The Barbra Streisand Music Guide: For All We Know

Barbra Returns to Radio's Delilah Show January 23
Posted/Updated: 27 July 2003 19:25
It was "Barbra Streisand Night," declared Delilah, as Barbra returned to the syndicated evening Delilah® Show on January 23, 2003 for a rare radio interview. Pre-recorded while eating a late afternoon salad, Barbra spoke via telephone with an admiring Delilah about various subjects, from thrift store shopping to her new duet with Barry Manilow. RadioDelilah.com's music archive has added a page with links to the entire interview, including unaired material. Barbra admitted being quite pleased and surprised with her singing voice's excellent clarity on "I Won't Be The One To Let Go" despite her age. Regarding the duet with Josh Groban, "All I Know Of Love," Barbra explained that they didn't record together in the studio, because the song was originally intended for her and Andrea Bocelli. Two years ago, before Groban was known, he and another unnamed singer made demo recordings for David Foster, and Barbra loved Groban's sound. Listen to audio clip #1.

"She's so real, so human, so down to earth," said Delilah (a major fan for 30 years) following the interview, which also touched on Barbra's Malibu dream house and grounds featuring 1200 rose bushes (including the Barbra Streisand Rose, noted BJS), cactus, and vegetable gardens. Barbra said she always feels comfortable at home, preferring loose-fitting clothing with elastic waists, no bras, and no makeup - "I'm a total slob - wearing a sweat suit and sneakers." The previous day, when tree sellers arrived, she wondered, "I must be so disappointing them. They're expecting to see some glamorous movie star." When dressing up (which she resents) Barbra likes to select fashions around pieces of jewelry. Recently finding some old '60s and '70s photos (particularly some with Kris Kristofferson for A Star Is Born), she was amazed at how thin she appeared - "I'm not thin anymore." She called anonymity a gift and misses it, rarely avoiding staring eyes in public, even at her favorite area flea market. Listen to audio clip #2.

Delilah expressed her adoration for Barbra's 1972 comedy film What's Up, Doc? and drew Barbra into a discussion of humor. Barbra said she never understood the film, having difficulty following the many suitcases. However, she did laugh out loud while watching 2002's Austin Powers in Goldmember starring Mike Myers. Barbra and Delilah also appreciated My Big Fat Greek Wedding, another comedy hit from last year.

BJS songs played during the hour: "The Way We Were," "I Won't Be The One To Let Go" (radio version edit - very similar to Duets track), "My Heart Belongs To Me," and "All I Ask Of You." The show was broadcast live to all time zones beginning at 7:00 pm Eastern Time and ran till midnight Eastern on many stations. Barbra's interview and music segments commenced shortly after 10:00 pm Eastern, which was 9:00 pm Central, 8:00 pm Mountain, and 7:00 pm Pacific Time. Read a transcript of the hour. See the current station list to find your local radio station for future Delilah® Show listening. Also, consider listening online to Atlanta's WPCH 94.9 Lite FM where many fans across the globe caught the show.

This follows Barbra's December 12, 2002 radio interview, telephoning Delilah to discuss Christmas and her Duets CD briefly. The short interview segments also featured three recorded songs, "Jingle Bells," "On Holy Ground," and "I Won't Be The One To Let Go." Radiodelilah.com is currently streaming the first two minutes of this interview.

Delilah's Seattle-based radio program, The Delilah® Show, is heard by seven million listeners Monday-Friday nightly from seven to midnight on adult contemporary radio stations in 225 markets throughout the U.S. and Canada. Request line: 1-888-633-5452.