Barbra Streisand’s “Walls” Album Takes on the Trump Agenda

Barbra Streisand
Walls (Columbia Records)

Comprised primarily of original songs, the legend’s new release is her first to encompass a singular social message. As displayed on the album’s soaring lead single,”Don’t Lie to Me” and the similarly impressive “The Rain Will Fall,” Streisand is as outspoken as ever in directing her ire towards the current administration, the cultural landscape, and the general state of the world. Filled with gorgeous melodies and captivating lyrics, Walls finds The Streisand exploring both her concerns and her hopes for the future as she eloquently addresses the human condition.

However, this new collection also brings a fresh perspective to such evergreens as John Lennon’s pacifist manifesto “Imagine,” Leonard Bernstein and Alan Jay Lerner’s “Take Care of This House,” and the Burt Bacharach pop standard “What the World Needs Now.” Streisand’s social activism has long been as passionate as her artistry. No wonder Walls, which combines the two, is one of the finest albums of her unparalleled career.