Barry Manilow – The Legend Croons Albany One Last Time

By Michael Bruce.

As a huge Kiss fan, I’ve always wanted to say, “Man … Manilow?”, and actually mean it!  Why?  Kiss put out a home video called “Kiss Exposed” in 1987.  In a staged-for-the-beginning-of-the-video scene, a reporter knocks on Paul’s mansion door to come in and do an interview.  When the tired rock star (because he was up all night with girls) answers the door, he tells them to come back later.  The reporter tells Paul that he’d love to, “but we’ve got the Manilow concert tonight.”  My friends and I thought that was hilarious, because it is.  Making a reference about the importance of Barry Manilow in a hard rock band’s home video got a ton of laughs.  But truth be told, it was all and always just in good fun.  Even hard rocker Paul Stanley himself would tell you Barry Manilow is one of the true greats in the entertainment world.  

Speaking of entertaining, Barry Manilow entertained the socks off of Albany, NY at the MVP Arena on June 29.  It was a rescheduled show because Barry had to undergo surgery to clear up early-stage lung cancer and beat a bout of pneumonia some months ago.  However, he’s fully back, looking and sounding good!  As you would expect, tons of women were there, and guys like me bringing their wives, but definitely more than happy to be there to see Barry.  He is an original, he is a crooner, he is a niche, he’s a hit machine, a fantastic singer/songwriter, but he is even above all those things a LIVE ENTERTAINER.  If you had to pick someone to teach you how to “entertain,” you should put Barry Manilow at minimum towards the very top of your list.  Some people just have “IT.”  That unexplainable something that just draws you in, and you become interested even when they’re just talking.  Barry is sincere, heartfelt, charismatic, and downright funny.  He has no issues glorifying himself and making fun of himself.  At one point, the 83-year-old ENTERTAINER celebrating himself said, “I like it in here with all of you.  Let’s forget what’s out there, lock the doors, and order a pizza.  And I love the fact that you are all here for the same reason … To Love Me.”   I certainly cracked up.  His delivery was as good as any comedian.  In another moment where he made fun of himself, he said, “I am still a Sex God” (then he did some love-making motions) … THEN, proceeded to walk like his hip went out and said, “Now the Sex God needs to sit down.”  He was just simply having a great time.  He was just as happy to see Albany, as Albany was to see him.

However, let’s get to the brass tacks.  Barry Manilow is a LEGEND.  He has multiple songs that can truly live on forever, because so many people will always be able to relate to them, and these great compositions simply make you feel good!  They are total ear candy!  He started with “It’s A Miracle,” as he stood atop this super cool ramp, on this super cool kind of Vegas-style stage setup, with a big screen behind him, and his incredible band on both sides of the ramp.  His excellent backing vocalists were down in front near where he would sing center stage most of the night, unless he was behind his piano.  By the way, when the band was playing some grandiose intro music, and we saw Barry on stage for the first time atop the ramp, his arms out, with Manilow in huge letters behind him on the screen … it was the feeling of wow, THE LEGEND IS IN THE HOUSE!  Follow that up with, “I’m Your Man,” “Somewhere In The Night,”  “Daybreak,” “Looks Like We Made It,” “Can’t Smile Without You,” “Weekend In New England,” “I Write The Songs”… I mean C’mon!  My fingers hurt from typing all these hits!!  Here’s the scary part: his 90-minute hits-packed show DIDN’T include a ton of hits!  We would have been there all night.  Some show highlights were when he got personal.  He performed the song, “This One’s For You,” and dedicated it to his grandfather, who recognized his talent at a very early age.  He even played a part of a recording over the speakers from a record his grandfather had him make when he was like 8 years old.  Then he played the Donna Summer version of his song, “Could It Be Magic,” in all of the song’s danceable disco glory.  Then he said that in every region the tour stopped at, they wanted to award a music teacher with an excellent reputation.  Phil Pandori from Niskayuna received that award, and he stood up and waved from one of the floor seats as they put a spotlight on him.  That was a wonderful moment.  Barry dedicated “Once Before I Go” to the music guru Clive Davis, who recently passed away.  Barry actually spoke at his funeral.  Clive was one of the people who helped Barry get to the top.  Barry had some fun with covering “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”  by Frankie Valli.  He also joined his backing vocalists for an a cappella version of “William Tell Overture”  that was most impressive. 

Among all of those great songs, sing-a-long songs, songs that made me smile, laugh, dance in my seat and even get a little teary … his performance of “Mandy” was earth-moving for me.  They ran a video of young Barry Manilow on a television show called “The Midnight Special.”  This was a popular show for some years where they often televised up-and-coming musical stars performing.  On the show, they announced Barry as the next American star.  Wow, they weren’t kidding.  The song started as we watched Barry performing “Mandy” in 1975.  It was so crazy to think that this great performance was 51 years ago! Then, the 83-year-old Barry Manilow, who was right in front of us at his piano, joined in with the 1975 Barry as they traded lines and sang it together.  It’s the kind of thing that just mentally wrecks you with emotion.  You’re so happy to watch something so entertaining, so happy that Barry is still right in front of you singing this gorgeous song, but at the same time thinking, how in the world has 51 years passed by!!  I cannot imagine what it feels like for Barry every show he does that.  Getting “the chills” was an understatement, as we are so grateful to still have some of these incredible entertainers that mean so much to us still with us on Earth.  Hey Mike, what about “Copacabana”? Settle down, folks.  Of course, that was the show-stopper final song of the night.  Nobody was still during one of the most famous dance songs ever recorded! 

Barry Manilow, Bravo! Thank you for giving us songs and performances that will live on for us and for generations to come.  You are a true one of a kind, and Albany LOVED its time with you last night.