An Evening With John Kerry & Friends 2004

Streisand / LIVE 

An Evening With John Kerry & Friends (2004)

Walt Disney Concert Hall
Los Angeles, California

June 24, 2004
Barbra Streisand sings for Democrats at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Photo: Michael Caulfield
Barbra Streisand singing
The June 7th concert for the John Kerry campaign, at which Barbra Streisand was to perform on a program also featuring Neil Diamond, Willie Nelson and Billy Crystal, was postponed shortly after the announcement of the death of former President Ronald Reagan.

Jan Wenner, editor and publisher of Rolling Stone, who executive produced the campaign fundraising events for Kerry said: "The idea for the Los Angeles show was really to present the American classics, the great big standards. Willie, Billy, Barbra and Neil — these are people who sing to the heartland of America."

Barbra told USA Today, “I'm working for John Kerry because I believe this is the most important election of our lifetime. In a climate of national and economic insecurity, we are looking for a leader with the intellect and courage to set this country back on the right course.”

At the rescheduled June 24th show, Streisand's set list for approximately 2,000 guests included the following performed songs:
  • Smile
  • Come Rain or Come Shine
  • You Don't Bring Me Flowers (with Neil Diamond)
  • People [with special lyrics; see below]
  • I Believe
The New York Times wrote:

Ms. Streisand, who entered and exited from stage left, the opposite side from everyone else, did the longest set, interrupting her songs with political riffs ... Ms. Streisand crooned at center stage, where a stool, table, vase with red roses, teapot and cup had been placed for her performance, while Mr. Diamond sang from remote stage right, walking into the spotlight only for the final chorus, and the tender kiss the two shared afterwards ... Then Ms. Streisand, in a lacy black gown with a plunging V-neck and greenish fringe hanging off the back, upstaged herself with a political parody of "People" that made Mr. [Billy] Crystal's material sound almost centrist.

The event raised over $5,000,000 to support the Democratic Presidential candidacy.
Neil Diamond joins Barbra Streisand on stage for John Kerry fundraiser, 2004. Photo: Michael Caulfield
Photos of Streisand's stool, tea table, and tea set.
Streisand had just auctioned off a stool and coffee table at the May 2004 Her Name is Barbra auction at Julien's.  Darren Julien was able to pull the items for use in this concert.

The coffee table was originally used on the set of 1994's The Concert – mahogany finished with a green marble top.

Barbra's Victorian parlor stool came from that show, too.

Her tea set that night was a modern wedgewood sterling pattern teapot with a single cup and saucer.  She placed a single rose in the silver-plated bud vase. Streisand auctioned the tea set at her next Julien's auction in 2009.
Barbra Streisand and her husband James Brolin attend the John Kerry 'Victory 2004' dinner. Photo by Anne Cusack
Here are some of the political parody lyrics that Barbra sang that evening to the tune of “People” which addressed her concerns around President Bush, his cabinet, and their decision to launch a pre-emptive war in Iraq ....

RUMSFELD,
WE MUST GET RID OF RUMSFELD -
HE'S THE SPOOKIEST PERSON IN THE WORLD.
AS FOR POWELL -
HE'S NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL.
HE'S IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM,
WHILE THEY'RE ALL FIDDLING WITH DOOM.
NO ONE'S MINDING THE STORE.
WHAT'S MORE,
LET'S DISCUSS THIS WAR WE'RE LOST IN,
DON'T ASK WHAT IT'S COSTIN' -
WHAT'S A TRILLION OR TWO TO RULE THE WORLD?
Ticket stub from the event.

End / John Kerry & Friends Concert 2004 / MORE LIVE 2000s

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