What a birthday show! Barry got the reception he deserves. And what a treat for us - to get to spend Barry's 40th birthday (you said it, Barry!!) with him. It was a very special evening.
Barry had the crowd from the minute he walked out on stage. For once, I didn't see many civilians up close - everyone was there for the same reason - to love Barry!
The opening song (other than the usual medley, which was fantastic, of course) was Why Don't We Live Together - with the changed lyrics. I just love this song.
After The Old Songs, Barry walked to the side of the stage to change jackets. He said, "It's warm in here!" And then he pointed at us and said, "You've made it HOT!"
Instead of Moonlight Serenade tonight Barry sang Ready To Take A Chance Again. Although still not as romantic as Moonlight Serenade, the portion of the song where Barry dances with the girl was extended - so it was much nicer - it felt like he actually danced with her. When she got up to dance with him, she told him "Happy Birthday". It seemed to catch him a little off guard - first clue that he apparently didn't realize why we were all there. Then he asked her, "And how long have you been in love with me?" The audience howled. She thought for a moment and then said, "About 32 years." That really caught him off balance - he wasn't expecting that answer. And after the dance was over and he went back to center stage, he made some comment about not meaning to be a smart-aleck (okay, he said something else, but we'll leave it at that!) and that he just didn't think she could have been with him for 32 years. (It's because you make us all feel 16 again, Barry - every night you do!) And then he turned to the audience and said, "I'll bet some of you have been..." and then he just let it trail off. That's all he needed to say, because we all knew what what he meant.
Barry headed for the piano, then turned back around to us and said, "You're all here for my birthday??" He had one of those facial expressions that I'll never forget - he honestly appeared surprised. Now, Barry is a much better actor than the critics give him credit for - but that expression seemed genuine. At one point he thanked us all for coming for his "40th birthday." He also said that "My Jewish guilt is in full force!"
I wanted to clarify something - I keep saying that Moonlight Serenade is more romantic than Ready To Take A Chance Again. I don't mean that one song is more romantic than the other. I *love* RTTACG! It's very romantic - can you imagine Barry singing that to you? I just mean that for the overall execution of that portion of the show, including the music, Moonlight Serenade comes across as more romantic. But honestly, the change he made last night really made a difference - it worked for me. Don't you just love the way I express my opinions about these things? I don't know squat!! LOL And if I were the one chosen as Dance Girl, I wouldn't care if he were singing a children's nursery rhyme to me! LOL Even that would be romantic if it were me!
Some of the audience tried to sing Happy Birthday to him. Barry still seemed to be trying to recover from the idea that we actually were there for his birthday.
There was no 40's segment tonight. The 50's segment had been changed to what he does during his arena shows. No solo dance by Keely and Kye - everyone dancing behind Barry. I like it this way, too.
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Barry went into Looks Like We Made It. It was an excellent performance, not as emotional or passionate as some of the more recent performances of it, but still very sexy. And the audience still did plenty of screaming.
Then Barry sat down at the piano and sang Weekend in New England. It was another beautiful performance. Something I noticed in this song and all of the other ballads he did tonight - his face was very expressive. He seemed to be totally immersed in his thoughts.
For Can't Smile Without You, Barry wanted to the audience to sing along from the beginning. The audience was slow getting started, because after all, that's not how he usually does it. You have us trained, Barry! He kept gesturing to us to sing along, a few people did. Then he looked at Melanie and Monica and said, "They're tired." Finally, we all started singing with him.
Barry sat down at the piano to start another ballad. He said that those of us who have been with him for years know that he used to play in piano lounges. And he mentioned how by changing the "don't" to "can't" he changed the entire meaning of Why Don't We Live Together. Then he went on to say that he was taught that you could change the meaning of songs that way, and that he was also taught that you could make any song racy (did he say dirty? or filthy? can't remember...) by changing "you" to "yours". Then he decided to demonstrate. He said, "For instance, Can't Smile Without Yours". The audience was rolling. He mentioned another song title which I've forgotten - but that got him started giggling. (He was so adorable!) Then he said, "I'd Really Love to See Yours Tonight." Everyone had tears streaming down their face at that point.
We thought Barry was going to compose himself and go on with the ballad. But then he suddenly stood up and started telling the story of the car above his head at a corporate show that he did. He also said that when he performed these songs some of those memories come back to him. Gee, really romantic, Barry! We think you're singing love songs to us, and you're really thinking about cars hanging over your head! LOL
After that, Barry sat down for the next ballad - he sang Even Now. It was also beautiful and very emotional. I love the song, although sometimes it depresses me. But for some reason tonight, it didn't. It actually made me feel good.
They also did New York City Rhythm - Ron P wins this time!
I may have my songs out of order here - a lot to keep up at this show!
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Barry was about to move on with the show, and then the backups came from backstage with a HUGE birthday cake with candles on it - it appeared to be a surprise to Barry. They sang "Happy Birthday" to him - not the traditional version, a more modern version. They called him around to blow out the candles, which he did. Then he thanked us all for coming and for making it a wonderful night for him - he made a comment about it being one of those nights that you would consider suicide, and that we had made it fantastic. (all paraphrased because I can't remember his exact words) He asked us if we would all come back for his birthday next year. Then they told him that he needed to cut the cake. So he did, very carefully - then reached down with his bare hand and grabbed a handful and tried to smear it on Keely and then Kye and the rest. His hand was totally covered with cake. They had to bring a towel out from the back for him to wipe his hands.
More birthday photos here
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Then Barry decided he needed to throw in another song for us - so he sang That's Life. By the point in the show, he was very bouncy again.
After that he went over to the former Rock Bottom side and sang Somewhere Down the Road. That's one of my favorites - frequently makes me cry - made me cry tonight. This was the most beautiful of all the songs that he performed. The last portion of the song he did without the band - just Barry singing - beautiful. And he seemed especially reflective as the opening notes of the song began.
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Barry came back to center stage to do the 60's segment. Then they moved into the 70's segment as usual.
Barry had on my favorite white jacket for Mandy/Could It Be Magic! I just love that jacket.
And then it was time for I Write the Songs. At the point in the song when Barry looks over at the backups and mouths "I love you", Melanie was quietly applauding him. When Barry got to the second verse in IWTS, he started giggling again. He sang, "My home lies deep within...YOURS!" I looked over at the backups, a couple of them were smiling, a couple looked like they were trying to keep from laughing out loud.
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And, of course, keeping with the theme of the night, during Copacabana Barry again said, "Ah, love... SEX!!!!" What else?!
As he went around introducing his band, he reached up and pulled papers off the keyboards of Ron P and Ron W, tossing them in the air with a silly look on his face. Not sure what they were. Possibly a set list - since he had changed the show up so much. At any rate, they all thought it was funny.
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And then it was over. Barry was totally wrapped in streamers - he could barely walk. And the look he gave the audience as he walked off the stage was priceless. I'll go ahead and post that shot even though it's blurry.
Barry did show up at the BMIFC Bash. Most people managed to get a handshake - unfortunately, my table was right where he walked into the room, so we were missed when they started ushering him around to everyone. But it was still special that he showed up. He had his entire band surrounding him.
Wonderful show and wonderful evening. And best of all, we were there showing our love and support for Barry, not just for the performer.
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