Manilow - The Absolute Best - Paris Las Vegas

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Paris Las Vegas - April 10, 2010

DD-25

It was great to be back and see the changes in the show - there have been some. Nothing major - more like the show has been refined.

It looked like there was a lot more merchandise at the "store" this time around. Nothing really appealed to me, unfortunately. Well, except for one thing - a new stuffed bear. Wearing a little beret. Adorable. I have to get one of those before they're all gone. Don't know if I can do it this trip, but hopefully I won't miss out - I really want one of those.

Not sure if the introduction to the show has changed, or if I just missed it when I was here before. That's possible - it's hard to take in every single detail. At any rate, I was less than impressed with the intro at the first 3 shows. I'm not saying I didn't like it - I didn't dislike it - I guess the best way to say it is that I had no interest in the music that was playing or the "French" paintings that were flashing by. If it hadn't been for the geek in me that was intrigued by the fact that the paintings appeared to be in 3-D, I would have been bored. Guess that could come across as harsh, and I don't mean it to be - it's just that there was nothing there to build up any excitement for the show. So, at this show I was a little bored, and I was letting my inner geek marvel at the technology - and then I suddenly realized I was viewing photos of the Eiffel Tower - with spectacular fireworks in the background! Very bright colors, great camera angles. I loved it! That was enough to make me actually enjoy the intro. Couldn't tell you if the music changed or if was the same - the bright colors on the screen drowned out everything else for me. Kind of reminds me of the time a friend asked me how I decided which slot machines I wanted to play - and I said, "Pretty colors!" Ha! Is that shallow, or what?

The lighting is still spectacular. Even from up close you can see how amazing it is. I've always been told that everything is designed to be best at around the 10th row - that's just fan rumors - no idea if that's actually true or not. When I sat in that spot at the very first show, I know the lighting was really beautiful from there.

Barry looked great. His hair was a little longer in the back - I just love it like that. I love the way it falls over his forehead in the front, too. Yeah, I know - that has nothing to do with the music. I don't care - it's not ALL about the music - there's some "I just like Barry" stuff in there, too.

The big, bright "MANILOW" lights at the opening didn't seem as bright this time. Honestly, the lights were so bright last time I swore I was going to bring sunglasses with me on this trip (which I forgot to do). But they were still sufficiently bright. Didn't get a shot of that at this show because too many heads in the way and absolutely no one stood up for Barry's entrance. That was different - I'm not used to that. But truthfully, I think the choice of opening song has something to do with that. Could It Be Magic, even when it's the uptempo version, is still a ballad. And, at least for me, standing during a ballad doesn't feel right. And I think that feeling held true for most of the audience, too. People did eventually stand when he moved into the uptempo part of the song. Now, saying that it felt different doesn't mean I'm saying it felt wrong to not stand - well, not totally. I felt like we should have stood as he made his appearance, but then sat back down as he started singing. But then stood up again as the song became uptempo. Okay, none of that makes any sense at all - we would be like jumping jacks. So, whatever! I'm just going to do what the majority of the audience is doing! Surely it goes without saying that I'm thrilled the minute Barry walks out on stage - don't think I would be coming back over and over if I weren't!

I'm still crazy about Everything's Gonna Be Alright. I like the upbeat tune, and I really like the lyrics. The lyrics are hopeful. I kind of need that right now, because I'm just not sure that everything really is gonna be alright. So, the lyrics hit home for me.

Weekend in New England was very nice. There were some subtle differences in the performance tonight - just different intonations - different expressions on Barry's face. This was one of the soft performances - and those have become my favorite to see for this particular song. There were sighs, and wistful looks in Barry's eyes - definitely one of the more emotional performances.

As usual, someone yelled out when he asked if he could touch us [okay, well, "when can I touch you" - you know what I mean] - and he got one of his cute expressions, then one of the adorable grins, and said "Still got it!" At the end of the song, he heaved a huge sigh - definitely got my attention!

My favorite song of the night was I Want To Be Somebody's Baby. I always loved the song, but I'm really loving Barry's performance of it. Very uptempo, Barry is really rocking for us. Surprisingly, this was not a song most of the audience stood for. I'm not one that likes standing up for all the songs - not at all. But I commented to someone after the show that I would have been perfectly content to remain seated for every song in the show, except this one. This one actually makes me want to get up. I didn't this time, because there was no one in my section of the audience that was standing. But man, this song rocks - and Barry's performance of it rocks.

Can't Smile Without You didn't quite grab me at this show. Not entirely sure why - I just didn't feel it. Barry asked the audience to sing along - and he asked them to stand up - and they obliged. In fact, they sang along quite loudly - don't think I've ever heard an audience sing along at that decibel level! So that was kind of neat. But other than that, I just didn't get the old feeling. What I've always said still holds true - I (we) can't smile without him - no worries there.

The love songs segment of the show was shortened - we only got Our Love Is Here to Stay and Theme from Love Story (Where Do I Begin) - or Where Do I Begin (Theme from Love Story. [Ever done a Google search on that and seen how it's listed both ways? Interesting... But not interesting enough for me to spend time to find out which one is really correct.] Both performances were excellent, of course. I had read recent reviews that said Barry had inserted When You Were Sweet Sixteen - I was hoping for that one, but we didn't get it. It's kind of hard to review Barry's performances of the two songs. The performances are very different.The Love story theme is very, very powerful - very passionate - Barry has no problem selling that song. And Our Love... is softer, more emotional than passionate. And they're both wonderful.

