On February 2, 1974, a sweet, soft ballad by the then 31-year-old Barbra Streisand climbed the charts to dethrone Beatle Ringo Starr, capturing the coveted No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Streisand’s enchanting song “The Way We Were” surpassed the lively hit “You’re Sixteen”, marking her very first No. 1 success. This timeless melody would linger on the Hot 100 chart for 24 weeks, dominating the top spot for three weeks.
Originally released on September 27, 1973, “The Way We Were” served as the soulful love theme for the movie of the same name—an opposites-attract romantic drama masterfully directed by Sydney Pollack, featuring Streisand and Robert Redford in starring roles. The song’s poignant lyrics and evocative tune were the collaborative genius of composer Marvin Hamlisch alongside lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman. It garnered a spectacular trio of accolades: the 1973 Golden Globe for Best Original Song, the 1974 Oscar for Best Original Song, and the prestigious 1975 Grammy for Song of the Year. Its enduring legacy was cemented with a platinum certification in 1997.
Legendary Los Angeles session musician Carol Kaye, who lent her bass brilliance to the track, recalls the painstaking effort behind the recording. The exquisitely orchestrated masterpiece notoriously demanded 33 takes. Hamlisch reveals a behind-the-scenes drama: the song was initially cut from the film. However, after a disappointing screen test, he fiercely advocated for its resurrection in the final scene. The outcome was electric—audiences were moved to tears, and the song remained an inseparable part of the film’s emotional core.
The song’s melancholy and wistful tone, punctuated by the iconic lines such as “Memories / light the corner of my mind / misty watercolor memories / of the way we were,” has transcended generations. Its haunting beauty finds a solemn place at funerals, reflecting the bittersweet passage of time. Countless esteemed artists, from Bing Crosby to Gladys Knight, have honored the song with their covers, reaffirming its universal impact.
Barbra Streisand, whose career took flight with her first widely released single “Happy Days Are Here Again” in 1962, has cherished a singing journey spanning more than six decades. The success of “The Way We Were” only propelled her stardom higher, leading to a second No. 1 hit in 1976 with “Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star is Born)”. As of January 2024, she boasts an impressive total of five No. 1 hits.
In 2023, Streisand celebrated her illustrious legacy with the release of “EVERGREENS: Celebrating Six Decades on Columbia Records,” a thoughtfully curated 22-song album. Adding to her remarkable story, her memoir My Name is Barbra also appeared the same year, offering fans an intimate glimpse into her life and career.
Mem’ries light the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories of the way we were
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were
Can it be that it was all so simple then
Or has time re-written every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we? Could we?
Mem’ries may be beautiful and yet
What’s too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
So it’s the laughter we will remember
Whenever we remember the way we were
The way we were