So much to write, sorry it took awhile but here it is!
Barbra made her way onto the stage looking fabulous.
She had a short standing ovation. The stage had 4 musicians, a black chair, a small round table to the side of the microphone.
On the table was a single light pink rose in a vase, her glasses, a notecard, two lozenges, and paper cups for tea.
The first thing she said was "were all crammed in here like sardines!" and that the room used to seem so big to her when she performed there, but she guessed it was only because she was small.
She launched into "Heres To Life" Her voice was smooth, rich and perfect. She picked up her paper tea cup at just the right time to toast "heres to life".
Big applause and lots of tears. Then she said
"Wow, it looks like were sold out tonight! (turned to band) I told you guys people would come!
It's hard to have stage fright when there's practically no stage!.... The next song should really be sung at 5AM in the morning"
She then sang WEE SMALL HOURS.
Before her next song, GENTLE RAIN, she told us that she hadn't sung it since last January.
Barbra was getting more comfortable with each song and was coming off her teleprompter script a bit.
She turned to her left and right in front of me was Bill Cobb and his wife (her old drummer) and introduced him.
Right after that I had a quick moment of eye contact with her as she looked around. (Barbra looked at me! "plotz") lol
James Brolin looked at her the entire show with such love and pride, and tears in his eyes at times, it was very sweet.
The room was very, very warm and Barbra kept commenting about it.
She asked if the AC was on and then said something to the effect of "oh well i'll be dewy. My new look, dewy"
Barbra said that her assistant knows more about her career than she does sometimes reminded her that she recorded this song in 1967 but didn't release it because she didn't like the arrangement. She said she was glad she waited to record it for this new album.
She sang "SPRING CAN REALLY HANG YOU UP THE MOST"
Next she talked about seeing Jaques Brel's show on Bleecker street in the 60's.
She said she was dissapointed because he didn't sing her favorite song, and that she remembers that feeling she had when she has to keep singing her classics like People over and over. The song was IF YOU GO AWAY.
Her version of it was so amazingly acted and sung last night that we were all in tears again.
She then laughed about how hot it was again and asked if she could get a fan.
She said "ok now I have to get into character for the next song. It's the end of a relationship.. they probably live together"
She put on a serious face and sang "NOBODYS HEART BELONGS TO ME"
After the song she introduced Phyllis Newman in the audience, and said that she had won the Tony award over her.
Newman's husband had helped write the next song, MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY.
It was better than Oprah, I had chills. She looked right at James during the beginning of the song. Standing ovation.
She then told the story about singing for the first time for friends and how when she turned back around they had tears in there eyes, about her first talent contest at the gay club with Cis Corman and how she got $50 and all the london broil she could eat.
Stating that she hadn't sung this since the 60's, she launched right into MY FUNNY VALENTINE followed by BEWITCHED, BOTHERED AND BEWILDERED.
My boyfriend pointed out during the song that her assistant was standing near the teleprompter holding Sammie.
Sammie was all sprawled out in her arms looking so cute.
Barbra said that she practically faints in her seat when people introduce her, but she had some people she wanted to introduce tonight.
She introduced Sarah Jessica and said "right in the front row? " and laughed. Then Nicole Kidman and Donna Karan.
The funny part was I had been watching this woman all night mouthing along to all the words, and crying more than me at every song.
I thought she must be a super fan or something. Turns out it was Donna Karan! lol
Then Barbra thanked her team, Cis and Marty.
She introduced Bill and Hillary both got standing ovations. She mentioned CHelsea was there as well, and she felt as though Virginia was too.
She said that "there is only one more first for Hillary to accomplish, and we all know what that is"
She told us that before Bill was president he told her his favorite song of hers was Evergreen and she told him she would sing it at his Inauguration is he won, and she had been very happy to do that.
Next was "EVERGREEN" Beyond perfect.
Another standing Ovation as she made her way off stage.
She came back for an encore and laughed saying that she had walked off the stage a song to early.
She sang SOME OTHER TIME, and then congratulated all the contest winners from the US and other countries, and thanked us for the support over the years.
Her final song was THE WAY WE WERE.
Standing ovation again but she didn't come back. The celebrities didn't mingle much and left very quickly.
They asked us to mingle a bit to film for the DVD.
We talked briefly to her guitar player who had toured with her in 2006. He told us he tried to teach her to play Evergreen on guitar but with her nails it wasn't happening. He had no idea about any upcoming tour or if the show was going on DVD. Then I noticed Barbra's cups still on the table.
I wasn't quick enough to get the one she had tea in, another guy took it with the tea still in it and I had a sip.
I guess after two drinks Barbra backwash didn't seem weird.
I did manage to get one of the lozenges from the table, and my boyfriend grabbed the other tea cup from the stage when no one was around. Go him!
I was interviewed quickly for the Barbra DVD or online show, then looked to my right and saw a copy of the entire show teleprompter script lying near the floor.
I grabbed that as a souvenir too :P
Then I met everyone outside and it was raining so we chatted over pizza.
I can't wait for you all to see the show next week and I can't believe I was there! One of the most amazing nights of my life.
