Barbra Streisand talked about Canada, Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau and the environment as she serenaded a sold-out audience at the Air Canada Centre on Aug.23, the final stop of her North American tour.
“I think the world of [Trudeau], and his policies and I was also a great admirer of his father.” she said between songs (the two of them dated in 1970). “I relate to Justin because he is like every nice Jewish boy in Brooklyn that went into his father’s business.”
The only recording artist to achieve number one albums in each of six decades, Streisand stepped on stage with a ready smile eager to take the audience on a musical journey.
From my vantage point between an older couple from Victoria, B.C. and a younger couple from Montreal with their 13-year-old daughter, all of whom flew in just for the concert, it was easy to notice the wide range of fans Streisand attracts.
Streisand performed hits from the span of her six decades as a performer, but not before thanking Canadian fans who have supported her over the years.
“I love Canada – it’s great to be back here,” she said enthusiastically.
Streisand, 74, loves to tell stories. Sitting down on a stool on stage she shared several anecdotes before bursting into song.
“I went shopping today. When I went to pay for my purchase the owner said ‘You’re American, do you have any loonies?’ and I said ‘Just one – Donald Trump.
“It’s hard to turn on the television these days – at least here [Canada] you get to turn on your television and see Prime Minister Trudeau.”
Streisand said she is writing her autobiography. “In between planning this show and rehearsals I have been writing a book. It hasn’t been easy because I am someone who likes to look forward and not back.”
Behind-the-scenes footage, photographs and film clips were shown on the screen as Streisand sang an arrangement of melodies throughout the evening.
The first half featured hits such as: People, The Way We Were, Everything, Being At War With Each Other, You Don’t Bring Me Flowers, Woman In Love/Enough is Enough, Evergreen, With One More Look At You, Being Alive, Papa, Can You Hear Me? that had the audience reveling in days past getting lost in Streisand’s powerful smooth voice.
In the second part of the show, she asked the audience, “Does the world ever frighten you”?
“It frightens me sometimes especially what’s happening to our planet. We are experiencing the hottest temperatures on record. Our lakes are drying up. The bees and the butterflies are disappearing. Polar bears are stranded, marine life is dying, storms are becoming more extreme and the ocean is filling up with garbage.
“We are tampering with the gentle balance of nature but I think change starts from within,” she shared before diving into the ballad Pure Imagination.
Other songs Streisand performed are: Who Can I Turn To? Losing My Mind, Isn’t This Better?/How Lucky Can You Get?, Children Will Listen, Don’t Rain On My Parade, Happy Days and I Didn’t Know What Time It Was.
Israeli mentalist Lior Suchard read the minds of spectators following the intermission.
Widely recognized as an icon in multiple entertainment fields, Streisand has attained unprecedented achievements as a recording artist, actor, concert performer, producer, director, author and songwriter. Streisand releases her 35th album Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway, this month which features a collection of Broadway duets with movie actors.
“Some of the songs have dialogue that’s why I needed great actors like Jamie Fox, Alec Baldwin, Anne Hathaway, Melissa McCarthy and Hugh Jackman,” she said.
