Barbra Streisand Scores Top Spot in Five Separate Decades
As published on Parcbench on 21 October 2009
My kids were crushed. Their recent favorite band, Paramore, has its album whisked off the top of the charts. And for whom – Breaking Benjamin, Mariah, Alice in Chains? No, no and ah, no.
Try Barbra Streisand.
Yep, she may be as old as dirt, but Mrs. Focker managed to score the number one spot last week on the Billboard charts with her release of Love is the Answer for a special record of sorts: the only artist to have a number one album in five consecutive decades. This week the album is number four.
It’s a fairly prestigious achievement, unless you look at the people who vaulted her to the top: Floridians. Or, should I say, transplanted New Yorkers. Yep, the Barbra Joan Streisand-loving, Linda Richman-types buying the album of the woman who has a voice like buttah.
It makes me want to spew.
I believe when Laura Ingraham wrote her book Shut Up and Sing, she was speaking specifically about people like Streisand, Springsteen, Baez, etc. However, I notice that lately, Barbra has stopped lecturing and hosting 5k-a-person dinners for the Democrat du jour with her Hollywood liberal friends.
With a clothespin firmply placed on my nose, I decided to listen to attempt to listen. OMG, what drivel! This was not like a hip octagenarian Tony Bennett crooning away and seducing a whole new generation of MTV viewers. Instead it was hollow music with empty lyrics. Babs is obviously relying more on her name rather than her vocal talent.
It’s quite a shame. I respect her talent, loath her politics, but this is truly an undeserved win.
Papa, can you hear me?
Suddenly, I am gripped with the possibility of a grim reality: does the flood of new and classic musicians suck so badly that Streisand is like a breath of fresh air to the music-consuming public? Reality check – I doubt it. I have been pleasantly surprised by the new, brash indie bands emerging on the scene these days. Reminds me of the Beatles and the Stones hitting the shore during the first British Invasion in the 60’s and the rising of Punk in the late 70’s. It’s a fresh and exciting time for music.
Which brings me back to our Funny Girl. I wonder if there is an underground Majong society in West Palm, Broward and Dade Counties that are buying up Barbra’s album by the caseload to pump up sales numbers.
Democrats feel Bush stole the 2000 election because of Florida. The Floridians may have struck again. If I were Paramore, I’d demand a recount.
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Michael Fidanza is the host of The Armchair Energist Show on RFC Radio and can be heard at 11am-noon ET. His website is www.ArmchairEnergist.com
