Paul McCartney has shown that even music legends get terrified sometimes. The former Beatle recently teamed up with Barbra Streisand to record a new version of his romantic ballad “My Valentine.” The duet is set to appear on Streisand’s upcoming album The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two, which is due out this summer.
However, while the collaboration may look seamless to fans, McCartney admitted the experience pushed him far out of his comfort zone. The two stars met in Los Angeles to record the track, which was produced by McCartney’s longtime friend Peter Asher. The session occurred on the Barbra Streisand Scoring Stage on the Sony lot.
Paul McCartney and Barbra Streisand’s new song
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Despite being a seasoned performer, McCartney found the setting more intimidating than expected, especially with a full orchestra behind him and the cameras rolling. Although he originally wrote the song for his wife, Nancy Shevell, this time, it required both artists to sing in different keys, Streisand’s higher, his lower.
This shift made it tricky to transition smoothly between the two vocal ranges, and for McCartney, the recording process was “nerve-wracking.” But despite the intense three-hour session, he walked away from it with deep admiration for Streisand’s creativity. He was especially struck by how comfortable she seemed directing the recordings while also performing, which reminded McCartney of her background as an award-winning film director.
Barbra Streisand’s new album
Their duet was released on Friday, May 16, and has already started making waves. On social media, Streisand expressed her joy at recording with McCartney. In an Instagram post, she wrote, “What a joy it was to record ‘My Valentine’ with @paulmccartney. To share time with him in the studio was truly special!” She noted that their efforts in the studio translated into a touching performance.
Streisand’s new album brings together a wide range of musical collaborators, including several stars. In addition to McCartney, the album includes duets with artists like Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Hozier, Sam Smith, and Mariah Carey. It serves as a follow-up to her 2014 album Partners and marks her first release since 2018’s Walls.