I wasn't sure about this evening, considering the way it started - the airlines lost my luggage - they still haven't found
it. So I had to attend the show dressed very casually. Kind of embarassing, but it was either that or miss Barry - and
no way I was going to miss Barry!
But what a show! And what a great mood Barry seemed to be in. He sang his heart out for us tonight. And this wasn't one
of the wild crowds - in fact, it was rather sedate. But Barry didn't seem to mind.
He almost bounced out onto the stage at the opening of the show. I've never seen him sing It's a Miracle with so
much...joy. I think Barry was smiling as much as we were. Then the same with Daybreak. And Somewhere in the Night
was just plain sexy - ooh! So, considering the way the show started out, you would think that it couldn't get any
better - but it did.
Barry sang a bit of The Old Songs, then moved over to the right side for Jump Shout Boogie, then back to the center
for Chattanooga Choo Choo. Then he sang a beautiful rendition of Moonlight Serenade. I have no idea who the dance
girl was, but whoever, I have photos for her.
Barry's great mood continued through the 50's segment. All of the backups were really into it tonight - I think I
laughed harder than I normally do.
When Kye brought Barry's change of jacket out, Barry asked him how he managed to change so fast. So I started paying
attention - and they DO make some awfully fast clothing changes.
For the ballads portion of the show, Barry sang I Am Your Child first. He changed the opening of the song slightly -
the chords were different, more powerful. The entire song was more powerful than the original. It was beautiful.
And then we got Weekend in New England again - yay!!!! It was so passionate - I've never seen Barry perform that song
with so much feeling. It's really indescribable - you just had to be there.
The last several shows I've felt as if I'm experiencing Barry all over again. He's reinvented the songs to the point
that even though they're the same, they're new. He sings them with so much more passion than he ever did before. And
his voice has really grown stronger over the years, and his performances even stronger than that. I know I shouldn't
still feel the same excitement, but I do - there were times tonight when I felt just like that 16-year-old seeing
some guy perform Mandy for the first time. I know some people say it's the same old show - sorry, there was nothing
"same old" about the show tonight. Maybe the titles of the songs were the same, but nothing else was.
Barry got playful during Can't Smile Without You - as he played the piano, he would play extra little notes and
chords. Playful is the only way to describe it - he was having fun, and we were having fun, and even the backups
were having fun judging by the smiles on their faces as he did it.
We got the Chinese fire drill version of New York City Rhythm, and we also got the William Tell Overture.
The 60's segment was just as upbeat and fresh as the rest of the show. And You've Lost That Loving Feeling was
even more sexy than usual - I've got a good photo from that one.
Mandy and Could It Be Magic - they were also just as passionately done as Weekend in New England. That portion
of the show frequently stands out, but it was exceptional this evening. Barry was just right on tonight. If
there were ever a time when he could make everyone in the audience feel as if he were singing directly to them,
this was it.
He closed the show with the standard songs. I Write the Songs seemed to have extra "feeling" tonight, just like
the rest of the show.
When the streamers came down tonight, even Barry got covered in them. It was fun to see him draped in all those
strands of color.
Well, I don't know how the shows could get any better than this one - but if I know Barry, he'll try.
And hopefully I'll get some good news in the morning and my luggage will find me. I might be able to survive
without my clothes, but I need my blood pressure medicine! I don't think I can survive Barry without it! LOL
