One Voice

Just One Voice,
Singing in the darkness,
All it takes is One Voice,
Singing so they hear what's on your mind,
And when you look around you'll find
There's more than

One Voice,
Singing in the darkness,
Joining with your One Voice,
Each and every note another octave,
Hands are joined and fears unlocked,
If only

One Voice
Would start it on its own,
We need just One Voice facing the unknown,
And then that One Voice would never be alone,
It takes that One Voice.

It takes that One Voice.

Just One Voice
Singing in the darkness,
All it takes is One Voice,
Shout it out and let it ring.

Just One Voice,
It takes that One Voice,
And everyone will sing!

It's taken "one voice" to change the tone on the Bnet message board. It's really amazing how just one person can make a difference. A new voice appears on the scene and suddenly the mood and the tone change. And right along with it comes the naysayers and those that would say it's not the place to post positively spiritual messages. I guess it's the place to post silly, mindless chatter. Personally, I prefer the inspirational posts. But then again, I'm a Manilow purest at heart.

Adding my voice to that one voice (joining hands and unlocking fears),
Texas Fanilow

A Message of Hope

With all the talk of Philly and Boston, the CD/DVD release, the DVD releases of the TV specials and the upcoming media blitz, I can't seem to get my head and my heart off of "Harmony". I have been listening and relistening to the five songs that we have from the scores CD and they are among the most inspirational, motivational group of songs I've ever listened to. It's the combination of lyrics and passionate orchestral weaving throughout, and the message of hope that has me coming back again and again. I can't get enough of the way the music and the lyrics fit so perfectly together and how every line gives a resounding message of hope and God's never ending love. Here's some gems...and if you haven't listened in awhile, I mean really listened, sit down with the music and let it speak to you. You will be blessed.

Harmony
Troubles disappear
And what you feel is what you hear
Not what you see!
Yes, first there was
Harmony!

Where You Go
Where you go
I will go
Maybe scared
But together
With you, I'm prepared the rest is destiny
When it starts
Take my hand
And whether it's through hell or to the promised land
God knows where
I'll be there
Where you go

Stars In The Night
Look at the stars
How brilliant they are
How can they be shining now
When hope seems so far?
Look Look how they shine
These cruelest of stars
What promise inspires them?
What faith is it fires them?
Dare we lift our hearts as we lift our eyes
Are we fools to see what hope there is within the skies
Look...there's the light...Stars in the Night.

Every Single Day
Everything you doubt I will fight for
Every single day
Help me work it out, make it right for
Every single day
And this I swear and stake my life upon
If you go or stay I will love you as I do today
And I'll love you every single day from now on.

This is Our Time
This is our time
Maybe it's the last time
Who knows, but at least it's ours
And it won't be the first time
That men picked the worst time
To lift up their eyes to the stars!

In This World
In this world
That's lost all its reason
At last there's a reason
For hope in my heart

First there was Harmony,

Texas Fanilow

The Dance

I've refrained from commenting on this subject. I "lurked" on the Bnet while it was being discussed, or should I say heavily debated. I happen to believe that the Barrynet message board is NOT the place to bicker and fight because it's a public board. I only have one thing to say to everyone that participated--shame on you.

And now it has come to my attention just exactly how people view "the dance" and it makes my blood boil. Here's an email I received from a loyal fan who asked if I would post this on my blog. I concur with her sentiments so I am posting it here for everyone to see:

I have been with Barry for 32 years....watched him give all that he is without thinking twice about it. I want to begin that way because a couple nights ago I was simply looking thru some of the other fan club sites just to see what people had to say...with hopes of possibly finding one to join. I stumbled across one site.....I don't know if I hit it on the wrong day or what, but I was completely horrified by some of the comments that were being made. The behavior of certain so called "fans"..and you all know who you are...was probably the most selfish I've ever witnessed short of the way some reacted last year to Barry cancelling shows because he was in so much pain he couldn't walk. What in the world gives any of you the right to think that Barry owes us anything.......he'd better not take out the dance because we pay good money for those seats and deserve to get something for it.....spoken by a shallow, selfish taker who thinks only of themselves. Before you even start...I do not worship the ground he walks on nor do I think he's perfect....but he's a truely selfless man who has done noting but give for his entire life....he's given up what most of us work for in our lives...the love of a family...just so he can follow his God-given calling....to use his music to touch our lives like no one else has. There are some of us who pay that money because being able to be that close to him and share a special moment or two with him really means something to us. No wonder he has been so guarded towards intreaction with the fans...and when he does let that guard down and give us a glimpse of himself...look what he gets in return. I, for on, am embarrassed by your behavior....you have no idea what it really means to be a fan....to support someone no matter what....to give of yourself rather than exhibit that "take..take...take..gimmie..gimmie" mentality. I just hope that he can see past you people and continue to let those of us who appreciate what he gives us continue to enjoy it. Will some of you take offense to what I've written...I have no doubt...and I hope you do. Take a good long look in the mirror...do you see what Barry sees....all he sees is what you do on
these boards and on your local fan club websites......think about it.

