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Paris Las Vegas - June 11, 2011(View photo gallery here)
BB-30  Did Barry sing something after Daybreak and Somewhere in the Night? Oh, yeah! Looks Like We Made It! Ha! See? Barry already had me bumfuzzled and we had barely started the show! LLWMI - yeah, LLWMI... I loved the expression in his eyes as he sang the opening line for that part of the medley. He's leaving the changed lyrics in the song - I think they're nice, especially the last line because of the way he gestures toward the audience as he does it. Can't Smile Without You was total fun. Barry threw in silly little dance steps and facial expressions throughout the song. Barry played with the audience again, speaking the lyrics (very fast) as if he were prompting the audience. Like the audience needed prompting... He got me laughing again, of course, so I could only half sing along - audience members standing around me were probably grateful for that. Hmmm... I wonder if the audience has been requesting for him to get silly so that I would start laughing and stop singing and they wouldn't have to listen to me?! It wouldn't surprise me! Actually, there was some poor soul behind me that seriously was tone deaf. But he was having a great time singing along anyway - and I think that's awesome! I wish I were that fearless! Barry's performance of Even Now was incredible - maybe the best I've ever seen. No, really - it was. I know people will say, "she always says that", "they can't all be the best". This time it really was. O.M.G. It started while he was still at the piano - he was so expressive. The performance was similar to last night, with the eyes and facial expressions emphasizing the lyrics. And the tone of his voice was so emotional. I could feel that little tug on my heart, and those butterflies in my stomach even during that part of the song. But then when he stood up - WOW!!! Emotion and passion and every other synonym for those two words that you can dig up is what was pouring out of Barry as he sang Even Now. Big Barry Ballad is an understatement. And we just thought what we were seeing was fabulous. The best was yet to come... Barry walked toward the back of the stage, turned to face the audience and began singing that long note at the end of the song. That in itself would have been enough, it was strong and powerful. But then he started reaching for the audience - he's been doing that for the last several months, of course. Sometimes it's more like he's reaching for the sky, sometimes more for the audience. Tonight it was all for the audience. I was preparing to take a shot of that, because the lighting is always so dramatic - but I saw this was something special, so I put the camera down. Just as I did, Barry really started reaching for the audience - that long note was still going - Barry's eyes were set directly on the audience, his arm was stretching, reaching... It felt as if his arm reached all the way to us - I swear he reached in and grabbed my heart. I joked to someone after the show that I think my heart stopped - but it wasn't really a joke! That feeling was incredible. And then as if that weren't enough, he walked up closer to the front of the stage, struck the classic Manilow pose, and belted out another incredibly long, powerful note. I didn't even attempt to bring the camera up for a shot - there was no point - I couldn't. I was mesmerized. I hadn't recovered from what I had just seen, and here I was seeing this. The amount of power Barry put into that song is awe-inspiring. And it shook me. Shook the people around me. I saw some folks with tears in their eyes after the song was over. Barry doesn't even need to try to top this performance of Even Now. He can't. I always say that, too - I say he can't top a performance, and then the very next night, he does... But not this time... Nothing can beat that image of Barry reaching out toward the audience while holding that long note, and then stepping forward to hit that note once again. If he outdoes that, then half of the audience is going to die right there in their seats - and that's going to cut down considerably on the amount of applause that he receives for the rest of the show! Barry was into his music for Brooklyn Blues. Actually, he has been for the last several times I've seen the show. I love watching him play the piano on both Brooklyn Blues and New York City Rhythm. He really seemed to be "into" both songs tonight. I loved watching his eyes as he played - he even played along with the audience during that part of the show, looking out at us with smiles. Once he even looked at us with raised eyebrows and a facial expression that seemed to say "see what I can do??" Ha! Joe's piano actually made it onto the stage tonight. He must have been making up for last night, because his fingers were flying on those keys faster than I thought was humanly possible. Barry declared it another Valium night.  I was waiting for another opportunity to catch the moment when Barry flashes his jacket lining at us. I'm still trying to get that perfect shot, you know - his eyes are always closed, or he has a goofy expression, or I snap it so quickly that I only get him half in the frame. So I keep trying. And tonight he was so deliberate when he stepped down from the piano, he much slower when he opened the jacket up, and then rubbed his fingers together and mouthed the word "Expensive!" I really thought I had it this time! Nope, out of focus - Barry looks bored out of his skull! Ha!  And that long note for Brooklyn Blues - it was back, in a BIG way! That one is probably tied for the longest that I've been here to witness. I wasn't expecting it at all. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. Couldn't take a photo. Out of my peripheral vision I could see some of the backups going through their routine of pretending to be looking at their watches or looking irritated that he was showing off - but I couldn't take my eyes off him to really see what they were doing. This note went on forever! When Barry finally stopped, he laughed and made the joke about being a big show-off. Our Love Is Here to Stay was very nice tonight. This one was romantic. It had a romantic air throughout the song. While Barry played to the audience, the song had the feel of being directed to just an individual. So, it was more of a personal performance than the previous night. I really liked the way Barry posed in front of the painting of the conductor. For once I was ready to take that shot - he was posing so perfectly - I mean, the way he was standing with his arms spread, the smile on his face... And I missed it - completely. I told you I was rattled. I Am Your Child was even more beautiful than last night - very expressive. And Nature Boy was also more beautiful. This was another instance where Barry slightly changed the way he sang it - and the result was more feeling coming from the song. Everyone seemed to really enjoy watching Barry listen to baby Barry - there were lots of giggles and laughs coming from the audience as Barry sat there in that violet glow and smiled and did all those cute facial expressions that we've seen since he put this segment in the show.  