Review

At 83, Barbra Streisand returns with an elegant, star‑studded reprise of her 2014 Partners concept. Released on 27 June 2025 via Columbia, this 11‑track album sees the legendary vocalist once more reciprocating duets with a veritable cross‑generational who's‑who: McCartney, Dylan, Grande, Carey, Hozier, Sam Smith, Sting, James Taylor, Seal, Josh Groban, Tim McGraw and rising star Laufey. From the opening chords of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” — sung with Hozier — Streisand reaffirms her enduring vocal empathy, paying tribute to Roberta Flack’s original while turning the song into a beguiling conversation rather than a solo reverie. It’s a classy entrance. Her long‑anticipated duet with Bob Dylan on the 1934 standard “The Very Thought of You” is a highlight. Dylan’s gravelly baritone drifts beneath Streisand’s crystalline phrasing — a satisfying melding of rasps and silk that critics have lauded as Dylan’s “strongest ever vocal performance”. Paul McCartney’s *“My Valentine”* is gentle and affectionate, the tune moving but ultimately resting rather too tamely on Streisand’s vocal warmth. The album thrives on variety. “Letter to My 13‑Year‑Old Self,” featuring Laufey, is charmingly introspective and one of the few genuinely affecting moments. By contrast, “One Heart, One Voice” — a trio with Ariana Grande and Mariah Carey — is glossy to a fault, verging on saccharine and a tad uninspired, as noted by several reviewers. Production is lush and assured throughout. Co‑produced by Walter Afanasieff and Peter Asher, with orchestrations by William Ross and David Campbell, the album bathes each track in orchestral grandeur and studio craftsmanship. Streisand’s voice remains in marvellously good shape — mature, controlled, emotionally nuanced — a testament to her enduring artistry, especially following the vocal strain she endured narrating her memoir last year. If the album occasionally dips into easy‑listening plod—pleasant, but lacking the bite of her finest work—it still offers plenty of moments that justify a nostalgic and affectionate listen. There’s regal charm in tracks like “Fragile” with Sting and “Love Will Survive” with Seal, enriching the record’s emotional and stylistic palette In essence, The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two feels like a gracious encore—an artfully packaged bouquet of voices that both celebrates Streisand’s illustrious career and looks towards new horizons without ever straying too far from her stylistic centre. One may yearn for a little more edge or surprise, but this is no mere nostalgia trip—it’s a testament to an artist who still knows her strengths and wields them with poise.

Comments