Jersey Boys AND Harmony

After seeing the Jersey Boys in Vegas last month, I've been enjoying the soundtrack and recalling the story behind the musical. Jersey Boys is a documentary-style musical based on the lives of one of the most successful '60s rock 'n roll groups, the Four Seasons. The musical uses many of the group's hit songs to tell the turbulent story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons' rise to fame. The story is told from the viewpoint of each of the members of the group, giving the audience a different perspective and allowing you to actually see the personalities and the conflicts that arose during their rise to fame and subsequent success. Part concert, part Jukebox musical, Jersey Boys took in over $400,000 at the box office the day after it opened. Jersey Boys premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse.

I couldn't help but compare this successful musical to another musical about a group of male singers: The Comedian Harmonists. Barry's musical, Harmony, is based on the real-life tale of the Comedian Harmonists, a vocal group in Germany in the 1920s and '30s, around the time Hitler was rising to power. The story is focused around the lives of these six men and the music tells the story of their struggles and their eventual success. Harmony also premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse and received very positive reviews, prior to encountering legal issues that forced its shut down.



So here's my question? If Jersey Boys could be such a success financially and win numerous Tony Awards, why not Harmony? Perhaps now is the time. Perhaps now the public is primed and ready to receive a musical of such high caliber and creativity both in the writing of the story, lyrics and musical score.

I will continue to believe it's possible and keep the dream alive...
First..there was Harmony!
Texas Fan

Bring Them Home

Being the parent of an ex-Marine and the daughter of a father who served during World War II, Memorial Day holds special significance to me. My son served his country willingly and proudly while in the Marine Corps and was willing to give the ultimate sacrifice if necessary for our freedom.

Staff Sergeant Everett V. Muilenburg, USAF 1941-1945 (left)

PFC Ryan D. Shaffer, USMC, 1997-2001 (right)

Dear Lord,
There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.
We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.

There's a young woman far from home,
serving her nation with pride.
Her step is strong, her step is sure,
there is courage in every stride.
We pray You keep her safe,
we pray You keep her strong,
we pray You send her safely home ...
for she's been away too long.

Bless those who await their safe return.
Bless those who mourn the lost.
Bless those who serve this country well,
no matter what the cost.

God bless our troops today, their families, and all those who have lost loved ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

God on high hear my prayer,
In my need you have always been there.

He is young he's afraid,

Let him rest heaven blessed

Bring him home!

Texas Fan

The Silent Fans

A review from Friday night's show made me think about this subject. There was a fan in the audience with terminal cancer that had never been to a Manilow concert. He was there with his sister to recall some wonderful childhood memories and experience the music LIVE. Then I remembered two weeks ago the story of a woman who was also there with uterine cancer and her picture was captured unknowingly by a fan photographer with a huge smile on her face. Barry might never know that his music did indeed provide hope and comfort to these two fans and to the ones that came with them.

I thought about all the fans out there whose voices have never been heard. The ones who have never posted a blog online, visited the Barrynet, found the Manilow network. The ones who have for years enjoyed the music and never connected with other fans or with Barry. These fans remain in the shadows of the Manilow world. They don't get involved in the "politics" or the "drama". All they know is the music and how it moves them.

Then, I thought about how many whiners are in the online community and how many complain about this and that and never seem to be happy. I thought about the ones that are quick to criticize and take shots at him and his music and his private life. I thought about all the vocal fans, the ones who pass along rumors and look for anything they can gossip about. And it made me just a little sad that these are the fans that make the most noise and sometimes have the strongest voice.

Although Barry may never know the magnitude of the affect his music has had on the masses, he does know and hear from those who take the time to tell him: in their Platinums, on radio phone calls, in the cards and letters he receives, during back stage meet and greets, and by word of mouth from those who are close to him. Those of you who are lucky enough to do this can be the voice of the silent fans and pass the message along. His music gives all of us joy and hope and that's why we keep coming back and that's why all those fans who never say a word keep listening.

If I had a chance, I would like to say, "Don't forget about those silent fans, Barry. They are out there, enjoying the music and the memories it brings. They may not voice it or you may never hear it, but your music is touching their lives every single day."

From a once silent fan...thanks for the music,
Texas Fan

Hearts with Paws

In a recent radio interview Barry was asked what made him laugh. "My dogs," he said, "their just big hearts with paws." That comment brought a huge smile to my face. I've had some special pets in my lifetime and two very special "grandpuppies" that I absolutely adore. I raised these miniature dachshunds from pups until it was time for my daughter to take them to live with her. I grew very attached to them and I take every opportunity to go and see them when I can since they have recently moved to Dallas. They make me smile every time I'm with them and bring such joy into my life.

