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Paris Las Vegas - March 6, 2010 (late show)(View photo gallery here)
CC-40
The set list was the same - and I was glad of that, because it helped me remember more! Without going back to look at my photos, I can't tell you if Barry wore different jackets between the two shows. You'll just have to check out my photos to see. Something I didn't notice at the first show (I'm sure because of where I was sitting), but the images in those "picture frames" that are hanging above the stage are in 3D. How the heck do they do that? Have any of you ever watched a Blu-Ray disc? That's what it was like - the images jumped out at you. That was kind of a cool effect. Something else I also noticed - Barry has incorporated some of the choreography from It's A Miracle into Could It Be Magic. The part where Barry and backups are at the front of the stage dancing together - that's in CIBM now. The sound was different at this show - don't know if it was where I was sitting or if they're still just tweaking it. I could hear different instruments very distinctly at certain points. For instance, there was one point where I could hear Mike's guitar - every note of it.
I just love hearing all of Somewhere in the Night. I love the song. Barry performed this as a love song - but he was walking right on the edge of getting sexy with it as he did at the Hilton show. He kept it very classy - there was just enough of the facial expressions and mannerisms to get your attention. It was a cross between romantic and sexy. Love the huge smiley face in the background on Can't Smile Without You. Barry tells us to get into karaoke mode. This song has the same feel as it did for the last shows at the Hilton - just kind of happy. This One's For You was exceptional. It was the same as the earlier show, with Barry talking about his grandfather, etc... But it didn't seem the song was for his grandfather this time. Something different that I've never heard Barry do before - as he was singing the last chorus of the song, he preceded it with "Can't you tell? This one's for you..." Wow - that was powerful. That grabbed me. Funny how just a few words can make such a huge difference in a song. New York City Rhythm. This must be where Brandon has his sax solo. There are pictures frames hanging from the ceiling with various photos of guys playing the saxophone. Kind of a jazzy feel. Then Barry comes out in his black leather jacket. Ooooohhhhh...
They've changed up the way the keyboardists each get their solo moment during NYCR. For one thing, it feels like the guys are getting longer solo segments. In addition, instead of the keyboardists putting on brightly colored jackets and running down to Barry's piano, a grand piano rolls out for Ron P to play (on the left side of the stage). After he finishes his solo, he and Barry cross over to Joe on the opposite side of the stage - Joe plays his solo. Then Ron W come down from his station to Barry's piano to do his solo. While he's playing, Barry, Joe and Ron P as well as the backups come over to join him. After Ron W finishs his solo, the backups go back to their stations. Then Barry and the 3 keyboardists finish up the solo segment complete with the hi-five. One thing I really do miss is It's A Miracle. That's my favorite Manilow song. Doesn't really matter if it opens the show or not - I just love to hear him sing it. But Barry, with his arranging genius, has managed to figure out a way to include it in New York City Rhythm - it's only a small part, only the words "it's a miracle" as everyone is gathered around the piano - but at least it's still in there in some fashion. Really kind of clever how Barry did it. During the grandfather segment (as I'll affectionately call it from this point forward), I noticed that Barry also played the first scratchy record of his grandfather trying to get him to sing Happy Birthday to his cousin. I didn't notice that at the first show. Too much to process, I guess - plus, I was excited about the Nature Boy segment. And Barry's facial expressions as "baby Barry" sings Nature Boy are priceless. After the recording ends, the piano intro before current day Barry starts singing the song is wonderful. I really love hearing Barry sing Nature Boy - there's just something about his voice with those lyrics...
I think Even Now was even better at this show - more powerful. Barry's voice didn't falter one bit at the end where he's so passionate and where he sings that long note. It was fabulous. I KNOW that I Wanna Be Somebody's Baby was better at this show! And it was fantastic at the first one. Everyone was up and dancing - heck, even I couldn't stay still, and I have about 12 left feet. Just a fantastic performance of a fantastic song. The Love Song segment (another term for this portion of the show - okay, I'm lazy and don't want to have to keep typing a description of it over and over!) was great again. Where Does Love Begin was even more powerful at this show - incredibly passionate at the end - reminiscent of when Barry used to perform Every Single Day. Love Me Tender was again very beautiful and very soft. Barry did at one point gesture toward the audience, then quickly pull his hand back - don't know if he thought it wasn't going to work, or what. Actually, it kinda didn't work - at least not at that point. At any rate, the vocals and music were just gorgeous.
I think the point in the show where the girls are standing like statues and Barry is gesturing toward the picture frames is during Our Love Is Here to Stay. There was still a delay on the changing of the 3rd picture - so everyone laughed. But, if that's controlled by the computer, then that means Barry is gesturing a little too soon. Not sure. It's just a funny, cute moment - doesn't detract from the song. And I still can't figure out how the girls can stand so still for so long. It's very good to see Barry being able to perform I Write the Songs so well. That note at the end was perfect - Barry nailed it. And seemed quite pleased with himself, too. LOL! The new 50s-60s segment was great again. Kye does the splits! Ouch! Barry gave us a couple of funny little dances - so cute! Oh, and when the girls come out, Kye is pretending to be a photographer taking their photo. They had the problem with the Midnight Special video corrected at this show. Somewhere Barry said that he was taking one thing with him from the Hilton - I'm guessing this is it.
Barry has found new life with Mandy. The expressions on his face were priceless. So much emotion... The dance segment that I mentioned in my last review is kind of cool. The costumes for Copa are indeed new. Red and black, shiny - very pretty. Frilly, short skirts for the girls - Kye is wearing an eye patch! Screens come down from the ceiling for each of the girls - blue screens, for a lack of a better term. Kye does a little solo dance, then points to each girl who then does a solo dance in front of their screen - it has the effect of a silhouette. Really kind of neat. From the audience perspective, it's truly a silhouette - when I took photos, however, I could actually see the dancer. Interesting lighting effect.
I was prepared for the tux this time - well, kinda... I'll never be totally prepared for the tux. He just looks so good in that tux! Hey, I'm only human... I think Barry realized that he sent us all reeling with his tux at the first show - he had such a cute grin on his face.
The video effects at the end of Copa are kind of cool. Barry walks (in his gorgeous tux) back to a screen that has come down from the ceiling. He faces the audience and then all of these colorful, visual effects start happening behind him - kind of like flowers growing out of Barry! They aren't really flowers - they're shapes and patterns - but they grow behind him, rapidly. Barry really played it up with adorable facial expressions - mock horror at all of these things growing behind him!
This time Barry didn't stand looking at us as the curtain came down at show end - he just smiled at us and then walked off the stage. Don't know what Barry and crew think, but from my perspective, this was a very succesful opening night. Couldn't have been better.
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