Yep. That's what her detractors were calling "Emotion" when first released back in 1984. Let's begin by eliminating the bad ~ "You're A Step in the Right Direction", and the weak ~ "Clear Sailing", and focus on the major strengths and the core of this vastly underrated work: Streisand's collaboration with Earth Wind and Fire's Maurice White. Almost as compelling as her more famous works with Mr. Gibb, the three White songs ~ "Time Machine", "Heart Don't Change My Mind", and "When I Dream" show Streisand at her strongest and most secure vocally in the world of contemporary "pop". Why not one of these three tunes were released as singles I will never understand (while the very enjoyable, simply sublimely melodramatic but dated even by the time of release, "Left In the Dark" and the inconsequential but fun "Emotion" were!). The duet with Carnes on "Make No Mistake..." is very powerful while "Here We Are At Last" is cinematic and larger than life (reminds me of "Widescreen" from "Lazy Afternoon", no?). However, the most moving and superbly sung track (for me anyway) remains "Best I Could", where Streisand's voice soars with all the power, theatricality, and sensitivity the like no one else will ever equal in our lifetime. So in a nutshell, this album is no "The Third Album", "People", or "Guilty Pleasures". It is also not the disaster that folks tend to label it to this day, and I find it superior and much stronger than the latter "Till I Loved You". A flawed but majestically sung album by one of the finest singing actresses of all time.
Luigi ~ NYC

Many fans of Streisand were disappointed when this effort was first released in 1984 due in part to the great successes she had with GUILTY in 1980 & YENTL soundtrack in 1983. It is arguably at best to say that this is not her best effort but it does show her versatility to tackle material that was sometimes beneath her and yet made an HONEST attempt to sound FRESH and RELEVANT in the music business of the early 1980's when Music was definitely shifting towards electro and rock sounds of the time. The best cuts here in my humble opinion are the following:
LEFT IN THE DARK - Classic Steinman style but Streisand nails it in her own bravaura voice. Celine still doesn't match it. HEART DON'T CHANGE MY MIND - This is Streisand at her vocal prowess. FUN duet w/Kim Carnes "MAKE NO MISTAKE HE'S MINE" still the best duet version of other collaborations whether it be country or Pop is the bomb! The Maurice White produced efforts are fair but
"WHEN I DREAM" is still lovely to listen to and inspiring. EMOTION is just plain fun because of the Pointer Sisters backing. She let loose here. Only Misfire could be and justifiably is her collaboration written song "YOU'RE THE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION" w/John Mellencamp is campy and forced. But as time goes on you can help to enjoy it's guilty pleasure. So okay, it's not GUILTY or SUPERMAN but no other female vocalist could make these songs today and make them seem sincere and fresh...Streisand truly gives EMOTION here. That's just my opinion and I still think it's one of her most under rated efforts from this period.

Emotion is a much mocked and maligned album by critics, fans, even Barbra herself. Many say she is simply not suitable for a pop material, that she should just leave these kinds of songs to other pop artists, Streisand herself said this. I disagree.

I was fourteen years old when I bought a cassette tape of Emotions, back in the late 80's, I did honestly enjoyed it. It's fun to listen (I even remember Babs Emotions and Left in the Dark Video, her only two music videos I believe which were NOT filmed in a recording studio.) to and Streisand perhaps wanted to try to break into the MTv generation with mixed results.

Barbra will never be an MTv artist. Hers is a voice that will never be just a product. Her voice is an artform, an experience of joy.

But to anyone who doesn't know that Barbra was the one singing it would still be impressed with her technique, though singing to the beat is not her best forte.

I specially loved Heart Don't Change My Mind, Left in the Dark, Emotion and Clear Sailing. I think she didn't succeed with Time Machine and You're a Step in The Right Direction. She sounded forced and studied.

But still it's the voice of Streisand. Listen and judge for yourself.

Fifteen years later, I still love to listen to this CD, and still think it is one of her better forays into "pop music." Well okay, the final song, "Here We Are At Last," is just about the only Streisand song I've ever considered to be a disappointment, a dud, sorry, Barbra, I know you wrote it, but I'll play the CD songs 1 through 9, and forever skip right over number 10. Maybe on another album it would work, but on this one it just doesn't fit. But the rest of the album is fantastic! "Best I Could," "Heart Don't Change My Mind," and "Make No Mistake, He's Mine" are her usual wonderful ballads. "When I Dream" is just that: dreamy. "Clear Sailing" showcases her magnificent voice, that here sounds as if the most finely-tuned flute ever created. And at the opposite end of the music spectrum, "Left in the Dark" shows that she can rock with the best of them, for over seven minutes too! Okay, this album is not "The Broadway Album," but then I don't think she ever intended it to be so? What it is is a very enjoyable pop album that still stands the test of time.Well, except for "Here We Are At Last," that is!

Had a tape copy of this album a long time ago. Somehow remembered it again and checking Amazon found it to be still available. Album is still every bit as good as I remembered. Highlights for me are 'Emotion', 'Left in the Dark' and 'He's Mine'. Great songs from a great singer/performer. Absolutely recommend it.