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."
You're The Top
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I always have found it best
Instead of getting it off my chest
To let 'em rest unexpressed
I hate parading my serenading
As I'll probably miss a bar
But if this ditty is not so pretty
At least it'll tell you how great you are
You're the top -
mmm? you're the Louvre museum.
You're a melody from a symphony by Strauss.
You're a Bendel bonnet, a Shakespeare sonnet, You're Mickey Mouse.
You're the Nile - You're the tower of Pisa.
You're the smile - on the Mona Lisa.
I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop.
But if baby I'm the bottom, you're the top.
You're the top, you're Mahatma Ghandi.
You're the top - you are Napoleon brandy.
You're the purple light of a summer night in Spain.
You're the National Gallery,
You're Garbo's salary,
You're cellophane.
You are sublime, you're a turkey dinner.
You're the time - the time of the Derby winner.
I'm a toy balloon that is fated soon to pop.
But if baby I'm the bottom, you're the top, top.
Steve, there is something I got to tell ya..
What is it Judy?
Well, umm?
You're the top (I am?) - mmm You're a Wardof's cellar
Oh No, no let me say it
You're the top (me too?) - You're a Berlin ballad You're the nimble tread of the feet of Fred Astaire
(Actually I don't dance very well)
You're an O'Neill drama, you're Whistler's Mother -
Mama (oh), You're Camembert.
You're a rose, (mmm. sweet)
You're Inferno's Dante.
You're the nose - watch it!I mean
Whatwhatwhawha what- on the great Durante.That's better
I'm the lazy lout who is just about to storm Let's not storm
But if baby I'm the bottom,
She's the one for me
And I've got 'I'm
Coz if baby I'm the bottom,
You're the top.
The lyrics to Barbra Streisand's "You're the Top" express humility and admiration for someone special. The singer admits to being weak with regards to expressing love poetically but still conveys sincere flattery to the song's subject. Although the singer admits not being a skilled musician, they still manage to communicate through song how the subject of the song is the top of everything from the Coliseum to the Mona Lisa's smile. The singer uses hyperbolic phrases to express how their love interest is the top of everything in all aspects of life.
The song continues with the singer complimenting their love interest as they equate them to Mahatma Gandhi and Napoleon Brandy among other things. Through "You're the Top," Barbra Streisand sings about the importance of love and the beauty of being in love. Whether its a melody or a Shakespearean sonnet or even cellophane, the singer sees their love as perfect and everything they could ask for, while themselves, the "worthless check" and "flop," remain at the bottom.
Line by Line Meaning
At words poetic I'm so pathetic
That I always have found it best
Instead of getting it off my chest
To let 'em rest unexpressed
I'm not good with expressing my feelings, so I prefer to keep them to myself instead of telling you how much you mean to me
I hate parading my serenading
As I'll probably miss a bar
But if this ditty is not so pretty
At least it'll tell you how great you are
I'm not good at singing or serenading, but even if this song is not very pretty, I hope it conveys how amazing I think you are
You're the top - you're the Coliseum.
You're the top -
mmm? you're the Louvre museum.
You're a melody from a symphony by Strauss.
You're a Bendel bonnet, a Shakespeare sonnet, You're Mickey Mouse.
You're the Nile - You're the tower of Pisa.
You're the smile - on the Mona Lisa.
I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop.
But if baby I'm the bottom, you're the top.
You’re amazing, you’re like the Coliseum in Rome, the Louvre Museum in Paris, a melody from a song by Strauss, a hat by Bendel, a poem by Shakespeare, Mickey Mouse, the Nile River, the Tower of Pisa, the smile on the Mona Lisa, and everything awesome in the world. I’m not as great but if I’m considered at the bottom, baby, you’re definitely at the top.
You're the top, you're Mahatma Gandhi.
You're the top - you are Napoleon brandy.
You're the purple light of a summer night in Spain.
You're the National Gallery,
You're Garbo's salary,
You're cellophane.
You are sublime, you're a turkey dinner.
You're the time - the time of the Derby winner.
I'm a toy balloon that is fated soon to pop.
But if baby I'm the bottom, you're the top, top.
You’re way beyond amazing. You’re like Mahatma Gandhi, Napoleon Brandy, the purple light of a summer evening in Spain, the National Gallery, the salary of Garbo, and even cellophane. You’re just sublime, like a delicious turkey dinner, and feel like the winner of the Derby race. I, on the other hand, am just a toy balloon that may pop any time. But hey, if I’m considered the bottom, you’re definitely the top.
You're the top (I am?) - mmm You're a Wardof's cellar
Oh No, no let me say it
You're the top (me too?) - You're a Berlin ballad You're the nimble tread of the feet of Fred Astaire
(Actually I don't dance very well)
You're an O'Neill drama, you're Whistler's Mother -
Mama (oh), You're Camembert.
You're a rose, (mmm. sweet)
You're Inferno's Dante.
You're the nose - watch it!I mean
Whatwhatwhawha what- on the great Durante.
That's better
You’re amazing, like a vintage bottle of Wardof's cellar, a beautiful ballad from Berlin, the nimble footwork of Fred Astaire, an exciting drama from O'Neill, and the famous painting Whistler's Mother. You’re a delicious cheese, Camembert, a sweet and fragrant rose, Dante from Inferno, and the famous nose of Durante. Even if you don't dance very well, you're amazing in every other way.
I'm the lazy lout who is just about to storm
Let's not storm
But if baby I'm the bottom,
She's the one for me
And I've got 'I'm
Coz if baby I'm the bottom,
You're the top.
I'm not very great, lazy, and probably not as accomplished as some others. But who am I kidding? I know you're the one for me because, if I'm the bottom, then she’s at the top!
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
802530
Always gotta think: Has anyone ever seen her with in-ear-monitoring plugs? Nope - she just does it like that, with a full orchestra on stage, phenomenal! She's the top - nobody will ever come close!
JJ
She's incredible in this concert!
LohengrinTh
This woman is becoming more and more beautiful with each year... and she can still sing like a Goddess
Peter Gerbeville
SO Fabulous
scyliorhinus
She's still beyond compare, and I still am in love with her marvellous voice... Barbra forever!
gearout
Astounding voice. I forget how incredible she is until I venture back. Amazing person. Love her politics too.
George Burrell
Barbra always takes charge. Looks like an honest live demonstration of where she is at. Still at the Top I would say!
eugene wolf
What a treat to have been around her whole career. It's still just as thrilling to see and hear her.
Anne McCarron
I agree. Even as a child I thought she was fabulous! I've just gone to appreciate her more with the years.
Keith Curran
She never, through her 40’s, had a SINGLE vocal problem. Not one. She just opened her mouth. BTW, listen to her version of this song from the Original Soundtrack from “What’s Up, Doc”. It is one of her TOP vocal performances EVER. She hits highs and lows and riffs... Her playfulness is incredible!