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."

Make Believe
Barbra Streisand Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We could make believe I love you
Only make believe that you love me
Others find peace of mind in pretending
Couldn't you? Couldn't I? Couldn't we?

Make believe our lips are blending
In a phantom kiss, or two, or three
Might as well make believe I love you

For to tell the truth
I only tell the truth

This time I'll tell the truth
I do!

Overall Meaning

Barbra Streisand's song "Make Believe" features lyrics that speak to the power of imagination and the comfort that can be found in pretending. The singer suggests that two people could "make believe" that they are in love with each other, even if it is not entirely true. The idea of pretending is presented as a way to find peace of mind and connection with another person. The lyrics reference a "phantom kiss" and suggest that this imagined intimacy can be just as satisfying as the real thing.

Throughout the song, the singer acknowledges the tension that exists between reality and fantasy. She admits to always telling the truth, but in this case, feels compelled to lie in order to create something beautiful. The final line, "I do!" suggests that at least in the moment, the pretend love has become real for the singer.

Line by Line Meaning

We could make believe I love you
We could imagine that I have deep feelings for you

Only make believe that you love me
You should also pretend that you have affection for me

Others find peace of mind in pretending
Some people feel content by simply pretending

Couldn't you? Couldn't I? Couldn't we?
Don't you think we could do the same as others by pretending our love for each other?

Make believe our lips are blending
Let's pretend we are passionately kissing each other

In a phantom kiss, or two, or three
We can imagine kissing each other repeatedly

Might as well make believe I love you
It would be interesting to fantasize that I have romantic feelings for you

For to tell the truth
Honestly speaking

I only tell the truth
I speak the truth always

This time I'll tell the truth
I promise to speak nothing but the truth this time

I do!
I really have feelings for you!