Barbra Streisand, Guilty | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 83^rd edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Guilty” by Barbra Streisand featuring Barry Gibb. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 83^rd edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Guilty” performed by Barbra Streisand.

“And we got nothing to be guilty of / Our love will climb any mountain near or far, we are,” Barbra Streisand sings in the chorus of her Billboard Hot 100 no. 3 hit, “Guilty”.  The EGOT winner adds in the chorus, “We are devotion / And we got nothing to be sorry for / Our love is one in a million / Eyes can see that we got a highway to the sky.” “Guilty” begins Streisand’s 1980 album, also titled, Guilty.  Streisand duets with Barry Gibb, who also duets with her on the sixth track, “What Kind of Fool”. “Guilty” was penned by Bee Gees – Barry, Maurice Gibb, and Robin Gibb.  First recorded by Barry, the duet version with Streisand was the first to be released. Barry produced the record with Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson.

“Guilty” is a vibe from the start.  Sleekly produced, “Guilty” is groovy and has a truly exquisite sound palette. Fittingly, Barbra Streisand takes the reins in the first verse and the memorable chorus.  She sounds lovely and impressive with expressive vocals.  One of the most memorable lines: “Make it a crime to be lonely or sad (It oughta be illegal).” Agreed! Barry Gibb delivers awesome vocals as well beginning in the second verse. “Pulses racing, darling / How grand we are,” he sings, adding, “You battle on with the love you’re buildin’ on / You gotta be mine.” Indeed, Barry! Gibb’s chemistry alongside Streisand is impressive. Their vocal harmonies are stunning in their joint chorus. Also making “Guilty” the hit that it is are changing meters and a unique harmonic scheme.  Not only should lovers not feel guilty about love (“We are devotion / And we got nothing to be sorry for”), but there is no reason to feel guilty listening to the pop classic that is “Guilty”.

Barbra Streisand // Guilty // Columbia // 1980

Barbra Streisand, Guilty: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 83 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Columbia; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom via  Pixabay]