“What Kind of Fool” is a 1981 vocal duet by Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb, released as the third single from Streisand’s hit album Guilty (1980). It became the album’s third consecutive U.S. Top 10 single and spent several weeks high on the pop and adult contemporary charts, cementing it as one of her signature early‑’80s ballads.

Quick Scoop

What is “What Kind of Fool”?

  • A lush, romantic pop ballad duet between Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb.
  • Written by Barry Gibb and Albhy Galuten, both key creative forces behind the Guilty album sound.
  • Released as the third single from Guilty after “Woman in Love” and “Guilty,” continuing the album’s crossover success.

Musically, the song leans into smooth adult contemporary production: gentle rhythm section, soft strings, and Gibb’s trademark melodic writing wrapped around Streisand’s powerful, controlled vocal delivery. It feels like classic early‑’80s soft pop tailored for radio but sung with big, theatrical emotion.

Chart success and impact

Even though it wasn’t as big as “Woman in Love,” “What Kind of Fool” still performed strongly:

  • Reached the Top 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 10.
  • Spent three weeks at number 10 on the Hot 100 in March–April 1981.
  • Spent four weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, showing its strength with adult pop audiences.

In context, Guilty was a blockbuster Streisand era:

  • “Woman in Love” hit number 1 on the Hot 100.
  • The title track “Guilty,” another Streisand–Gibb duet, reached number 3.
  • “What Kind of Fool” was the third in a row to crack the Top 10, confirming the Streisand–Bee Gees formula was a winning partnership.

Theme, lyrics, and story

At its core, “What Kind of Fool” is about regret, emotional fallout, and the pain of a relationship that has been damaged—possibly beyond repair. Key emotional beats from the lyrics:

  • Looking back on a broken relationship:
    • “There was a time when we were down and out / There was a place when we were starting over.”
  • The moment everything went wrong:
    • “We let the bough break / We let the heartache in / Who’s sorry now?”
  • A sense of betrayal and a third person entering the picture:
    • “And then you found her / You let the stranger in / Who’s sorry now?”
  • The central question of self‑reproach:
    • “What, what kind of fool tears it apart / Leaving me pain and sorrow?”

The duet format turns the song into a conversation of sorts—two voices circling the same breakup, filled with lingering love, guilt, and that haunting self‑questioning: what kind of person ruins something that was supposed to last “forevermore”? It fits the early‑’80s adult contemporary mood—introspective, romantic, and a bit melodramatic in a cinematic way.

Why it still gets attention now

Even decades later, “What Kind of Fool” continues to pop up in:

  • High‑quality remasters and uploads of the original 1981 performance, aimed at fans of both Streisand and the Bee Gees.
  • Lyric and chord sites, where musicians note its sophisticated chord progressions and advanced harmony, making it a favorite among more experienced players.
  • Reaction videos and commentary content, where newer listeners “discover” Streisand’s catalogue and respond to the vocal blend with Barry Gibb.

This keeps the track in light rotation on nostalgia playlists, soft‑rock stations, and online discussions about Streisand’s best duets and about the Bee Gees’ broader songwriting legacy.

Mini FAQ style bullets

  1. Who sings “What Kind of Fool”?
    • Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb, as a vocal duet.
  1. Which album is it from?
    • Guilty (1980), Streisand’s hugely successful collaboration album with the Gibb brothers.
  1. Who wrote the song?
    • Barry Gibb and Albhy Galuten.
  1. How did it do on the charts?
    • U.S. Hot 100 peak at number 10; four weeks at number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
  1. What is it about?
    • A reflective, emotional look at a broken relationship, regret, and self‑blame—asking what kind of “fool” lets love fall apart.

Simple meta description (SEO style)

“Barbra Streisand ‘What Kind of Fool’” is a 1981 duet with Barry Gibb from the album Guilty , a Top 10 hit that blends lush adult contemporary production with emotional lyrics about heartbreak and regret.

TL;DR: “What Kind of Fool” is a classic Barbra Streisand–Barry Gibb duet from Guilty , a Top 10 hit built on smooth early‑’80s pop production and lyrics about love lost, regret, and the pain of tearing a relationship apart.

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