"That's a Fine Kind O' Freedom" Barbra Streisand, vocal

On the inauguration of President elect Barack Obama, January 20, 2009. Many are wondering if Barbra Streisand will perform at the inauguration. What songs will she sing? Will she sing her big hits Evergreen, The Way We Were, People, etc., or will she CHANGE and do a more reflective song, like her great version of Harold Arlen's "That's a Fine Kind O' Freedom" which she recorded in 1969. Music: Harold Arlen Lyrics: Martin Charnin Bird up above see what he's got Freedom to fly and the freedom to not De dum that's a fine kind o' freedom Look at him go way up above Look at the crow he's as free as the dove De dum that's a sweet sorta freedom He owns the clear blue Sittin' on his sunbeam Could be there's one beam there for me Bird up above man up a tree Don't have to fly but he's gotta be free De dum that's a fine kind o' freedom Bird up above see what he got Freedom to fly and the freedom to not De dum that's a fine kind o' freedom Fly where he like Like where he fly Don't have to go to the back of the sky De dum that's a fine kind o' freedom Wake up you glum bird Help us overcome bird Freedom has slumbered all too long Bird up above man up a tree Don't have to fly but he gotta be free Have to find the thing that he's after Free and equilibrium De dum that's a fine kind o' freedom Hey bird,you could show him the way bird You can show him today bird Oh yes indeedum that's a fine kind o' freedom HAROLD ARLEN and MARTIN CHARNIN: Around 1965, famed composer Harold Arlen and lyricist Martin Charnin began writing songs for a musical about black performer JOSEPHINE BAKER. A few songs were written. Harold Arlen himself performed the song THAT"S A FINE KIND OF FREEDOM on his LP HAROLD sings ARLEN (with friend*) The friend on his Lp was Barbra Streisand, who performed two songs. Harold Arlen is Barbra Streisand's favorite composer. If one analyzes the lyrics of the song it deals with segregation, and racial discrimination. It is a pity that the musical about Josephine Baker with music by Harold Arlen-Martin Charnin never opened, as far as I know. We were lucky that Barbra Streisand recorded this gem of a song from a planned broadway musical. I can imagine the actress performing the role of "Josephine Baker" singing this song. Images: Josephine Baker Paul Robeson Billie Holiday Jesse Owens Louis Armstrong Time cover 1949 Rosa Parks Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe Leslie Uggams Barbra Streisand President Kennedy 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King barbra Streisand Louis Armstrong Grammys barbra Streisand in Kenya TIME cover ROOTS Alex Haley Leslie Uggams Richard Roundtree in Roots LeVar Burton as Kunta Kinte in ROOTS Louis Armstrong Trumpet Pop-Art photo Barbra and Louis premiere HELLO DOLLY S. McQueen, Paul Newman, Barbra, Portier Janis Joplin and Bessie Smith Michael Jackson in THRILLER Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer Colin Powell- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice- Secretary of State Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama Barack Obama and Caroline Kennedy President elect Barack & Michelle Obama Pres. elect Barack & Michelle Obama with V.P. elect Joe and Jill Biden Public performance of this song: "APRIL 4, 1965 At a Civil Rights fundraiser for Selma, Alabama, Barbra Streisand sings "That's A Fine Kind of Freedom.". "Broadway Answers Selma Majestic Theater, New York April 4, 1965 Responding to the racial injustices in Selma, Alabama, Broadway banded together at the Majestic Theater for a fundraiser. Barbra sang Harold Arlen's "That's A Fine Kind of Freedom" ". Barack Obama Nobel Peace Prize October 8th, 2009