To the ladies in Stars In The Night:
Carolyn, Terry, Elaine H. and Elaine S. (You two had me going in a spin remembering one from another last name wise, I remember you by sight, but it wasn’t until I got home that I was able to match up your last names, lol) And Lorene & Brenda, I didn’t get your email addresses. Thanks to all of you for making this an unforgettable convention. What a smashing appearance we made with your beautiful and classy Stars In The Night masks. So glad they won first prize. I must now collect my memories and write them down to share with those who couldn’t be there. I will try to do a review in relationship to the very first convention I attended in 1983 in Chicago. I couldn’t help looking back at how things have changed and how they remain the same. It still amazes me how Barry has generated so much love and friendships, our common bond is our admiration of the brightest and talented superstar of our time. Here is my corrected version of the shows that I posted on the Bnet.
Barry Manilow’s Music & Passion Shows
So what did I think of these shows? Can you say “Hot, Hot, Hot”? Be ready to throw down, and I don’t mean the dice. So how can a guy who is so cool be soooo hot? I’m sure Barry isn’t about to answer that question. I agree with Vikki Thomas, Barry is a Bad Ass, Go on with your bad self! I just loved the way he tied in the theme of music and passion, I really didn’t get it until I saw the shows. Barry just dazzle you with his stage presence. How on earth can he continue to top himself is also a question I will never get an answer to, but who cares. All I can say is that with these shows Barry whipped up more charm, delights, chills and thrills that you couldn’t help but want to come back for more. Here are just a few highlights and please don’t ask what order, my little brain is still out vacationing. I’m hoping some bright and studious person will provide the set list for each of the shows.
I am crazy about the opening, Right Here! Right Now! audio & visuals. It just blew me away. I loved the way Barry performed Mandy last year, the element of rising from beneath the stage was brilliance, but the way he did the Mandy/Could It Be Magic was even more so in relations to the music and passion theme. My view for this portion of the concert was better on the right side than the left. I saw the total effect on Friday night as my view of the center screen was unobstructed. I’m not saying I had bad seats Saturday, far from it, however total views of the center screen are better in some sections than others.
Concert Highlights:
Barry sang “I’m Still Here” Saturday early show, that was a treat to hear and he sang
“If I Can Dream” in tribute to Elvis. Somewhere Down The Road was especially good, as he sang a portion a cappella at the Rock Bottom Bar. So much of what I have been reading about these shows now become clearer to me as I experience it for myself. How true for me that the really first time Barry had me singing to his music was to the tune of “I am Stuck On Bandaid” and now I’m Stuck on Manilow Music. Something the deejays had to learn from us on Friday night.
I was thrilled to pieces to hear Barry sing “Keep Each Other Warm” in the arrangement I first heard during the Big Fun Tour De Force and haven’t heard since 1989 at the beautiful Gershwin Theatre. The studio version is excellent, but I just adore this arrangement. Another thrilling moment was hearing “The Best Seat In The House” at the Rock Bottom Bar. The most emotionally charged moments was Kyle’s incredible performance at the piano with Barry. It means so much to have someone like Kyle who we know from the board to have this shining moment. Kyle looked so relaxed and played like a pro. He had all the passion and precision of the maestro down to the very last note. It has got to be one for the record and hopefully we will see it land on a DVD.
I was most happy about the very newly added Here At The Mayflower, Come Monday and They Dance Mega Medley, which also included “Hot Stuff”, Boogie Wonderland and Signed Sealed Delivered, I’m Yours. The band was really kickin’ it big time. Really loved the horn section! When I read Diane Artuso’s post Wednesday night before my flight to Vegas I got chills reading about it. Thanks Diane for the heads up. That must have been an extra special experience to add to your memories of this trip. Everybody in the band shined in this portion of the show. They all really rocked the house, spectacular! The most beautiful visual effects of the entire theatre was when Barry was singing a cappella “One Voice”. It gave the three dimensional effect in both a global and universal way. How enchanting!
I am smiling as I think of the ushers passing out the glow sticks to us before the show and ever so helpful in telling us to use them for Copacabana. They just don’t know us, the song has been “I Write The Songs” for aeon. After all we aren’t the ordinary run of the mill audience they were talking to. One man looked at me while entering for the late show on Saturday and said, you was here earlier too! and I’m sure you know where your seat is. This song is such a great celebration of Barry’s musical career. All the emotions, passion and music Barry has given us over the years culminate in this celebration. Not so much in the song itself as in the spirit it embodied.
And so I saved the biggest thrill of the show for last!!! Copa a la Vegas. Ooooh la,la. Let’s just say there’s a whole lot of shakin’ going on. My heart was racing as they lowered the stairs and for me it really looked liked the Star Ship Manilow making a landing, in both the way it was lowered and the way the lights were flashing. All I can say is what a spectacular ride aboard the Star Ship Manilow this weekend. The Star Ship Enterprise had to park it somewhere else as we took over Quarks after the show. To Barry thanks so much for the musical journey not just for this weekend, but for over 30
years. What a real blast it has been, tell me, where has the time gone? Hope you felt our love for you as well as we have of yours for making these show all so very special. Many thanks, hope to see the show again real soon.
Ann Marsh ;D
Still Vacationing in Rocky Mount, North Carolina
with free wireless internet service, something the Vegas Hilton should have!!!!!