Speechless for once in my life...

Thanking God I am grateful and humbled by Barry's sacrifice,
Texas Fanilow

Those Rare Moments...

We rarely have those once in a lifetime moments. Those moments when everything is perfect, and all seems right. And when they happen, they take our breath away because God has smiled on us and given us a glimpse of heaven.

Today, for me, was one of those moments. And, as usually happens, there was a lyric from one of Barry's songs that clinched it for me. "Whatever I know I learned from you...Whatever I do you taught me to do...Whatever I am you taught me to be."

I wonder if Barry knows how powerful his music is in our lives? I wonder if he knows that for every moment of joy and pain, he is there? I wonder if he ever wonders if his music makes a difference in this world, if it moves those that hear it? I wonder if he knows the depth of gratitude that I have for the sacrifice he has made to bring us this lifeline of hope?

I hope and pray he does...

Forever grateful to God and to Barry, Texas Fanilow

P.S. Thank you God for sending the person that "saw" the real me and "picked up the check" today...

Barry's Legacy of Music

I decided tonight to catch up on an HBO series that I watch and the family is sitting around in the living room. The oldest son is sitting at the piano playing a song while the they are all talking. I think...wait a minute...I know that intro...and low and behold, it was Copacabana! He played the entire song. It reminded me of Barry's original version on the box set...the one where he's working on the melody along with the lyrics.

It made me smile and think...he's so much a part of our lives. Every moment of every day something happens to remind us of him and make us smile. How is it possible that one person can do that for so many people? He really is everywhere, in restaurants, the movies, the mall, the grocery store...his music will live on for years and years to come. What a legacy...made me wish I had a legacy...something that when I'm gone people would smile or sigh and say, "wow, she really touched my life".

We all should have some legacy we leave behind. Barry has found his and it will bless the lives of future generations...I wonder what mine could be?

Searching for my legacy,
Texas Fanilow

Kelly Clarkson...my new hero!

Here's an article that expresses my sentiments EXACTLY....

Clarkson Vs Old Fart Davis
07/13/07 .(antiMusic)
What to do when a dinosaur with an overblown opinion of himself tells you that you need more cheese for your album? If you're Kelly Clarkson you tell him where to put his cheese.

We are talking about the great war between Kelly Clarkson and RCA label head, Clive Davis. Davis, whose biggest claims to fame are inheriting Barry Manilow when he took over a label after being fired from CBS under a cloud of embezzlement allegations and later taking credit for an employee's discovery of Whitney Houston, didn't care for Clarkson wanting to be a legitimate artist and recording her own material. Instead, he wanted the standard cheese factory to manufacture some hits for her. Clarkson did the unthinkable, she stood her ground against the geriatric label head.

Clarkson breaks her silence about the showdown with Davis in the August edition of Blender. When Davis approached her to drop her songs in favor of cheese factory "hits," Clarkson tells the magazine that she responded, "I don't know you very well, and I am not a bull-sh*ter. I get you don't like the album. You're 80. You're not supposed to like my album."

Davis, who prides himself as a record man that knows what manufactured musical "product" the public wants to buy, then told Clarkson that her songs "wouldn't sell more than 600,000 copies." So far her new album has sold a little over 400,000 copies within two weeks of release, so unless sales really tank or stop all together from now on, Davis will be proven wrong.

According to an AOL report , Clarkson further said that 'she doesn't like "working with people at the label" because they lie, and that she's not going to be a "pushover"'. So our hero of the year award goes to Clarkson for standing her ground!

Rushing out to buy Kelly Clarkson's new CD,
(Hoping to PROVE Davis WRONG at last!!!!)
Texas Fanilow

You know what they say.....

Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one. And boy, are they not afraid of expressing them!

The internet blogs, Bnet, message boards, and MySpace have all been abuzz about the new 70's CD. Opinions on the cover photo to the song list choices, to the Rosie duet abound. Now don't get me wrong, I like a good discussion just like the next person. And I'll be the first to admit that at first glance, there are few songs that I would not have chosen myself. Honestly, I only cared about one song: My Eyes Adored You. As far as I'm concerned, that sealed the purchase of the CD for me.
About the other songs...I will reserve judgment until I hear them. Why? Because when I first heard that he was recording Unchained Melody I balked. It became one of my favorite songs from the 50's CD. When I heard he was doing You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling, I once again balked. Upon hearing his version, I have forgotten the original. Several songs on the 60's CD blew me away, literally. So, I'm willing to wait and listen.

