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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

Posted by: In: Other 27 Jul 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

145-Barbra Streisand-The Way We Were.

1974-Number 34 single.

Best Bit-At 1.30. This is one of three songs that appear twice in some form on this countdown. They are recorded in radically different ways by different artists, and are therefore worthy of inclusion (see also best songs 931 and 560, and also 863 and 112, and also 214.)

Barbara Joan Streisand was born on April 24th, 1942, in New York City, United States, she has said that she was never a big fan of her first name, so when taking up singing professionally she dropped an ‘A’ from Barbara. Barbra Streisand has had two highly successful careers in music, and acting, running concurrently side by side, and reaching the very top in both professions. She has released 36 studio Albums between 1963-2018, and is the only artist to have had a Number 1 Album on Billboard in each of the last six decades. Streisand has also released 117 singles between 1962-2018, of which five have reached Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, including this song, while in the UK her sole Number 1 record is the Barry, and Robin Gibb penned ‘Woman in Love’ from 1980. With sales in excess of 150 million records she is the second best selling female artist of all time behind Mariah Carey (see also best songs 822.) On the acting front Barbra Streisand has won numerous awards including the ‘Academy Award for Best Actress’ for ‘Funny Girl,’ (1968) and a second ‘Academy Award’ for writing the love theme from ‘A Star Is Born,’ (1976) making her the first woman to be honoured as a composer. Also in 1983 with the release of ‘Yentl,’ Barbra Streisand became the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a major studio film. The film went on to win an Oscar for ‘Best Score,’ and a ‘Golden Globe’ for ‘Best Motion Picture Musical.’ Streisand also received the ‘Golden Globe Award’ for Best Director, becoming the first woman to win that award.

‘The Way We Were’ was written for the 1973 film ‘The Way We Were’ by the husband and wife songwriting team of Alan Bergman, and Marilyn Bergman, (1928-2022) (see also best songs 229 and 214) who provided the lyrics, and Marvin Hamlisch, (1944-2012) who wrote the music, it was produced by Marty Paich (1925-1995.) ‘The Way We Were’ is the opening song on the soundtrack Album to the film which starred Barbra Streisand as Katie Morosky, and Robert Redford as Hubbell Gardiner, it was also released as the lead single from Barbra Streisand’s 15th studio Album from 1974, which was also called ‘The Way We Were Were.’ The single went on to spend three non consecutive weeks at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and was also the best selling single in America in 1974. The song is about a couple who fell deeply in love despite being the complete opposites, in the song they are reminiscing their memories of their time together.

‘Mem’ries light the corners of my mind, misty water-coloured mem’ries of the way we were. Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind, smiles we gave to one another for the way we were.’