Manilow Musings

It's ALL about the music

2012-01-01T06:00:00.002-06:00

2012 has arrived and so has the end of my Manilow Musings. I was listening to a Streisand song on the drive back to Dallas last week and she was talking about the song we all sing on New Years's Eve, Auld Lang Syne and what it means: for the sake of old times. So, for the sake of old times, I'm going back to the beginning--the first time I ever heard Barry sing live and what the music meant to me.

I had just finished chemotherapy and treated myself to the concert in San Antonio in the middle of the summer outside. I was about 12 rows back and had no knowledge or information about the Manilow fan world. I was suspended in time by the Mayflower music and the few songs he did from Harmony that I had never even heard before. Thus began my real love affair with the magic of Manilow's music.

It will be nice to return to that magic. To coin a line from "Julie and Julia" and apply it here--I'm in love with the Manilow in my head; and the Manilow in my head truly is ALL about the music. When I listen to Here at the Mayflower, Paradise Cafe, Harmony and most recently 15 Minutes I I am reminded of why I began this journey and why, even though I will no longer be involved in the fan world, I will always and forever be in love with the music of Manilow.

After all, it truly is "music too magic to end"!

Over and out,

Texas Fan

A Manilow Musings Q&A

2011-12-31T06:00:00.007-06:00

Since, over the last few days, I've been asked questions (either directly or indirectly) about my blog and its contents, I thought it might be fitting to end 2011 with a little Q&A and put all of this to rest once and for all. The answers might not satisfy but they will be honest and truthful and perhaps explain why for the past 5 years I have spoken up even when I have been personally attacked.

When did all of "this" begin?

By "this" I don't mean the blog or loving Barry's music. It all began for me on the Barrynet when a group of fans began to monopolize the posts by talking over and over again about how "hot" Barry was, adding sexual innuendos and literally begging him to wear leather.

Why did this behavior bother me so much?

It bothered me because I felt the Barrynet was a public board that anyone could read and it was casting a negative light on Barry and his fans. It also bothered me because at the time we were trying to raise awareness for our fan club charity and for a scrapbook that we were making for a friend who had passed away and they monopolized the message board.

What happened when I spoke up against it?

I was attacked personally, in emails, and publicly on the message board. It was clear that if anyone spoke out against them, you would be attacked. I just couldn't tolerate that type of bullying and I began to speak out against it on the Barrynet and on my blog. And thus began the war between me and these group of fans.

What makes you so knowledgeable about the fan world (this one comes from Kay's comment)?

I think this was possibly derogatory but I'll answer it anyway. I never claimed to be the expert on the fan world, just the fan world I've witnessed. I've attended enough shows and been to Vegas often enough to witness this type of negative fan behavior over and over again: stalking, harassment, bullying, and spoken to enough Manilow employees and hotel staff to know what goes on before, during and after a show.

You don't call the things you say in your blog about fans bullying and hateful (another question courtesy of Kay)?

No. I don't. They are simply reports of this type of behavior and my opinion about how wrong it is. If you speak out against bullying does that make you a bully? The obvious answer is no. I guess you could see these posts as hateful, but I see them as exposes bringing the truth out into the open.

Do you have a problem with fans gathering at the front of the stage to visit (another question from Kay)?

No problem at all. But, when it's obvious they are "marking their territory" and glare at anyone who dares to encroach on it, I do.

Why can't I just be friends with these women?

Let's see. I have tried. Actually one of the group approached me two years ago and attempted to make peace. I agreed and made every attempt to call a truce. But, that was short lived when I posted something they disagreed with and assumed it was related to them. That's the problem with these fans--you can't cross them or disagree with anything they say or do. If you do, you incur their wrath.

Why can't you just live and let live?

Why can't they? I had every intention of "living and let living" when I came to the shows in Vegas but it was clear they did not. Besides I'm not the type of person that bows down to bullies and someone had to speak out against them. They will claim I do not know them so I can't say anything about them. But I do know how they treated me and have treated other fans. I have had my fill of it all and as Barry often says, "sometimes all it takes is one voice" to create change.

Why, after all this time, am I ending the posts?

It's time. After the last show in Vegas I realized that I no longer want to waste my time on these fans. They will never change because they have convinced themselves and others that their behavior is perfectly normal. (And pigs fly too!). I no longer care to have any connection with the Manilow fan world (other than the few close friends I have made). It's time to shut this door in my life and move on.

So...Happy New Year to my loyal readers and to those who visit here just to see what I'm saying about them (and their friends). I can't say it's been fun, but I can say it's been REAL and I have gained a good education about fandom and how it works. The psychology of it all is fascinating!

Goodbye 2011...Hello 2012 (free from Manilow fan drama)!

Texas Fan

What happens in Vegas...

2011-12-30T06:00:00.006-06:00

...isn't going to stay in Vegas this time. Of course, what would you expect from Vegas and spending the weekend around Barry's fans? I have to say it's never surprising the amount of drama that seems to follow the fan world and you can always expect to witness human theater in its rarest form.

What is going to follow won't be pretty. It will make many fans unhappy and cause others to cheer. But it has to be said. So many fans hide in the shadows of the fans who act like they control the Manilow world, for fear of retribution. I never have been afraid of them and as I close out my Manilow posts, I will continue to tell it like it is. Bullies, as we discovered this weekend, do not like to be confronted.

It has always amazed me how these women act like the hotel where Barry is performing is "their domain". They don't like outsiders on their turf and they let it be known over and over again. They do it with vicious glares, hateful looks, constant staring and even physical violence. They scream obscenities across the casino and they puff up their chests like they are the "head chiefs in charge". It's a spectacle to watch and disturbing to experience first hand.

I specifically didn't post very much about my upcoming trip to avoid that very type of "welcome" but it was unavoidable. The group of them were headed toward the theater, undoubtedly to lurk outside the doors because they had heard Barry was rehearsing that day with the "undiscovered" talent who was going to be introduced at the show that night. The minute they saw me, the whispers, stares and I'm sure the gossip chain began. My daughter found it all rather amusing, as so many of our family members do. They can't understand why grown women act like teenagers. Quite frankly neither can I. But I walked past them not saying a word and determined to enjoy my weekend.

The next encounter came in the lobby of the theater the night of the last show. A group of fans started pointing at me, giving me snide looks, and saying things like, "how dare she show her face here; she's got some nerve; are you sure that's her?" I just smiled and shook my head and stood there waiting for my daughter.

Before the show, my daughter went down to the front to say hello to a friend of ours who was sitting up front on the side, and meet someone else sitting behind her. The entire time she was down there their prying eyes were burning a hole in her back. I was watching the entire thing from the upper rows of seats. She didn't say anything to them, however, and returned to her seat. (And before the blonde squad says, "see...she went up to the front to visit"...it's not the same thing. She wasn't marking her territory; she was just saying hi to a friend.)

After the show, we made our way down front so we could take some pictures with our friends and have them snap a photo of us in front of the curtain. I was talking to my friend and my daughter caught one of them glaring at us from the corner of her eye. She turned around, looked her in the eye, and said, "What?" No response. She then said, "What do you want?" Again, no response. She then said her name and said, "What do you want?" Still no response. The only response we got is utter embarrassment for being called out and fear because she NEVER backs up her actions herself. At that point, I told my daughter to drop it and just let it go.

Why did I think it was important to tell this story? Because so many women in the past have come to me with similar stories of harassment. Stares, glares, hateful comments, and even physical shoves. They are too afraid (or what did they say, "classy") to speak up but they have no problem acting as a mob and making people feel threatened and intimidated. Speak out against any one of them and you incur their threats and their wrath. Disagree with them and you get the same. Speak up against fan club mistreatment and they pounce on you with all their fury.

They ALL justify their behavior as "sticking up for their friends" and "their love for Barry". But it is so much more than that. It's a gang mentality that shifts and shuffles them around, making other fans think they are "in charge". The grim reality is they are just fans and they will never get what they truly want.

When people won't listen to reason the only reasonable thing to do is walk away and leave them to the consequences of their own actions.

Walking away and NOT looking back,

Texas Fan

Here's to Las Vegas...where does the time go?

2011-12-29T06:00:00.012-06:00

I know that Barry's last show was gloom and doom to most of the fans, but I was just happy to be there. Since my seats were strategically located to view the entire theater and a great vantage point to take in the theatrics of the show, I was excited to see it from that perspective.

Before the show I had the privilege to meet Chris with Stiletto and it was an absolute pleasure. Chris is a bright and shining beacon in the Manilow management team and since I had known him from Twitter, I wanted to meet him in person. Genuine. Real. A cut above so many.

I have to say, it was so much fun viewing the show with my daughter. She brought a completely different perspective to the show and helped me to stay light-hearted throughout the evening. I wasn't feeling sad at all, like so many of the fans. I was just happy to have had the opportunity to participate in so many shows at the Hilton and the final show at the Paris.

I had hoped, however, for some once-in-a-lifetime songs: If I Should Love Again, The Best of Me, or anything from his earlier catalogue that was a fan favorite. But the show progressed as planned and it became clear that we would not get any little surprises. Perhaps it was Barry's way of staying positive and not focusing on the inevitable end. Whatever the reason, we didn't hear any gems that night, as most of you have already read in the reviews.

I thought it was a nice touch bringing his "family" out on stage for the final curtain call; especially the families who had added children during the last seven years. His return to the stage and singing "Where does the time go?" was sweet and poignant. But what really hit me was the last and final song: "Here's to Las Vegas". It brought back all the wonderful times at the Hilton when they played that song upon leaving the theater. I remember hearing it for the very first time after the first show I attended and it was only fitting for it to close out the Vegas run with it too. I wasn't sad, I was just grateful for the good times and thinking about all my friends who couldn't be there that night to share it with me.

After the show, my daughter and I made our way to the front of the theater for a photo of the two of us in front of the curtain backdrop. I can remember taking many photos at the Hilton with friends there as well. Now I have this one to add to my collection.

The years have passed quickly but the memories (both good and bad) will remain forever. Moving on for me means holding on to the "best of times" and letting go of "the worst of times". Somehow, in my own way, this last show was MY curtain call.

Looking forward to the final posts and putting all of this to rest,

Texas Fan

Upcoming posts:

December 30-What happens in Vegas...can't stay in Vegas

December 31-A Manilow Musing Q&A

January 1-It's ALL about the Music

Making those Vegas memories

2011-12-28T06:00:00.012-06:00

The last time I was in Vegas was for my daughter's wedding in 2009. Before that, it was to plan her wedding. We had both been in Vegas after her college graduation and for a few days in 2008 when I was there with some friends. This past trip, although fast, was one of the best and most memorable trips we have taken together.

Arriving early on Saturday, we hit the ground running with bloody marys and breakfast at our favorite Parisian spot, Mon Ami Gabi. At breakfast, we were surprised by our good friend, Debbie and had a very nice chat along with a quick picture. The rest of the day we spent wandering the strip sampling bloody marys as we walked, talked and shopped. We head back to the Paris hotel to meet Susan for a late lunch at the Sugar Factory. Unfortunately, we were spotted by the "blonde squad", as my daughter calls them, while walking through the lobby of the hotel. I had made it a point to keep this trip quiet to avoid just this type of confrontation, hateful stares and annoying gawking. Of course, if you are anywhere near the theater or the M Store you're bound to bump into them. I wish I had taken a photo of their faces when they spotted me. It was priceless. Meeting Susan for the first time, I don't think I've laughed so much in years. My only regret is that I didn't meet her sooner during my Manilow journey, because I know we would have had an absolute blast!

Rushing back to the room to change for the Manilow show, we met Debbie and Lori for drinks before making our way to the theater. We had tickets in the center section that were graciously given to us by Joanne, a dear British friend, and I was looking forward to seeing the Paris show for the very first time. Before the show, Susan and I posed for a quick picture before heading into the theater for the first time. The show was great as you read in my previous blog.

After the show we headed over to Mandalay Bay to see Michael Jacksons' Cirque de Soliel presentation to end our first day in Vegas. If you're a fan of his music, it is definitely worth seeing. As we were walking back to our hotel, my daughter pointed out that we had been up for almost 24 hours. Yikes! No wonder I was tired!

The goal for this trip was to sample some new restaurants. The next day we found a quaint little bistro type restaurant in Caesar's Palace called Pavard Patisserie & Bistro. The meal was superb and after momosos for the both of us, we headed out for some shopping, where we both purchased hats to wear for the day and discovered the BEST bloody marys at a stand in the middle of the forum shops. We then made our way over to the Wynn for some chocolate martinis, good conversation and a stop at the Joe Malone store where my daughter purchased both of us some fragrance as a reminder of our trip together.

Before the show, we headed over to the Palazzo and Sushi Samba based on my son's recommendation. It did not disappoint. We had a marvelous meal and more great conversation before making our way back to our hotel to dress for the evening. I was looking forward to the last show, expecting a once-in-a-lifetime performance. The show was great, but it was what happened after the show that made the night memorable (you'll have to wait for a future post to get all the deatails).

After the show we went to the piano bar at the Paris with Susan and Judy and had a great time singing along and watching the performance of some of the drunk attendees. You just never know what you'll see in Vegas! Some gambling and a late night dinner ended the evening and our last night in Las Vegas.

The next morning we made our way over to Aria for some sight seeing and breakfast. Then a final shopping trip at the forum shops to pick up a pair of boots for my daughter (her early Christmas present) and some last minute gambling before leaving for the airport.

I've been going to Vegas since 1995 and will continue to travel there. It's so much more to me than a place where Barry performs. I have the best memories there and I know I will make more in the future. There are great restaurants, tons of free entertainment, and some of the best shopping all in one place. It will be nice to go back and enjoy the city, visit with friends, and explore new hotels, restaurants and bars.

This trip will top my list of great memories, in spite of (or perhaps because of) the confrontations that FINALLY gave me clarity. You just never know what will happen in Vegas, but this time...it won't and can't stay there.

Looking forward to closing the final chapter,

Texas Fan

Coming up:

December 29-Here's to Las Vegas--where did the time go?

Decemer 30-What happens in Vegas...can't stay in Vegas

December 31-A Manilow Musings Q&A

January 1-It's ALL about the Music

Oh how I love Paris!

2011-12-27T06:00:00.018-06:00

It was a long time in coming, but I finally made it back to Vegas after a two year show hiatus thanks to my daughter and her insistence that we see Barry's show together one last time. Since I hadn't seen the show since it moved from the Hilton, I was looking forward to finally seeing it for myself and not just through the eyes of others. I had heard so much about it and about the theater itself that I was antsy with anticipation.My good Britfriend, Joanne, kindly offered to let me use her free tickets she won during the 15 Minutes promotion. We scored some seats in the center orchestra section about 10 rows from the stage, smack dab among all the fans. My daughter immediately noticed the fan conclave at the front of the auditorium and asked, "Are those women Barry's hostesses?" Of course, it was half sarcastic and I explained that the fans hang out at the front before the show. She said, "Why?". Oh the questions that "civilians" ask and the answers that fans come up with to justify odd behavior. (But that's for another blog).

The theater itself was gorgeous: the chandeliers, the red interior draped walls, the large stage. I loved the backdrop (curtain) with the french flair and was looking forward to the show. We settled in our seats and prepared to be amazed. Once the show started, I made a phone call to my Australian friend Kim so she could share in the excitement. I wonder how many phone calls were made that weekend to let other fans listen in to the show? Over the years, I've been a person on the other end of some of those calls, especially during conventions, hoping to hear a once-in-a-lifetime performance, as we were all hoping for that night.

Since there has already been some reviews about the show, I won't go into details. I will, however, tell you my first impression seeing the Paris show after two years and how I felt it compared to the show at the Hilton. The obvious difference was the size of the stage and the absence of the side stage seats. For Barry, less opportunity to be mauled by over zealous fans. For the fans, less opportunity for those special moments (putting on his coat, dancing with him, singing with him). I believe this non-fan interaction changed the show on some level, making it seem less personal and more Vegasy. Although, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing, just a change.

There were however, some changes in the show format and staging that I absolutely loved. The first was the huge MANILOW as a backdrop, along with the art and photos that dropped down over the stage at various moments during the performance. It made the show classy and gave a production air to it that wasn't there at the Hilton. The photos dropped down and moved across the stage during key segments and added to each number's expressiveness.

There were some great changes to the well known segments of Bandstand, the piano duels during New York City Rhythm and the segment where Barry talks about his grandfather. I loved how they changed up the Bandstand number and included more dancing by the backup singers. I also thought that the dueling pianos segment was much more of an extravaganza the way they brought out more pianos on stage highlighting the pianists with different types of music. It was great how they started off segments with the sax player and the percussionists as well. But my favorite change was the segment including the story of Barry and his grandfather. Hearing baby Barry sing Nature Boy was a real treat and having Barry end the segment on the keyboard singing the same song was absolutely fabulous.

Although I was looking forward to hearing some 15 Minutes songs, we were treated to a Christmas segment which I thoroughly enjoyed and was so much fun. We were also treated to a new voice from what was heralded as a talent discovery from the video submissions on the Manilow Network. Although the lady was incredibly talented, I found out that she had been on stage before with David Foster and already performed in Las Vegas. It wasn't such a stretch because she seemed to OWN the stage.

The ending of the show was different, with Barry coming on stage for Copacabana in a tux while being raised up from below the stage. Cute, but I still liked the catwalk at the Hilton and the excitement that it seemed to bring to the audience.

Hands down, the best part of the show went on behind me and my daughter during the last few songs. There was an elderly gentleman with a walker sitting behind us and his wife was able to help him stand during the last few numbers. His eyes lit up as he waved his glow stick and sang along with the songs. His wife seemed ecstatic that he was able to participate in the final moments of the show and they were both grinning from ear to ear. I wondered what was his story? Why was he there? How long had he been a fan? And I couldn't help but wonder how much of the show he had missed because of everyone standing up in front of him for a good portion of the show when he wasn't physically able to stand to see.

All in all, I'm glad I got to see the Paris show before he ended his run there. It was a fun night with my daughter and a wonderful memory that I will treasure. It was also great being able to share it with my good friend, even if it was over the phone miles away.

Chalking up the memories,

Texas Fan

P.S. Come back for my last and FINAL Manilow blogs:

December 28-Making those Vegas memories

December 29-Here's to Las Vegas--where did the time go?

December 30-What happens in Vegas...can't stay in Vegas

December 31-It's ALL about the Music

We Can't Smile Without You...

2011-12-14T12:44:00.008-06:00

The last time I saw Jan Murtha was the day after my daughter's wedding in 2009. She was singing Can't Smile Without You with her friends Tammy, Debbie and Barry on the stage. I managed to snap a picture of that special moment between the three of them and Barry. After the show, Jan and Jeanine were having a drink outside Tempo and as usual, Jan was smiling ear to ear.

I can honestly say that every time I saw Jan, she was smiling. Because we had some of the same friends, I had the privilege of "hanging out" with her on occasion. She was smart, funny, witty and kind. In the Manilow world she was a real gem of a fan and a genuine friend. Her close friends are hurting today and we who knew them both, are hurting for them as well.

It's going to be hard to smile without Jan in our lives but the memories we all have with her should always bring smiles to our faces and joy to our hearts. This past weekend at the final shows made it even more clear that those moments in our lives shared with friends should be treasured and the memories we make will help soften the loss when they are gone.

Here's to Jan...for all the smiles, the good times, and the great memories. We WILL see you "somewhere down the road". To Jan's family...thank you for sharing her with all of us and for allowing us to be a part of her life. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you grieve. I hope you find comfort in all the kind words her Manilow friends have spoken and you know that she was an angel here on earth.

Rest in Peace Jan,

Texas Fan (aka Suzanne Shaffer)

Christmas is just around the corner

2011-12-02T15:59:00.004-06:00

I couldn't resist posting this--it's one of my favorite "fun" Barry Christmas songs.

Looking forward to MY early Christmas present,
Texas Fan

The Revolving Door

2011-11-16T22:03:00.004-06:00

Manilow fans speak of the "revolving door" with fondness. It's that door at the Hilton (and now the Paris) that we enter every time we go to a Manilow show in Las Vegas. It's where "the door that we go out of is the door that we come in" and it's where we meet our friends and make those amazing Manilow memories.

For me, my Manilow memories happened at the Las Vegas Hilton. It's where I first saw Barry and where I met my very first Manilow friend. The Hilton is where those good times happened and as I think back, some places and events hang heavy on my mind and heart. It simply felt like home.

Fortuna

Ah Fortuna. I can still smell the coffee brewing and taste that delicious cappuccino that I treated myself to every time I went there. I remember sitting at the small tables watching the people go by, enter the revolving door and pass by on their way to the casino. It was the BEST place for human theater. I have the best memories of laughter at those tables.

The Hilton Theater

This is where the magic happened. It's where I had my first Manilow moment, met my first Manilow friend, and yelled and screamed when I heard, "right here, right now" before the show began. We hung out at the front of the stage before the show and waited until the last person left the theater after the show. We met our friends there, hugged, took pictures and even got some Manilow handshakes on occasion. The stage seats were where the most amazing moments happened; where the champagne flowed; and where we got "up close and personal" with the Shadowman himself.

The M Store

No trip to Vegas was complete without a visit to the M Store. We viewed (and purchased) all the new Manilow merchandise, watched the videos as they played, swooned over the gorgeous gargantuan photo of Barry on the wall, and stood around and chatted with the M Store staff.

Tempo

The first time I went to Tempo was right after a fan convention. My friend Mandy and I were invited to join a couple after the show (he had left early and saved us seats) so that we could sit close to the "back" area and see Barry when he came in after the show. At the time, it seemed bizarre but going to Tempo after the shows became one of our routines. We christened the tassles with the tassle dance and were probably the first ones to come up with the idea of a dance floor before it ever appeared. I can taste the margaritas, champagne cocktails and bloody marys, along with that spicy snack mixture they always put on the tables. It was where we danced, and drank and acted generally silly, and it was where we were able to let go, forget our troubles and have some adult fun.

Shimmer

We nicknamed the band "the screamers" and had great fun there after Tempo closed down. Since we could never hear ourselves talk, we mostly laughed as the band got louder and the ancient guitar/keyboard player rocked the house. We named one of the guys "the Klingon" because he reminded us of the Klingons in Star Trek. It was the last stand before heading off to bed and often off to wander around the Hilton.

Paradise Cafe

The food there was average but it was where we ate while we were there. I think the Manilow fans felt some sort of obligation to eat there because of the name. I recall one late night meal (before they started closing at night) that we showed up and they were out of just about everything. We laughed when we asked for just about every item on the menu and the waiter said, "we're out of that." What 24 hour Vegas restaurant runs out of food?

Hilton Buffet

Breakfast wasn't breakfast unless you ate at the Hilton Buffet. Every fan ate there. Rumor had it that "Barry and his entourage" ate breakfast there, so that's where we went. I did see several of his band members and his backup singers there at times, but I never, ever saw Barry. I suspected that he had room service up in his Elvis penthouse apartment. We did, however, spend hours there talking and reminiscing about the previous nights shows, and looking forward to the shows ahead. It too was a great place for human theater.

The Hilton Staff

The people that worked there became our friends: Mattie, Larry, CJ, the Tempo dancers, the Shimmer screamers, the M store staff, the casino hosts. It was like a family and we treated them as such.

There have been some bittersweet memories there and when I go to Vegas next month, I'll walk through that revolving door again and have a cup of coffee at Fortuna and bask in the memories.

"I'll see you then when you and I have made it back from the people and the places we have been",

Texas Fan

On the Road with Manilow-Dallas

2011-11-11T20:08:00.015-06:00

This was a special show because it was the first time that my daughter and I had been to see Barry together. We got great fan club seats on the floor on the 4th row right in dead center. It put us smack dab in the middle of the fans (which is where my daughter wanted to be) to experience the human theater. Turns out, the seats and the show did not disappoint.

A little too much wine at dinner, and we were ready to ROCK the house at the American Airlines arena! Since this was her first concert and the first time she has ever sat that close to the stage, she was pumped. She chatted with the ticket takers, those selling the programs; she commented on the "tacky" shirts they were selling (she was not a fan of the picture on the tour shirt--I have to agree with her on that one), and she laughed and joked with a middle aged gentleman selling beer. He asked her if she was a fan and she said, yes, but that I was the "real" fan and she fully expected me to act "crazy" during the concert. He pulled her aside and told her that she should enjoy it with me and that it was 90 minutes in my life of pure joy (he got that right) and she should be happy she got to see me experience it.

When we found our seats she started mingling with the fans all around us. She wanted to know how many shows they had seen, had they been to Vegas, how long they had been fans. Then she started asking them about the Barrynet and if they were familiar with the "leather gang". She told them all it was better than a soap opera (again, she was right). I was cracking up. It was one of those priceless monumental memories that I will never forget.

The music began and then the infamous "right here, right now" started. It was amazing watching the show through my daughter's expressions and excitement. When he walked out on stage I, of course, became ecstatic. She started laughing and smiling and gave me a huge hug. He began with his usual It's a Miracle medley. I never get tired of hearing him sing those songs. And it was great for my daughter because she knew every one of them and was enjoying it immensely.

Hearing The Old Songs in its entirety was special and as always the full version of Could It Be Magic with the orchestra and the light show that goes along with it makes it even more magical. There were so many great moments in the show, but for me there were several that stood out and made this show unforgettable. The next moment was his powerful rendition of Weekend in New England. I have never seen him sing that song with so much emotion. His arms were actually up in the air in between notes and he lifted off the piano seat. At the end of the song he was so overcome with emotion that he sat there for a few seconds with his head in his hands, then he stood up, yanked off his tie and threw it across the piano. He crawled so deep into that song that his heart came out on to his sleeve. This was definitely the highlight of the evening.

He then began to play All the Time and this song always gets to me. When he sings this song, it seems like he's actually acknowledging how much he felt that way and how he knows there are so many of us out there that feel the same.

When he began Brooklyn Blues I was hoping that Brian Culbertson would join him on stage. Since I had the privilege of seeing Dave Koz play that song with him in NYC there was nothing that compared to it until that night. Brian on his trombone and his saxophone player blew me away when they joined Barry on stage for that song. The amount of talent up on that stage experiencing the jazz of it all made me realize that music truly is one of the few things in our lives that can move us to tears and give us such joy.

When Can’t Smile Without You started my daughter started to tear up. She actually had to leave the arena because the song reminded her of her grandfather who had recently passed away. Someone once said that is a sad song and that night, it was sad for her. I didn’t know how sad until we talked about it later on the way home. You just never know which song is going to move you and why.

The show ended too soon with the encore of Old Friends (who's like us..damn few) and Forever and a Day (didn't we show them, weren't they blown away) and I never get tired of seeing him sing those two songs live and experiencing the true gratitude and emotion he has about his fans. The expressions on his face during both those songs say it all and when you are lucky enough to be a part of it, it just doesn't get any better than that.

So it was a night to remember. A mother/daughter moment. A Manilow moment. Some great memories captured on film. And then the Shadowman was gone. As Barry says, "what a life!"

Basking in the memories of Dallas,

Texas Fan

Coming soon--The Revolving Door

On the Road with Manilow-Philadelphia

2011-11-10T20:01:00.008-06:00

When Barry decided to take his show on the road to Philadelphia the "three Musketeers" just couldn't pass up the chance to meet for the weekend. I'm not sure when we dubbed ourselves the "three Musketeers" but I think it might have been at Tempo one night.

After wrestling with the dreaded ticket purchasing system run by Stiletto, we were able to secure great seats in the center on the floor close to the stage. Musketeer 1 and me made plans to fly into Musketeer 3's home airport in Baltimore on Friday night before the show. Musketeer 3's husband, the biggest Barry Manilow fan in America was happy to put up with our foolishness for the weekend.

We were like three excited little girls in the airport that night. The biggest Barry Manilow fan in America was laughing at the three of us in the car on the way to their house from the airport. Of course, he had to put on "Sexyback" on the drive so we could "dance" while we were driving. (A song they used to play in Tempo for the "Tempo dancers"). I I'm sure that the cars next to us thought we were crazy! But first, a stop off at the convenience store where Musketeer 3 bought us both "Three Musketeer" bars in honor of the occasion (which I kept the wrapping and have it safely tucked away with my Manilow memorabilia).

We spent the evening watching Manilow DVD's and looking forward to the show in Philadelphia. The next day we all went out to breakfast and to the Baltimore Harbor for a little sightseeing. Musketeer 3 and the biggest Barry Manilow fan in America were the perfect hosts and tour guides.

It was finally time to pile in the SUV and head out on our road trip to Philadelphia for the concert. We listened to the music in the car and looked forward in anticipation to getting our grubby little hands on the 70's CD at the concert. After a quick dinner stop and so excited we could hardly eat, we arrived at the arena and saw MANILOW on the marquee out front. Making a quick stop at the merchandise booth, we were ecstatic to find the CD was indeed on sale.

Our seats were perfect and Brian Culbertson was the opening act. That guy can really jam. The music got everyone pumped up for the show with an Earth, Wind and Fire song. We were singing and "dancin' in the aisles" before Barry even came out.

We were so close, I got some great pictures that to this day bring back some of the best memories of that show. He used the catwalk to choose a dance partner and come out past the stage and sing a few songs during the show. I can't remember the song set or much about the show, but I do remember the ending. It was the first time I had ever heard him sing "Old Friends" and "Forever and a Day" live. I swear you could have heard a pin drop in that huge arena. It was awe inspiring.

After the show, the "three musketeers" headed to Atlantic City to spend the night. We popped the new CD in and started listening to it. I have to say, at first listen, I didn't like it very much. But after listening to it a few more times over the weekend, it quickly became one of my favorites of the decade CD's.

The next day in Atlantic City we walked the boardwalk, got some corn dogs and took some pictures next to Barry's handprints in the wall at Resorts International. It was a day I will always cherish because of the great conversations in the car to drop off Musketeer 2 at the airport, and afterwards with me and Musketeer 3 on the way home to Baltimore. We talked about the new album, what the songs meant, and what Barry's music meant to all of us. It was such a time a naivety and shear excitement over the music.

Musketeer 3 and I had sushi together that night and went home afterwards to watch the QVC special and yell at the moderator. Every time QVC has Barry on with that same moderator it reminds me of that first time we watched it and how frustrated we were that she would not stop talking. The next day I was dropped off at the airport for my flight home.

These two women will always be forever planted in my Manilow memory banks.

To the "Three Musketeers",

Texas Fan

Next up: On the Road with Manilow-Dallas

On the road with Manilow-New York City

2011-11-01T20:04:00.012-05:00

What's better than seeing Barry LIVE at Madison Square Garden?New York...the Garden...and Manilow. What could be better? It was another of those "on the road" with Manilow experiences that I will never forget.

I took the train from Boston to New York into Penn Station. I love taking the train because it's something we can't do in Texas. Everyone in our state has a vehicle (aka truck) and are not the least bit interested in mass transportation. Trains are soothing forms of transportation to me and I always enjoy riding and watching the beautiful New England scenery along the way.

I was meeting Mandy in New York (she was flying in) later that day, so I decided to walk from the train station to our hotel on Broadway, navigating the melting ice and snow with a rolling suitcase. It was one of those quaint older hotels that had been renovated. The lobby was small but the rooms were huge and we had an amazing view of the city. We just happen to score this deal on a discount hotel site a few weeks before.

When Mandy arrived, we took a stroll to Madison Square Garden to look for Manilow signage. To our surprise, we couldn't find any, but we did come upon something even more special. It was a painting of words on the brick wall inside the entrance to the Garden that said, "The Best Seat in the House" We both looked at each other in amazement--how perfect was that? Of course, we had to snap a picture to commemorate it!

After dinner we got to the venue early to do some merchandise shopping and find our seats which unfortunately, were not on the floor. We had once again made a last minute decision to attend so were forced to take seats in the stands off to the side of the stage. Of course, we could see the "celebrity arrivals" from a distance and watched the fans as they circled the wagons to grab a picture or a handshake.

As a sidenote: It's always been interesting to me how people are so fascinated with celebrities. When you think about it, they are just people like you and me. Would I want an autograph? Probably not. Would I even approach them for one? Absolutely not. Would I ask for a picture with them? Not really. I've been around quite a few in my lifetime and I've never intruded on their personal space. I have never even approached Barry, his band, or his backup singers for a picture although I have had plenty of opportunities.

When the show began, the sound was completely off. We were having a hard time hearing Barry and the background music was overpowering. We wondered if it was the huge venue and the fact that it required different acoustics than the Hilton theater. But after about 10 minutes, they fixed the problem and we were enjoying the show.

About halfway through, Barry starting talking about his friend Dave Koz's new album and the song he sang on it. It wasn't long before we were treated to his beautiful saxophone and Barry singing Moon River along with him. We were ecstatic to be able to see the two of them together, especially after watching the Farewell DVD and Dave's wonderful Brooklyn Blues rendition. After Moon River, we were treated to the same song that night. Hearing Dave Koz live and seeing how much fun he and Barry had together on the stage was the highlight of this trip for me.

After the show we walked around for a bit and grabbed some coffee and dessert. The next day, Mandy headed for the airport and I for the train back to Boston. But the memories of the show were still fresh in our minds and the memories of sharing this once in a lifetime experience would be with us forever.

See you on the road again shortly....in Philadelphia!

Texas Fan

On the road with Manilow-Atlantic City

2011-10-25T21:03:00.013-05:00

My Vegas memories aren't the only Manilow memories I have. Some of the best Manilow memories happened when I traveled to meet friends and see his show. Over the last five years I've been fortunate to travel to Atlantic City, New York, Philadelphia and Dallas to see the magic of Manilow.

My Atlantic City adventure

I flew into Philadelphia the day before and stayed at a hotel near the airport. I was planning to meet Mandy for dinner the next night in Atlantic City before the show. I took the train from Philadelphia to Atlantic City and walked from the train station to my hotel. Not knowing the area, I made a reservation at a small Best Western hotel one street over from the boardwalk. When I walked up to register, I noticed the bars on the door and the buzzer to buzz in. I knew this was a very bad hotel choice, but at this point I was stuck.

Later that day, Mandy called and said her husband's plane needed repairs and she was hoping she would make the concert, but not dinner. I wandered around the boardwalk for a few hours, taking photos of the marquees and watching all the Manilow fans as they walked around. They had opened a merchandise store in the venue so I snagged a copy of Greatest Songs of the Sixties since it wasn't yet released.

Mandy showed up a few minutes before the show

started. Her seat was on the floor and mine was up in the rafters because I had made a last-minute decision to go. I will never forget seeing him roll out onto that stage in a wheelchair after his hip surgery and the girls dressed in nurses uniforms and him singing, "You wouldn't believe where I've been..." while everyone in the place was standing. Of course, the wheelchair was a joke and he sang "It's a miracle.." and hopped right up and started running around on the stage. It was a great night and he ended it with One Voice in an absolute silent arena, a song I had never heard live.

Mandy left for the airport right after the show and texted me a picture of a small jet. When I asked her whose jet it was, she said "Barry's". Her husband had been at the airport waiting for her and chatting with his pilot and they told him Mandy could hang out until Barry arrived from the venue. You can imagine how excited she was that night and I got to share that with her via text messages and pictures.

Back at the hotel later that night was not a positive experience. The couple in the room next to me was having a domestic dispute. After about an hour, the police came to break it up and I decided to spend the night in the casinos where I felt much safer. I checked out the next morning and took the train back to Philadelphia to catch another train to Boston to spend time with my daughter.

On the train to Boston I cracked open my new CD and fell in love with "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" and "Cherish/Wendy" became my new favorite Manilow songs. I will never forget that 6 hours train ride and enjoying the new CD all the way to Boston.

Every time I listen to that CD I remember that show and those great memories. It was a once in a lifetime show--and a once in a lifetime memory.

Up next--New York and Madison Square Garden,
Texas Fan

You've Got a Friend

2011-10-23T17:06:00.030-05:00

Talk to any Manilow fan and they will tell you one of the best things about being a fan of Barry's music is meeting other fans. I was incredibly fascinated at my very first Manilow concert with the fans and how they all seemed to know one another. They truly are like a family. And just like any family, new members are added, old members are lost, and family members often quarrel. But when it's all said and done, this family has one thing in common--they love the music of Manilow.

My family started off rather small with a young lady named Mandy. You can read about our story in a previous blog. Mandy was, and still is, near and dear to my heart. On one of our first trips together, she handed me her iPod and introduced me to Sandra. That song, to this day, gives me goosebumps. She just got me and at the time; I needed someone to "get me." She also introduced me to the Barrynet and thus began my adventure in fandom.

Allayne and I first met on the Barrynet right before Barry had his hip surgery. She was a new fan from Canada, being won over by Barry's recent appearance on Larry King Live. She had one album--Greatest Songs of the Fifties; and as Mandy introduced me to the complete collection, I did the same for Allayne. We worked on a scrapbook together for Barry and gathered over 50 fans together to participate. It was an amazing collaboration of fans--something we were proud to work on together. We then started a Canadian Fan Club-I Am Your Child-Manilow Canada and collected money for charity, being recognized for our contributions. I flew to Canada to spend a week with her and hit some piano bars together. It was an amazing week of fun, food, and friendship.

Debbie joined our fan club and we began chatting online. We talked about the music and our love for Las Vegas. She and her husband Rob went there quite often. We met for the first time at the Hilton swimming pool. We were talking on the phone, unbeknownst to her that I was already in Vegas. It was a great surprise and we talked for awhile before heading back inside. It was there that I met her husband Rob and they invited me to join them for dinner. We ate and talked about his music, Vegas and the upcoming shows. So began our many trips to Barry's shows together. Good fun, good times, and tons of "human theater" at Fortuna. When Barry played Philadelphia, I flew to Baltimore for the concert and she and Rob were the perfect hosts. Rob always makes me laugh because he's "the biggest Barry Manilow fan in America" with the picture and the shirt to prove it!

I met Lori in the M Store at the Hilton one afternoon quite by accident. She was there with one of the members of our fan club and we just hit it off. This trip would begin our Barry friendship that would bring us both to each other's homes, a road trip across the country, early morning prayer sessions and some of the best few hours of coffee in the mornings in the room at the Hilton. It became a tradition every trip and when I smell coffee, I remember those wonderful times when it was just the two of us talking about life, the music and our friendship. We have danced (using that term lightly) at Tempo, listened to the "screamers" at Shimmer and had early morning breakfasts in the Paradise Cafe. We have dreamed together, laughed together, cried together, texted countless times, and had our ups and downs. But no Manilow memory would be complete without her. She is, and always will be, tied to my memories of the best times of my life.

Kim and I met on the Barrynet. She lives in Australia and we began chatting online. This was before Skype, or texting, and before live chatting. We both loved our kids and of course, Barry's music. We talked about our goals, our dreams, and hoped one day to meet in Las Vegas. After countless months of planning, Kim made it happen and there was nothing that was going to keep me from being there. We spent a fabulous week of shopping, sightseeing, shows, nights in Tempo and late night dinners. I wouldn't trade that time for anything and feel blessed that Kim flew all that way across the globe to meet me (and Barry, of course!).

Joanne is my "fabulous" UK friend. I was there the night she had her dance with Barry and snapped a photo. She was also a member of our fan club and met up with me to give me a donation for our charity. She is such a classy lady with the most inspiring spirit and I spent a week the next year in Vegas with her when I was planning my daughter's wedding. We had breakfasts together and spent hours talking about the music and the fans. She was there to help me de-stress that week and for that, she will always be at the top of my list. One day I would love to fly to the UK for some shows with her and who knows, it might just happen!

YBA began blogging about Barry and she and I were kindred spirits. We both loved blogging and she was using Barry's music to get through a difficult time in her life. She was cautious about fan clubs, having a previously negative experience with another musician's fans; but she slowly but surely warmed up to me. We met in Vegas to celebrate her 40th birthday and attend Barry's shows that weekend. YBA is more fun than a barrel of monkeys and she knows the nuances of Barry's music better than any critic I've ever read.We've had some awesome texting seasons all hours of the night when she was up with her little ones. I love her blog, I love her and getting to share in some very special family moments with her has been a blessing.

Tammy and I met through email because we were both involved in Barry's Prayer Circle. She loves God, loves shoes and loves Barry--probably in that order. She has prayed for me more times than I can count and always, without fail, makes me smile. Her positive outlook and joy in the Lord have uplifted me when I felt down and given me hope when I felt frightened and alone. Her smile lights up a room and being at a show with her is so much fun because of her energy and exuberance. Tammy was a Godsend and getting to know her has been a marvelous perk of being a Manilow fan.

Susan and I have never met but hopefully will one day. She is my newest fan friendship, meeting on the Manilow Network and enhancing the friendship through AFAN and on Twitter. She has the biggest heart and will do just about anything for anyone if asked. I've written about her previously, but I didn't want to neglect her here. She loves her grown children as much as I do mine; we have that in common. My daughter has already met her and I'm looking forward to meeting her soon and cultivating this new friendship.

As you can see, these women (and man) are like family to me. When I need a friend, they are there. It's not just about the shows, or Barry, or even the music. It's about the connection we made because of the music, but the lives that we share because of the connection. When the Manilow fans talk about their friendships, I'm sure they all have just as many stories. This post is for the friends you have made throughout the years and the memories that you share with them. It may have started with the music, but it will always, for me, be about the friends attached to my memories. Barry may have brought us together, but it was only the beginning.

Thank God that I have these friends for now and for the future,
Texas Fan

P.S. If you have some great friend stories, leave a comment and share them with all of us. We would love to read about them.

My Manilow Memories

2011-10-22T22:31:00.010-05:00

Lately, some have accused me of NOT being sentimental about Barry leaving Vegas. Nothing could be further from the truth. I’m incredibly sentimental, but in a good way. I’m sentimental about the memories that I have created while I was able to attend Barry’s shows. I’m sentimental about the friends I have made (the ones I have met, and the ones I have yet to meet). I’m sentimental about the way Barry’s music always makes me feel. Even though I’m realistic that the time has come to move on, I’m still sentimental.

I spent the last few hours doing some fall cleaning; weeding out some clothes in my closet and taking stock of what no longer fits (thankfully because they were too big) while watching Music and Passion. Watching this video and going through my “Manilow outfits” served to cause those memories to come flooding back. And when that happens, I have to share them. It’s cathartic to write them all down and what better place to do it than on this blog that I started December 17, 2006 with a post about Studio Musician.

I can’t believe it’s almost been five years since I started writing down my Manilow Musings about Barry, his music, my trips to Vegas and his fans. It’s been quite a journey that started with excitement about rediscovering his music, getting heavily entrenched in the fan world (with all its good and bad), and making almost monthly treks to Vegas (only because my son worked for Continental at the time = free airfare!). As this time comes to end, it seemed only fitting to reflect on what was “the best of times” and share some of my favorite Manilow memories.

I’ll be posting them over the next few days, but here’s a preview:

You’ve Got a Friend
On the road with Manilow
What happens in Vegas…
The revolving door
It’s all about the fans
It’s all about the music

It’s been fun sharing my moments, my thoughts and my memories with you over the last five years. I hope you enjoy my trip down memory lane.

Until next time,

Texas Fan

The end of an era

2011-10-19T19:42:00.007-05:00

The sad news hit the airwaves last night on The Insider: Barry is leaving Las Vegas after seven years. It's going to seem strange going to Vegas and not seeing a sign, a bus graphic, or the huge banner at the airport with his smiling face on it. But life does indeed go on, even for Barry. I imagine he's ready to move on, just like most of us are as well.

It is sad on some level when the curtain comes down on some amazing shows and some amazing times. If you're as blessed as I was, you have many wonderful memories and some friendships that will indeed continue after he walks off the stage on December 11th for the last time. I'm sure tears will flow (probably not just the fans) and it will be bittersweet for all.

What I won't miss? The crazy fans. The ones who harass and bully other fans at the show. The ones who hide behind others with their backbiting and vengeful attitudes. The ones who say they have lives but in the very effort to explain those lives make it clear that they are still wrapped up in the fan world.

I think, once December 11th comes along, I'll shut the door to this blog and close that chapter in my life. It's been a wild ride, but it's time to focus on other things. Until then, I'll be speaking for the unspoken majority who have been pushed, shoved, yelled at, and bullied for the last seven years. I imagine, like me, they are ready to make a quiet exit.

And as YBA said a few years ago, "you begin again."

Texas Fan

Just keep preaching to the choir

2011-10-19T19:36:00.003-05:00

Hiding behind the wall of privacy

2011-10-18T10:04:00.003-05:00

Looks like this answers everyone's questions

2011-10-15T16:08:00.002-05:00

This was lifted from what I assume was the alt-fan site since that's where Garry likes to post. Then it was posted on Barry's Facebook page:

"I don't think anyone is angry at Vegas.....we started with a one year deal at the Hilton and ended up staying in town for seven. Everyone has a had a blast and its a great city to work/live/play/and eat. But seven years also means we havent been able to do a lot of the other things we would like to do....some of which will be announced in the next few weeks...and some of which have had to be postponed because of constant Vegas conflicts. Fortunately....the offers from around the world.....including Vegas...have arrived in droves. Sorting through them all has been a blast. And for the record....the MMP was started before Vegas and has raised more money outside of Vegas. The M&P broadcast happened because of Lauara Savini at PBS and Mark Grove & Troy Queen at STILETTO Television. And lastly....I think everyone has forgotten that Barry was on a soldout arena tour in the Fall....on the heels of a Top 3 album....before we decided to consider an offer from the Hilton. I'd love to say that the Hilton but Barry on top....but I think the Hilton Executives would argue just the opposite.
Hope that helps clarify things...
All best...
Garry"

I guess if you read between the lines and add the tweet from Rob Shuter, he's leaving Vegas. Personally, I think it's time; although selfishly I wish I could make it back just one more time for old times sake.

Perhaps it's not just time for Barry to move on. Perhaps it's time for ALL of us to move on with our lives.

Texas Fan

Turn out the lights, the party's over

2011-10-10T20:52:00.006-05:00

There has been a great deal of talk lately about the impending end to Barry's Vegas appearances. Since I haven't been there after he left the Hilton, I can't speak for his run at the Paris. But I can say that those Hilton years hold some very special, unique memories. It's those memories and the friendships that were made there that cause me to look back on those years with great fondness and sometimes pain. A recent death in the fan world has caused me to do a little retrospective thinking.

I remember my first show at the Hilton and how I arrived there alone, excited about my stage seats and not knowing what to expect. As I was seated on the second row, a young girl named Mandy asked me if I was alone. She was also alone and had an empty chair next to her on the front row of the Dew Drop Inn side of the stage. I moved up to sit next to her and we chatted for a bit. It was only the second time I had seen Barry, the first time was from quite a distance. Imagine my surprise when he walked over to me and asked me to help him with his jacket. It was one of those once in a lifetime moments, and even though the moment came and went so quickly, it was exciting to be thrust into the limelight even for a few minutes.

Mandy and I exchanged numbers and emails and became good friends. Over the years, we went to many shows together and still, to this day, keep in touch with one another. She was my first fan friend, but there would be many others.

I met Karen the night that Mandy had her dance with Barry. She and her husband David were sitting next to us on the stage. They joined us for a drink afterwards and we were both impressed about how much David loved Karen and how much they both enjoyed listening and enjoying Barry's music. We kept in touch, although we were never able to make it to Vegas again at the same time. One day, I got a phone call from Karen but it wasn't Karen. It was her husband David telling me that Karen had passed away suddenly. My heart broke. It was one of those defining moments in fandom when even though we only met once, I felt such a strong loss.

My fan friendships have become just as important to me as the ones in my day to day life. I have shared grief with them, invited them to my daughter's wedding, and met friends from England and Australia in Vegas. We have laughed together, cheered together, cried together, danced together and even prayed together.

All of this to say that I have missed my Vegas days the last few years. I miss getting together with friends, staying up late talking, getting up early having coffee, and being crazy for just a few days and nights while destressing. But most of all, I miss the magic that I felt when I was there and the joy that came knowing I could come back again.

For me, it was over two years ago, but the finality of it now, just makes me glad that I had those few years when walking through those doors at the Hilton gave me great joy.

The party may be over, but the friendships will last a lifetime,
Texas Fan

P.S.For those who knew Carol, I know your pain is unbearable. It may be dark right now, but her light will always be there in your heart and in your memories. May she rest in peace and may you find comfort in knowing that you were blessed to have her in your life.

Am I mean or am I just a beacon of truth

2011-09-30T16:00:00.005-05:00

As one of my friends put it on a Facebook post, "you've had quite a week". It didn't surprise me that I caught tons of flack for my last post. I have come to expect it in the Manilow world. Descenting opinions are always looked upon with hateful vengeance and passive/aggressive behavior. I would much rather they just leave a negative comment than go around Facebook and Twitter posting veiled statements about how mean I am and how it's not nice to attack people. At least I could confront them one on one instead of hearing from friends that "so and so is not happy with you" or "so and so is really upset with your post".

Here's my advice: start your own blog. Convince me I'm wrong. Leave a comment and let's debate the topic. I'm open to discussion.

The problem is, I know that won't happen. Because as I said on a Facebook post, "No matter how hard you try to make people see the light, they just won't get it until it suddenly becomes dark." I don't care so much that they are upset with me. I have grown some thick skin being a part of this crazy Manilow fandom. I learned a long time ago that my opinion is my opinion and if I feel like it's important to write about it, I will.

If you are so convinced I am wrong, then why spend so much of your time defending your position? I don't waste my time arguing with anyone who isn't open to a different opinion and you shouldn't waste your time combating mine.

Here's some more advice. If you don't like what I have to say, don't read it. Don't waste your time here or anywhere else reading anything I say. If you believe I'm mean, or hateful, or cruel, then don't bother with me. Trust me, I won't lose any sleep over not convincing you otherwise.

And when the darkness falls and you finally see the light, I'll still be here speaking the truth and willing to become friends.

Delete the bookmark. Don't come here anymore. Don't read my tweets or Facebook posts. You'll be happier. I won't notice. And you can go on living in your own little dream world of unreality.

See you when the light comes on,
Texas Fan

Crazy Manilow fans on Facebook

2011-09-27T20:57:00.004-05:00

Yes, it's been awhile since I've posted here. What can I say? Life, work, children, a grandchild and other activities consume most of my free time these days. I keep loose track of the goings on in the Manilow world still, mostly via Facebook and Twitter. I rarely, if ever, sign on to the Manilow Network or the Barrynet any more.

Today, instead of focusing on the album, his show (will he won't he stay in Vegas) and his song journals on YouTube (which I LOVE), or his recent decision to become a spokesperson for AFib (commendable), it's time for another rant. What can I say, I'm in a rant kind of a mood today.

The topic? What else...crazy fans. Specifically crazy fans on Facebook. I actually think they all moved over there once Barry started writing notes on his Facebook page. It's like bees to honey, buzzards hovering over a kill, or college students showing up anywhere beer is served. Wherever he goes, they will follow. And here's the even more annoying fact...not only do they follow him, they latch on to his friends, collaborators and the people that work for him; "friending" away in hopes that one day he will notice them. Or make a connection with someone in his "inner circle" that might get them in there too.

What got me started today? A fan posted on Suzanne Somer's wall on a comment she made about having dinner with Barry last night. I knew when I saw that, the crazies would be there--and of course, they were. One "well intentioned fan" proceeded to tell her about a procedure that a relative had done for Afib, where it was done, and how successful it was and asked if she could pass the information along to Barry. Ok...I'm sure it was well intentioned. But come on people. When are we going to let the guy live his own life?

While I'm at it, why do these same fans have conversations with each other on his post feeds? Isn't that what private messaging is for or even personal wall posts? Why do they find it necessary to go back and forth on one of his "notes" to one another as if they were having a one-on-one conversation?

This whole fan world continues to make me shake my head in complete unbelief. You would think that after almost five years I would accept the fact that it defies all sense of human reason, but the rational person in me can't seem to understand it or come to terms with its craziness.

Barry says he likes Ron Paul (well, not really), but let's all jump on the Ron Paul bandwagon. Barry likes dogs, let's all go out and get a dog (a Beagle or a Lab). Barry likes jazz, let's all become jazz fans. Barry eats at Mon Ami Gambi, let's all make that our favorite restaurant. Barry has an iPhone, let's run out and get one. Barry makes a "boob" comment in a show, let's all wear low cut dresses to the shows and wear inappropriate clothing for our ages. You get the picture.

Here's a cold hard fact: Barry has a life and he could care less about what you and I do while we are living ours. "Friending" his friends, posting on their walls, or cozying up to them in Vegas isn't going to get you into his life. What did he tell a recent interviewer, "you only become a part of my private life if I invite you in." These tactics are NOT going to get you an invitation.

Rant over,

Texas Fan

Barry was rapping??

2011-08-01T17:15:00.001-05:00

This little back and forth conversation is the BEST. I'm LOVING this 15 Minutes promotion.

Texas Fan

Why I'm a Manilow Fan

2011-07-16T23:48:00.003-05:00

I've been involved in the Manilow fan world in depth since 2006. My first encounter with fandom came at my first show in Las Vegas on my birthday 5 years ago. It was a positive experience. So much so, that I'm still close with that fan today (even though she's my daughter's age). Since that first encounter, I've had many other ones. Some good, some not so good, and some absolutely horrible. I've made some good friends, made some enemies, had enemies turn into friends, and choose to ignore the rest. I've been disillusioned and discouraged by fan behavior in the past and vented here on my blog numerous times.

Every now and then, after being away from the fan world, it happens. My faith in the "nice" factor is restored and I realize that not all fans are jealous, petty and vindictive. Tonight was one of those nights. Two fans (whom I've never met in person, by the way) took time out of their festivities tonight in Vegas to meet my daughter who was there for the weekend. She has heard me talk so much about the fan world, and one of these ladies actually took time out of her busy life to mail my daughter's wedding cake top to her two years ago (again, without us ever having met).

Barry has said often that his fans are unique. I've said that the friendships I've made over the last five years are priceless. But tonight, I also learned that there really is something special and unique about Manilow fans. When you meet these type of fans, it makes you proud to say that Barry actually brought us together.

Thanks Fran and Susan for welcoming Jillian into your world tonight. I hope some day to meet you in person, but for now, I treasure your friendship.

Tipping my hat to Barry (for bringing us all together),

Texas Fan

How can we get Barry trending on Twitter?

2011-07-16T15:09:00.003-05:00

@Franaway was so kind to pass this article along to me about Trending topics:

How Twitter Trending Topics Work and How to Influence Them

Take some time and read it, but here are the key points:

EVEN THOUGH THE VOLUME OF TWEETS DOESN’T MATTER WHEN TRENDING TOPICS ARE CONCERNED THE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE TWEETING ABOUT A SUBJECT DOES MATTER

Put simply it’s far better to have 100 people tweet the same hashtag consistently over a longer period of time then to have 10 people constantly tweet the same hashtag. There is a simple reason why this is true and why it happens which is because it gives a better over view of what the world is talking about, not what a few are interested in.

THIRDLY CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY!

Strong trending topics are created by lots of people talking about the same thing consistently over a long period of time, seems simple doesn’t it? Of course it does but most importantly it’s a very natural way to register what the world is really talking about.

AND LASTLY TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Major events and popular TV shows monopolizes the trending topics and for good reason, these are talking points that unite and divide people and encourage conversation, they also meet every single criteria set out above as they promote consistently large amounts of tweets from a large volume of people over a prolonged period.

Looks like we're meeting ALL the criteria. Pass the word along and get as many people joining in as you can.

See you Tuesday,

Texas Fan

What is a #Manilow Chat on Twitter?

2011-07-15T20:32:00.008-05:00

Think of a Twitter chat as an online flash mob where a group of people convene at a certain time and engage in a form of choreographed mass communication before a group of unsuspecting bystanders. It's exciting, interesting, and captivating. At times, you don't know where to look! You can either choose to stand by and watch or, in the case of a Twitter chat, join the insanity. Chats typically last one hour.

The easiest way to join or follow a chat is to use a Twitter tool to track the tweets by the chat's designated hashtag (ex: #Manilow). The most important thing to remember to do is to use the chat's hashtag when you want to join the dance - contribute to the conversation.

To make things simple, here is what you do:

TweetChat  

Use TweetChat to stream tweets by the designated hashtag for a particular chat. For example, to join #Manilow, go to TweetChat.com, sign up with your Twitter account id, enter the name of the hashtag to follow (Manilow) and converse in real time. All of the related tweets will appear in a TweetChat Room on your screen. When you submit a post/tweet, TweetChat will automatically append the chat's hashtag so you don't have to remember to do so.

What's the number one mistake a newbie makes during a Twitter online chat? Forgetting to add the hashtag to the post. But if you use TweetChat, you won’t have to worry about it!

Thanks to Kelly Queijo of Smart College Visit and the creator of #CampusChat for this simple explanation of a Twitter Chat. She’s going to join us next Tuesday so introduce yourself and welcome her into the Manilow world!

Here are some of my tips:

Don’t worry about keeping up with every single post. Respond to the ones that interest you.
Don’t forget to RT (retweet) often to help with the trending and to let others in your feed see the conversation.
If it goes too fast for you, don’t be too concerned. Just read, RT and enjoy the conversations. You don’t have to converse with everyone and you can even make your own statements related to the topic (Barry’s new CD).
Follow the lead of the co-hosts (myself and Patti) and comment on any questions we ask or comments we make.

That about covers it. If you have questions, simply ask during the chat, and someone will answer and help you.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

Tuesday, July 19, 5PM and 9PM ET

#Manilow Twitter Chat

Our Goal: Talk about the new album and get #Manilow to trend on Twitter, thus creating a buzz about 15 Minutes.

See you there,

Texas Fan

Can we get a WOOT for Manilow!

2011-07-15T14:06:00.008-05:00

That's right--a big fat Texas WOOT and HOOT AND HOLLER for the one and only BARRY MANILOW and his chart topping success-15 MINUTES.

Ousting David Cook from the #1 spot last week, positioning his album ahead of (wait....) Beyonce, Adele and YES, even Lady Gaga. If you ever wondered it would be possible, you don't know this guy's music. And for those of us that do...and knew all along...let's GIVE A HIGH FIVE to Barry and his fabulous lyricist Enoch Anderson for showing the world that good music NEVER goes unnoticed. Oh yah...and a BIG FAT RASBERRY to Clive Davis!

Pumped,

Texas Fan

Shameless promotion for 15 minutes

2011-07-07T19:59:00.002-05:00

I love this guy but he's SUCH a geek (in a good way of course).

Texas Fan

Billboard Top 200-Great News!

2011-06-22T10:21:00.004-05:00

According to a press release today:

For Immediate Release

Barry's new album debuted at #7 in the Billboard Top 200 and was #2 on the Independent album chart.

Three words: WAY TO GO!

This is fabulous news for the fans (and for Barry and his team!)

Texas Fan

The "question" controversy

2011-06-15T19:26:00.007-05:00

It happened. An interviewer, Gayle King, asked the dreaded question: Are you in love? And Barry, true to form, answered, "I am in love...with my music." But Gayle wouldn't let that go. She said, "I mean with a two-legged person." Here it comes. The answer all fans have been wanting to hear (even though they would never admit it), "Yes I am."

You would have thought the fan world would be all abuzz about the admission. Especially those fans who "knew he loved them" or were convinced that "one day he would fall in love with them." But nope. The uproar over the interview was that she had the audacity to even ask the question. How dare her? And once again, the defenders of things Manilow jumped on the bandwagon and began their attack.

Sadly, they missed the best highlights of that interview:

He is happy. You could tell when he answered the question, he smiled. And when he talked about his album, you could tell how proud he is of his work.

He answered the question. He didn't have to answer it. He's dodged it before. But he chose at this point to answer the question.

He put her in her place. He told her that he doesn't allow just anyone into his private life and only if he chooses to let them in are they privy to his personal information. Basically, "any other information is none of your business."

He turned the interview back to the album. He's a pro and he knows how to answer questions. He's perfectly capable of handling himself in any uncomfortable situation, especially from the media.

I agree with YBA's comment on the subject. These interviews would make great clips filtered together to make a promo for his album about fame. Gather them together, put the music from the album as the background, and post it on YouTube. It would go viral in a heartbeat!

Can't we just let him enjoy the ride?

Texas Fan

15 Minutes: A Fan's Review

2011-06-13T22:36:00.004-05:00

I'm not really equipped to give this album a critical review. I'm just a fan. I've listened to Barry's music for years. There are some albums that are at the top of my playlist and other songs I enjoy listening to when the shuffle brings them up. Any fan who has been around for many years knows that Barry's original music is far and above superior musically to any of the cover songs he has been doing lately. And this album does not disappoint.

I'm not a musical expert, but I know what I like. I know that the best reviews will take the album song by song, but for me, this new work is all about the album. It's about the story it tells. It's about taking us through the steps to fame, what happens when you get it, and what happens when you lose it. If you take the songs separately, you miss the whole point of the album--it weaves a story with lyrics and music. You can't just read pages from a book and understand the plot. You have to read the entire book. It's the same with this album. You have to listen to it all together to appreciate it's genius.

What do I love about the album?

I love Enoch Anderson's lyrics.
I love the guitar/rock sound in the songs.
I love the emotion you can feel in the songs (anger, frustration, sadness, regret).
I love the way the musical melody from some of the songs recurs throughout the album in other songs.
I love how the music fits the lyrics (in every single song).
I love the power in Barry's voice and the shear joy you can hear as he sings these songs.
I love the musical transitions as they carry you through the story.
I love fades and the repeats in some of the songs, enhancing the point of each song.
I love Nataly Dawn and her eerie rendition of Letter from a Fan (she was the PERFECT choice for this song).
I love the quotes that were interjected in Winner Go Down.
I love Slept Through the End of the World and Trainwreck (these songs are GENIUS!).
I love 15 Minutes and Work the Room (for the shear rocking excitement).

Enough from me. I'm sure there will be tons of reviews in the next few days (especially from the fans). But that's my two cents tonight. As the days go by, I'm sure I'll find even more gems within this concept album. Just as I have with 2AM Paradise Cafe and Here at the Mayflower.

I know I'll have these songs in my head tonight when I go to sleep, but I can't think of a better soundtrack to dream by--

Texas Fan

Manilow at Radio City Music Hall

2011-06-13T19:22:00.005-05:00

The CD signing is on and here's a pic from @Franaway on Twitter of the man himself. Thanks Fran for getting this for us!

Later tonight I'll be giving my own little review of the new album--come back and check it out.

Texas Fan

Manilow, The Showman of our Generation...

2011-06-12T16:32:00.005-05:00

...may have become too good at making people "feel".

That's right, I said it. It's time for a much needed REALITY CHECK for some of these "feeling" fans. It's all I can do these days to read some of the reviews, the posts on Twitter and Facebook, the Manilow Network and the old Barrynet.

Reality Check #1-He is NOT singing to you, and only you. If you think otherwise, you are delusional. The music and the delivery is meant to make you feel, NOT send you into a fantasy world that makes you believe he cares for you.

Reality Check #2-Sucking up to the band, the back up singers, his staff, or any other person close to him will NOT get you into his inner circle. If you think it's not obvious that you are doing this for the sole purpose of getting close to him, you are delusional. Everyone around him knows to keep an eye out for this type of fan.

Reality Check #3-Using social media to contact him or score points is absolutely delusional. If you think he's the man behind the Twitter account, think again. If you think he reads your personal messages, knows that you care, and knows when you are at his shows, you've fallen off the limb of fandom.

Reality Check #4-You are NOT solely responsible for defending him in the media, with non-fans, or with anyone who posts a negative commentary related to him or his music. He wouldn't have survived this long in the business if he hadn't learned to take it with the grain of salt and ignore most of the attacks. The more you stir up the pot, the more negative the publicity becomes. Put a lid on it.

Reality Check #5-If you are at every single show, every single media event, every single public appearance, it's time to step back and ask yourself if this "fandom" has gone too far. Even if you have all the money in the world and nothing else to do with your time, it's not healthy to eat, sleep and breathe Manilow. He would be the first to tell you so. Get a life!

Barry has said in interviews, even recently on The Talk, that all he has ever wanted to do was "make people feel." The extent to which these crazed fans presume to take those feelings cannot be blamed on him or his music. Those fans who have become all-consumed with the delusion that he cares for them (other than as a fan) have only themselves to blame. It's clear how Barry feels about this type of adoration in the song he included on his new album 15 Minutes (Letter From a Fan/So Heavy, So High). He doesn't think it's healthy, and neither should we.

Ok...now you can throw the tomatoes,

Texas Fan

The Manilow Media Blitz--what's different this time?

2011-06-10T23:23:00.007-05:00

Since my good friends (YBA and Lori) are doing an excellent job keeping everyone up to date on the latest appearances, I'm going to let them be the "go-to" blogs for the links and Facebook posts. If you want to watch some of the appearances, check them out!

I thought I'd throw in my two cents about this media blitz and how it differs from the ones for the cover albums. And since I'm infamous for "sharing my unsolicited opinion", why break the mold? I just finished watching the clips from the George Lopez show, while spewing a mouthful of diet coke onto my iPhone as I watched.

What makes this media blitz different?

1-Who is this guy? Remember a few posts ago I said this after listening to the QVC presentation of the album. Now I'm saying it after watching several of the interviews. He is grinning from ear to ear, excited about talking to reporters and interviewers, displaying some of that Manilow wit I've heard about from years gone by, and more relaxed than I've ever seen him with the media. And the STORIES he is telling--isn't it great to hear some NEW tidbits after all these years???

2-Way to use social media. Ok, so it was barely around for the last few cover albums, but MySpace has been. Way to use it to promote the album, create contests for the fans, and spark the conversations on Facebook and Twitter. The candid posts from Barry are the icing on the cake.

3-We don't have to hear about Clive. I don't know about you but I got sick of the "Clive" reference. Yah...I know he's a genius. Yah..I know Barry was grateful for his advice. But seriously, Clive is NOT the reason for Barry's success. It is his widespread appeal and his willingness to make his audience "feel" his music. If you don't believe it, watch his appearance on The Talk--those women were putty in his musical hands.

4-When you believe in something, it shows. His passion for this album is coming out not only in the music, but in the way he promotes it and himself. You can tell he's not doing any of them out of obligation, but out of pure excitement for the quality of the album.

5-Way to get the fans involved. The contests, the Facebook posts, the album signings, and keeping them abreast on all the media appearances. From what I've heard from some of the fans who have been around for years, this is reminiscent of the past years when the new albums came out and the fans got involved in the promotions.

6-All the radio appearances. From what I'm reading about iHEARTradio and the Manilow station, it sounds amazing. Then there has been the BBC radio segments on the great masters and the Sirius Love channel weekend. It's great to hear his music on the radio again and have people call and say, "hey, I just heard a new song from Barry; did you know he has a new album coming out?"

I wish I could head to NYC for the CD signing, or had the time to watch and keep up with all the marvelous appearances. But as YBA said, I will be living vicariously through those who can and look forward to reading about it online.

The excitement builds for the 14th!

Texas Fan

Who is this guy?

2011-05-26T20:04:00.004-05:00

I told my Twitter peeps...you might not recognize Manilow tonight on QVC because his new 15 Minutes music is ROCKING AWESOME. That's right--AWESOME. If you think you know Manilow, think again!

Where do I begin? The guitar solos, the rocking feel of the upbeat songs, the gut-wrenching ballads that can rip your heart out. And that's just from the few songs we got to hear tonight. I can't even begin to imagine what the entire album will be like when it all flows together.

This album is why the fans kept begging and pleading for original music; and Barry hit this one out of the ballpark...home run...bases loaded...bottom of the 9th!

And Barry...wow...you could see his excitement. He was like a kid in a candy store. He is so proud of this album and has every right to be--it's beyond amazing, it's spectacular!

So let's shout it to the world--Twitter, Facebook, on our blogs. MANILOW ROCKS!

Pumped,

Texas Fan

P.S. The fans knew he had it in him all along! Who is this guy? It's MANILOW!

BUY THIS ALBUM: QVC Presale

This is what gives Manilow fans a bad name

2011-05-25T22:36:00.004-05:00

I was on Twitter tonight and I did a #Manilow search, just to see who was talking about him. Much to my surprise, I came across this post:

And this my friends is what gives Manilow fans and Barry a bad name. Why is that every time someone expresses discontent with something he does, the fans have to go into attack mode? This poor woman was disappointed that he cancelled. Come on...we've all felt that disappointment, even the fans. We may not post about it (although I have), but we feel it. She was using her blog to vent. Like it or not, it's her right. Instead of just a few people reading it, now she's broadcasting it on Twitter for the world to see.

Come on people...let's lighten up. This is NOT the time to go into attack mode. He has an album coming out. Use your common sense before you personally attack someone over their own comments about Barry. Let them have their opinion and you have yours.

Seriously...

Texas Fan

A great interview/chat with Barry

2011-05-25T12:57:00.004-05:00

The media blitz continues and here's one of the best interview/chats I've ever heard. Why? Because the fans asked some great questions. If you have 30 minutes, be sure to listen to it.

http://www.1067litefm.com/pages/live/

The more he talks about this album, the more excited I'm getting about the QVC preview!

Til later,

Texas Fan

Footnote: Here's another great interview:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/2011/may/25/barry-manilow-performs-live/

Fame...can you take it?

2011-05-24T21:43:00.005-05:00

Yes. I admit. I watched some of the clips. Dang Barry's voice sounds strained. That can't be good considering he has QVC in just a few days. Here's hoping all the medication he's taking whips his vocal chords into shape, or he begs off and just "lip syncs" it. Yes...I said the awful words. But hey, why push it? After all, without the pipes he can't promote the album on every single talk show in the country for the next several weeks.

I bet you thought I wasn't going to mention the apology on Facebook. Gotcha.

Yes, I read the apology for the recent cancellations in Vegas. Do I think it was sincere? Absolutely. Much like "you had me at hello", Barry had me when he started off the message "I'm so sorry" and ended it with "please forgive me".

You will recall, several of the bloggers begged (and I mean begged) Stiletto to be frank with the fans regarding past cancellations.

Why the sudden change?

Facebook has become a "safe" place to communicate with the fans
A new CD is coming out on an independent label and it's not a good time to have disgruntled fans
They finally listened and realized that honesty is always the best policy

You choose which of the three you believe is the real reason. Personally, I would like to think it's #3, but time will tell as the future unfolds.

Before I close, I would like to say that I hope Barry takes care of himself AND that 15 Minutes gets the airplay it deserves.

Over and out,

Texas Fan

15 Minutes-Be Still My Heart!

2011-05-19T17:08:00.004-05:00

I just listened to the song sampling on Barnes and Noble's site for the new album. From just these few short snippets I can tell this album is going to ROCK MY WORLD. It's been a VERY long time since I've been this excited about any new music that was coming out. But after listening to the short takes of the new album, the release date can't get here fast enough.

I have to say that there is quite a buzz about it on Twitter and Facebook, and the blogs are all talking about how much they are looking forward to its release. I hope that the music world finally recognizes the genius that is in Barry's musical repertoire and realizes that he is so much more than a pop artist.

Whatever happens, I hope Barry knows that his fans appreciate this gift and that we will do our best to send out the best of vibes for him and for the album's success.

What's my favorite so far? Just from the clips, it's "Work the Room" and "Winner Go Down". And "Letter from a Fan" is going to be quite interesting. Just from the first few lines I can already recognize some familiar "fan" statements.

Waiting impatiently for it to arrive in my hot little hands!

Texas Fan

15 Minutes Sneak Peaks

2011-04-30T21:51:00.003-05:00

Barry explains the concept of the album and gives us a little preview of the first song.

"Letter from a Fan"....now THAT one sounds very interesting. I wonder if we will recognize anyone in the words???

Tic toc, tic toc,

Texas Fan

15 Minutes...and counting

2011-04-28T22:08:00.006-05:00

It won't be long now. We're counting down to the release date and the QVC preview show and I have to tell you, I am PUMPED to hear the entire album. "Bring on Tomorrow" is growing on me and after spending the day listening to "Here at the Mayflower", "Paradise Cafe" and "Scores" I'm ready for the next installment of original music.

The album cover ROCKS! It's young, vibrant and exciting. I especially love the details of the camera phones in the crowd. Kudos to the designer and Barry for choosing it.

Stay posted...as time gets closer there will be more news and updates coming.

Until then, Bring on Tomorrow,

Texas Fan

Bring on Tomorrow

2011-03-11T17:39:00.009-06:00

It happened. Hell finally froze over. This is indeed a day to remember. The long awaited ORIGINAL album made it's debut today in the UK via ONE song--Bring on Tomorrow on a radio show. As I listened to it, it reminded why I love his music so much. Let's hope that everyone else who hears it agrees with the fans and that he and Enoch Anderson have a #1 hit from the songs in this album.

If the rest of the album is anything like this song, we have much to anticipate and look forward to.

Melting in Texas,
Texas Fan

Here's the song list Via Michael Lloyd on Twitter:
the order: 1. 15 minutes. 2. work the room 3. bring on tommorrow 4. now it's for real 5. wine song 6. he's a star 7. written in stone 8. letter from a fan/so heavy so high 9. everybody's leaving 10. who needs you 11. winner go down 12. slep...t thru the end of the world 13. trainwreck 14. 15 minutes reprise

P.S. Like what you hear and want the song? You can purchase it at:
Manilow.com

The Grammys, Gaga and whatever happened to music?

2011-02-15T23:10:00.005-06:00

I know this won't be a popular opinion, but whatever happened to music? I'm seriously underwhelmed by Lady Gaga. Why can't a singer/musician/songwriter stand out because of their talent? Why does it always have to be some sort of extravaganza to get people's attention?

I have to ask myself what it was like during the planning session for Lady Gaga's entrance. Do you think anyone actually had the nerve to tell her she's crazy? Or did they all just nod their heads and agree to anything she wanted? After the awards people were saying how cool that was and how she's such a music innovator. Are you kidding me? If this is the future of music we have all lost our minds.

Perhaps I'm showing my age by asking these questions, but I honestly can't believe the 2 1/2 hour parade of music that I watched the other night. There were a few bright spots: the medley of Aretha Franklin songs and Barbra Streisand's appearance (although you could tell she was nervous and her voice was not at its best). But the four letter word bleeps from some of the songs and the Justin Bieber performance made me wonder why oh why I was even wasting my time.

I long for the days when the likes of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand and some of the famous jazz musicians were honored. Did you see everyone's faces when Justin Bieber didn't win the best new artist? Esperanza who? That was, for me, priceless. Maybe all those people who went searching for her afterwards will learn a little bit about music. Maybe Lady Gaga should spend less time with the sideshow and more time developing some "new" music--especially since her song sounded awfully like Madonna's song from the 80's.

Barry didn't win, but he had some stiff competition. You couldn't go anywhere during the last few months of the year without hearing Michael Buble's "Haven't met you yet" playing in the stores and on the radios. It was a fair win and at least someone who knew how to sing beat the guy who writes the songs.

Enough ranting for tonight,
Texas Fan

P.S. After Sunday, I can't wait for 15 Minutes to rock the music world!

Wishing 15 Minutes was here in 15 Minutes

2011-02-05T00:10:00.009-06:00

It's finished. The much anticipated, highly awaited ORIGINAL album that Barry's been promising for a year. It's here. Tonight, on Barry's Facebook Fan page, these comments were posted:

Today, Barry invited his management team, agents, BMIFC staff, and friends to a special listening party of FIFTEEN MINUTES in Hollywood, CA. Here is what some of the attendees said about the new album after they heard it:

“WOW! Not what I was expecting…I can’t wait to hear it again!”

“The album’s story is so very real…I was emotionally invested throughout!”

“Immensely creative and incredibly relevant to today's world of celebrity.”

"I kept getting goose bumps! Sometimes it was a touching lyric, sometimes from a beautiful melody, sometimes from a powerful guitar solo. I loved that there were so many different elements to the songs, I was constantly being surprised."

I only have four words to say, "How about a listen????"
Texas Fan

Consider the Source

2011-01-24T22:26:00.006-06:00

Over the weekend the Manilow fan world was all abuzz about a negative concert review in the St. Petersburg Times. I guess what sparked the anger and desire to “circle the wagons” was the nature of the review and the way it was written. I hesitate to call it a review, except for the few song mentions, because it was more of a personal attack on Barry’s looks and catalog of songs. As angry as the fans were, I doubt this review will go down in the “putz” hall of fame because it wasn’t very well written and the reviewer didn’t take the time to establish any credibility or expertise in reviewing. I would guess that because of the review, the site got tons of hits and traffic (something any online newspaper values), even if it garnered some less than tasteful comments from the visitors.

Instead of blasting this guy for his words, I decided it might be helpful for all of us to see why and where he missed the mark. It’s true he didn’t like the music and that he had a personal opinion of the musician and his fans. But did he actually write something that can even be considered a “review”. To do this, I went to Google and did a search on “how to write a music review of a concert”. Since most of the results gave the same information, what follows is a synopsis of the top 5 elements of a GOOD review:

1. Keep your review in context with the style, or genre, of music performed at the concert. It’s perfectly clear that this reviewer did not understand any of these points in reference to Barry’s music. His concerts are composed of hits because that’s what his catalog of music includes, and it’s what the concert attendees expect. After 30 years of music, it’s impossible to include every song in the catalog or expect him to veer too much of course from the type of music his fans expect to hear.

2. Pay attention to the age range of the audience that the artist wants to reach. Barry’s music is not age specific, but it is the type of music that appeals to an older audience. You aren’t going to see him bust up a guitar or move across the stage like a teenager. He’s smart enough to know what he is good at and although he ventures into some different areas of music occasionally, he stays in the pop music realm because he knows his audience. You can understand every word to every song and it’s not artificially enhanced.

3. Note the versatility of the artist giving the concert. Barry is nothing if he isn’t versatile. He sings, performs, engages the audience, belts out power ballads, leads fun sing-a-longs, adds in those high energy songs, and makes you feel like you’re sitting in his living room at times. Versatile is his middle name.

4. Try to include the story behind the story. This reviewer never even mentioned why Barry was in Florida to do those concerts—to help the schools with musical instrument donations and raise funds for the Manilow Music Project. This, of all his omissions, was perhaps the worst.

5. Keep your review limited to a few songs that got your attention. While he did mention of few of the songs, he did not go into detail about why they got his attention or why he felt the need to mention them, except to make fun of their content. He did not display any kind of musical expertise related to the area of pop music, nor did he examine why the music has been so popular for so many years.

All of these “how to articles” also mentioned the audience. One of them said, “An adept concert reviewer may also comment on the audience. Was it a full house with standing room only or a sparsely attended event? Did the audience seem enthusiastic and involved or disappointed and disinterested?” It’s obvious by his review that he neglected to comment on the apparent excitement of the audience and an almost sold out venue.

As one fan pointed out, this review isn’t going to be remembered. What might happen, however, is the fans keep talking about it, giving it more attention than it deserves. Barry’s catalog of music speaks for itself. His tenacity as a performer speaks for itself. His long-term fan base speaks for itself. The fact that he packs arenas and venues after all these years speaks for itself. His career has spanned decades and that alone speaks for itself.

Here’s the question: why do we care what one bozo says? My mother used to say: consider the source. Judge the reviews you read, (fan or critic) by the above criteria to determine if it’s something you want to use to judge an album, music or concert by. It’s perfectly acceptable to not enjoy a performance. But if you can’t back up your opinion by anything other than personal attacks, it’s not worth the read. And, while I’m at it, it’s just as classless to take one person’s review, and slander a geographic group based on the simple fact that the reviewer lives there. Let’s not lower ourselves to his level and get personal.

I’ll wrap this up by posting the recap from one journalist discussing concert reviews: “The best concert reviews evaluate both content and performances, describing the songs and overall quality of the performance in specifics and overall.” I don’t see anything about commenting on a person’s age, looks, or personal characteristics.

Let’s move on (to Jacksonville, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale),

Texas Fan

That Manilow Magic strikes again

2011-01-21T15:19:00.004-06:00

It's been awhile. Life tends to happen. Work tends to happen. This blog seems to take a back seat lately to all my other internet ramblings.

But today I wanted to share a story of a guy who used to poke fun at my Manilow mania. I was around him quite often during my years of what I like to call (falling off the limb fandom). Barry was all I talked about and all I did in my spare time. Everyone around me got pretty tired of the obsession. Looking back, I can't say that I blame them.

But last night, my guy friend, got drug (probably unwillingly) to a concert with a friend of his. I had no idea he would be there but his Facebook page showed a status update:

"Two minutes to Barry Manilow...live. yep, you read right.
I'm 6th row at a Barry Manilow concert. so random. so great"

Later, some pictures showed up with these comments:

"Unreal...legendary" AND "tremendous show"

Yep, Barry has made another convert. From what I heard from my friend, and Lori (read her great blog post), this was one amazing night. It never ceases to amaze me how the music gets them every time. It may be uncool to be a Manilow fan, but once you experience the Manilow Magic live and in person, you're hooked. Plus, I'm sure the orchestra didn't hurt. His music comes alive when he has all those instruments to work with!

Thanks for the memories Andy and for the joy of seeing another guy get sucked into the music.

Over and out,
Texas Fan

Violets for your Furs

2010-12-06T21:13:00.011-06:00

I love Christmas music. I'm happy to listen to the standards, but I love what Barry does with his Christmas albums. He's not content to put out the standard album. He bumps it up a notch and finds some gems to include that he can produce with his genius musical talent. Violets for your Furs is one of those gems.

Another thing Barry does that I absolutely love is combining songs with one another. It's as if they were made to fit together and he finds the perfect harmony and syncopation that makes them flow so smoothly.

Barry's Christmas music reminds me of why I fell in love with his music in the first place. Every year when I pull them off the shelf and put them on I have to smile because those old feelings come back--the ones that stir up my memories and emotions; the ones that get me excited about hearing new music from him; the ones that remind me that it was and always is all about the music.

It always surprises me that some people can't see past the persona into the person and the talent. It's sad that in order to be received as a musician, someone has to create a marketable persona to attract fans. What does this say about the fans? And what does this say about how easily we are distracted from the music?

Something to think about,
Texas Fan

P.S. Congratulations to Barry for his Grammy nomination--next year it will be for his new album "Fifteen Minutes" (impatiently waiting to hear this masterpiece!)

Are you kidding me?

2010-10-21T12:48:00.004-05:00

I just noticed it's been awhile since I've posted. What would cause me to pull my "I'm in denial about the Manilow world" head out from under the covers and shiver in disbelief? A reality show about Manilow fans.

First of all, after watching some of those tacky "Housewives" on Bravo, this show would probably get the ratings. Silly women falling all over each other to get a handshake, a glance, an opportunity to sing with him. Not to mention the cat fights that occur within the fan world and the outrageous behavior at the shows. It might make for some really good (and sickly perverted) television watching.

Secondly, what type of fan would be interested in going on this show--knowing full well they would not be painted in the most positive light? Oh right...I forgot that we're talking about Manilow fans.

In conclusion, if this is legit (and who knows if it is), any self-respecting fan should stay far, far away from this one. If you have a desire to be on television, find another venue. There is always an opening on Wife Swap!

Back to hiding under the covers,
Texas Fan

To whom it may concern

2010-08-22T00:49:00.006-05:00

Recently, someone affiliated with Mr. Manilow posted this tweet on Twitter:

"If you block everyone who is following you who has no life....does that make them lifeless?"

I thought it might be time to explain the whole idea of Twitter. Based on this tweet, he obviously doesn't understand how to use it. (He might want to have a chat with @BrianCulbertson for some tips).

Here are 4 reasons why he hasn't got a clue:

The whole idea of Twitter is to gain followers, not block them. Since he's obviously a businessman, I would assume that he would want to portray a positive image and not use it for snarky remarks like this one.
There's no point in using Twitter if you don't post tweets. It's rare that this gentleman posts much of anything noteworthy and even rarer that his posts are either helpful, conversational, or informational.
Twitter is a social networking tool. But then again it's not surprising that he doesn't understand this because he has no idea how to maintain positive customer service relationships. The key word here is "social", and obviously it's not being social when you criticize your followers for following you.
The people that choose to follow you do so because they are hoping you have something to say worth reading. However, it might be more appropriate for his "followers" to block HIS tweets and stop following him, because he rarely has anything worthwhile to say.
Twitter, is a social site to be used to promote relationships. Perhaps this is where the breakdown in communication comes from. Every one of the people who follow me do so because they are trying to promote relationships (business or personal). He should take notes from @Starzbz and @Starzbz2 (these guys know how to be social and promote relationships).

My recommendation: shut down your account and let the rest of us who actually care about other people enjoy the Twitterverse.

And of course, as always, this is Just My Humble Opinion,
Texas Fan

The fast paced fan world of Manilow

2010-07-23T10:56:00.005-05:00

Gosh...get involved in real life and you miss so much in the Manilow world. It's been months since I hopped on to the MMN. And even longer since I read the alt-fan site. I can't even remember the last time I looked at the Barrynet. Can I smile without it? Absolutely!

I've come to realize how time consuming fandom can be. If you truly want to immerse yourself in the Manilow fan world it requires hours and hours a day/and or night. Time that is scarcely there for me anymore. And time that seems, for me at least, to be a waste. Because, when it comes right down to it, what have I missed? After spending about 30 minutes browsing around last night, I realized that not much has changed. Fans are still fighting with one another. Fan gangs are still exerting their bullying tactics over the poor, innocent "newbies". The chickadees are still talking about how "hot" Barry is. :::Yawn:::

I did miss: the convention (although not much was said about it--I found more information on Facebook); some crazy women in an elite group were apparently outed for their lewd posts (not surprising); there was a FREE online convention (unsanctioned by the BMIFC--wow!). Barely anything to truly peak my interest.

What does interest me? Radio interviews, articles about Barry, candid first-person stories, and pictures of him at celebrity events. The best place (and the only place as far as I'm concerned) to find this is Moonstone's blog: Shadows of Manilow. She keeps up with the news and information and these things interest me. I also enjoy reading Dana's reviews of the shows. Anything else is a yawn. And, you can have the fan drama, thank you very much!

What do I miss? The friendships. The good times. The excitement of Vegas. The music. But...I'll always have the music and the memories.

Signing off for now,
Texas Fan

P.S. The best news I've heard lately--Redcat's blog is BACK! Check it out--Redcat's Return.

When the GOOD times come again...

2010-07-06T22:30:00.004-05:00

This week the BMIFC convention will be in full swing and hundreds of Manilow fans will be converging on Las Vegas to celebrate the music that is Manilow and the man that is the music. While I was walking this morning, one of my favorite songs came up on my Ipod and the memories came flooding back of all those "good" times I have had in Las Vegas centered around Barry and his music.

But the words of this song express exactly where I am in my Manilow journey:

Every rainbow has to have an end
A pot of gold or dreams foretold
May not be there my friend
In this high and mighty world we live in
Some times we have to break
Some times we have to bend
Until the good times come again

Hope we both survive the world out there
You'll never know what wind will blow
So don't forget I care
And don't forget the way we felt together
Sometimes we have to hold
To all the good that's been
Until the good times come again

I'll see you then
When the good times come again
When you and I have made it back
From the people and the places we have been

I'll see you then
When the good times come again
The door that we go out of
Is door that we come in
When the good times come again.

For me, this world holds many wonderful memories and has brought me into the lives of some very special people. People who have become friends and people who have come alongside me during this difficult and yet exciting time in my life. And just because I'm not able to be with them right now, it doesn't mean that there won't come a time that I will again. Knowing this, somehow, makes this time in my life more bearable. For now, I have my memories and pictures of those good times to carry with me.

I'll see you then, when the good times come again,
Texas Fan

An indepth look at the man and his music

2010-07-01T20:04:00.006-05:00

I just read an article posted on Moonstone's blog (Up Close and Personal with Barry Manilow) that was so indepth and honest I had to sit back, wait a minute and read it again. It's been a very long time since I've read anything about Barry that was so incredibly open and vulnerable.

Take some time and read it if you haven't already. My favorite quote came at the end of the piece:

I’d like my tombstone to read:
The only proof he needed for the existence of God was music.

If we could only see more of this guy,
Texas Fan

New Ad Campaign--Manilow Paris

2010-06-24T12:42:00.001-05:00

STUNNING! Great copy lines and photo.
Texas Fan

What a surprise...NOT.

2010-06-21T13:12:00.002-05:00

Site went down at 10:01....programmers are scrambling.

TOO many people trying to get on line.

Don't give up.

Garry C. Kief

President

Stiletto Entertainment

Here we go again---
Texas Fan

Living vicariously through others

2010-05-30T20:38:00.007-05:00

It wasn't too long ago that I was jumping on planes and heading to Vegas, and elsewhere, to see Barry Manilow perform. But my life has changed in the last year and those frequent trips have come to a screeching halt. Next week, and next month, some of my friends will be hopping on planes to head out to Vegas and this time, I won't be joining any of them.

It's hard to stay amped up about the shows and related events when you feel so far removed from the excitement. I sympathize with all those who have never been fortunate enough to see him perform live and I understand how difficult it must be to read and hear about other fans' experiences, all the while wishing you could be fortunate enough to participate as well. But all you can do is live vicariously through others and if you're lucky draw from past memories.

And boy, do I have the memories. I'm blessed in that respect. I've made some amazing friends, had some wonderful experiences, traveled around the country and experienced many different concert venues. I've shared some special moments and witnessed my friends have moments of their own. It's been an amazing ride.

This month and next, I'll be reading the reviews and talking to my friends while they are having the time of their lives in Vegas. If they manage to make it to Atlantic City, I'll be remembering the trip I took there to see Barry right after his surgery and the day we spent there after the Philadelphia concert walking on the boardwalk. Lately, it's the memories, and living vicariously, that keep me going and hanging on to the edge of fandom.

Living in the memories,
Texas Fan

Did I miss anything?

2010-05-08T20:30:00.006-05:00

I've been a little preoccupied lately with life. My daughter is pregnant with my first grandchild. There is nothing more important than participating in this wonderfully exciting event. And I've had some health decisions that have been weighing heavy on my mind. I've been working my ass off establishing myself in a new market. Suffice it to say that the Manilow world has been the last thing on my mind.

But I spent some time browsing around the usual fan sites tonight and found that I've missed quite a bit of drama, some announcements, a request to renew my membership, and even some new pictures of the Manilow store.

The drama: I never miss that. It's always nice to live in a bubble and not get all wrapped up in the usual fan related incidents and melodramas.
The announcements: those hold little significance to me any longer (except another dangling carrot of the new album 15 Minutes--that will ALWAYS interest me).
Renew my fan club membership: let's see--I'll pass on that one. Honestly, I can read the announcements on the website and I don't need another BMIFC pin. As far as being able to purchase the best seats, that was never the truth. The Hilton always had better seats available than the fan club and I assume so does the Paris hotel.
Pictures of the new Manilow store: it looks like a really nice place in a really nice hotel. I'm happy that Barry is now there and that he's receiving the publicity and recognition he deserves.

It's amazing how a little distance can give you some perspective. Do I want to see the new show? Sure. It's new and I'd like to see it. Honestly, I don't miss the shows as much as I miss my friends and spending time with them. That was always the crux of my frequent trips to Vegas. Did I enjoy the shows? Absolutely. But I enjoyed the time I spent with friends and the moments that we shared so much more than the performances.

I have no idea when or if I'll ever get back to Vegas. But I still have my memories of some of the best times of my life. I'll remember them fondly and also remember that Barry was a part of them. But life is more than sitting in the front row night after night and wishing and hoping for a glance, a smile, or a handshake. I prefer to live in the real world, no matter how hard it can be at times, or how many difficult decisions I have to make. I prefer to invest in the future and not live in the past or wish for things that can never be.

Still believing that it is ALL about the music,
Texas Fan

One Voice "with a Twist"

2010-04-10T22:41:00.007-05:00

Honestly, there isn't anything better than pure Manilow and One Voice is pure Manilow. Combine the genius of the simplicity of One Voice with the clear, pure tones of the voices in Straight No Chaser and you've got what I like to call PERFECTION.

You can listen to the full song at Overstock.com along with the other wonderful songs on this album. These guys are talented with a CAPITAL T! And they were SMART with a CAPITAL S to do this song. It matches their voices AND it showcases one of Barry's masterpieces.

But then again, we all knew he was a genius--sometimes it's great to hear it once again.

Run don't walk to buy this album!
(Listening and re-listening to that song tonight)
Texas Fan

What I LOVE about Barry being at Paris Las Vegas

2010-03-26T22:10:00.004-05:00

(photo taken by @ParisVegas via Twitter)

I hate to use the "H" word, but I feel I must. Because tonight's "play-by-play" on Twitter of the Manilow show made me an even bigger fan of The Paris and convinced me beyond a doubt that this venue is where Barry belongs. The "red carpet" treatment his show has received since moving there--from massive billboards, to coverage in the local papers, to giveaways on the radio stations, to the awesome use of social media to stay in touch with the fans, to courting the Vegas concierges--what a SHARP contrast to the treatment he received at the "H"ilton. There...I said it. Now....here's the transcript from tonight's show (for those of you that haven't discovered Twitter and those that missed it) **Hint: the timeline is backwards from the last tweet of the evening to the first one entering the theater**

The red sequined heart on the back of Manilow's tux is a nice touch. Full standing ovation!

--------------------------

"Copacabana" has got to be a bittersweet moment at any Manilow show. Some songs are just too good to be anything but finales.

--------------------------

"I Write the Songs" gets the glowsticks going. http://tweetphoto.com/15983007

---------------------------

Barry 1975 duets with Barry 2010 for "Mandy." Singing harmony with himself. Crowd, unsurprisingly, goes nuts.

---------------------------

@p2nia2 it was a direct quote.

---------------------------

"Even Now" gets the biggest reaction of the night so far.

----------------------------

"If you can't get lucky to this album, give up."

----------------------------

The theme from Love Story is heartfelt, gorgeous & timeless.

----------------------------

Impressionist art and Gershwin covers go together like gin and tonic.

----------------------------

This is like a Quentin Tarantino Mexican standoff with pianos instead of guns. #manilow

----------------------------

Manilow reveals a childhood photo. Entire crowd goes "aww" in unison.

----------------------------

Yes the glowsticks are red. @copabams

----------------------------

Clever use of digital "picture frame" drops to evoke a time & place. Perfect complement to #Manilow's storytelling about his songs.

----------------------------

The jacket comes off. Barry means business. "I Want to Be Somebody's Baby" grooves like Bernie Taupin on his best day.

-----------------------------

One man, a piano and one spotlight. "Weekend in New England" seems to be inspiring widespread audience snuggling. #manilow

------------------------------

The whole crowd is swaying to "Can't Smile Without You." Big smiley face on the LED is swaying too. Huge pop from the audience.

------------------------------

LED pinpoint screen behind the stage goes blue for the night's first ballad, "Somewhere in the Night." Crowd is waving glowsticks.

-------------------------------

Scrim rises, revealing at least 14 musicians & backup singers to perform "Could It Be Magic."

-------------------------------

Stylized, digitized Parisian imagery, strobes & a standing ovation mark #manilow's entrance.

-------------------------------

By request, a shot of the showroom. Auditoriums & camera phones don't mix. http://tweetphoto.com/15974749

-------------------------------

RT @VegasBill: http://twitpic.com/1b5pxu - Look who I spotted at Barry Manilow's press night show @ParisVegas?! Yes, @DaynaRoselli

-------------------------------

Vibrant reds, elegant chandeliers set a mood for music and passion at Paris Théâtre. #manilow

-------------------------------

Was handed a glowstick at the door. Didn't realize it was this kind of party. #manilow

A million thanks to Paris Las Vegas and to Barry for sharing this evening with the Twitterverse,
Texas Fan

P.S. If you are on Twitter and want to read ALL the coverage of tonight's show with pics and videos check these out:
@Robin_Leach
@VegasBill
@Norm_Clarke
or you can follow my VegasNews Twitter list and see them all in one place

The NEW Manilow show and social media

2010-03-07T14:04:00.006-06:00

(photo provided by @SkiManilow via Twitter)

Here's a perfect example why I absolutely LOVE social media. Last night we got some early "peeks" at the show via @Robin_Leach (posting videos) and @SkiManilow (with a great picture) on Twitter. Then, Sue Johnson on Facebook posted an early review of the show. Social media lets those who are there share their experiences sooner via their mobile messaging capabilities in social media. It's great for the fans. Great for Barry. And great for The Paris. It's a win/win situation all around.

What's also great was the use of social media when the show had to be canceled. Paris Las Vegas got the word out quickly via Facebook and Twitter (letting everyone know just as soon as the decision was made). They also provided information about the rescheduling as well. Such a difference from the lack of communication when problems occurred at the Hilton.

You can find the links to the videos and pictures on the MMN today, but experiencing them LIVE was a real treat for me. And witnessing the way Paris Las Vegas used social media to communicate with the fans was even greater.

Kudos to Paris Las Vegas, Robin Leach and @SkiManilow...and....to Barry for providing a GREAT opening night of shows!
Texas Fan

A note from AFAN

2010-02-23T13:19:00.002-06:00

Why Are We Still Walking? Why EVERYONE WALKS?

AIDS Walk Las Vegas 2010 will be held on April 25th.

This year will be the 20^th Annual AIDS Walk, twenty years of recognizing a disease that has grown to be a worldwide pandemic.

And we still walk. Contracting HIV at one time was considered a death sentence. But through research, new treatments are developed that not only save thousands of lives, but ensure their greatly improved quality. With nutritional supplementation, lifestyle changes, consistent monitoring and proper healthcare, HIV/AIDS is now considered a “chronic disease” which represents incredible strides in disease management. Unfortunately, the infection rate is still rising. Each day, someone becomes infected every 15 seconds. In the next 10 years, 45 million adults and children will die of AIDS. In the next 20, 75 million will die. In Clark County, an estimated 8000 cases of HIV/AIDS have been reported. We walk because our job is far from over. Until humanity recognizes worldwide that we have to educate both children and adults about high risk behavior, how to protect ourselves, and how to take personal responsibility for our well being, we must continue to raise awareness.

Yes, we still walk because our lives and the lives of people we love have been forever touched by HIV/AIDS. We still walk because HIV/AIDS is non-discriminatory. It is blind to age, race, religion, gender, heritage, level of intelligence, financial status, or your living condition. It is an equal opportunity infection that knows no boundaries.

We must walk to protect our youth, the world’s most precious commodity. At least half of all new HIV infections in the United States are among people under 25, according to the CDC. Every effort has to be made to safeguard our children and young adults through commitment, determination, and compassion. We walk in defense of cherished generations.

We proudly walk because it’s our opportunity to stand up and be counted. Humanity is threatened by the HIV pandemic. All of us, at some point in time, will likely have our lives forever changed by this disease. Las Vegas and Southern Nevada is at greater risk of the spread of HIV simply based upon the tremendous growth in population. As the numbers of new residents rises, so does the per capita rate of HIV infection potential. Nevada has more HIV/AIDS cases per capita than any other western state, including California.

We walk with dignity in memory of those whom we have lost over the years, those remarkable individuals who have forever impacted our lives, minds, and hearts.

Yes, we walk with purpose, determination and compassion. We walk in a show of solidarity, and of support for our families, friends, colleagues and individuals we have never met, who need our understanding and kindness, as much as our vital services. Through the financial support of the AIDS Walk, we are able to provide life enhancing and health supportive programs for our community.

We will walk until that point in time, when AFAN is no longer effective; our services no longer needed and our purpose no longer essential to the solution.

Walking in the AIDS Walk is not about us, individually, it is not about AFAN, per say as an AIDS Service Organization, nor is about political agendas. It is about making a difference within the HIV community of Southern Nevada. The AIDS Walk offers the opportunity to collectively affect change in the lives of many through real activism in raising funds and awareness. Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. Together We Make A Difference!

Here's the details:
For a $25 donation http://www.afanlv.org ...you will receive:

RED HARMONY T-shirt
a glow in the dark LOVE-HOPE-HARMONY bracelet
a raffle ticket for a grand prize

Plus, they have set up an online store as well where you can purchase items with the Team Harmony logo on them. The red shirt, however, is reserved for those who donors and team members only.

Walk the walk,
Texas Fan

Manilow fans: Put your money where your mouth is

2010-02-11T13:38:00.005-06:00

You know the drill. Barry encourages us to give to charity. He does it by leading by example, not just giving it lip service. There is a group of fans that have been participating in Aids Walk Las Vegas sponsored by AFAN (Aid for Aids of Nevada). Team Harmony is once again participating and need your help. Let's show Barry that we can "walk the walk" just like he does and give to this worthy cause.

Here's the details:
For a $25 donation http://www.afanlv.org ...you will receive:

RED HARMONY T-shirt
a glow in the dark LOVE-HOPE-HARMONY bracelet
a raffle ticket for a grand prize

Click the link above to donate
Purchase something from their online store
Sign up to participate in the Aids Walk on April 25th in Las Vegas
Spread the word to other Manilow fans and encourage them to participate

In 2009, The AIDS Walk’s top fundraiser, Judith Domingo-Vicerra, raised $16,415 in support of the cause. Her team raised $17,475, making it the second highest team fundraiser last year. They hope to exceed last year's totals and show everyone that, like Barry, they know how to "walk the walk", not just "talk the talk".

Forward this link, tell all your Manilow friends, send it to your family, and get involved.

Go Team Harmony,
Texas Fan

Where do I begin? Manilow on Kimmel

2010-02-09T13:01:00.005-06:00

Since Jimmy Kimmel live is on at 1am in my neck of the woods, I recorded the episode for later viewing. Imagine my shock and surprise when my DVR malfunctioned and I was unable to watch it the following day. Luckily, it was HuLu to the rescue and I was able to see the "chat" and both song performances this morning. (better late than never!)

There's no way around it, Kimmel makes Barry feel relaxed. He gives him time to talk, asks some cute questions and uses his unique form of comedy to take jabs but make it all in fun. Something I learned: Barry followed Ozzy Osbourne years ago. Now that's an interesting tidbit of information. Was anybody there that remembers it???? (I'd PAY to see a clip of that show!)

All in all, it was a great guest appearance and two good performances of songs from the new album. He looked good in that blue suit and black shirt and his band looked amazing as well on that stage with him. It's so good to see familiar faces when he performs--there is comfort in the familiar.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alert! Personal opinion to follow:
I watched the clips several times and I can't for the life of me figure out why people thought he was lip syncing the songs. It's obvious he was actually singing. The only answer I could come up with: it's the botox that keeps his face from moving. I'll add my comment to YBA's: it's time to age gracefully and own your years. Trust me, I know what it's like to look in the mirror and see those wrinkles and gray hair. But seriously, how many of us would LOVE to see Barry look "natural" again??? Save some bucks and take the Robert Redford route--you've earned every one of those 60+ years!

If you didn't get a chance to see the show or the clips, here are the links:
I can't give you anything but love
Where do I begin?
Barry or Ozzy?
Interview

All in all, a GREAT appearance!
Texas Fan

Moving on up--it's #5 for Manilow's GLSOAT

2010-02-05T12:02:00.006-06:00

It's official. Barry's new album entered the charts at #5. I'm a "believe it when I see it" kind of girl, so the early reports that it jumped from 13 to 5 on the sales charts did not convince me until I saw it for myself. According to Robin Leach, it may even climb to #1 next week. That would be a noteable feat, but one that wouldn't surprise me.

This album seems to strike a chord with so many of the fans and it's release date just in time for Valentine's day was definitely perfect timing. As always, Barry's arrangements make classic songs come to life again and this album seems to be no exception. If you're a romantic, you might want to snatch one up for someone special in your life. Heck, "Where Do I Begin" might just be worth the price!

Congratulations to Barry,
Texas Fan

P.S. Now...it's time for "Fifteen Minutes"!

Barry and Rachel chat it up

2010-01-29T10:18:00.004-06:00

Of all the guest appearances Barry makes I LOVE it when he appears on Rachel Ray. Why? Because she actually "talks" to him. She does her research and knows that of which she speaks. And...she's a fan herself. The audience questions were actually quite good (as opposed to the ditsy phone calls he gets on QVC). You have to wonder if they are vetted before hand.

Things we learned from the questions and the interview:
He actually seemed interested in the 5 ingredient meal Rachel cooked before he came out on stage (pasta, broth and spinach) and said he thought he might be able to cook that (I'm for that since it had spinach in it--high in iron content)
Barry and his band go bowling on their days off (call me crazy but that was the LAST activity I would expect him to be doing in his leisure time)
He uses his first Emmy as a doorstop to his studio (the reasoning behind that is he wants everyone to see it--hmmm...guess putting it there is a place of honor for him since the studio is his mecca)
Before the show he and his "gang" get together, amp the music up, and get pumped up to go out on stage (Lady Gaga????)
His favorite song "today" was Could It Be Magic AND his least favorite used to be Can't Smile Without You until he started singing it with the fans

About the music today:
I have to admit that I love when he performs songs live. It's when I fall in love with them for the first time (just like I did with Islands in the Stream). The theme from Love Story (Where Do I Begin) is taking on that life for me. I loved it on Conan and now today, it's growing on me even more. This is one of those songs where the arrangement is the star. Then Barry works his magic with the lyrics and the delivery. Love Story was THE movie when I was a teenager and the music brings back all kinds of memories when I hear it. Warm fuzzies all around!

Great show!
Texas Fan

Here's the BIGGIE: log on to Rachel's website and win a chance to go to the show in Vegas (once you sign up as a member)

Manilow Media Frenzy

2010-01-20T14:34:00.006-06:00

It’s a Manilow Media Frenzy! It's that time when the media is blitzed with appearances by Barry promoting his new album. And that means every Manilow starved fan can turn on the television for a glimpse of the man who we can't smile without. Mark your calendars; set your tivos or DVRs; tune in for some Manilow magic!

Watch Barry perform songs from his new album on the following shows:

Wednesday, January 20 - Entertainment Tonight
Thursday, January 21 - The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien
Monday, January 25 - The Today Show
Friday, January 29 - Rachel Ray
Friday, February 5 - Jimmy Kimmel Live

I'll be watching,
Texas Fan

The excitement builds-Manilow at The Paris

2010-01-15T22:07:00.003-06:00

Photo courtesy of Tammy Martorana

Is everything truly sexier in Paris? You bet it is! The excitement is building as the signs are up, the press releases are flowing, and the Manilow packages are being offered online. Tonight in our email we got a little preview of Barry at his new home, talking to us about the QVC special. I don't know about you, but I'm love the connection. What could possibly be better than Barry Manilow and The Paris Las Vegas? It's going to be an exciting next few months as the anticipation of opening night builds and the release of his new album jump starts the media frenzy. I won't be there, but I bet the energy next week at the QVC show will be astounding and it will only build until the opening in March.

Music...love...passion...and Barry,
Ooo...la...la!
Texas Fan

QVC Preview--don't miss him Tuesday at 9PM EST!

A Signage Journey-Manilow at the LVH

2010-01-05T23:56:00.016-06:00

above photo courtesy of Linda Foster

above photo courtesy of Laura Embleton

Thanks for the Memories, Barry

2009-12-29T11:09:00.004-06:00

This is the last week of shows at the Hilton. And while I can't claim to have been there "from the beginning", or had the privilege to be there when it ends, I have spent a good deal of time the last few years in Vegas. That time has been littered with memories, highs and lows, and some incredibly life-altering moments. It is all too common to hear in the Manilow world, that Barry brought people together. But it's the truth. I can honestly say that the friends I have met and made attending Manilow shows have come to be my closest confidants and those I now share my life with. It transcends trips to Vegas and nights spent together after the shows. We've traveled across oceans and across continents to be together, spent birthdays together, visited each others homes, and some have even attended my daughter's wedding. I'm always saying "it's ALL about the music", and it is. But it's so much more. It's about the relationships that have remained because of the love for his music.

It's true that Barry is moving on to Paris (which is by far my favorite hotel in Vegas), but it's with a tinge of sadness and a little bit of melancholy that we bid goodbye to the Hilton. It's not the glitziest hotel in Vegas, but for many of us it's where we first met him and first met our friends. It was at the Hilton that I met my very first Barry friend, Mandy and my adventure into fandom began. It's where I sat in Tempo with Karen Roach (who has since passed away) and talked about our escapades on the left stage with a drunk and the dance that Barry and Mandy had together. The Hilton is where "the three musketeers" first bonded, introduced the dance floor idea, and had some fabulous times in Tempo and Shimmer. It's there that I first heard Sandra and Talk to Me, I Am Your Child, Memory, Lay Me Down, I've Never Been So Low on Love, Open Arms, Islands in the Stream, and all the wonderful Mayflower songs. It's also there that I had an up close and personal encounter with Barry who in just a few moments was able to take away the grief I felt over my father's death with his hug.

I will always have a fondness for Fortuna and watching human theater while sipping a cappuccino. I'll even fondly remember "the screamers" at Shimmer and the Pizza Hut at the end of the hall (although I'm not a pizza fan). I will remember breakfasts at the buffet, and meals at the Paradise Cafe, the table at the steakhouse with Barry's picture above it, group dinners at Bennihanna's and sitting by the pool for hours at a time talking. I will have the fondest of memories about early morning coffee in the room and staying up all night after the shows.

My memory bank is full of moments like these at the Hilton. And if it were not for Barry, they would not be there. My life has changed drastically because of Barry Manilow and his music. And although I have no idea what the future holds for me and any trips to the Paris, I am blessed and grateful for the times I have had and the friendships I have been so fortunate to gain because of the common bond we all share, the music.

So Barry, if you ever read this, thanks for the memories and for the times of my life!
Texas Fan

Here We Go Again--Another Manilow Cover Album

2009-12-17T21:44:00.006-06:00

Ok Clive--enough is enough. Can we PLEASE have some original music? Pretty please with sugar on top? We promise we will promote the heck out of it, buy it, buy it for presents, buy it for non-fans, and sing its praises. Just give us a chance. We LOVE Barry's music and we will come out in droves to support any ORIGINAL album.

Pinky swear,
Texas Fan

Half a Mil for Charity

2009-12-16T21:05:00.007-06:00

The official announcement came out yesterday--Barry raised close to half a million at his concerts at the McCallum theater. Half a million big ones--all going toward those 25 charities. Charities that struggle to survive each year and got a much needed shot in the arm because of Barry and his music. Not only Barry, but all those that donated their time and expertise to make this all possible.

Barry has the ability to give "big" because of his talent and his ability to bring the right people together to get the job done. But we can all give, in our own way, to those that need our help every single day. It's not difficult, but it does require that we take that first step and make an offer of help. I read Brian Culbertson's Facebook post the other day that said to take $25 one dollar bills and give one to anyone you see while shopping that asks for help. I thought that was an excellent idea. It might be the Salvation Army bellringers, a homeless person sitting on the corner, or a box at the checkout for a local charity. It might seem small and insignificant but as YBA said, no contribution is too small and that dollar might inspire someone else to give as well.

Barry's charity has always inspired his fans--and this time it was five nights of shows. I think that was above and beyond. Not only that, but he incorporated the kids who benefited from the Manilow Music Project. Kudos to the guy with the giving heart!

May the joy of this season surround you,
Texas Fan

It's a "Barry" Christmas

2009-12-08T17:13:00.006-06:00

Reading all the reviews from the shows at the McCallum theater sure can put you in the Christmas spirit. Of course hanging my treasured "Barry Christmas" ornament the other night put the cherry on top of my Christmas mood.

I love Christmas. I love the decorations, wrapping presents, the Hallmark channel Christmas movies, baking, Christmas pageants and of course, the music. My all-time favorite Christmas album of Barry's is the most recent, "In the Swing of Christmas"; but, honestly, I love all three of his Christmas offerings. Just for fun, I thought I would list my choices for the BEST songs from each of them. See if you agree!

In the Swing of Christmas
Violets for Your Furs
Count Your Blessings
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Gift of Love (Duet with Oliva Newton-John)

Christmas Gift of Love
Happy Holidays/White Christmas
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
River

Because It's Christmas
The Christmas Song
Baby It's Cold Outside
Joy to the World/Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

The jazziness of "In the Swing of Christmas", the festive holiday feel of "Christmas Gift of Love" and the classics on "Because It's Christmas" give any Manilow aficionado a variety of styles to choose from. The arrangements in each of these albums draw attention to the fact that Barry is first and foremost a musician that can take a song and make it his own with his genius arrangements.

Listening to the "sounds" of the season,
Texas Fan

P.S. I think "Christmas is Just Around the Corner" has become my FAVORITE "fun" Christmas tune--for this year and for many years to come. What can I say? It makes me smile EVERY time I hear it!

Manilow at the Paris Hotel--Ooo La La

2009-12-01T21:35:00.008-06:00

It's official. Barry is moving to the Paris Hotel. I don't know about you, but I think it's a great move and time for a change. Not just for Barry, but for the fan base. It's time to shake things up a bit and venture out of the cocoon so many call "home" at the Hilton. And while we all rebel against change, it's change that often times brings growth and new adventures.

So...in the spirit of change, I'd like to give my own "review" of the Paris Hotel (since it's one of my favorite Vegas haunts). Yes...I'm one of those that actually leaves the Hilton and ventures out into the big bad world of the strip. It's amazing what you will find beyond those four walls.

If you've ever been to Paris (which I have) this hotel does an amazing job of bringing the feel of Paris to you. From the restaurants, to the Metro signs, to the Eiffel Tower and the french themed shopping. It's conveniently located smack dab in the center of the strip, right across from the beautiful fountains at the Bellagio.

My favorite haunts at the Paris are:

Le Creperie-Paris is famous for its crepes. There are sidewalk vendors everywhere making fresh crepes 24 hours a day. You have to try their breakfast crepes and their desert crepes (Nutella is my favorite). You'll find this in the walkway across from the buffet.
Le Village Buffet-this buffet puts the one at the Hilton to shame. The pastries are out of the world and freshly made every day. It's one of the most popular buffets in Vegas for a good reason.
Mon Ami Gabi-a sidewalk cafe right next to the Eiffel Tower. The food is uniquely Parisian and the ambiance can't be beat. Sit outside during the day and watch the Bellagio fountains while you eat. Their lunch selection is fabulous!
The Eiffel Tower-this is a replica of the original one in Paris (1/3 the size). From the top you can see the Vegas skyline. It's breathtaking at night.
Napoleon's-There is a high class piano bar located in the walkway between the Paris hotel and Bally's. The music each night is tons of fun and it always draws a crowd.
Le Cabaret-This is my favorite place to enjoy a drink, sit and talk, and a great spot for "human theater". It's like sitting outside at a Paris cafe under the trees and the street lights.
Shopping-There are a few excellent dress shops and some unique Parisian themed gift shops.
The Eiffel Tower restaurant-You have to try this restaurant just once. It's a bit pricey, but the service is impeccable and the food is out of this world.
The Paris Theatre-I've seen a few different acts in this theater: Sinbad, Clint Black, and a musical impersonator. It's small and intimate just like the Hilton (minus a balcony). The first few rows are close to the stage and it's a bit wider and more rounded than the Hilton's theater. It should lend itself well to Barry's type of show.

There is plenty to do, plenty of places to eat (even pastry shops and sandwich offerings), great "hang out" spots and a great strip location. If you like to gamble, there are plenty of tables and slots and the players club is available to rack up those comp points.

Personally, I'm looking forward to the new venue and the strip location. It should bring new life to the fans, the show and bring in some new fans who might not have seen him when he was off the beaten path at the Hilton.

Looking forward to Manilow (my favorite musician) in Paris (my favorite city),
Texas Fan

Christmas is just around the corner....

2009-11-24T12:59:00.003-06:00

...and so are some exciting happenings in the Manilow world!

1-An upcoming special announcement on December 1st, LIVE on the Today Show.
2-A hotline coming out on Wednesday (who knows what that will include)
3-The "Gift of Love" concerts in Palm Springs for charity.
4-The Chicago concerts with a 56 piece orchestra and Christmas music.
5-A new venue with a brand new show.

It's a GREAT time to be a Manilow fan...and the MOST WONDERFUL time of the year!

Happy Thanksgiving and may all of God's blessings be on you and the ones you love,
Texas Fan

Mercer and Manilow

2009-11-13T17:00:00.004-06:00

As I listened to an evening with Mercer tonight, it had a profound affect on me. It clarified the different types of listening styles and audiences that music falls upon. My husband has a wide and varied music collection. But he couldn't tell you one word of one song. All he hears is the music. He never goes deep enough into a song to hear what it is really communicating. My son, on the other hand, whose music taste is what I consider to be all-encompassing, listens to both the lyrics and the music, finding joy and appreciation in all genres.

The music I heard today brought me back to the reason I fell in love with Manilow in the beginning. It takes an amazing talent to take lyrics and bring them to life with the music. Barry has always known a great lyric and what to do with it. Words are poetry, but add music to them and they take on a life of their own. And then add the musical interpretation to the song and you get the full affect of the marriage between the lyrics and the music. Barry is the best at marrying the two together and providing those heart-pulling, emotion-moving, and gut-wrenching performances.

When the smoke clears and the accolades have come and gone, you can turn on your Ipod or crank up your stereo and be transported to any number of places and emotions through the genius of Manilow. And when that song is "When October Goes" it's the best and most perfect marriage between lyrics, music and performance you'll ever hear. That, my friends, will always be his legacy. And there is nothing or no one that can ever take that away.

His musical genius will live forever,
Texas Fan

P.S. It was a GREAT program with some true insight into the life of Johnny Mercer. You can catch the replay at Manilow and Mercer

This is Our Time

2009-11-11T19:05:00.005-06:00

Today on my daily bike ride, I had my MP3 player on shuffle--yes, I'm the ONLY person left that doesn't have an Ipod! Anyway, one of the songs was "This is Our Time" from Harmony. I am absolutely in love with those songs. The message of the entire catalog is perseverance in the midst of trials with music being at the core of their common bond.

I got to thinking...we live in trying times. There's no arguing, no matter where you stand politically, that it's been a "lousy year of lousy news". Most recently, the horrible massacre at Ft. Hood. I don't know about you, but I will never understand the rationale behind the hatred that makes someone kill so many people to make some sort of personal or political statement. Something on that scale leaves all of us feeling helpless; but it also draws us together. When tragedy happens, we all pull in close and seek comfort in sharing that common grief.

I also asked myself: Is this "our time"? Are we standing at a crossroad with the times we have "inherited" and are we just going to "roll over and die" or are we going to "rise above it all"? The sad fact is that everyone has an opinion but nobody wants to listen. I've seen this happen first hand personally and socially.

What's the key? Living and working together. It sounds simple but it is so incredibly hard. Add to this, the willingness that we all have to pigeon hole people into the place we feel they belong: Republican, Democrat, liberal, conservative, Christian, Jew, gay, straight, rich, and poor. Does it really matter? When it comes down to basics we are all created equal. We may have different views, morals and lifestyles but we are all equal in God's eyes (and if that labels me, so be it!)

If this really is "our time", (and I'd like to think it is), we should stop pointing fingers and start grabbing hands. We should be encouraged and inspired by these words from the song:

Help it happen
Draw the plan
You can't do it
Nor can I
But...
WE CAN!

Together, we can "rise above it all".
Texas Fan

A Video clip of Barry at the Bowl

2009-10-29T09:41:00.009-05:00

Here's a short video clip from Hollywood 411 of Barry at the Hollywood Bowl.

An interview and some short video clips of the show

Enjoy,
Texas Fan

More Hollywood Bowl Pics

2009-10-26T12:03:00.006-05:00

Here are some more pictures from the show on Saturday.

Thanks @hokiephile for these pictures!
Texas Fan

Manilow at the Hollywood Bowl

2009-10-25T09:06:00.005-05:00

I know everyone is waiting to hear "details" about the show last night. Here is a text I received from a friend after the show last night:

"Vegas plus Dave Koz plus One Voice plus Forever and a Day. Voice good, but show nothing special."

And some pics from @starzbz on Twitter.

I'm sure as the day progresses we will hear more details. From all early reports it sounds like it was an amazing night.
Texas Fan

Manilow Twitter News

2009-10-22T09:00:00.003-05:00

Things have been pretty silent in the Manilow world these days. No "official" announcements of much of anything, except Barry telling us in his last set of shows that "the ink isn't dry yet" so he can't reveal where he will be going in Vegas.