However, since I am like everyone and I have an opinion, I would like to say that someone (whoever that may be) forgot Marketing 101. A good friend of mine suggested this: make the 2nd CD ALL originally unrecorded songs of Barry's from the 70's; announce that there are a limited number of them available for sale; then watch them FLY off the shelves. An added bonus of this would be that the "public" would be exposed to Barry's original music and BEG for more!

Something to ponder for TPTB,
Expressing my opinion and patiently waiting to hear "the man" work his magic again,
Texas Fanilow

Viva Las Vegas

After a month of traveling all around, it's good to be home. At the end of May, I decided to hop on a plane to Las Vegas with my Barry buddy. I had a ticket to one show and was going to stay two nights and hop on the red eye back to Texas after the show.

I had a ticket to the Tuesday night show and let me just say his voice was as strong as I have heard it in quite awhile. Which is strange because he was getting sick. He belted out I Am Your Child and Even Now with gusto and as I listened I was reminded that it really is the music that brings me back time after time. I don't think there is another performer that can interpret the music with such passion and emotional depth.

You leave his shows saying, "wow...he did it again". And your feet carry you to the box office the next day to see if a good seat is available, just to experience another night of inspiration from the the man who connects with every emotion we have ever felt.

Thanks Barry for once again reminding me that there is nothing like a Manilow moment.

Looking forward to the next trip,
Texas Fanilow

Some kind of fans you turned out to be...

I've been thinking and have come up with a theory: there are TWO subcultures of Manilow fans:

Subculture #1-The fanatics
These are the women that live, eat, breath, sleep, talk, chat, post all things Manilow and meddle into every other fan's business. These women (and yes, it's the women) send hateful emails to people, report them to the BMIFC, harass fans if they even have an opinion contrary to theirs, and can't fathom that other people actually have lives apart from Barryland. They are irrational, out of control and obnoxious. They seem to be the majority...until you come in contact with....

Subculture #2-The balanced fans
These are fans (men and women) that have lives. They enjoy the music of Manilow. They are inspired by his life principles. They support his charities. And they attend his concerts when possible. They don't obcess about leather, about this fan or that fan, about who posted what negative comment on the message board or who knows TPTB. As a matter of fact, they rarely even post. These fans live in blogland and outside the realm of the barrynet. These are the fans that make up the vast majority of the Manilow community.

...and they are NORMAL.

Happy to be a part of subculture #2,
Texas Fanilow

Putting Power in Perspective...Always be for something

Another fan and a friend of mine, shared this the other day and I thought it was worth highlighting, viewing the current tone on the message boards that mirrors the tone in our country. See if you agree...

As human beings, we cannot help but be subject to our preferences. However, we do have control over the manner in which these manifest themselves in our lives. Every value we hold dear is an expression of either support or opposition, and it is our perspective that determines whether we are FOR something or AGAINST it. As an example of a situation we are all familiar at this time, we can direct our energy and intentions into activities that promote peace rather than using our resources to speak out in opposition of war. On the surface, these appear to be two interchangeable methods of expressing one virtue, yet being FOR something is a vastly more potent means of inspiring change because it carries with it the power of constructive intent.

When you support a cause, whether your support is active or passive, you contribute to the optimism that fuels all affirmative change. Optimistic thoughts energize people, giving them hope and inspiring them to work diligently on behalf of what they believe in. Being FOR something creates a positive shift in the universe, which means that neither you nor those who share your vision will have any trouble believing that transformation on a grand scale is indeed possible. To be AGAINST something is typically easy, as you need only speak out in opposition to it. Standing up FOR something is often more challenging, because you may be introducing an idea to people that may scare them on a soul level.

Throughout your life, you have likely been told that the actions of one person will seldom have a measurable impact on the world. Yet your willingness to stand up for what you believe in instead of decrying what you oppose can turn the tides of fate. The thoughts you project when you choose to adopt a positive perspective will provide you with a means to actively promote your values and, eventually, foster lasting change.

It's easy to criticize, but so much harder to be FOR something. Barry is a perfect example for this and he shows us how the actions of one person--"one voice"--can indeed make a difference.

Adding my voice to his and being FOR PEACE,

Texas Fanilow

(thanks Carole for sharing this principle)