Search - Barbra Streisand - Timeless (Live in Concert) on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 4/4/2023...

Celine Dion, Barry Gibb and other greats should not be listed in this since their super super short snipets of duets with Barbra Streisand were not even worth mentioning. Streisand's skits and talking really ruined this and should have just be Live in Concert as listed. Only a few songs you know and chapter skip and 120X FF required throughout. Best to skip this one since it was not worth watching.

Streisand LIVE .... One Last Time

Matt Howe | Washington, DC | 02/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Streisand concert is incredible. Barbra, at 58 years old, sounds incredible. The show, named "TIMELESS", is a walk down memory lane with Barbra. She sings all of her hits plus a few seldom-performed songs. I feel the need to clarify for buyers out there: This DVD is the same concert that the FOX television showed -- however, FOX edited out every reference to the "Millenium" or "New Years" and basically aired a truncated version of this DVD. Also, this DVD is NOT Barbra's final show in New York. This is a recorded version of the December 31, 1999 and January 1, 2000 shows at the MGM Grand in Vegas. Barbra proceeded to perform "Timeless" in Australia, Los Angeles, and New York. The DVD cuts out the song "Simple Pleasures" which was placed in Act II between "The Clicker Blues" and "The Main Event". However, if you watched the FOX special, you will be happy to find a lot more songs on this DVD that were not included in their telecast -- including "Miss Marmelstein"; "A Sleepin Bee"; and the "Auld Lang Syne" songs. Plus, more of Barbra's in-between-songs patter and schtick will be on the DVD (including Shirley MacLaine's video skit and more of Savion Glover's Brother Time...).As for the concert itself: Compared to 1994-95's "BARBRA: THE CONCERT", you will find "TIMELESS" to be full of more lights, costume changes and theatricality (it opens with a cast of three, and includes Lauren Frost portraying a 14-year-old Barbra). TIMELESS is what I would call the ULTIMATE STREISAND concert. You get a fleeting idea of what it would be like to see Streisand on stage at the Winter Garden Theatre in FUNNY GIRL back in the 60's. Barbra gives a very athletic performance in TIMELESS. She dances, crosses the stage, and flaps those wonderful long arms up and down like a bird (ahhh, vintage Streisand moves!) The 1994 "CONCERT" is serene, yet simpler in comparison. As for the voice, I have realized that 60-70% of experiencing Barbra as a performer is watching her! The voice, although older and richer, is still amazing. The actress and performer is still exciting and idiosyncratic -- put the audio and the visual together (i.e. the TIMELESS DVD!) and you've got an incredible record of Barbra Streisand's final performances. I think Barbra will come out and appear "live" and sing a little in the next few years -- benefits or awards shows. But, I do believe that these TIMELESS concerts were the last time that we fans could realistically buy a ticket. Therefore, we have this DVD to remind us what a terrific performer Streisand is."

"Timeless" on VIDEO far superior to Fox TV special!