Barbra made her way onto the stage looking fabulous.
She had a short standing ovation. The stage had 4 musicians, a black chair, a small round table to the side of the microphone.
On the table was a single light pink rose in a vase, her glasses, a notecard, two lozenges, and paper cups for tea.
The first thing she said was "were all crammed in here like sardines!" and that the room used to seem so big to her when she performed there, but she guessed it was only because she was small.
She launched into "Heres To Life" Her voice was smooth, rich and perfect. She picked up her paper tea cup at just the right time to toast "heres to life".
Big applause and lots of tears. Then she said
"Wow, it looks like were sold out tonight! (turned to band) I told you guys people would come!
It's hard to have stage fright when there's practically no stage!.... The next song should really be sung at 5AM in the morning"
She then sang WEE SMALL HOURS.
Before her next song, GENTLE RAIN, she told us that she hadn't sung it since last January.
Barbra was getting more comfortable with each song and was coming off her teleprompter script a bit.
She turned to her left and right in front of me was Bill Cobb and his wife (her old drummer) and introduced him.
Right after that I had a quick moment of eye contact with her as she looked around. (Barbra looked at me! "plotz") lol
James Brolin looked at her the entire show with such love and pride, and tears in his eyes at times, it was very sweet.
The room was very, very warm and Barbra kept commenting about it.
She asked if the AC was on and then said something to the effect of "oh well i'll be dewy. My new look, dewy"
Barbra said that her assistant knows more about her career than she does sometimes reminded her that she recorded this song in 1967 but didn't release it because she didn't like the arrangement. She said she was glad she waited to record it for this new album.
She sang "SPRING CAN REALLY HANG YOU UP THE MOST"
Next she talked about seeing Jaques Brel's show on Bleecker street in the 60's.
She said she was dissapointed because he didn't sing her favorite song, and that she remembers that feeling she had when she has to keep singing her classics like People over and over. The song was IF YOU GO AWAY.
Her version of it was so amazingly acted and sung last night that we were all in tears again.
She then laughed about how hot it was again and asked if she could get a fan.
She said "ok now I have to get into character for the next song. It's the end of a relationship.. they probably live together"
She put on a serious face and sang "NOBODYS HEART BELONGS TO ME"
After the song she introduced Phyllis Newman in the audience, and said that she had won the Tony award over her.
Newman's husband had helped write the next song, MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY.
It was better than Oprah, I had chills. She looked right at James during the beginning of the song. Standing ovation.
She then told the story about singing for the first time for friends and how when she turned back around they had tears in there eyes, about her first talent contest at the gay club with Cis Corman and how she got $50 and all the london broil she could eat.
Stating that she hadn't sung this since the 60's, she launched right into MY FUNNY VALENTINE followed by BEWITCHED, BOTHERED AND BEWILDERED.
My boyfriend pointed out during the song that her assistant was standing near the teleprompter holding Sammie.
Sammie was all sprawled out in her arms looking so cute.
Barbra said that she practically faints in her seat when people introduce her, but she had some people she wanted to introduce tonight.
She introduced Sarah Jessica and said "right in the front row? " and laughed. Then Nicole Kidman and Donna Karan.
The funny part was I had been watching this woman all night mouthing along to all the words, and crying more than me at every song.
I thought she must be a super fan or something. Turns out it was Donna Karan! lol
Then Barbra thanked her team, Cis and Marty.
She introduced Bill and Hillary both got standing ovations. She mentioned CHelsea was there as well, and she felt as though Virginia was too.
She said that "there is only one more first for Hillary to accomplish, and we all know what that is"
She told us that before Bill was president he told her his favorite song of hers was Evergreen and she told him she would sing it at his Inauguration is he won, and she had been very happy to do that.
Next was "EVERGREEN" Beyond perfect.
Another standing Ovation as she made her way off stage.
She came back for an encore and laughed saying that she had walked off the stage a song to early.
She sang SOME OTHER TIME, and then congratulated all the contest winners from the US and other countries, and thanked us for the support over the years.
Her final song was THE WAY WE WERE.
Standing ovation again but she didn't come back. The celebrities didn't mingle much and left very quickly.
They asked us to mingle a bit to film for the DVD.
We talked briefly to her guitar player who had toured with her in 2006. He told us he tried to teach her to play Evergreen on guitar but with her nails it wasn't happening. He had no idea about any upcoming tour or if the show was going on DVD. Then I noticed Barbra's cups still on the table.
I wasn't quick enough to get the one she had tea in, another guy took it with the tea still in it and I had a sip.
I guess after two drinks Barbra backwash didn't seem weird.
I did manage to get one of the lozenges from the table, and my boyfriend grabbed the other tea cup from the stage when no one was around. Go him!
I was interviewed quickly for the Barbra DVD or online show, then looked to my right and saw a copy of the entire show teleprompter script lying near the floor.
I grabbed that as a souvenir too :P
Then I met everyone outside and it was raining so we chatted over pizza.
I can't wait for you all to see the show next week and I can't believe I was there! One of the most amazing nights of my life.
Sounded like a fantastic night!
