Barbra Streisand reveals “childish” way Bob Dylan requested a duet
Barbra Streisand has revealed the curious way that Bob Dylan requested to sing a duet with her.
Streisand’s upcoming duet album, The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume Two, set for release on June 27th, is the long-awaited sequel to her 2014 duets collection, Partners. It will feature the likes of Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, and Hozier.
In a new interview with The New York Times, the singer has revealed that Dylan had requested to duet with her as far back as the 1970s. In the early 1960s, they both began playing at Greenwich Village clubs, though they remained a world apart from one another.
In 1970, Dylan reached out across the void and sent the star a bouquet of flowers, along with a card. Streisand recalled, “In childish handwriting in different-color crayons, he wrote ‘Would you sing with me?'”. Immediately, she thought, “What the hell am I going to sing with Bob Dylan?”
At the time, Streisand chose not to respond. However, discovering that Dylan had written the song ‘Lay Lady Lay’ for her changed her mind. In the end, it was Dylan who chose the song they sang, namely ‘The Very Though of You’.
Despite this, Streisand spoke of how Dylan took complete creative direction from her when recording the track. She said, “He did it over and over. He was incredibly receptive and in the moment with me.”
In the interview, Streisand was also asked to choose her favourite duet from her lengthy discography. However, Dylan was far from her mind when she highlighted ‘I Have a Love’ and ‘One Hand, One Heart’ from West Side Story with Johnny Mathis.
The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume Two will be released on June 27th.
Barbra Streisand – The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume Two tracklist:
1. ‘The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face’ with Hozier
2. ‘My Valentine’ with Paul McCartney
3. ‘To Lose You Again’ with Sam Smith
4. ‘The Very Thought Of YOu’ with Bob Dylan
5. ‘Letter To My 13 Year Old Self’ with Laufey
6. ‘One Heart, One Voice’ with Mariah Carey & Ariana Grande
7. ‘I Love Us’ with Tim McGraw
8. ‘Secret O’ Life’ with James Taylor
9. ‘Fragile’ with Sting
10. ‘Where Do I Go From You?’ with Josh Groban
11. ‘Love Will Survive’ with Seal
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