Je M'appelle Barbra

Out of the 60+ albums of an artist whose career has spanned over 45 years, I would have to choose this one as my favorite. Barbra's voice, in 1966, was at its youthful peak. Her presentation and phrasing are unique and excellent, and the fact that the album is half in French gives it a touch of sophistication and culture, so much so that I don't believe it can ever be equalled by any other American artist. The CD begins powerfully as "Free Again" and Barbra's interpretation of the very popular and oft-covered "What Now My Love" elevate popular music to nearly an operatic level, with the latter in particular being a tour de force all by itself. "Autumn Leaves" is supremely tasteful in its elegant spareness of production - just Barbra and strings. "Ma Premiere Chanson", "Speak to Me of Love" and "Once Upon a Summertime" are as drenched in French atmosphere as a stroll down the Champs-Elysees at sunset. In "I Wish You Love", as with "What Now My Love", Barbra shows her artistry with both ballads and up-tempos in one song. (This song, by the way, was used to haunting effect in the film "Eye of the Beholder", but it wasn't Barbra's version.) And "I've Been Here" sounds fiercely triumphant in both the English version and the French ("Le Mur"). Alors, Mesdames et Messieurs, popular adult contemporary music just doesn't get any better than this, the creme de la creme from a timeless artist who strives for excellence and perfection in each and every endeavor. There's help from modern technology, too; the digital remastering makes something that sounded wondrous in 1966 sound even better.

This album devoted to songs penned by French composers marks Streisand's first collaboration with producer/composer Michael Legrand, whom would go on to write the brilliant score for Yentl in 1983. It provides the singer with a bit of challenge, seeing that it calls upon her to sing not only in English but also French for the first time as well. Not surprisingly, she pulls off the numbers splendidly and JE M'APPELLE BARBRA is yet another exceptional release from Streisand's sixties catalogue. Barbra gives definitive renditions of the French classics "Autumn Leaves," "Clopin Clopant," "Speak To Me Of Love," and the breathtaking "Once Upon A Summertime." The lessor-known material ("What Now My Love," "I Wish You Love") is just as good, with "Free Again" (which had been performed in French as "Non C'est Rien" on Color Me Barbra) standing strong as one of her most amazing vocal performances. The disc also finds Barbra composing her first melody ("Ma Premiere Chanson," which showcases her considerable writing talent in it's early stages), as well as tackling a song that was originally written for Edith Piaf ("Le Mer"), on which Streisand really excels. A delightful departure for the singer, JE M'APPELLE BARBRA Barbra became Streisand's 8 straight Top Five album on the Billboard Hot 200 and eventually went Gold several years later.

Barbra Streisand is a wonderful singer. She definitely CAN DO IT. But the way she beautifully recreates each song on this album as her very own is amazing. She just reaches into your soul and evokes such emotion. I remembered this was a good album from when it was released on vinyl years ago. But hearing it again when I bought it on CD just proved to me that her talent and heart and interpretation are timeless. Maybe it's because I am older and have more life experience. But this album is about life and love and Barbra makes it all so very real. Five stars!!

This was one of Barbra's earliest albums, mid-1960's. I recall that some critics bashed her French pronunciations, but that has absolutely no bearing on some great music, with so much emotion displayed. I still own the original vinyl (without a record player now) and had to have the CD to play now. I'd have to rate this even better than some of the later works.

Superb!!! There is nothing like vintage Streisand! This album shows off her many talents including linguistics! Excellent arrangements and her performance is right on the money. Should be in any Streisand fan's music library.

I've been a Barbra Streisand fan since my high school days. There is just something very special about her voice, and I prefer her earlier albums/CDs, and I have been collecting her music again in CD form, as I owned the same versions in vinyl in the 1980s. In her younger years, Barbra seemed to take more musical risks -- risks that clearly worked, and she created thrilling and beautiful music. These belong to the American cannon of our national music.

Je m'appelle Barbra (1966) is the eighth studio album released by Barbra Streisand. She sings much of the album in French and she speaks French like a true native it's unbelievable. There two types of recordings one in English and the other in French there where so many songs recorded they couldn't put it all in one album. So if you love french this is an album for you.

This is a genuine vocal genius. born a phenom. no one else like her. This Cd is so brilliant and moving. I play it over again....BUY THIS