And This One's For You. Talk about connecting with the audience... Of course, Barry did a lot of that throughout the night. But there were some MAJOR connections during This One's For You. And a lot of emotion put into the end of the song. This time Barry stayed at the piano throughout the second verse. But that was where some of the strongest connecting moments were. And when he stood up, he really poured it all out. Barry's performance of Bring On Tomorrow was fabulous. I've seen several different interpretations of the song - his words of introduction are always the same, but the way that he has performed it has changed the tone several times. I would say that tonight's performance most closely matches my interpretation of the lyrics. You could see and hear the excitement of the character - but you could also feel the affection of the character. And when Barry stood up for the piano, he brought passion forward with him. He's animated, he stomps his foot, he gestures. He makes you feel the defiance of saying "I told you so" to those who had told him it wouldn't work out. And he makes you feel the hope of tomorrow. Just a magnificent performance.  And there was something new at the end of Bring On Tomorrow. At the end of the song, Barry didn't walk to the back of the stage. Instead, he stayed right up at the front - he just stood there smiling at us. And then, it was surreal. Honestly, I'm not even sure if the image burned into my mind is real - the effect was so spectacular I'm not sure I didn't dream it up. This was one of the best performances I've seen of Bring On Tomorrow - I was totally wrapped up in the emotion of the song. So it all almost seems like a vision. But... The lights behind Barry started to fade to black. And then a golden glow started to surround Barry - it started just below his shoulders and enveloped his head. Almost like an aura. He wasn't bathed in golden light, it wasn't like that. Instead, it was as if there were a layer of golden light surrounding him. And all the while Barry was smiling - a huge smile - a sweet smile. It was incredible. And no, I have no photos of that - I was too wrapped up in what I was seeing to even consider the camera that was in my hand. I know it only lasted a few seconds, but it seemed like it lasted forever. Then everything went black and Barry walked off the stage. And I'm dead serious when I say I'm sitting here writing this and wondering if I dreamed that up. For those who were there, did I really see that? Or is it time for some professional help? I had a special request to take photos of Barry stomping his foot during Bring On Tomorrow. I'll try my best, but I make no promises. If Barry rattles me as much tomorrow night as he did tonight, I might as well leave the camera in the room!! Of course, then it was time for the Bandstand segment. I was sitting there thinking, "NOOOOOO!!! It can't be this close to the end of the show already!" Barry was so playful during Bandstand - more so than I've ever seen. There were so many playful dance steps - and I mean BEFORE he starts making fun of all the different dances they're doing. He was even playful with the lyrics and the way he was singing them. SO INCREDIBLY CUTE!!! There was no way to sit there without a smile on your face. Keely made it all the way through Barry's legs tonight - Barry still declared it a "wipeout" - but last night it was more like a "brick wall". By the way, since the next song in the medley is Wipeout, what will Barry yell if Keely ever slides through perfectly? That would totally ruin the introduction to the song!  Mandy was breathtaking. Wow - Barry is so into this song right now. I think tonight's performance was better than last night's. The performance of I Write the Songs was special again. I really liked the way Barry looked out into the audience tonight. He doesn't often do that. He may look in the general direction of the audience, but it's rare that it appears he's truly "seeing" anyone. And I'm not sure he can - the lights are so bright for that part of the show - that's why I can't ever get any photos of him at the piano during this song. He just looks really strange with that lighting. But at any rate, it had the feel that he was connecting one on one with audience members. And that was very nice and special. And of course, Copa was fantastic - and fun. And Barry looked awesome in the tux. I haven't been taking many photos of when he first comes up through the trap door. I'll snap a quick one but then I just want to watch him without the camera in the way. His facial expression are priceless. Plus, if you're sitting second row center like I was tonight, he's right there, so close. You're looking right into those blue eyes - and melting... Kye really turned on the waterworks tonight. So sad! Ha!  Over way too soon. It just seems to get faster and faster. Stop it already! We want this to last longer!  For those that don't get "it" - don't get why some of us come back so often, or why we've been involved in this world for so many years - tonight's show says it all. Or rather, what we got out of tonight's show says it all. See, it's not just the performance - there are tons of good performers, but I don't fly across the country to see them. Heck, I won't even drive to Dallas to see them anymore. And the professional journalists will make statements about how Barry has learned to use his voice, or learned how to sell a song to an audience... Yes, he has - but it's not just about that, either. It's that feeling that permeates the entire room - the songs by themselves can't do it, the performances by themselves can't do it - it's that energy that is unique to Barry Manilow that does it. If there were ever an individual blessed with a Divine spark, it's Barry. And if you've ever been fortunate enough to have been touched by that magical energy...well...you understand what I'm saying. Tonight, we were touched...
All photos and content Copyright ©Dana Holland 
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