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."
Once Upon A Time
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
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We stopped beside then in a flower stall
A bunch of bright forget-me-nots
Was all I let you buy me
Once upon a summertime
Just like today
We laughed the happy afternoon away
You were sweeter than the blossoms on the tree
I was as proud as any girl could be
As if the major had offered me the key,
The key to Paris
Now another wintertime has come and gone
The pigeons feeding in the square have flown
But I remember when the vespers chime
You loved me once upon a summertime
Tous les lilas, tous les lilas de mai
N'en finiront, n'en finiront jamais
De faire la f'te du coeur
Des jeunes qui s'aiment
S'aiment, s'aiment
Now another wintertime
Has come and gone
The pigeons feeding in the square have flown
But I remember when the vespers chime
You loved me once upon a summertime...
"Once Upon a Summertime" is a song originally composed by Michel Legrand with English lyrics written by Johnny Mercer. The song is about the beautiful memories of a moment of love shared by two people in Paris on a summer's day. The first verse takes us back to the day they met when they stopped at a flower stall and the man purchased bright forget-me-nots for the woman. They laughed and kissed in the Parisian streets, and the woman felt like the most fortunate girl alive. The chorus takes us to the present day where the pigeons have flown and the winter has come, but the memory of their love still lingers on.
The second verse then switches from English to French, adding a charming twist to the song. Translated, it reads: "All the lilacs, all the May lilacs, will never stop, will never stop giving joy to the hearts of young people in love, in love, in love." Although the lyric introduces a fresh perspective, the mood remains about the love that was shared once upon a time, long ago.
Overall, the song is a romantic reflection on the memories of summer love, and how the memories of those moments can stay with us even as time passes.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a summertime if you recall
Recalling a time in the past when we spent a summer together
We stopped beside then in a flower stall
We paused by a flower shop and admired the blooms
A bunch of bright forget-me-nots
You bought me a colorful bunch of forget-me-nots
Was all I let you buy me
That was the only gift I allowed you to give me
Once upon a summertime
Like now, we shared a happy summer together
Just like today
Similar to the present moment, we enjoyed each other's company
We laughed the happy afternoon away
We spent a joyous afternoon laughing together
And stole a kiss in every street caf?
We shared a romantic moment by stealing kisses in cafes all over the city
You were sweeter than the blossoms on the tree
To me, you were more delightful than the flowers in full bloom
I was as proud as any girl could be
I felt like the luckiest girl in the world to have you
As if the major had offered me the key
It was like I had been offered the key to the city by some important figure
The key to Paris
Symbolizing the gateway to a beautiful city and the possibilities that come with it
Now another wintertime has come and gone
Since then, many winters have passed
The pigeons feeding in the square have flown
The birds that once fed in the square have since flown away
But I remember when the vespers chime
Despite time passing, I still remember when the church bells rang at sunset
You loved me once upon a summertime
I will never forget how you loved me during that special summer
Tous les lilas, tous les lilas de mai
All the lilacs, all the lilacs in May
N'en finiront, n'en finiront jamais
They will never, never end
De faire la f'te du coeur
Celebrating the joy of love
Des jeunes qui s'aiment
For young lovers
S'aiment, s'aiment
Who love, who love each other
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HAMILTON, DAVID/STEVENSON, WILLIAM/ALES, BARNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robo
on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt