Barbra Streisand's 10 greatest songs, ranked

16 February 2024, 13:52

Barbra Streisand is without question one of the most talented vocalists of the past 50 years.

She is one of very few people to have earned the hallowed 'EGOT' - having won at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award.

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She has also sold over 68 million records worldwide, and continues to attract huge crowds to her shows.

We set ourselves the tough task of picking just a handful of her best-ever songs for any Barbra Streisand newbie to listen to:

1. Somewhere

   

   Barbra Streisand - Somewhere (Official Video)

   This is one of the most iconic songs from the classic musical West Side Story, sung by star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria.

   Barba recorded one of the most famous covers of the song in 1985 as a one-off single, and it won her a Grammy Award.

2. People

   

   Barbra Streisand - People

   Barbra sang this song in the 1964 Broadway musical Funny Girl and its movie adaptation four years later.

   The musical was based on the life and career of Broadway and film star Fanny Brice, and her difficult relationship with entrepreneur Nicky Arnstein. This became one of Barbra's first hits and transformed her into a worldwide star.

3. Papa, Can You Hear Me?

   

   Yentl (2/7) Movie CLIP - Papa, Can You Hear Me? (1983) HD

   This was taken from the 1983 musical movie Yentl, in which Barbra starred and directed.

   It was nominated for an Oscar the following year, but lost out to Irene Cara's 'Flashdance... What a Feeling'.

4. Don't Rain on My Parade

   

   DON'T RAIN ON MY PARADE - BARBRA STREISAND

   This anthem appears in the Funny Girl musical, in which Babs starred in 1968.

   Many artists have performed the song over the decades, but it will be Barbra's powerhouse version that will forever be the definitive.

5. No More Tears (Enough is Enough) (with Donna Summer)

   

   Donna Summer - No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (Duet With Barbra Streisand)

   This duet with released in 1979 for Barbra's Wet album and Donna Summer's On the Radio compilation. It reached number one in the States.

   However, the pair never performed it live together after the song was released.

   Barbra did include a snippet of the song in her 2012 Back To Brooklyn Tour, and spoke about the sad passing of Donna, and how she wished she was alive to sing it with her.

6. You Don't Bring Me Flowers (with Neil Diamond)

   

   Barbra Streisand Neil Diamond - You Don't Bring Me Flowers

   This duet is about two lovers who have drifted apart over time, while they "go through the motions" and heartache of life together.

   It was intended as the theme tune for the short-lived TV show All That Glitters, and was later recorded as two separate solo versions by Neil Diamond and Barbara.

   After an early form of 'mashup' featuring the two versions gained popularity, an official duet was recorded by the pair, and it became a huge hit.

7. Evergreen

   

   “Evergreen” from A Star Is Born” (1976)

   This classic ballad was also known as the 'Love Theme' from her 1976 movie A Star is Born, in which she starred opposite Kris Kristofferson.

   The song won her and co-writer Paul Williams an Oscar (the first time a woman had won the award as a writer), as well as a Grammy and Golden Globe.

8. The Way We Were

   

   Barbra Streisand - The Way We Were

   This song is about a melancholic relationship between the two main characters in the 1973 film of the same name, which starred Barbra and Robert Redford.

   The song and movie helped revive her career, and it became one of her signature songs. It later featured on the album of the same name in 1974.

9. Guilty (with Barry Gibb)

   

   Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb - Guilty - Live 1986 HQ - (With lyrics in Description)

   Taken from her huge 1980 album of the same name, this saw Babs team up with Barry Gibb for one of pop's most classic duets.

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   The track was written by all three Bee Gees. Although a top three hit in the States, it amazingly only reached number 34 in the UK!

10. Woman in Love

    

    Barbra Streisand - Woman in Love (Audio)

    This was the song that truly took Barbra into the mainstream pop world, thanks to her collaboration with the Bee Gees' Barry Gibb, who co-wrote this song with his brother Robin.

    It was a huge hit around the world, and is perhaps her greatest hit single ever. However, she is not actually a fan of the song herself. She has said that she doesn't believe in the lyrics, and has very rarely performed it live.