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."

Speak To Me Of Love
Barbra Streisand Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Speak to me of love
And say what I'm longing to hear
Tender words of love
Repeat them again
I implore you speak to me of love
Whisper these words to me, dear
I adore you,
I want to hear, to hear those words that are so dear,

I want to hear you say I love you

By all the little stars above you
Your voice is like a fun caress
It thrills me till I must confess
I long to hear the voice that brings me
Such thrilling love and happiness

Parle moi d'amour

Redites moi ces mots suprímes
Je vous aime...

Overall Meaning

Barbra Streisand's song "Speak to Me of Love" is a romantic number that tries to express the yearning for words of love. The singer is requesting her beloved to speak to her tenderly about love and repeat those words again and again that she is longing to hear. The lyrics emphasize the importance of whispering those magical words which can fill the heart with love and joy. The song is an earnest plea for the expression of tenderness and passion in a romantic relationship. The singer is desperately seeking assurance of love and hopes to hear her beloved say, "I love you."

The lyrics become intensely sensual in the second half of the song, where the singer expresses that the sound of her beloved's voice carries the power to thrill her to the core. She is enamored by the sound of their voice, which is gentle and passionate, and which makes her feel loved and happy. The lyrics in the French language add a beautiful and exotic touch to the song, and the lines "Parle moi d'amour, Redites moi ces mots suprímes, Je vous aime..." translate to "speak to me of love, repeat these supreme words, I love you."

Line by Line Meaning

Speak to me of love
Address me with love and express your feelings

And say what I'm longing to hear
Utter the words that I desire most to hear from you

Tender words of love
Affectionate language that signifies love

Repeat them again
Reiterate those words for me, once more

I implore you speak to me of love
I fervently beg of you to talk to me about love

Whisper these words to me, dear
Gently vocalize those words to me, my beloved

I adore you,
I greatly cherish you

I want to hear, to hear those words that are so dear,
My heart desires to hear those precious words of love

I want to hear you say I love you
I yearn to hear you express your love for me

By all the little stars above you
Speaking with conviction by invoking the stars in the sky

Your voice is like a fun caress
Your voice gives me an enjoyable sensation, like a gentle touch