Susan Boyle & Barbra Streisand – “Send In The Clowns” (Mix) from A Little Night Music
An Enchanting Duet That Feels Like a Conversation Between Two Souls
When two iconic voices from different generations collide, the result can be magical. But when Susan Boyle and Barbra Streisand come together for a soul-stirring rendition of “Send In The Clowns,” it becomes something more—it becomes a meditation on heartbreak, aging, and the quiet regrets that shape our lives. This mix, blending the warmth of Susan’s vulnerability with Barbra’s timeless elegance, turns the Stephen Sondheim classic into an emotional masterclass.
The song begins in near silence, just the soft swell of strings and a piano echoing like a distant memory. Susan’s voice enters first—fragile yet hauntingly clear. There’s a tremble in her tone, as if she’s singing from a place that’s still healing. Her delivery is deeply personal, almost like she’s confiding in the listener. Each word lands softly, yet with unmistakable weight: “Isn’t it rich? Aren’t we a pair?”
Then Barbra joins.
Her voice, mature and full of emotional shading, answers Susan’s questions not with solutions—but with deeper questions of her own. It’s as if two women, weathered by different storms, are holding a conversation across time. Barbra doesn’t overpower; she complements. Her phrasing is deliberate, every pause filled with decades of performance wisdom. When they harmonize, there’s a blend of innocence and wisdom, heartbreak and acceptance.
This mix isn’t just a duet—it’s a dialogue. It imagines Desirée and Fredrik not as lovers in a single moment, but as voices echoing through years of “what-ifs” and “almosts.” The orchestration is subtle, allowing the voices to lead, but listen closely and you’ll hear delicate shifts: a lonely oboe under Susan’s solo, a sweeping cello as Barbra’s voice swells with regret.
What makes this rendition unforgettable isn’t vocal power—it’s restraint. Neither singer is trying to steal the spotlight. They are telling a shared story, one that aches with beauty. It feels lived-in, authentic, almost like they’re recalling moments from their own lives as they sing.
In a world obsessed with vocal gymnastics and flashy arrangements, this version of “Send In The Clowns” is a reminder that simplicity, when delivered with sincerity, can be far more powerful. It’s not just about missed cues or lovers who failed to meet. It’s about time slipping through fingers, and the quiet pain of knowing some doors may never open again.
This mix is not officially released, but it’s made the rounds online, capturing the hearts of listeners worldwide. Fans of both artists have called it “the duet we didn’t know we needed”—and they’re right. It’s theatrical, yes, but also achingly human.
“Send In The Clowns” has never sounded so intimate.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s the whole point.
