
William Caron
God love you Jean.
Mac
[FUNNY GIRL is the life of vaudeville comedienne Fanny Brice (1891-1951),
starting in 1910. Actually the show starts after she has become a success
on stage and flashes back to her origins. It opens in Fanny's dressing room.
She is waiting for her husband, Nick Arnstein, to return after being in prison.
She looks back to when she was a 19-year old hopeful. Her mother's poker
buddies think she's wasting her life trying to break into show business.]
[Mrs. Strakosh:]
Fanny, when people pay good money in the the-ay-ter--
especially the male element--they want something to look at!
If a girl isn't pretty
Like a Miss Atlantic City,
All she gets in life
Is pity and a pat.
[Mrs. Brice:]
Is a nose with deviation
Such a crime against the nation?
Should I throw her into jail
Or drown the cat?
[Mrs. Strakosh, O' Malley and Meeker:]
She must shine in ev'ry detail
Like a ring you're buying retail,
Be a standard size that
Fits a standard dress.
[Mrs. Strakosh:]
When a girl's incidentals
Are no bigger than two lentils
[Mrs. Strakosh, O' Malley and Meeker:]
Then to me that doesn't spell success.
Fanny auditions for Keeney's Music Hall but Keeney kicks
her out of the chorus because she doesn't look like the
others. Eddie Ryan, dance director for Keeney, agrees:
[Eddie:]
If a girl isn't pretty
Like a Miss Atlantic City,
She should dump the stage
And try another route.
Any guy who pays a quarter
For a seat just feels he oughter
See a figger that his wife can't
Substitute.
Kid, my heart ain't made of marble
But your rhythm's really horr'ble
And that map of yours just ain't no
Valentine.
Everything you got's about right,
But the damn thing don't come out right
So forget it, kid,
And just resign.
[Chorus:]
If a girl isn't pretty,
If a girl isn't pretty,
If a girl isn't pretty,
If a girl isn't pretty,
If a girl isn't pretty,
She should get a job,
Go get a job--
Get any job
Get a weekly pay,
'Cause if a girl isn't pretty
Like a Miss Atlantic City,
She's a real Miss Nobody, U.S.A
Allan Fisch
RIP Jean Stapleton...
Elise
“Thee -ater”
RCPMusic
♡♡
Saige Summer
If a girl isn't pretty
Like a Miss Atlantic City
All she gets in life is pity
And a pat
Kindly name a star who hasn't
Won a contest or a pageant
If she hasn't she just never
Gets to bat
She must shine in every detail
Like a ring, you're buying retail
Be a standard size that
Fits a standard dress
When a girl's incidentals
Are no bigger than two lentils
Then to me it doesn't spell
Success
Frumpy faces that could cause ya
To have temporary nausea
Do I have to hear a lecture
Such as that?
Is a nose with deviation
Such a crime against the nation?
Should I throw her into jail
Or drown the cat?
So she looks a bit off balance
She possesses golden talents
Or is that a pill too bitter
To digest?
Oh, she's got very nice deportment, hmm
But when they see that at Ortmund's
From the gallery they'll be
Throwing fruit