Declining voices: What's a Diva To Do?

Decline is an inevitability for all of us and everything. Physics even has a theory for it: The second law of thermodynamics. And our Divas, as magical as they are, are no exception to this.

[Watch] Jimmy Fallon & Barbra Streisand Sing Medley On "Tonight Show"

Don't hate me, but I can't stand Jimmy Fallon. And as such, I had a hard time really enjoying Barbra Streisand's performance on the Tonight Show.

[Watch]Veteran Divas Barbra Streisand And Shirley Bassey Shine Bright @2013 Oscars

What with the way that time has affected some of our most famous Diva's voices, you'd think a steep decline in vocal ability was as an inevitable as wrinkles and reading glasses as one ages. However, veteran Divas Barbra Streisand and Shirley Bassey showed us, at the 2013 Oscars, how this isn't necessarily the fate of all singers.

Check out both performances, as well as my two pennies, below:

[Vocal Profile] Barbra Streisand

Barbra Streisand

Vocal Type: Mezzo soprano
Vocal Range: 3 octaves B2- D6 2 notes
Vocal Pluses: Meticulous control can be heard on every note, no matter how low or high, nor at what volume. Such control implies excellent support, breath control and understanding of her instrument- which may go some way to explain the longevity of her voice [2014 Medley].

Being an actress has given this Diva an emotiveness that is almost unparalleled amongst Divas. An example of this can be heard in the climax of Don't Rain On My Parade, where grunts, growls, swift changes in dynamics and tone are all employed to create a vocal that is as exhilarating as it is perfectly in sync with the narrative of the piece.