Don't Rain on Streisand's Parade! [Part 1]

Don't Rain on Streisand's Parade!

(Photo from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbra_Streisand)

     In front of the landmark Chinese Theater, on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a shiny pink star has always been reflecting a glorious history of the powerful Barbra Streisand (par. 1, Iskowitz, 1988). In April of 1942, a rose blossoms under the sunbeam of the Spring Goddess. Like a rose with a passionate smell and sharp thorns, Streisand impacts the male industries and areas like films and political attitudes with her powerful and respectful femininity. Hence, during the 1960s and 1970s, our rose, Barbara Joan Streisand had refined the female stardom with multiple talents and ethnic outspokenness (par. 1, Britannica, 2019). Streisand symbolizes the urban Wonder Woman of her time with the strong independence, admirable career achievements, and powerful impact on liberal politics.

     Starting with the first winning in a Manhattan small local nightclub’s amateur talent contest, Streisand devoted more to music. Her singing engagements in Greenwich Village cabarets had brought her the ticket to the musical industry. She took the chance to be Miss Marmelstein in the Broadway musical I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1962). Although it was a small comic role, Streisand had stolen the stage light. Receiving attention from the public, her image was spreading on television. Thanks to the generous host, Streisand received more audience's approval in the Judy Garland Show. With this trigger, she released a series of The Barbra Streisand Albums (1963 -1964) and People (1964). The Barbra Streisand Album, her first album, has brought her many honorable awards. Two of them are from the Grammy academy for The Best Album of The Year and The Best Female Vocal Performance (par. 2, Britannica, 2019). Also, her fourth album  People (1964) reached the top 1 in the US peak chart positions (Wikipedia, n.d.). However, the success couldn't limit her talents with only the music industry.

     Barbra Streisand had made a breakthrough in the musical Funny Girl (1964), which was turned into a movie in 1968. She received an Oscar for The Best Actress. Streisand was in the role of Fanny Brice (1891 -1951), a young woman from a slumdog neighborhood with great ambitions of being a musical star. From the beginning, Brice stood out from other colleagues with her clumsiness and loose outfits. Although her appearance wasn't special, she had high self-confidence with her talents.
The film reflected the heavy expectation of the Compliant stereotype of women before the 1960s. It was when a female’s appearance decided her whole life. "When people pay good money in the theatre, especially the male elements, they want something extra to look at… If a girl isn't pretty, like a Miss Atlantic City. All she gets in life is pity and a pat",  Brice's aunt made her statement. However, since her first success, she was unstoppable.

     By gratefully appearing as a pregnant lady in a wedding dress and performing "His Love Makes Me Beautiful" (1964), Streisand had created a great impression in the musical industry. Both Brice and Streisand had made an iconic phenomenon since. Nowadays, this highlight scene still gains the audience's amazement and laughter in every Funny Girl musical plays.

     "His Love Makes Me Beautiful" (1964) is a musical song about a woman who gains self-confidence via her lover. A Compliant, "strictly a female female" ("I Enjoy Being a Girl", 1958), who needed a man to feel pretty. After the line "Ziegfeld presents her with justifiable pride" (Appendix A), the audience expected to see a grateful bride with gentle walking and gestures. Fanny Brice (played by Streisand) had turned everything upside down. She stepped out, in the audience's amazement with a huge belly. The audience busted out laughing. With this joke, the film had claimed that a woman was beautiful despite how her appearance changed. "Thank you for putting such a beautiful dress on a pregnant woman", a female audience told Ziegfield. "His Love Makes Me Beautiful" (1964) was portraying an appreciated Compliant.

(Photo from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/434456695275422272/)

     Barbra Streisand, with her great acting, raised her voice whenever she sang the word "beautiful" or the phrase "of my love's affection". At the same time, she looked down her belly with an overwhelming face. She questioned in silly tone "I'm beautiful? Oy" and the expression "Oy" completely stole the show. Streisand's voice was natural. Her funny facial expressions were so real as if she was being herself instead of Brice.   

Eurus Thach

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References:

Greenwald, M. (n. d.). “Don’t Rain On My Parade” [Review of the song “Don’t Rain On My Parade”]. Allmusic. Retrieved from https://www.allmusic.com/song/dont-rain-on-my-parade-mt0028617657.

Iskowitz, M. (1998). Streisand and Brolin on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Barbra Streisand Archives. Retrieved from http://barbra-archives.com/bjs_library/90s/brolin_star_walkoffame.html. 

Lamb, B. (2019). Barbra Streisand Biography: Her Life and Career [Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://www.liveabout.com/barbra-streisand-biography-4586388. 

Sony Music Entertainment. (n. d.). Biography [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://barbrastreisand.com/biography/.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2019). Barbra Streisand: American Actress, Singer, Director, Producer. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Barbra-Streisand.

Wikipedia. (n. d.). Barbra Streisand discography. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbra_Streisand_discography.