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."
It's Up To You
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
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Wherever you go, baby, I will find a way
I'm ready to go anywhere you choose
It's up to you
You decide if I live or die
Wherever you go, baby, so will I
I'm ready to accept your point of view
And there's something about that way you smile
Every touch leaves me helpless
Every moment drives me wild
I never saw the cause that made you lie
I never said goodbye inside
You can go where you got to go
Wherever you lead, baby, I will follow
I'm ready to be all you want me to
It's up to you
And I walk in the dark and the candle burns
Out of place, your face is missing
Come the day, you return my love on hold
This moment stops in time
The reason and the rhyme inside
You can go where you got to go
Where you lead, baby, I will follow
I'm ready to be all you want me to
It's up to you
It's up to you
You, baby
It's up to you
Oh, it's up to you
Oh, it's up to you
The song "It's Up To You" by Barbra Streisand is a love ballad that speaks about the mixed emotions of the singer regarding her relationship with her lover. In the first verse, the singer talks about how her dreams should make her happy but she's feeling blue and asks her lover to explain why. The second verse hints at the possibility of the singer leaving her lover and suggests that the lover will regret not expressing their love in time. The main theme of the song, however, is the sentiment that "it had to be you", a concept that is repeated throughout the song in various forms.
The singer goes on to describe how she has seen other people but none of them were able to make her feel the way her lover does. She explains how this person, with all their faults and imperfections, is the only one who can give her the thrill she desires. The chorus repeats the lyrics that "it had to be you" and emphasizes the fact that the singer is grateful and happy to be with her lover. The song ends on a cheerful note by highlighting that the singer and her lover are a perfect match and are meant to be together.
Overall, the song expresses the complex emotions of love and gratitude, emphasizing that sometimes love can be bittersweet, but the right person will make everything worthwhile.
Line by Line Meaning
Seems like dreams like I always had
The dreams I had seem to be coming true which should make me happy, but instead I feel down.
Could be, should be, making me glad
My dreams should be bringing me joy and happiness.
Why am I blue?
I'm feeling sad even though my dreams are coming true.
It's up to you to explain
I'm not sure why I'm feeling this way, so it's up to you to help me figure it out.
I'm thinking maybe, baby, I'll go away
I'm considering leaving to find happiness somewhere else.
Someday, some way, you'll come and say
I hope that one day you'll realize you need me and come back to me.
It's you I need
I need you in my life to be happy.
And you'll be pleading in vain
If you do come back, I won't take you back easily and you'll have to convince me.
It had to be you
Out of all the people I've met, it had to be you that I fell in love with.
Just had to be you
There was no doubt in my mind that you were the one for me.
I wandered around
I searched everywhere for someone who could make me happy.
Finally found somebody who
I found someone who I thought could make me happy.
Could make me be true
This person could make me be true to myself and my feelings.
Or could make me be blue
This person could also make me feel sad and down.
Or even be glad just to be sad
This person could make me feel happy just by being by my side, even if we were both sad.
Thinking of you
You were always on my mind, even when we weren't together.
Some others I've seen
I've met other people who couldn't make me as happy as you did.
Might never be mean, might never be cross
These other people could be nice and kind, but they didn't make me feel the way you did.
Oh I tried to be boss
I tried to take control and find someone other than you, but it didn't work.
But they wouldn't do
No one else could compare to you.
For nobody else gave me a thrill
No one else made me feel as excited and happy as you did.
With all your faults I love you still
Despite your imperfections, I still love you.
Marvellous you
You're amazing and I'm lucky to have you.
Alright let's go
Let's move forward together.
Okay
I'm ready to start this new chapter.
Well some colour fades
Things change and don't always stay the same.
I just had to wait
I was patient and waited for the right person to come along.
And finally found somebody who, somebody new
I found someone who made me happy in a different way than you did.
With all your Soul hits, Barbra I love your skin
I love everything about you, even your imperfections.
Aww it had to be you
No one else could ever take your place in my heart.
Wonderful you
You're amazing and I'm grateful to have you in my life.
Just me and you
It's just you and me against the world.
No one but you
I only want you by my side.
Had to be you
It could only ever be you that I fell in love with.
It had to be you
You were always the one for me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ashley R. Gibb, Barry Alan Gibb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robo
on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt