Thanks for the Memories, Barry

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

Manilow Fans are Everywhere!

After numerous discussions over the last few days with friends about the "official" Manilow portals online, I thought it might be nice to mention some other places where fans meet and are having a BLAST getting to know one another.

Facebook
Believe it or not Facebook is crawling with Manilow fans. It's easy enough to set up your own page and start conversing with them. Just click on my Facebook link to the right of this post, and my connection will take you to other fans too!

MySpace
Yes. Fans are still on MySpace as well. It's more of a "bling" place, but if you like decorating your page, etc., that's the place for you. You can click on my MySpace link to the right of this post, and my connection will lead you to more fans as well.

Other Ning Networks
There are numerous Ning networks set up by fans other than the official one. Do a search on Ning and you'll find them. Here's one in particular that I'm a member of. Check it out:
Manilow Music and Passion Ning Group

Yahoo Groups
Manilow groups abound on Yahoo groups. There is even a Manilow prayer group run by Pat Mott. I know I'm a member of several of them but today I'm spotlighting this one:
Manilow Music and Passion Yahoo Group

"Local" Fan Club Sites
You can find these through groups on the MMN or through the local fan club links on the Barrynet. I'm partial to this one (since I created the website and shared in creation of the fan club)
I Am Your Child BMFC-Manilow Canada

Blogs
I personally enjoy communicating with other fans on their fan blogs. I've listed my favorites on the right, but today I'm spotlighting Moonstone's blog since she ALWAYS has the latest and greatest Manilow news posted:
Shadows of Manilow

Twitter
Yes. Manilow fans are on Twitter. If you haven't found us, you can find me there and check out who I'm following. You can see my Twitter feed on the right of this blog as well.
Texas Fan

If the "official" networks aren't your cup of tea, you can check some of these out and join in on the fun.

See you in cyberworld!
Texas Fan

A Few Pictures

Here are a few pictures from last night's show. Once again my camera seemed to have a mind of its own. The show was amazing. Barry was in the most playful mood and seemed to enjoy the audience reaction to several of his "signature" moves.




One more show to go this week...PMD is going to be BAD this time...
Texas Fan

The Manilow Magic

Everywhere you look, Mr. Manilow is getting some well deserved respect. And it's about time! Blogs, entertainment reviews, talk show hosts, the media, and yes..even the critics are standing up and realizing that "our man" has got IT.

Here's an excerpt from an online article in the Las Vegas Weekly entitled "The Manilow Principle" by Steve Friess.

About 15 minutes into Barry Manilow’s Music & Passion show at the Las Vegas Hilton last week, I received a mocking text message from my partner. Miles had ducked out of having to go with me, my 16-year-old niece, Courtney, and my mother because he had to go to work at the last minute, but he hardly seemed unhappy about that twist of fate.

“So, does it suck yet?” the message taunted.

I missed the message. To my utter shock, I was having much too good a time.

Yes. At Manilow.

But, faithful and puzzled readers might be thinking, didn’t you just a few weeks ago mention how much you despised that very show in that commentary about all that was wrong with the new Cher production?

Indeed, that is why I was so bowled over. When your family visits, you tend to do things you wouldn’t ordinarily want to, and my mother was, is and probably always will be a Fanilow. So off I went, preparing both myself and poor young Courtney to suffer. I prepped the teen for the idea that this would fall into the so-bad-it’s-good category.

Except it wasn’t. It was so good it’s good. Really. In my guidebook, Gay Vegas, I had given this production a “C” and complained that it was a “rush job” with “dancers who seem confused about what they’re doing.” Yet on this night, a good 75 percent of the songs were not in the prior edition, Manilow was unstoppably exuberant and energetic, and even the closing “Copacabana” was less grating and, so it seemed, mercifully a little bit shorter. Also, unlike Bette, Celine or most notably Cher, Manilow remained on the stage for all but about three minutes of the concert. Of course, his “costume changes” involved changing his sportcoat. But still.

There you have it folks. Once again, Manilow has made a believer out of a skeptic. It seems the list keeps growing and growing.

Until the next skeptic is converted,

Texas Fan

Viva Las Vegas

I spent the day researching Las Vegas activities for two trips that are approaching. Since I will be there for an entire week each time, I was interested to find some things to do there during the day that I had not yet experienced. There is horseback riding in Red Rock Canyon, indoor bungee jumping, a view from the top of the Stratosphere, a masquerade parade in the sky at the Rio, a champagne bar in the Paris, a classy piano bar at the Bellagio, and a classic car collection at the Imperial Palace.


What is interesting to note, is that as I flipped through the travel books at my local bookseller I noticed how often Barry was mentioned in them. He was heralded as "a class act", a "entertainer reminiscent of Frank Sinatra", a "headliner must see", and "the one who writes the songs". In each of the travel books they listed his show as something you don't want to miss. They heralded him as a true entertainer that knows how to give you your money's worth.

Of course, none of this is news to any of us who have been there to see him. It's just nice sometimes to see the rest of the world stand up and take notice.

Here's to a class act,
Texas Fan

Pouring your guts out

Barry himself describes what happens when you see him perform from the Rolling Stone article in 1990:

"I'll tell you what you see," he says of his performance persona, eschewing all coyness. "You see passion. I read an article someplace that said the true artist is an artist that can convey his passion across the footlights. The quality doesn't even matter -- just so that you displayed the passion. For instance, Springsteen is not my cup of tea, but I get it. I understand what he's doing. He gets me because he is so passionate. At the very least, what you could say about me is that I am trying to convey my passion and that's what's working. Not the fact that I sing so well, because I don't sing so well. Not the fact that I write so well, because Billy Joel writes better pop stuff than I do. Not the fact that I can perform well, either. It's that I believe in what I do, and you get it. Now, some people don't get it! But my guts go out there onstage, take it or leave it. And that's very uncomfortable for a lot of people to witness, especially to be coming from a man."

Thanks Barry for pouring your "guts out there onstage" this past weekend...another memorable weekend of shows!
Texas Fan

Memories

Last night's Music and Passion show in Las Vegas will be memorable because of two songs. Once you hear the two songs you may think I have gone over to the dark side. However, I assure you that is not the case.

These two song choices are based on the sheer emotion Barry displayed while singing them. I can't recall a time I have ever seen him crawl so deeply into a song and last night we got a double header. They weren't the usual ballads, nor were they in the usual song sets. Both songs, in their own ways, have provided me with a once in a lifetime memory that will most likely never be replaced or topped.

The first song: Memory. When he began to play the first few chords to this song I took a deep breath. I knew we were in for a moment of magic from Manilow and that he intended to give us a song that would pull at our heartstrings and leave us in a bucket of emotions when it was done. And I was not disappointed. It is ine the lyrics of that song that I find the words to describe how it made me feel: touch me and you'll know what happiness is. That song hit me in my heart and reminded me why a Manilow show delivers even when you are least expecting it to.

The second song: (hold on to your hats) Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed. It wasn't the mic stand or the sexy moves that got to me. It was the way he knows how to play to the crowd and grab hold of the moment. Yes..it was a sexy rendition. Yes. It provided the usual fan reaction of hooting and hollering. But what I will remember the most is how he played the part so well and how he became the song he was singing.

Last night is a unique memory for me. The songs that were sung, the moments that brought me to tears. The excitement of the crowd. And a song choice that blew Streisand's version out of the water. All in all, a memory I will not soon forget.

Thanks Barry for once again adding to my book of memories.
Texas Fan

Manilow Memories in Pictures

Dew Drop Inn-March 2006

Rock Bottom Cafe-August 2006

Atlantic City-October 2006

The Sixties Segment-November 2006



Madison Square Garden (Dave Koz)-January 2007

Singin' with the Big Bands-May 2007

Philadelphia (Forever and a Day)-September 2007

You've Got a Friend-October 2007



New York City Rhythm Piano Duel-December 2007



Dallas (Brian Culbertson and Mike)-February 2008

Manilow Memories

It's been two years since I attended my first Barry concert in Vegas on March 29, 2006. Nostaligia has set in this morning and I can't think of a better place to share those memories than here on the blog that I began because of that magical night.

My first Vegas show
This is where it all began: a great show, a magical, unexpected moment with Barry and a new friend who grew up with his music and introduced me to the vast new world of Manilow.
At the dance with Mandy
My first ever "Barry trip" with my new friend, Mandy, and the night she danced with him to It's Not for Me to Say for what seemed like an eternity.
The scrapbook project
Bringing a group of fans together to create a scrapbook for Barry after his hip surgery. Everyone worked together to create the best "get well" scrapbook called, "Your Music, Our Passion".
Atlantic City
The first concert after the hip surgery; the anticipation; all the fans and the energy in the huge arena. Finally, Barry comes out on stage in a wheelchair and the crowd roars. It was my first arena show and a night I will never forget.
Madison Square Garden
New York City and a night to remember with Barry, Dave Koz, and one of my very best friends.
Starting I Am Your Child Fan Club
A dream that ensued between two friends and after a few short months blossomed into an officially sanctioned fan club, which was the start of new friendships and some great times with other fans.
May 2007
A last minute trip to Vegas where I had the time of my life at the concerts and experienced some memorable moments of frivolity, fandom and fun.
Philly
A girl's weekend with Barry and a road trip to Atlantic City resulting in some inspirational moments listening to the Greatest Songs of the Seventies.
Dallas
A night to remember with my daughter; her first Barry concert--sharing the passion that is Manilow.
The friends I have made along the way
These are friends that I've met, have yet to meet, and possibly might never meet. They have enriched my life and given me moments of great joy. They have shared heartache with me, celebrated and had fun along the way, and given me encouragement with I needed it the most. They come from all over the world and they speak the universal language: music. Our friendships have taken some unique paths and come full circle. They are the glue that holds me together and they are the reason that every time I walk through those doors (at the Hilton, at an arena show, or when they welcome me into their homes) I know what it means to be a Manilow fan.

2008 has barely begun and a day doesn't go by that I don't think of that magical night in March two years ago and how Barry, with a smile, a hug and a simple kiss took away a cloud of grief and put me on the path of discovering his music, his magic and the ability he has to impart unspeakable joy.

Looking toward the future and many more Manilow memories,
Texas Fan

Find joy in life...

...even if others think you are crazy

During the last few years my family and friends might tell you that I have gone off the deep end. They would say that my newfound interest of a certain blue-eyed, blond-haired entertainer and his music has them baffled. I’m also quite sure that many of my friends would participate in an intervention of sorts if the topic were to arise. Recently one of them told me she was trying to understand why this is so important to me, and why it is taking up a large portion of my life.

Passing the half-century mark is at the very least daunting. Add to that the fact that you have survived breast cancer, buried both your parents after nursing them in their poor health, and cared for a great aunt with Alzheimer’s disease. Spend the greater portion of the last ten years making sure that both your children have college educations, one of them with a master’s degree, and as you look back, you have spent little or no time having fun.

My mother and father both learned the hard way that life is short and if you miss those moments you don’t get them back. After my father passed away, I needed some moments of shear joy. I needed to feel like life was more than struggling, scraping by, and waiting to die. I needed an escape, however brief it might be, to regroup and refresh myself. In short, I needed some joy in my life.

After so many years of sacrificing for others, giving myself to so many, and feeling just a little spent, I found a place that made me come alive again. For ninety minutes at a time, I forget about the drama in my life and experienced the joy of Music and Passion, compliments of Barry Manilow. And after the show, I spend time with some new friends that “get” me and where I am in my journey. They “get” me because they are there too, looking for that same joy.

He will be the first to tell you he doesn’t get why we keep coming back time after time to see him on stage. He doesn’t understand why his career has span 30 plus years and several decades. He admits he’s not the best singer and his songs are pop songs, chided by critics over the years as bubble gum melodies and smaltz. But during a recent video, he admitted he feels a bit like a preacher, leading a congregation to experience the joy in life. He recognized that his music makes people happy, and that they leave his concerts singing. And with those few statements, he has nailed why we keep coming back for more.

Every time I walk through those doors at the Hilton hotel in Las Vegas, it’s like I’m coming home. I can’t explain it, and neither can most of the other fans, but I feel safe there. I can relax and be myself. I can yell, and scream and have some fun. I can experience every emotion in those 90 minutes and cry if I want, shout for joy if I choose, and sing at the top of my lungs to “Can’t Smile Without You”. When he belts out “all the time I thought, there’s only me” I relate to that. When he sings “it’s a miracle”, I’ve experienced those. When he sits at that piano and sings “we dreamers have our ways” it makes me dream all over again.

At the end of the night, I walk out of that theatre with a smile on my face and a bounce to my step. The friends that I have made remind me that life is for living. We laugh and sing and even dance together while forging bonds that were never there until we met because of this man. His music carries us home and helps all of us survive troubled marriages, difficult children, aging parents, job insecurity, terminal illness and the day to day drama that we all experience.

Everyone has to find their own joy in life. But my advice is not to wait until you are 50 to find it. Sprinkle those moments, those mini-vacations or even those occasional concert experiences liberally throughout your life. Find something that you are passionate about and pour your whole being into it. If you do this on a regular basis, perhaps your family and friends won’t want to schedule an intervention for what they consider to be "different". Find that joy even if everyone around you thinks you are crazy. Those moments of joy will give you hope and help you “make it through the rain”.

Thanks Barry for the music and the joy it brings to my life,
Texas Fan

Rob Thomas vs Barry Manilow

I just spent the weekend in Dallas with my daughter again. Two concerts within one week of each other. First it was Barry Manilow, then this week it was Matchbox Twenty. Two completely different concerts, but both headlined by musical geniuses.

Rob Thomas (the lead singer and writer behind Matchbox Twenty) is a true poet, along with an amazing musical talent. His voice is clear and strong, filled with emotion. The guitar solos blew the roof off. The piano solos were just as magical as Barry's Could it be Magic. You can sense the passion in Rob's voice, just as you can sense the passion in Barry's. He's passionate about his songs and getting the audience on its feet, just as Barry is passionate about his music moving people. It was two hours of musical entertainment and the time flew by quickly.

The crowd, of course, was a little different in gender, but the same in age variance-from teens to seniors and everything in between. From the moment they walked out on stage the crowd was on its feet and never sat down for two hours. Instead of glow sticks, they used cellphones (the entire arena was lit up at one point with cellphone screens).

I realized something that night as I looked around at the crowd. Music is truly the universal language. It crosses all genders, ages, economic backgrounds and political parties. It is the common thread that can bring people together in one place to hear what the musician has to say through his music. He can be 30 or 60, it really doesn't matter. He can be a rocker or a pop icon. He can be a guitarist, a saxophonist or a pianist. Or he can simply use his voice to create "beautiful music". That's the beauty of it all. And when Barry is allowed to create and interpret the music, just as Rob does, it moves people.

If you've never heard of Rob Thomas and his group Matchbox Twenty you should take some time to listen to the words of his songs. I discovered them about 10 years ago quite unexpectedly. It's been a treat to watch his career explode and his music appreciated by so many worldwide.

Proud to be a fan of both of these musical geniuses,
Texas Fan

It's ALL about the music

Yes. It's all about the music...but it doesn't hurt that he's pleasing on the eyes. Here are some pictures from the Dallas Show. A bit of a departure from my wordiness...but...it doesn't hurt to gaze into those baby blues every now and then.

Enjoy,
Texas Fanilow

It was "Magic" in Dallas

This night in Dallas will go down as one of my most favorite Manilow memories. My daughter and I had never attended a concert together and we made an evening of it. 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 (4th row center) 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.

I have to say again...Brian Culbertson is amazing. That young man is so incredibly talented. He can crawl into a jazz song like no other. The musicians that accompany him are just as talented and the Earth Wind and Fire medley that they do had the house on their feet rocking. I found myself wishing that we could hear more, but I was conflicted...it would delay the entrance of the one I had come to see: the shadowman himself...Mr. Barry Manilow!

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.

The show is different from the last time I saw it. The decades are gone and the only cover songs that remain are the 60's. I have to admit I missed the 70's songs, but the addition of more of his own hits made it worth the loss. 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 first was the addition of Ready To Take a Chance Again. I know that the consensus is that the song does not work as a dance song. I completely agree. But for a reason unknown to us all he has put that song into the show. While I was watching him sing it I noticed the depth of emotion that came out in the lyrics. He is singing that song to someone or for someone and you can see it in his facial expressions. The lyrics "been livin' with nothin' to show for it; you get what you get when you go for it" speak volumes.

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. Lately 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. Once again, it felt like he was singing this song "to" someone. It was such an emotional moment.

When he began Brooklyn Blues I was hoping that Brian Culbertson would join him on stage. I had the privilege of seeing Dave Koz play that song with him in NYC and 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.

There were some funny moments as well, with a new joke about the "size" of his lava lamp and about the dance being foreplay. He completely cracks me up at times. The 60's segment has a larger lava lamp and a new 60's swivel chair. There is a new white jacket with the most beautiful design that looked like paisley, almost three dimensional. And the added confetti to the streamers was the icing on the cake.

And of course it 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 Fanilow

Ready to Take a Chance Again

The word is out that Barry has changed the dance song in An Evening of Music and Passion to his hit title song "Ready to Take a Chance Again" from the movie Foul Play. When I first heard it, was I shocked? Not really. It seemed the perfect song to me at the perfect time. Is it a dance song? I guess I'll have to see that one for myself next week in Dallas. Why did he change it? I have my theories. Will it stay in the Vegas show? Only Barry knows the answer to that one.

I sure do like that song, however. I like its message. I like that it puts hope out there bigger than life. I like that it addresses the fact that a life devoid of love and risks is not really living. It's another Manilow message that reminds us that without risks, we can't gain. Life, without taking chances, is "living in a shell" and not really living "very well". I like that message. It speaks to me.

You get what you get when you go for it...
Texas Fanilow

Those Funny Faces...

There's nothing that makes me smile more than a Manilow facial expression. I love catching those magical moments at a concert and capturing them on film. I think as Manilow fans we are the luckiest in the world. We can take as many photographs as we like without hesitation or harassment. And...even greater...we share them with one another. We share them with those who have never seen Barry live. We share them with the lucky ones who get to dance with him so they can capture that moment on film forever. We share them with each other so that we can keep those memories close to our hearts.

So when I feel down, (like today), I just pull up some of those expressively funny photos and they make me smile. It's a simple thing..but there's nothing like a funny face from the one who makes the whole world sing to brighten my day.

Thanks for the smiles Barry...today and every day,
Texas Fanilow

Las Vegas in restrospect

On Christmas day after the presents were opened, the dinner prepared, and the dishes washed and put away, I hopped on a plane to Barryland. The anticipation of a week of concerts was dampened the week before by the unexpected cancellations. But, as usual the week would not disappoint. It offered some unexpected moments of "Manilow magic" and some moments that had me scratching my head in disbelief.

Friday night was one of those rare moments in time that you relive over and over again, pinching yourself and asking if it all really happened. The show began on Manilow time around 8:30pm. From the first song to the last bedlam reigned. Security did an amazing job controlling things the best they could. During Daybreak a small child under five was dancing in the aisle to the right of me attempting to rush the stage. On the left of me a crazed fan ran toward the stage with a rose in one hand and a determined look to reach Barry at all costs. Throughout the course of the evening there continued distractions. Fans were yelling during the silences. Champagne glasses fell onto the stage from the side stage seats. Signs were hurled and waved at Barry as he approached the side stage. A British flag was thrown onto the stage, along with other items. A bouquet of flowers was hurled across the stage between Barry and his backup singers. During the finale a father with a child on his shoulders rushed the stage yelling "Barry, Barry...say hello to my son". There was a sign on the left stage held by a child claiming his first ever plane ride to see Barry and he actually made an attempt to converse with the child while his mother and grandmother grabbed and pulled at him the entire time.

Its been said that Barry hardly showed up for the show on Friday. Is it any wonder? How could anyone possibly concentrate during such bedlam? I could barely concentrate myself. After the show was over I stood there stunned. I have been to numerous shows in Vegas and I have never witnessed such a display of utter chaos. In spite of it all, Barry managed to give some very moving performances of I Am Your Child, Weekend in New England and Could It Be Magic. He reached inside of himself and you could feel the passion in the words of those songs and how much he was determined to reach that "one" in the audience who was actually listening.

After the show, the evening continued in the same vein it began and the events I witnessed along with the unusual conversations I later had bordered on the unbelievable. Suffice it to say that if anyone had witnessed the entire evening from above they might have wondered if a strange script had been written and those who were participating in the drama were reading it for the first time. The messages were received, however unbelievable they might have seemed.

Saturday night's show was the polar opposite of Friday's. The show was perfection and every moment worked like magic. The only slight flaw came at the end during I Write the Songs when Barry was distracted by his conversations with his backup singers and seemed to forget the words. He offered a slight smirk and continued along with the song unscathed. After the previous evening it was a welcome relief to experience a show that was relatively normal and lacking constant disruption.

The remainder of my trip was an unexpected nightmare that lasted for three more days: illness, missed flights, lost luggage and airfare change fees. Needless to say when the wheels touched down on my flight home I was reeling from a week of unexpected moments and unanticipated twists and turns. But all in all, it was a week that would rival none other. In more ways than one Barry was responsible for some rare moments that will never be forgotten, along with some extraordinary insight and some eye-opening conversations.

Starting 2008 off with a bang, not a whimper...

Texas Fanilow

Will the "real" Barry Manilow please stand up...

Year's ago there used to be a TV show called "What's My Line"...I know this is dating me. Anyway, the show would have three guests who claimed to be specific professions: astrounauts, actors, politicians, circus clowns, etc. The panel would have to guess which of the three guests seemed to answer the questions and be knowledgeable enough to be who they claimed to be. After they made their guesses, the host would say, "will the real ..... please stand up."

A few weeks ago I was in Vegas at a week of shows. I have to say, I saw two completely different people walk out on that stage. I've been pondering it for weeks and I can't get it out of my mind. What happened between the Friday night show and the Saturday night show that brought a different person out on that stage? Where was the Barry we all saw at Philadelphia and Boston and at the shows earlier in the week? Where had he gone? And why did he feel the need to leave and come out as BARRY MANILOW and not just Barry?

I have to say...I missed him. Don't get me wrong. The show on Saturday was flawless. The performance was amazing. The songs were on pitch and the numbers flowed seamlessly. He was the consummate performer. But I just felt the connection gone. The openess and the vulnerability that we saw in the previous shows over the last few months was not there. It was like the "shadowman" came back again and "Barry" disappeared.

Of course, I will never know what happened. But I'm interested to see if Barry comes back. I kind of liked the guy. He was just a guy. Out there...sharing his music, being real and connecting with those of us that cared to "listen".

Missing that connection,
Texas Fanilow

Welcome Home

I just returned from another trip to Manilowland for a week of shows and spending time with friends. There is something magical about walking through those doors at the Hilton, into the arms of friends and the "arms" of the one who brings all of us joy and comfort with his music and passion. "I go to a place I know, in my heart I know there's just no place like home...welcome home...to that place that's safe and warm, always a shelter from the storm...I remember when the days were stormy... home was always waiting for me."

For so many of us, our "homes" are not shelters from the storm. They are places of turmoil and distress. They are places where we feel trapped. They are places that remind us of heartache and pain. And for those of us that live our daily lives in these places, the music reminds us there is hope and to never give up on our dreams. For those of us who live in not-so-perfect places, for a few days and nights we feel "safe and warm in that shelter from the storm" in the arms of our friends and in the magic of the music that gives us comfort. It's hard walking out those doors to leave, but thankfully we know that at least for now, we can come home again and know that for those brief moments we feel safe and free.

Missing my "second home" today,

Texas Fanilow

A Magical Night

I've been thinking the last few days about the Music and Passion show in Philly. It's taken a few days to absorb all that happened and to find the words to describe that magical night. I hope for those of you that didn't get the chance to attend, I'll be able to put it into words. Because for me, it completely overshadowed every other Manilow moment I've had in the last two years.

From the moment he stepped out on stage, I knew it was a different man. His countenance was completely different than it was when I saw him at the end of May. He seemed genuinely happy and not even the best actor in the world could have communicated that outer glow. The expressions on his face when he received the numerous standing ovations and the funny moments with his earpiece made the evening even more priceless.

There were two highlights for me that I will never forget. The first was the full version of Could It Be Magic with a full orchestra. The music, the lyrics, the orchestration, the lights and the moment were nothing short of inspirational. I've rediscovered that song this morning and if you haven't listened to it in awhile, it's worth digging it out of the record archives. The place shook when he finished with applause and he just stood there with his mouth literally hanging open in shock.

The second moment was the encore of the night. After a rather long time of applause following Dancing in the Streets, he walked back out on stage in his signature maroon jacket. He took it off, as if to say, I'm completely open to you guys and I want you to know this is "me", not BARRY MANILOW, but Barry. He tossed it to the band and walked out into the center of the stage and began singing "Old Friends" and then walked onto the platform used for the dance and said, "I wrote this one for you".

Then the moment...he began singing "Forever and a Day". My heart almost stopped as he stood there in front of the microphone with his arms outstretched and his heart open and vulnerable. And when it was over, he walked to the center of the stage, stopped for a moment as if to say, "I don't want to go...", then turned his back and waved backwards as he walked off stage.

It's those moments in life that literally take your breath away. Mine...has hardly returned.

Thanks Barry for that magical night. I hope you know how much we all love you.

Remembering that moment,

Texas Fanilow

It's all about the leather...or is it?

Yes. Leather is apparently back in full force in Manilow land for an encore performance in Wednesday night's show. It is all the rage now and the fans have apparently lost all sense of reason and rationale. It's the talk on the Barrynet. As a matter of fact, it's ALL they talk about these days. Don't get me wrong, I like leather as much as the next person (well...have to admit, I'm a suit kind of fan, but I won't begrudge the occasional leather appearance).

HOWEVER. Are we really that consumed that it's all we can find to talk about? Apparently some fans are. I prefer to discuss the music and passion. I prefer to discuss how the music has changed all of our lives. I prefer to discuss the friendships that have been formed and remain due to a mutual admiration and respect for this man's talent and body of work. All the glitz and glamour in the world is not enough to replace the life changes that have happened due to the emotion and feeling and passion in just one song.

Next time the topic of leather comes up, remember that leather ages with time and even dries out losing it's luster. Barry is ageless, never loses his ability to move people, and shines above almost every other singer/songwriter/composer in his field.

That's something to "chew" on...
Texas Fanilow