The Grandpa Joe segment is still in the show, although Barry has changed it a little from the first shows. Instead of performing I Am Your Child at the grand piano, Barry sang it at his little keyboard. (When I say "little", I mean in terms of size compared to the grand piano. Nothing little about that thing - it sounds as good as a grand piano. I wish I had one of those!) Barry did start the segment at center stage, cute little scratchy record, even cuter facial expressions - but then he walked over to the side stage and the keyboard to perform I Am Your Child. It seemed very emotional for Barry - yes, HE seemed emotional, not just the song - after it was over, he reached up to wipe moisture from his eyes - maybe he was just wiping away perspiration, but it looked like he was wiping away tears. Then Barry played the second little scratchy record - and again, adorable facial expressions as he listened to 4-year-old Barry sing. Again, I noticed that he mouths the words as the record is playing - just barely - I have to wonder how far back that can be seen. Barry finished the song at the keyboard, then walked to center stage for the last lines - which are wonderful lyrics and Barry interprets them beautifully. This is the 4th time now that I've seen him perform this - the beauty of his voice, the fullness of his voice on that song really moves me. Barry sounded great all night long, so it wasn't just that. There's something there - there's something special about the way he performs this song. It really makes me think he should record it for a future CD. I can't describe how much it touches me any better than that - some things just reach in and grab your heart, and this is one of them.

Anyway, Barry then went back to the grand piano to perform This One's For You. This one also didn't quite grab me the way it has at other shows - nothing wrong with the performance that I can put my finger on. I just didn't "feel" it as much. But the moment at the end when the photo of a very young Barry drops down, and Barry turns around and says, "Thanks, kiddo" - that's touching.

There were also subtle differences in Barry's performance of Even Now - not as pronounced as those in WINE. But different. Even Now was more of a power ballad, not so much soft Barry. And the beginning didn't seem to have as much feeling as there has been at times. But that changed about halfway through the song. Barry didn't stand up from the piano at the place he normally does. This time Barry stood up earlier, at the beginning of the second verse. And the song started taking on new life from that point. He walked over to the right side of the stage with a great deal of emotion - when Barry sang the chorus for the second time, if he was ever able to make you believe what he was singing, this was the time. He totally sold that song. The long note at the end was again incredible.

The New York City Rhythm segment is still in the show, too. It's kind of a high energy segment. I don't think we can refer to the fireman chase around the piano by the keyboardists anymore, because that's not really what's happening. I guess dueling pianos is kind of the right term, but then, no... Whatever - each of the keyboardists just has a marvelous solo. Can't remember if Barry did this at previous shows, but when it was Ron Pedley's turn, Barry said something to the effect of "Play us some Gershwin, Ron!" And, I believe that's what he was playing (not a Gershwin expert). Barry referred to Joey as a "wild man". Ha! Actually, Joe seemed kind of reserved last night in comparison to what I've seen before! At the point where everyone gathers around Ron W., there is still a little snippet of It's A Miracle in there.

The biggest change I noticed was for the sock hop segment. And I believe that's truly the best way to describe this part of the show. It's really like a sock hop. It opens with a video, and the music playing is Bill Haley's Rock Around the Clock. It works great, it sets the mood for the entire segment. Really, I don't think a better song could have been chosen to open it. And it's not that I'm that crazy about the song, I'm really not - but it does have a feel that can get you in the proper mood. And then we have dueling drummers! Russ slides out with his drum set from the right side stage - he plays a solo - then David slides out with his drum set from the left side stage to play a solo. And then they "duel", with Russ playing a little, then David playing a little. And the spotlight shines only on the one playing at the moment. So, with this being the first time I saw it, I had trouble getting many photos of it because I had no way to anticipate when the drummers would switch. But I loved the bit - I really loved it. Guess I'm a drummer at heart. And it was cool to be able to see the percussion guys up front for a change.

The rest of the sock hop segment is very similar to what it was before. Barry is still cute as the backups progress through various dances from that time period - and Barry doesn't progress through them! Ha! This is "the" cute segment of the show - from my viewpoint, anyway, it's just pure entertainment and an attempt to make the audience feel good, lighthearted and just plain fun.

Mandy had a few of those subtle differences, too. Barry just seemed to have a far away look in his eyes. The lighting is very similar to what it was at the Hilton - there's a blue glow on Barry. I've never been able to figure out how to set the camera to get around that.

I Write the Songs has the same blue glow. This song also didn't quite grab me at this show. But, Barry had a smile on his face throughout most of it.

Copacabana hasn't really changed that much. I can't comment really on the video behind Barry after he switches into his tux - there may be some differences there. The choreography that I mentioned last time, where it reminded me of the movie "Copacabana" - I honestly can't tell you if it was there or not. It's didn't stand out to me, if it was. But, Barry looked awesome in that tux! I'm not one of those people who really like formal attire (in fact, kind of hate it) - but man, he looks good! (I know, I know! It's ALL about the music! Yeah, right...)

I simply can't get used to Copa ending the show as it is. There's just this sensation that we've been left hanging. Well, that's not quite accurate. But you don't leave the show on a high note like you did before. At the previous venue, the ending songs were the same - but then Barry came back out with the It's A Miracle reprise. And even if we kind of had that "down" feeling that the show was over, that always brought everyone back up and had everyone in the audience smiling and dancing and just "up". That sensation isn't there with the ending. I looked around last night - it reminded me of people leaving a play. The excitement just wasn't there.

At the end, Barry walked to the back of the stage and waved goodbye. This time he left him arm up in the air with an extended wave - something I've never seen him do before. He always just does this little cutesy wave. This one was almost like a real acknowledgment, a real goodbye.

Looking forward to tonight. Trying not to get in a hurry for it to happen because then it will be over and I don't think I'm going to be back for a while. But my enthusiasm for seeing these shows hasn't dimmed at all. I'm enjoying it just as much as I ever was.

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