National Democratic Gala 2002

Streisand / LIVE 

National Democratic Gala (2002)

Kodak Gallery Theatre
Hollywood, California

September 29, 2002
David Foster plays piano for Streisand onstage at the Democratic Gala, 2002.
Cover of the concert program from that evening.
Barbra Streisand returned to the stage at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre on Sunday, September 29, 2002, headlining the National Democratic Gala, which raised $6 million to benefit Democratic Majority 2002. 

Appearing in an off-the-shoulder green and pink taffeta gown with rose print overlay, Barbra sang eight songs accompanied by David Foster on piano with his orchestra on a stage featuring flowing white curtains lit with varying colors. “As most of you already know, I don't particularly enjoy performing on stage,” Barbra admitted to the audience of 3,500 who provided a standing ovation, “but then I'd do just about anything to help the Democrats win back the House.”

Introduced by comedian Steve Harvey and accompanied by record producer David Foster on piano (and a small band), Barbra's set list looked like this:

  • The Kind of Man A Woman Needs (just a few bars)
  • My Funny Valentine
  • Pieces of Dreams
  • After the Rain (shortened version)
  • The Shadow of Your Smile
  • I Finally Found Someone (with David Foster)
  • Evergreen
  • The Way We Were (w/ political lyrics: The Way We Are)
  • God Bless America
After some banter with Foster about singing songs she's rarely performed live, she hummed and sang a few lines of “The Kind of Man A Woman Needs,” but joked that she couldn't go further with lyrics deriding her man as not handsome, referencing her marriage. “I married a gorgeous guy and it's killing my career!” Barbra joked.
Streisand in beautiful gown singing for Democrats in 2002.
Barbra then began her set with “My Funny Valentine,” the classic Rodgers & Hart tune from her 1967 Simply Streisand album. Two Bergman-Legrand songs followed: “Pieces of Dreams” and “After The Rain.” Next, she delivered “The Shadow of Your Smile” from My Name Is Barbra, Two... prompting her to suggest recording an entire bossa nova album. Moving forward 30 years, Barbra dueted with Foster and three backup singers on “I Finally Found Someone,” which led the pair to discuss her Academy Award nomination and Celine Dion's performance on that year's show. Barbra continued with “Evergreen,” one of her most performed and cherished songs. Following Foster's introduction of his favorite Streisand song, Barbra began “The Way We Were” (aka “The Way We Are” with special lyrics penned by Alan & Marilyn Bergman) interspersing verses with spoken sentiments about the importance of a Democratic House.

Barbra introduced her final number, “God Bless America” with the following thought: “Tonight I sing this next song as both a declaration and a prayer — to God to keep us safe … and a prayer for our Democratic leaders to continue to have the strength and the courage to stand up for what is right.” In front of a giant U.S. flag, the California State University, Northridge choir supported Barbra on this number. Following Barbra's introduction, Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri (House Minority Leader), spoke about the importance of the upcoming elections. He joked about having recently received Barbra's politically charged memo — “What I want to say to my friends in the Republican Party is, 'Eat your heart out.' I get faxes from Barbra Streisand; they get faxes from Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson.” Soon, Barbra briefly returned to the stage for a rousing “God Bless America” finale with all of the evening's performers, capping off the concert.

Three photos of Streisand on stage at Kodak Theatre, 2002.
Barbra joined fellow performers Barry Manilow, Three Mo' Tenors, comedian Steve Harvey, an impressive Artist Committee, U.S. House Reps Richard Gephardt, Nancy Pelosi, Nita Lowey, and the Democratic Congressional Caucus in the David Foster production. Democratic Majority 2002 was the fundraising effort to win a Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives through the November 5, 2002 elections. It was a joint fundraising committee authorized by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Gephardt in Congress Committee. “Voters across the country want a change after eight years of failed Republican leadership in Washington. We are honored to have some of the world’s best entertainers to lead the fight,” said DCCC Chair Nita Lowey. “This is such an important election and Ms. Streisand’s decision to help us change the leadership in the House will help provide us with a much needed boost as we head into the home stretch.” Beginning with $500 concert-only tickets, those interested in attending the gala could make up to $250,000 contributions, which are not tax-deductible. Shortly before curtain, some lucky members of the public grabbed last-minute seats for $100.00 from the box office. The concert began at 7:30 p.m. with virtually every seat filled.
Newspaper article on the Gala, which also printed the special lyrics Barbra sang to The Way We Were that night.

The Shakespeare Quote

Newspaper clipping about Barbra misquoting the Bard.

At this concert, Barbra recited some material which she identified as having been written by William Shakespeare. When she commented on Republicans George Bush, Dick Chenney, Donald Rumsfeld and John Ashcroft, she used a quote that began: “Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword ...”


On her official website, Streisand released a statement that the quote “had been passed to her by a friend, but she learned the following day that it is, rather, a passage which is widely circulated on the internet as an excerpt from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar but which is, in fact, an anonymous composition, not Shakespeare at all.”


Streisand further explained on her website “Truth Alert”:


The authorship of this is important. But it doesn't detract from the fact that the words themselves are powerful and true and beautifully written. Whoever wrote this is damn talented and should be writing their own play.

End / National Democratic Gala 2002 / MORE LIVE 2000s

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