Christopher Sullivan | New York, NY | 03/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This amazing DVD/VHS is so superior to that choppy, commercial-ridden TV special that there should be no comparison. In addition to the extra performances... this home video version has alternate performances to several of the songs shown on the TV special that are considerably better.First of all, I must finally say that Barbra is indeed a gracious duet partner. She yields the stage quite equally to Lauren Frost in "Something's Coming", shows wonderous restraint in the mock video duet with Frank Sinatra and has shown over the years that even singers of far less quality are not upstaged by her.To be certain, we have all her classic standards such as "People", "Happys Days...", "Evergreen", "Somewhere" etc., but this concert is most notable for the new material and some of it is electrifying. On "Cry Me A River", Barbra does not end with that slightly higher sounding "Yooooou" but rather with a far more satisfying and beautitifully sustained lower note. "Lover Come Back To Me" is just pure magic and it is here that you see how much more relaxed Barbra is than the 1994 concert. The "Funny Girl" medley is delightful in that we see a bit of Barbra the actress here. I've never cared much for "A Sleepin Bee" but Barbra's performane here redeems it somewhat in my eyes.Her rendition of "Something Wonderful" is angelic and her "Being Alive" was for me the 1st major high point in the concert. "Alfie" could easily have been the one promo-video from the concert as I think it is the perfect type of song for Barbra's voice. The "Yentl" medley here was an interesting variation on the 1994 version and equally satisfying. The 2nd Act opens with "Putting It Together" and incorporates statements of affection for Barbra by audience members as well as various clips of her work over the years. As Barbra reappears in a majestic gown, she launches into thoroughly enjoyable takes of "On A Clear Day" & "Send in the Clowns".My fondest memory of the concert was "The Main Event" as it was so unexpected. I remember each of us in the audience spontaneously reaching for our little fiberoptic Duracell "flashlights" and cheering Barbra on throughout this exciting and gloriously uptempo version of her only solo dance hit! [Interestingly, there was no mention of her duet with Donna Summer at any point, and this was one of her biggest #1 hits. I suspect that there was no video footage to use and the fact that Donna Summer tried to get a laugh at Barbra's expense during HER concert possibly has something to do with it... payback Barbra style...?!] [Also, the duet footage with Ray Charles that WAS shown that night, was also cut from the CD and video. I have my own ideas for this, though not appropriate for here...]Barbra was clearly surprised/delighted by the response to "The Main Event/Fight" and I hope that she will see this as a clear sign that MANY of her fans HAVE greatly enjoyed her forays into dance music. ["Promises", "Emotion", "Time Machine" etc.] I hear she is considering a 2nd Christmas collection of songs for this year, but I have to say I am tiring of the same TYPES of music. Where is the experimental Barbra? The one who would take chances. "A Love Like Ours" has sold no more copies than "Emotion" which was far more cntemporary in feel! How about an album of upbeat songs or at least an album with songs that are re-mix friendly. An album that might be called "NIGHTLIGHT"!Oh well, I can dream! But if you could experience the energy of the crowd during "The Main Event" it wouldn't seem so crazy!Barbra exits to return shortly thereafter with "I've Dreamed of You", which is now one of my favorites but took a LONG time to grow on me! The New Years Eve songs are wonderful but naturally dated. However, Barbra's "Happy Days" is among her best live performances of the song. For me the ONE defintive magical momement was "I Believe/Somewhere" when Barbra turned around and belted out the final three words a 2nd time... WHEW!If the audience seemed a bit more laid back at this concert than the 1994 one, I think much of this had to due with the fact that it was incredibly hot in the arena and with so much anxiety and anticipation, Barbra's "surprise" entrance took a few momemnts to register. This was no grand entrance like 1994.I'm sad "Simple Pleasures" was not included on the video or even her 12/31/99 additonal performance of the "The Music That Makes Me Dance"... I mean, this could have been a BONUS track on the DVD or something...Also, I wish Barbra would do live versions of "Memory". "Woman In Love"... could you imagine if Barbra had opened this concert with "Woman In Love"... now THAT would have been awesome! Though Barbra has decided not to do anymore live full length concerts, I'm sure she will perform a few songs at the occasional benefit. I hope she revisits some of her biggest hits tat she has never done live.Overall though... this show was incredible... well worth the money at almost ANY price and I'm glad I have this reminder of one of the most incredible nights in my life! Thanks Barbra!"

Streisand's talent is TIMELESS...

Robert J. Ramos | Long Pond, PA | 04/10/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD is chock-full of glorious highlights--the Act I finale (featuring the prodigiously gifted young Lauren Frost) and Streisand's truly stunning interpretations of her signature classics "People" and "Happy Days are here Again" in Act II, among them. The singer also pleads a strong case for "Alfie", a beautiful song which she sings with loving care. Ms. Streisand looks great, seems utterly relaxed and invigorated, and, her vocals are consistently top-notch. the show is a creative, fresh, innovative autobiographical "show" rather than a song recital--well conceived and directed by Ms. Striesand herself. In addition, the DVD looks and sounds FANTASTIC. But why release the now-awkwardly dated New Year's/Milennium shows with the running Y2K theme, and not the FAR-SUPERIOR "Final" performances in New York and Los Angeles? During those electrifying four final shows, which took place in late September 2000, Ms. Streisand was in even better voice, and the shows were much more emotional and the audience response thunderous. Plus, there were a number of ADDED songs: "Come Rain or Come Shine", "The Music That Makes Me Dance", "My Man", and the totally unexpected, absolutely THRILLING slow-version of "Before the Parade Passes By", which put a fitting and heartfelt polish to the show. This was a much-improved, more polished version of the program contained in this DVD. Bottom line: the closest we have (so far) to Barbra's live-performance finale, and she's worth the price...but dare we hope for a second, REALLY TIMELESS "Timeless" on DVD in the future?"