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."
That's A Fine Kind O' Freedom
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
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The freedom to fly and the freedom to not
De dumb, that's a fine kind o' freedom
Look at him go way up above
Look at the crow he's as free as the dove
De dumb, that's a sweet sorta freedom
Sittin' on his sunbeam
Could be there's one beam up there for me
Bird up above, man up a tree
Don't have to fly but he's gotta be free
De dumb, that's a fine kind o' freedom
Bird up above see what he got
The freedom to fly and the freedom to not
De dumb, that's a fine kind o' freedom
Fly where he like, like where he fly
Don't have to go to the back of the sky
De dumb that's a fine kind o' freedom
Wake up you glum bird
Help us overcome bird
Freedom has slumbered for too long
Bird up above, man up a tree
Don't have to fly but he gotta be free
Have to find the thing that he's after, free and equilibrium
De dumb that's a fine kind o' freedom
Hey bird, you can show him the way bird
You can show him today bird
Oh yes, indeedum, that's a fine kind o' freedom
The song 'That's A Fine Kind O' Freedom' by Barbra Streisand is all about freedom, but freedom in its simplest and perhaps dumbest form - that of a bird flying in the sky. The singer marvels at the bird's ability to fly wherever it wants, without any worldly possessions holding it back. It's a wistful song about the human desire for freedom, a freedom that is no longer as simple as just flying like a bird. The lyrics suggest that freedom has slumbered for too long and that glum birds should wake up and help humans overcome the limitations that have enslaved them. The singer is searching for 'free and equilibrium', which could mean a balance where freedom and responsibilities don't cancel each other out.
The song seems to suggest that sometimes the simplest forms of freedom are the best and most desirable, but the world around us makes it difficult to achieve. The song also speaks to the idea that freedom is not just about the absence of pain or suffering but also about the presence of opportunities and possibilities. The metaphor of the bird in the sky is used to express this idea, as birds have the freedom to soar above and observe the world from a different perspective, giving them an advantage beyond what humans can achieve.
Line by Line Meaning
Bird up above see what he's got
Observing a bird in flight, witness the essence of freedom
The freedom to fly and the freedom to not
Freedom is not only about the ability to fly but also the right to choose not to fly
De dumb, that's a fine kind o' freedom
Freedom doesn't require intelligence, it can be appreciated by anyone
Look at him go way up above
Observe the bird soaring high above with ease and grace
Look at the crow he's as free as the dove
Freedom extends to all birds, regardless of their appearance or species
De dumb, that's a sweet sorta freedom
Simple, uncomplicated freedom is precious and should be appreciated
He owns the clear blue
The bird has complete ownership and dominion over the clear blue sky
Sittin' on his sunbeam
The bird has complete control over its environment, even perching on a sunbeam
Could be there's one beam up there for me
Perhaps there is a place for me in the open sky as well
Bird up above, man up a tree
Both bird and man can experience freedom, even if not in the same way
Don't have to fly but he's gotta be free
Freedom can be experienced on the ground as well, without necessarily flying
Fly where he like, like where he fly
The bird has complete autonomy and the ability to fly wherever and however it chooses
Don't have to go to the back of the sky
Freedom does not require going to the most distant, unreachable places
De dumb that's a fine kind o' freedom
Freedom can be appreciated by those who are simple and uncomplicated
Wake up you glum bird
Birds and humans alike have become complacent and are not fully embracing their freedom
Help us overcome bird
The bird's freedom can serve as inspiration and motivation for humans to embrace their own freedom
Freedom has slumbered for too long
The world has forgotten how to truly appreciate and embrace freedom
Have to find the thing that he's after, free and equilibrium
In order to truly experience freedom, we must seek balance and equilibrium in our lives
Hey bird, you can show him the way bird
The bird can serve as a teacher and guide to humans on the path to true freedom
You can show him today bird
Freedom is not something to be put off until tomorrow, it can be embraced right now
Oh yes, indeedum, that's a fine kind o' freedom
Undoubtedly, unambiguous freedom is something to be cherished and celebrated
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, MARTIN CHARNIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robo
on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt