Father John Misty’s surprising new torch song
Singer/songwriter pays tribute to legendary Jewish diva Barbra Streisand on new song “Funny Girl”
Put yourself in the shoes of a man raised in the ’80s and ’90s by evangelical Christians, who has become an uber-acclaimed indie rock musician, living in LA, and writing supremely ironic songs about sex, cults, ayahuasca and madness – and answer the question: What’s on your mind?
Why, Barbra Streisand, of course! Yep, the surprise lead single of Josh Tillman’s (aka Father John Misty) fifth album, Chloë and the Next 20th Century, is all about our Babs.
It’s even titled Funny Girl, an homage to Streisand’s 1968 film.
Like many Father John Misty songs, Funny Girl has a rich, layered sound.
Unlike those songs, Funny Girl seems completely free any of Tillman’s trademark irony, twisty lyrical barbs or dark undertones. It is simply the pure, soaring ode to Streisand that we so badly need in 2022.
Check out the closing verse:
“Funny girl/You seem pretty indifferent
But you knocked me out/When you charmed the pants off Letterman
Oh I wish you’d flash that manic smile in my direction
And let me lead you to your seat like we were old friends.”
Awww.
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