Twitter has had some interesting tweets lately re: Mr. Manilow via Steven Friess @TheStripPodcast:

Source says Barry manilow's move 2 Paris official + opens valentines wkd coinciding w new love song album. Show has french theme. #Vegas

A french theme? Now that's something I can sink my teeth into. And...the Paris? My absolutely number one favorite hotel in Las Vegas. It sounds like something "official" will be coming soon.

Ah...nutella crepes!
Texas Fan

Emotions...Celebrations...New Beginnings...and Goodbyes

2009-10-14T17:45:00.000-05:00

This past week, after much anticipation, stress and planning, my daughter said "I do" to her soul mate. She was as calm as a cucumber. I on the other hand, was a nervous wreck. She kept reminding me to calm down (that's my line!) and not to cry (which is an unreasonable request of the mother of the bride). My buddy (Andy) kept reminding me to smile and that it would all be over soon. He has been my rock throughout this whole wedding planning experience, but it wasn't until Saturday that I could finally relax and breathe a sigh of relief. For the most part, everything went off without a hitch. There were no explosions, fights or major areas of conflict. Everyone's clothing remained in tact. The guests found the wedding venue without much difficulty. All the plans fell into place just as we had imagined; and the photos that everyone took are proof that it was an absolutely perfect wedding.

Why was I such a wreck? I wanted everything to be perfect for my daughter's special day. I wanted to make her happy. I wanted her to step back, after it was all over, and know how much I love her. I wanted her to be able to start her life with Daniel with those magical memories. And at the same time, I kept thinking about my parents. I kept wishing they were sitting next to me and posing for the photographer. I kept feeling that our family was not complete without them there. But my daughter thought of everything and they were there, along with her other grandparents. Something as simple as a locket, attached to her flowers, reminded her that they were still so much a part of her life. My mother's diamond in her engagement ring; my mother's emerald ring on her right finger; her other grandmother's diamond in the wedding ring; and reminders in the ceremony of how the four of them are so much a part of who she is. It's those special things that went unnoticed by most, that reminded me of the importance of family and how they shape who we are and what we become.

And it wasn't just about family, but it was also about friends. Friends who took the time out of their lives to travel to Vegas and be there to celebrate with us. Those friends have also become a part of our lives and have added dimension and meaning to everything we do. Words can't express the love that you feel when someone shares those special moments with you; moments that mean so much and moments where memories are made. There were also those friends who could not be there, but celebrated with us in spirit and followed the journey, sharing every moment and participating in the celebration as well.

That's what life is all about. Sharing memories with those you love. Making memories and investing your life in the lives of others. Without those connections, there truly is no purpose in living. And without opening your heart to that love, you can't be complete or feel fulfilled. When it's all said and done, those memories and those relationships are the reason we all keep on keeping on.

The wedding was a rollercoaster of emotions. But there was also an added dimension to the emotions: saying goodbye to some friends that we have come to care about and love at the Las Vegas Hilton. Because of one of those special friends, I was able to attend Saturday night's Manilow show with my husband. It was his first, and honestly, I've lost count on how many it was for me. It was one of those rare nights that you just knew you would never experience again. Barry was nostalgic and reminiscent about the past 5 years of shows and sad that it would be coming to an end. And while I honestly feel it's time for him to move on, it was sad to have to say goodbye to so many people at the Hilton that we have come to appreciate and care about. The Hilton has become our home away from home and the people there have become our family. You could feel that Barry felt the same way and it was expressed in the tone of the show and in the songs he chose: Best of Me, I've Never Been So Low on Love, Ships and finally in the finale, One Voice.

Hearing a song from Paradise Café was a unique treat. It's those rare moments that make Barry's shows so special. You never know what gem he will throw in that will make a lasting memory. The song he chose just underscored that melancholy feeling that seemed to permeate the Hilton and the theater that night. When he sat on a stool and sang Best of Me it tore my heart open. I’ve never heard that song performed live and that night was one of those rare emotional moments between Barry and his fans that only happen during the shows. Again, I wanted to cry, but having my husband there made it difficult to release those emotions. He wouldn’t understand. He couldn’t feel what I felt. He could not relate to all the emotions I was experiencing that night.

Leaving the Hilton can be much more than closing a door. It's time for Barry to spend some time on himself; focus on what matters most in life; fulfill some dreams that might seem beyond his grasp; and take some time to recharge and renew. It’s time for Mr. Manilow to focus on Mr. Manilow: search for the meaning of life; spend some time in thought; and get some of those emotions out that seem to be bubbling on the surface. As my good friend YBA always tells me: it’s time to spend some time on “me”; and Barry is no exception.

Have I finally been able to cry? Yes. As I wrote this post the tears started falling and I’m sure they will continue for the next several days. Not all my tears are sad; some of them are tears of release, happiness, and reliving some wonderful memories. Some of them are tears related to friendship and others are for my family and the joy that they bring me.

My journey with Barry began in March of 2006 and it’s produced some of the highest highs and the lowest lows. But I wouldn’t trade a single moment of any of those memories. It seems only fitting that the happiest day of my life would be followed by the last concert at the Hilton. A beginning…followed by an ending. There’s some symmetry in it all.

Feeling nostalgic,
Texas Fan

I'm back...here's a PREVIEW

2009-10-11T20:50:00.005-05:00

A wedding...a show of a lifetime...and some HEAVY emotions!
More...tomorrow!
Texas Fan

Update: Wedding Photo Gallery

Weddings, Relatives, and everything in between

2009-10-06T15:43:00.005-05:00

This is the week that my daughter finally says "I do" to the man of her dreams. It's going to be an absolutely beautiful ceremony with an absolutely beautiful bride. All the drama (and yes there was drama) will be worth it when she walks down that aisle and smiles one of her biggest smiles.

I've watched those reality shows on television about weddings and it always baffled my mind as to how things could get so complicated. Believe me, now I know. I think it's because you are dealing with so many people with so many emotions and trying to coordinate with so many wedding vendors. It escalates into drama after drama, when all you really wanted to do was have a nice, simple wedding. Fat chance.

Hopefully, the drama will NOT continue at the wedding. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed and keeping some people separated as best I can to avoid the conflict. It seems no matter how hard I try, there is always conflict.

God willing, and the stars are all aligned, I will get to drop in on a Manilow show while I am there. Perhaps my family will let me sneak away for a few hours (shhh...don't tell them).

Finally finished packing and now it's Vegas baby!
Texas Fan

Personal Message from Barry

2009-10-04T12:10:00.007-05:00

Hi everyone

Well, things certainly have gotten exciting around here!

On the one hand, I'm really sorry to have caused so much pandemonium by postponing and canceling a few shows.On the other hand, I'm very glad that these shows mean so much to you.

Frankly, I'm not exactly sure whether the upset is that I cancelled a few shows or the way I cancelled them.

It seems to me that as soon as my doctors scheduled my surgery, I posted the rescheduling information with enough time for everyone to make new plans. After all, it's only a few shows, I thought.

The doctors tell me that I need between four and six weeks to recuperate so canceling six Hilton shows didn't seem like such a big deal and since the San Diego/Sacramento shows hadn't really been on sale for too long, it didn't seem as if that would cause too many people a lot of trouble.

But I guess I was wrong. So sorry if I was wrong. I really wasn't going to announce my personal, private hip troubles again, but I guess I have to since the freaking out seems to be getting out of hand.

You know, my friends, we're only human. I know many of you think I'm not, but stuff happens to humans. Deaths in the family, sicknesses, technical problems, late arrivals, etc. We all do the best we possibly can all the time to never disappoint you. But stuff happens to us humans. And as hard as we try, we just can't always be perfect.

Out of all the complaints there were only two people who wrote, "I hope Barry's okay". Only two. That was an eye-opener.

You must believe that when things like this happen- cancellations, postponements, delays - there is always a legitimate and unmovable reason for them.

You all must know by now, that me, Garry, John, Marc, Vicki, Kirsten and everyone at Stiletto take your loyalty and friendship very, very seriously and with the utmost responsibility.
If things like this happen, you have to know by now that we have looked at every way to fix problems and that there is absolutely nothing that we can do before we make decisions like this. We all know that it's going to cause people to be upset and it kills us to have to change things.

Causing you guys pain and upset is awful for all of us. We would never make these decisions if there were any other way out.

Once again, my sincere apology to anyone who has been affected by my personal problems.
I'll try to recover as fast as I can.

Barry

Just a few comments:
1-We aren't inhuman. Of course we wish him well and would never want him to be in pain.
2-All of this could have been alleviated by simply saying: Sorry guys, need to have some surgery. Be back in 6 weeks.
3-Here's what he said just a few days ago: "I’ve been getting comments about how thin I look these days. That’s me. Skinny guy. But I’m healthy and filled with energy and thank goodness, I still have my hair! So please don’t be concerned about me."
3-Perhaps one day Stiletto will learn that honesty is ALWAYS the best policy.
4-Personal message to Barry: Please take care of yourself and if it's time to get off the stage and work on creative projects, we completely understand. We will miss you, but, your health ALWAYS comes first!

Texas Fan

Meltdown in Manilowland

2009-10-02T08:35:00.005-05:00

It's finally happened...the fans are in meltdown mode. Rumors are flying about Barry leaving the Hilton. On top of that he's canceled shows, "rescheduled" arena concerts, and FINALLY canceled the Platinums from last June. You would think the world was coming to an end. And while the s**t is hitting the fan, the administrators are busy deleting posts and negative comments.

Gotta love the censored world of Manilow. What is also amazing is the people who believed Barry could do no wrong are now on the receiving end of the wrong doing and not too happy about it. It's funny how your perspective changes when you're the one getting the mistreatment.

My personal favorite: send out a Hotline about all the "great" projects coming up and then send out one the next day about cancellations. FYI Stiletto...while you may think fans are Maniloonies, we are NOT idiots. We are on to your so called ploys to pacify the bad news with good. Eventually, you'll cross that line, as you have with so many, and lose all of our business. But, I guess you're motto is: there's a sucker born every minute. And perhaps you are right.

One thing is for certain--things are NEVER dull in Manilowland!

Eyes wide open,
Texas Fan

Manilow TV--Early Reviews

2009-09-30T09:48:00.005-05:00

Since I haven't the time, nor the funds at the moment, to take a ride on the Manilow TV train, I thought I would share two very good "early" reviews with my readers.

Dawn's Blog

Millie's Ning Review

Based on these two reviews, I might be convinced to take the plunge at the end of the month. "Might" being the operative word.

Enjoy,
Texas Fan

Manilow TV--The Controversy Continues

2009-09-23T22:37:00.002-05:00

Five days from now Manilow.TV will launch its first video. As predicted, it's a subscription service, renewable monthly. And also as predicted, the controversy on the MMN over the price continues. And again, and is always the case, the negative opinions get lamblasted by the keepers of all things Manilow. Heaven forbid that there would be a differing opinion, or that this opinion might go against the grain.

Personally, I am taking a "wait and see" approach. This is what I have learned in the last few years in the Manilow world. I'm not buying until I have time to evaluate the offer. After it launches and comments are positive, and the kinks are all worked out (which I'm sure there will be many), then I'll decide if I want to fork over the $19.95 and take a test drive.

After reading the FAQ, I'm impressed with a few things:
1-You can unsubcribe at any time.
2-They will notify you of the upcoming video so you can make a decision about your subscription.
3-There is an online chat feature to address problems.
4-If they don't change the video, you won't get charged (a good thing in the Manilow world since very often things don't materialize as promised).

As with any product or service, it is always the consumer's option to not purchase. And, as I have done in the past, I will exercise that option based on cost and product offered.

Skeptical but hopeful,
Texas Fan

Manilow in the UK

2009-09-12T15:32:00.019-05:00

(Photo by Bauer Griffin, September 10, 2009)

It's been quite a weekend. First the radio interview, then Jonathan Ross, then the Proms live. I have to admit, it's great to get a chance to listen to those UK events. The UK fans always get some very special Manilow moments. And this time, we ALL got to hear, see and share most of them right along with the fans across the pond.

Things I learned over the last few days:

Even in the UK, Barry can't land without having an up to the minute report of his whereabouts ("the eagle has landed")
Barry is still smoking (no comment)
Radio interviewers need to do some research before they get a guest on their show (same old questions we've all heard before)
Don't ask Barry the name of his dogs (they are like his kids--it's personal!)
Barry has chickens and a rooster (dogs and chickens and roosters, OH MY!)
Barry is a pitch man (peddling his "B" string and his Manilow water on UK television--but not as good as Billy Mays!)
There are groups on the MMN that got "outed" on Jonathan Ross (which just cements the press and public's view of Barry's fans--crazy Fanilows)
Sometimes Barry is caught off guard (and the looks and answers that he gives are priceless--re: What is your greatest accomplishment? Answer: That I'm still the same guy I was 30 years ago. Comment: Hey Barry, there are fan groups, here's one for you.. Response: Shocked [just look at his face] when those MMN group names were mentioned and even MORE shocked when Jonathan Ross showed him the pictures)
The UK shows are ALWAYS over-the-top (for some reason they get those "special" songs and unique show moments that we don't get in the U.S.)
Listening over the internet was the next best thing to being there (and the sound was amazing with my great computer speakers and subwoofer)
Orchestras IMPROVE the quality of the music 100 percent! (reminded me of the first concert I attended with a full orchestra--priceless)
Even though you can't see the Bamms you can still visualize them (I was hoping to hear the full, classical version of CIBM)
One Voice is so moving when the entire audience is singing along
Don't expect respect when the press is always looking for the crazy Fanilows (and easily finds them)
"On the spot" tweets can be revealing about a person's attitude toward fans (re: 40,000 Maniloonies...when those same fans are your customers)

Guess that's my recap of the events in the UK. I know everyone that was there "live" with Barry had a marvelous time. (We could hear your excitement and screams in the background).

Headed off to watch the YouTube video of the duet (before it gets taken down),
Texas Fan

There once was...

2009-09-08T15:00:00.005-05:00

...a Manilow world where opinions were valued and people openly debated their differences. A world where opposite opinions thrived and amidst disagreement there was harmony. But then, a dictatorship took over that world and set themselves up as rulers over all the kingdom. Freedom of speech was not encouraged nor was dissent. Many fan's voices were silenced when they disagreed with the dictator. So those voices found another realm where they could be heard and embraced as valuable. In that realm, differing opinions thrive and debate is encouraged. Comments aren't censored or reported to the "higher authority". Personally, I'd much rather live in a world where everyone has differing opinions and values. A world where we can learn from one another and thrive in diversity. I would never be happy living in a place where there is one leader and one opinion. It didn't work with Hitler. And it doesn't work in Manilowland. Rebels always rise up and fight against tyranny. They find their voice and cannot be silenced.

I have but one word in mind from a scene in Braveheart. Faced with submitting to British rule, or death, William Wallace, a commoner who united the Scots against tyranny, screamed....
FREEDOM!
Texas Fan

The SMSSG vs The Artist

2009-09-06T14:18:00.007-05:00

It's happened again. The SMSSG has re-emerged full force and the fans are all worked up into a frenzy over the weekend of shows. I will never understand that mentality. It's not that I don't enjoy those songs or the way he performs them. But when the SMSSG emerges, it overshadows The Artist. Those songs are crowd pleasers and I'm sure it's great to hear the applause and see the excitement that they bring. But I can't help but wonder what The Artist thinks when people are leaving during Talk to Me and on the edge of their seats for Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed.

Unfortunately, The Artist is a business. And the business makes more money when the SMSSG appears and the fans are worked up into a frenzy. I would much rather hear the full version of Could It Be Magic vs the one with the bamms. I would much rather hear him sing Every Single Day or Where You Go than Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed. I'd much rather see him sit at the piano and sing If I Should Love Again with that beautiful piano accompaniment than watch him writhe around on the stage during Looks Like We Made It.

I have ENORMOUS respect for The Artist. And even as much respect for The Showman. And the SMSSG can be fun to watch, but in the end, I would much prefer that he were known for his music and not for the way his fans respond to him. And trust me, that's what the world sees. Those crazy Fanilows...

I hope that some day The Artist will be comfortable enough and secure enough to show the world that he is so much more than a SMSSG. Otherwise, it's all a bunch of hype to me.

Because, believe it or not, that's the man and the music I fell in love with so many years ago,
Texas Fan

Note: Here's another fan's take on this subject. Time for those of us who feel this way to stand up and be counted!
Michelle's Blog

The demise of "Here at the Mayflower"

2009-09-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

After reading the latest show reviews, I'm so incredibly glad I was there the night he came back after vacation in July. There were some glitches. Perhaps the show didn't flow as well as people would have liked. There weren't as many hits. But...there was "Here at the Mayflower." Hearing those coveted songs: Talk to Me, The Night that Tito Played, Not What You See, Welcome Home and Sandra (although not on the CD but should have been) is the reason that I went back after such a long break. And I'm glad I did.

There is no better performance than Talk to Me. That song is the absolute best one on The Mayflower album. And Barry's performance of it brought every single word to life. The ups, the downs, the anger, the sadness, the frustration that people experience in relationships came out that night when he performed it. It was the quintessential moment in all the shows I've seen. Although I've had other "great" show moments, this, for me, embodied the essence of Manilow.

It's such a shame that things went back to "normal" and the show only contains two Mayflower songs. But alas...

I think Rick Nelson said it best, "you can't please everyone, but you've got to please yourself".

People want what the want,
Texas Fan