2011 MusiCares Person of the Year Tribute to Barbra Streisand
Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall
1201 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, California
February 11, 2011
- 5:30 PM — Cocktail reception & silent auction
- 8:00 PM — Gala dinner
- 9:00 PM — Tribute concert & award presentation
Barbra Streisand was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year in recognition of her renowned creative accomplishments as well as her philanthropic work, which has included an extraordinary range of charitable activities over the years. Proceeds from the dinner and concert honoring Streisand — held in Los Angeles during GRAMMY Week on Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, two days prior to the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards — provided essential support for MusiCares, which ensures that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need.
The set list for the evening, which consisted of other singers serenading Streisand with songs from her catalog, went like this:
- Darren Criss & The Warblers from GLEE - 'What Kind of Fool'
- Diana Krall - 'Down With Love' (Krall interpolated a few lines of ‘Make Someone Happy’ in the middle of her performance)
- Seal - 'Guilty'
- Leona Lewis - 'Somewhere'
- Herbie Hancock & Nikki Yanofsky - Medley of 'On a Clear Day' and 'Lazy Afternoon'
- Lea Michele - 'My Man'
- Jeff Beck, LeAnn Rimes and BeBe Winans - 'Come Rain or Come Shine'
- Faith Hill - 'Send in the Clowns'
- Kristin Chenoweth & Matthew Morrison - 'One Less Bell to Answer / A House is Not a Home'
- Barry Manilow - 'Memory'
- Tony Bennett - 'Smile'
- Stevie Wonder - 'People'
Introduced by Prince, Barbra Streisand took the stage at the end of the evening and gave a wonderful speech before singing her set:
- Medley of 'Happy Days Are Here Again', 'The Way We Were', 'What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?', 'Evergreen', 'I Finally Found Someone' and ending with 'Happy Days Are Here Again'
- 'Make Someone Happy'
- 'The Windmills of Your Mind'
- 'I'll Never Say Goodbye'
(Photo, above: Prince, NARAS President Neil Portnow and 2011 MusiCares Honoree Barbra Streisand. Photo: Kevin Mazur)
Other celebrities who didn't sing during the concert portion, but who offered their regards to Ms. Streisand were former President Bill Clinton (in a pre-taped video message), Bill Mahr, Fran Drescher, will.i.am, Neil Portnow (current president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences [NARAS]).
Streisand wrote in the evening's program how honored she was to be recognized by MusiCares:
I'm both proud and humbled to be named MusiCares 2011 Person of the Year. The magic of music has enriched my life in countless ways and has been an essential source of personal and creative expression. I am grateful to everyone who has supported and encouraged me from my first appearance at a little club in Greenwich Village called The Lion to this moment tonight.
I've always felt that when one receives a lot, they should find ways of giving back. Therefore, I'm especially pleased to recognize this wonderful organization that assists those less fortunate who have dedicated their lives to the musical arts.
In these challenging times, it is incumbent upon all of us, who can, to help society in ways large and small. For nearly two decades “The Streisand Foundation” has contributed resources to the many issues I care deeply about—among them, environmental preservation, education, civic engagement, human rights, and women's health. Currently, we are raising much needed funding for women's cardiovascular research and education—the number one cause of death in women, exceeding all cancers combined.
It's a privilege to be in a position to shine a light on important causes that help better people's lives. I thank everyone this evening not only for such a lovely personal tribute, but also for the good work your generosity will enable MusiCares to continue doing in the coming years.
I especially want to express my sincere appreciation to all the artists who have graced the stage tonight with their extraordinary talents. I am honored that they have taken the time to learn my songs and to acknowledge me on this special night.
My thanks and gratitude to you all,
Barbra Streisand
In 2011, Columbia Records promoted Barbra's newest album, What Matters Most, by streaming her segment of the MusiCares concert at Starbucks stores from Aug. 23 to Aug. 29.
The promotional email and website told Streisand fans to visit a Starbucks store “with your WiFi-enabled laptop computer, phone, or other mobile device and log on to the Starbucks Digital Network. Visit the Entertainment Channel to see Barbra perform some of her greatest hits plus two songs from What Matters Most which she's never before sung live... right from your own mobile device and only in your neighborhood Starbucks!”
To date, this was the only way to view Streisand's February 11, 2011 live performance.
End.
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