I cannot put in to words just how much I love Barbra Streisand. While everyone sits around talking about Lady Gaga's version of A Star Is Born, I'm still raving about Streisand's original. Don't get me wrong, Gaga's is great. But there is something about Streisand's voice that will never cease to amaze me.
The same can be said about Josh Groban, too. His voice, in my opinion, is one of the strongest in the industry, and I could listen to him sing me the phone book and never get bored. It's just too beautiful! So when I found out that he and Streisand were teaming up for a duet of "Somwhere" from the classic musical West Side Story, I was immediately excited.
Groban and Streisand partnered for latter's 2014 album, Partners, and the end result was phenomenal. For Groban, it was an honor to just be asked to be a part of such a special project.
"Whenever there's a project like this, where everyone has to pick and take what's given, you want to call 'dibs' on what you think is going to be your favorite," Groban admitted. "'Somewhere' would've been at the top of my list anyway - but they came to me with this song. I've loved 'West Side Story' since I was a kid. Musical theater was my major when I got signed."
It's not the first time that Groban and Streisand have worked together, though. When he was just starting out in the industry, Groban was approached by the legendary singer after another music icon dropped out.
"I was supposed to do something with [Andrea] Bocelli, but he couldn't do it. This was years ago," Streisand recalled. "Josh was only 19... [We] had him sing on the Bocelli track. We released the record with Josh but he was like a step-in singer, you know? But I always thought he was wonderful!"
Streisand was definitely right, and Groban's career has taken off like crazy since they first worked together.
Even all these years after their initial duet, Groban will forever be grateful to Streisand for her willingness to give him a chance, and was thrilled to be a part of her new project.
"The fact that she took a completely unknown singer and allowed me to have that chance with her was such a great learning experience and wonderful opportunity...This ['Somewhere'] is one of her classics. So to have this duet with her is a huge honor."
The way Groban and Streisand's voices bland is something so magical, I don't have the words to explain it. I had goosebumps from beginning to end, and I'm not ashamed to admit I had a little tear in my eye, too! There's just something about their voices that touches my soul.
You can see a clip of the song in the video below, as well as their interviews.
You can also listen to the entire song here.