Blame And (a Little) Praise

I have to disagree with Gary Giddins’s mean-spirited assessment of Barbra Streisand as the most overrated singer. Others who would disagree include many of America’s greatest songwriters: Harold Arlen, Stephen Sondheim, Jerry Herman, Cy Coleman, JuIe Styne, and Richard Rodgers. All of these artists are on record with praise for Ms. Streisand’s work as a vocalist. But perhaps Mr. Giddins thinks they are overrated too.