Luckiest Music Generation: Barbra Streisand - Stony End

[Genki Hikari]

4. I like her more now than when I was younger

My tastes evolved enough to appreciate her.

And while I do like this version of "Stony End," I imagine 35 y/o Barbara singing it, and realize how much better she would have sounded. She had so much more confidence by then that she would have called this one in. And in her sleep.

I think what bugs me about her vocal choices in "Stony End" is that she sounds so stiff and unsure sometimes that she falls back on her "Broadway musical" belter roots to muddle through the more difficult passages. That stylistic choice won't work in a rocker arrangement like this, because she doesn't need to reach the rafters here. Rockers have mikes, and amps, too, when live. They can be more dynamic in their vocal performances for that reason.

As an example of how mikes help, I think of Carly Simon in "You're So Vain," when she uses outright whispers in the recording to give the song both more vocal texture and to convey its gossipy and dark theme. That's great use of the instrumental voice that's possible in pop & rock, and recording in general. I think if Barbara had understood the possibilities open to her better, she would have turned in a more memorable recording.

All in all, though, Streisand at 80-85% of her capability is still better than a whole lot of artists can claim.