Streisand sat at a prime table with her inner circle of family and friends – her husband James Brolin, son Jason Gould, songwriter lyricists Marilyn and Alan Bergman.
Also present that evening: producer David Foster, Cornell West, LA Reid, Joel Katz, Marty Bandier, Nikki Haskell, Rosanna Arquette and James Newton Howard, producer Tommy LiPuma, Cheryl Tiegs, Mo Ostin, and Barbara Orbison. From Sony Music: Rob Stringer and Jay Landers, Barbra's long time A&R guy, as well as Richard Jay-Alexander, who co-directed her 2006-7 tours and her show at the Village Vanguard.
At the end of the program, Streisand was introduced by Prince: “Without further ado, (please welcome) the MusiCares Person of the Year,” Prince said, as the crowd rose to its feet. “The incomparable, the one and only, Barbra Streisand.”
“Oh my god. Where to begin?” said Streisand, taking the stage.
“I said yes because it's such a wonderful organization that takes care of their own — the people who actually create the music.”
Streisand thanked her associates and colleagues, including longtime manager Marty Erlichman. “Marty discovered me in the neonatal unit of Brooklyn Hospital,” she joked.
A few moments later, Streisand almost choked up, quipped: “I feel, deep in my heart, kind of verklempt!”
Streisand continued: “I love music for what it does to the soul, how it elevates the moment, the emotions. I love music for what it's given me. It gave me a job when I couldn't get a job as an actress. It let me express myself when I had no other outlet. I love how music binds us together. It also reflects the times we live in.”
Streisand quoted Hans Christian Andersen: “When words fail, music speaks.”
“My niece recently watched a DVD of Funny Girl for the first time and asked why I was singing songs from Glee.”
Barbra was also a little political when she mentioned Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. “As anyone watching the news can see, the potential for democracy triumphed over the tyranny of dictatorship, and I just hope this historical moment leads to freedom, prosperity and lasting peace between great nations,” Streisand said.
By the time Streisand took her turn at the mike to close the evening with a medley of hits, she joked, “I'm stuck with the leftovers.”
