During I Write the Songs last night, I started sliding into our all-too familiar Post-Manilow depression, so this
review may not be as lively as the others, but it certainly isn't a reflection on the show. It was great.
It was the standard opening. Barry didn't seem to have quite as much energy as he'd had the other nights - but
it appeared he might have a bit of a cold. Still, It's a Miracle was lively - and Somewhere in the Night was wonderful.
During Chattanooga Choo Choo, Barry added a few silly little dance steps, showing that he was still in a playful mood.
Barry only did one song during his ballads segment - he sang I Made It Through the Rain. It was the Grandpa
version, and it was beautiful. I don't guess I'll ever tire of the way he's doing that now, displaying the photo
from his childhood, and the look on his face when he does it.
Barry seemed to be hamming up during Love Is A Many Splendored Thing more so than what I've seen over the last
few months. It was almost as much as when he first started doing the song.
They performed William Tell Overture again, and New York City Rhythm. Barry did get a little playful on the
piano during the latter.
Mandy/CIBM were again extremely passionate. Interestingly enough, I Write the Songs also seemed rather passionate.
As I said, I had already sunk into the blues at that point, so I've lost a lot of the details of the final
moments of the show. I do remember Barry being covered in streamers again, and then blowing a very sweet kiss
to the audience as the lights went out.
It's amazing how other artists that I've seen just don't seem to be able to compare to Barry. There have been
some I've really, really enjoyed and would gladly see again - but they still don't hold a candle to Barry.
Reflecting back on the week, Keep Each Other Warm (which I'm listening to as I write this) is still the highlight.
There are a lot of great love songs out there - and I know that every song touches different people in different
ways - but this one speaks to me more than the rest. The lyrics are perfect (to me, anyway) - love, devotion,
support and still freedom - just knowing that someone is there for you regardless - that's my dream, even though
it will probably never happen.
At any rate, while I thinking back on that, I realized that even though my reviews usually lean toward how the
music sounds or the way Barry performed the song, Keep Each Other Warm brought me back to what drew most of us
to Barry in the first place - his overall ability to take a love song and sell it. It's not just the music,
it's not just the performance - it's his ability to reach in and touch our hearts, make us feel the song, and
make us believe he feels the song. And whatever that ability is, it goes beyond the technical aspects of a
performance and the music. I think that's what keeps us coming back.
