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."

The Sweetest Sounds
Barbra Streisand Lyrics

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What do I really hear
What is in the ear of my mind
Which sounds are true and clear
And which will never be defined

The sweetest sounds I'll ever hear
Are still inside my head
The kindest words I'll ever know

Are waiting to be said
The most and entrancing side of all
Is yet for me to see

And the dearest love in all the world

Is waiting somewhere for me
Is waiting somewhere, somewhere for me

Overall Meaning

In this song, Barbra Streisand reflects on the sounds that she hears in her mind and the ones that she believes are true and clear, while also acknowledging that there are some that may never be defined. The opening lines suggest that the sounds she hears may not necessarily be what is heard by others, as they are "in the ear of my mind." Despite this, she declares that the sweetest sounds she will ever hear are still inside her head, indicating that the music within her mind is the most special and precious to her.

The next part of the song focuses on the words that she holds dear, which are waiting to be said. This could be interpreted as the unspoken feelings or desires that she has kept to herself for too long. She also references a side of herself that she has yet to see, which may suggest a new perspective or understanding she has yet to gain about herself. Finally, the song speaks about the love she has yet to find, indicating that it is waiting somewhere for her to discover. Through these lyrics, Streisand encourages listeners to reflect on the sounds and words in their own mind and to find joy in the love that they have yet to discover.

Line by Line Meaning

What do I really hear
Am I truly perceiving the sounds around me

What is in the ear of my mind
Which sounds exist only within my thoughts

Which sounds are true and clear
Can I distinguish between genuine and vague sounds

And which will never be defined
Are there some sounds that cannot be comprehended

The sweetest sounds I'll ever hear
The most delightful sounds will always reside within my thoughts

Are still inside my head
They cannot be heard by my ears, only my mind's ear

The kindest words I'll ever know
The most compassionate words I will ever experience

Are waiting to be said
Are yet to be expressed or heard

The most and entrancing side of all
The most captivating and enchanting aspect of the world

Is yet for me to see
I have not yet witnessed this beauty

And the dearest love in all the world
The most cherished form of love