Pets are great stress relievers, joy providers, smile givers, and pain healers. I can't imagine not having them around. They love you unconditionally and provide you with hours of entertainment. They truly are "hearts with paws".

Bentley (brown) and Pacey (black)

Missing my grandpuppies,
Texas Fan

Living Deep

I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately.
I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life...to put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
~Henry David Thoreau

One of my absolute favorite places is Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. It's where Thoreau went into the woods to meditate, write and be alone. It's where he found his inspiration and where he put all the cares of the world aside and was able to see life in a different light.

It's so easy to get tangled up in the day-to-day mundane activities of life and miss out on the beauty of it all. Living deliberately takes some effort. It requires determination and fortitude and an ability to say no to all the naysayers that come along. Navigating the ins and outs of it all can be difficult and scary at times. But this life we live should never be wasted or taken for granted. Grab hold of it and:

Just aim beyond the clouds
And rise above the crowds
And start your own parade

Living Deep,
Texas Fan

Black on Black

This morning the new pictures are up from the Ella Awards (see above). Of course, Mr. Manilow looks absolutely dashing as always. And trust me, I'm not the fashion expert (I leave that up to my daughter who tells me he always looks "classy").

But I long for some variety. Black on black is classy, but when he mixes it up and changes his shirts, that's when his good looks and his absolute charisma seem to burst forth. Here's a few of my favorite pictures in something other than black on black.

My personal favorite-the classic white shirt.

Just some fun for today,
Texas Fan

Stop and smell the roses

A perfect rose for a perfect day.
Singing to the world...

Hope

The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.
(Barbara Kingsolver)

Your hopes, dreams and inspirations are legitimate. They are trying to take you airborne, above the clouds, above the storms, if you only let them.
(William James)

Every area of trouble gives out a ray of hope; and the one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable.
(John F. Kennedy)

Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams..Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.
(Pope John XXIII)

Hope sees the invisible, feel the intangible and achieves the impossible.
(Charles Caleb Colton)

Hope is like a bird that senses dawn and carefully starts to sing while it is still dark.
(Unknown)

Hope never abandons you; you abandon it.
(George Weinberg)

Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier.
(Unknown)

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.
(Albert Camus)

Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark.
(George Iles)

Hope is believing in spite of the evidence, then watching the evidence change.
(Jim Wallis)

Hope, like the gleaming taper’s light,
Adorns and cheers our way;
And still, as darker grows the night,
Emits a brighter ray.
(Oliver Goldsmith)

Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it.
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

Hope is not a dream but a way of making dreams become reality.
(LJ Suenens)

In silence and in hope shall be our strength.
(Isaiah 30:15)

As long as we have hope, we have direction, the energy to move, and the map to move by. We have a hundred alternatives, a thousand paths and an infinity of dreams.
(Unknown)

In this world of darkest night
Where hope is hurled away
There they are
And still there's light
Oh so far
But will they...?
Dare they lift our hearts
As we lift our eyes
Are we fools to see
The hope that's gleaming in the skies?
Look!
There's the light!
Stars in the night!
(Barry Manilow, Bruce Sussman)

PRETTY AMAZING!
Texas Fan

Where do you hide your heart?

Another day, a lonely day
So much to say that goes unspoken
And through the night, his sleepless nights
His eyes are closed, his heart is broken
(Solitare)

Yesterday's a dream
I face the morning
Crying on a breeze
The pain is calling
(Mandy)

And so you smile your smile
And fool those fools you care about
You've got it all
You've got the whole thing figured out
Well haven't you?
(ShadowMan)

You know I wanted to be like my mother
But if I hadn't done it as soon as I did
Oh there might have been time to be me
For myself, for myself
There's so many things that she wishes
She don't even know what she's missing
But that's how she knows that she's missed.
(Sandra)

And I've looked high, low
Everywhere I possibly can
But there's no trying to get the feeling again
It seemed to disappear as fast as it came.
(Tryin' to Get the Feelin')

Smile, make them think you're happy
Lie, and say that things are fine.
And hide that empty longing that you feel
Don't ever show it, just keep your heart concealed.
(Friend of a Wounded Heart)

I hear you're down again
You've lost the will to win
Where do you run when your hurting?
Where do you hide your heart?
(Where Do You Hide Your Heart?)

Sometimes, the music and lyrics just know.

Come Monday.
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