Streisand / LIVE 

Barbra Streisand performed four songs to close the Nomination Celebration Concert, a giant fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee, at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium on August 17. Sharing the bill in front of an audience of 6,000 with emcee Whoopi Goldberg and performers Enrique Iglesias, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Boyz II Men, Josh Groban, and Kamille Rudisill, Barbra sang:

• On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
  
• Speech
  
• Happy Days Are Here Again
  
• Alfie (with Al Gore-tailored lyrics)
  
• Speech
  
• I Believe / Somewhere (accompanied by a 100-voice choir)
  

The concert, which raised $5.1 million in hard-money contributions, a record sum for a single such event, directly followed Al Gore's speech accepting the Democratic Party's presidential nomination at its 4-day convention inside L.A.'s Staples Center. Funds raised at the concert go to other Democratic candidates around the country and efforts urging people to vote in November 2000.

Following Enrique Iglesias, Barbra Streisand opened her set with “Clear Day,” she remarked, “The convention was a great success. All we have to do is get our message across.”

Barbra wore a floor-length burgundy gown, and following her signature song and 1930s Democratic Party anthem, “Happy Days Are Here Again,” Barbra delivered her brief speech, saying that a Gore-Lieberman victory, coupled with returning the Democrats to majority status in Congress, was necessary to reform campaign finance regulations, strengthen gun control laws, improve education and health care, safeguard a woman's right to choose, and combat homophobia. She criticized Republican Party presidential candidate George W. Bush's record governing Texas and praised Al Gore's environmental legislation record. Further, Barbra pointed out that the next president may appoint as many as three Supreme Court justices. “The first three reasons to vote for Al Gore are the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court. ...Our whole way of life is at stake. I shudder at how a more conservative court can put at risk all we hold dear.” She also praised the Clinton-Gore administration's record and advised, “I'm not a gambler, but you don't change the dice when you're on a roll.”

Barbra sang a bit of “Alfie,” changing the lyric to suit “Albert” [Gore]. When she finished her finale, “I Believe,” which segued into “Somewhere,” Barbra introduced the guests of honor, Al and Tipper Gore, and Joe and Hadassah Lieberman, who stepped on stage to the music, “Simply The Best.”

The text on this page was written by Mark Iskowitz for his Barbra Streisand Music Guide website. It is reproduced here with Mark's permission.