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Paris Las Vegas - December 3, 2010(View photo gallery here)
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Looks Like We Made It was on the sexy side tonight - more than I've seen at the Paris (but still nothing compared to what it was at the Hilton). I didn't get as much of an emotional feeling out of the song tonight - or maybe what I should say is that tonight's performance didn't seem as much directed to a great love as a great lust! LOL! Okay, it wasn't that sexy... Just sometimes he sings the song as if he's really missing someone that he loved, and sometimes not so much. I got the impression that Barry was concerned about Weekend In New England because of his voice. And there were moments when could hear a little of the strain. Interesting thing, though - he seemed to have more trouble when he sang softly - but when he really belted it out, his voice almost always came through strong. And this song is a prime example of what I mean when I say Barry's performances are a lot more than his voice. Sometimes when he looked out at the audience, you could just melt. And when he did the sigh at the end... The sigh, itself, was kind of weak. But the look in his eyes as he looked out at us... Oh. My. Gosh... Who the heck needed that silly sigh? That moment is going to be a keeper for the memory books. Barry got the audience up for Can't Smile Without You - and he let us sing most of the song for him. And the audience did a good job of it, too. And it *is* during CSWY that Barry has begun doing that little chest pounding thing - I believe it was during the line "having a hard time leaving your love behind me". The Grandpa Joe segment was great. Barry almost looked like he was getting choked up a couple of times during This One's For You - and not just because of a dry throat. Maybe whatever it is he uses to put himself in the proper mood for the performance was especially strong. At any rate, it translated into a very nice performance, especially of TOFY, although the rest of the songs were great, too. There was something special tonight about the moment when the photo of Grandpa Joe and baby Barry comes down at the end of TOFY - can't put my finger on it - but just something about Barry's facial expression and just the entire mood of the moment. The Greatest Love Songs/Even Now and "rock song" portions of the show were replaced by the Christmas segment - and, of course, that was exciting for me. We got a mixture of songs from Barry's second Christmas CD. Barry and Kye did Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - and it was very cute! That's my third favorite of all of Barry's Christmas songs - so I was thrilled to hear it. From other reviews I've read, it sounds like that may be the only time I get it this week - but at least I got to see it once.
The "joke" that was mentioned on other boards about bad girls... What Barry said during "Santa Claus" - he asked Kye if he'd heard, that "Good girls go to heaven, but bad girls go to my house." Wait... I thought going to Barry's house WOULD be going to heaven! I'm confused! And then I got worried that I was going to be left out, because I'm really a good girl... But then I remembered how many times I've been told that I'm "bad" (among other adjectives) for coming back to Vegas to see Barry so often. So, does that count, Barry? Am I in? Barry told us that he had a Christmas wish, that it would snow - and he got one of those sly looks in his eyes - actually, it was completely adorable. He said, "It's not possible for it to snow indoors, is it?" And then it started snowing. Very little "snow" actually made it up to the front few rows, but we could look over our shoulder to see it. It was kind of neat, whatever kind of paper they used seemed to glisten and sparkle the way snow does. Maybe I can catch a photo of it at one of these next shows.
Barry also called Kye and Keely forward for a very funny rendition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I think this is the funniest version I've ever seen. While Barry danced with Keely, Kye danced with the stool that Barry had been sitting on - then quickly put it back before Barry caught him. There were several references to "big noses" - including Keely pointing directly at Barry's nose during one part of the song - and Barry pretending to be offended. And then it was complete with Kye and his funny Santa voice - which I think must be about 27 octaves above middle C! I've never heard Barry sing Because It's Christmas in person before. He's done it at other Christmas shows, but never at one that I was at. I was so looking forward to this performance, because that's my second favorite Christmas song of Barry's. My enjoyment of it was dampened a little by two couples sitting next to me who insisted on talking throughout the entire show (one of the women was drunk when she walked in the door) - and they talked especially loud as Barry sang that particular song. In fact, I was afraid there was going to be a fight at the show, because these people were so loud that audience members sitting in other rows and at the ends of other rows were turning around and telling them to be quiet. I think Barry had to have been able to hear them. So, that kind of messed up my enjoyment of the first time I got to hear Barry sing Because It's Christmas - but not totally. I still got to hear some of it. And I'm assuming (hope I'm right!) that he will do the song for the next two performances with the school choirs. Speaking of those kids, they sounded wonderful. And they looked cute standing out there on the stage. But about half of them looked terrified! It's got to be a unique experience - not only singing in front of people, but probably in front of a larger audience than what they've seen before - and with a superstar standing in the middle. I remember singing in choirs in elementary school and junior high (I wasn't shy back then) - I recall a little nervousness, but once the show started, the joy of singing replaced the fear. (notice I said "my" joy of singing - I was not necessarily referring to the joy [or lack of] the people around having to hear me!) As the song progressed, I noticed some of the terrified looks turning into smiles - so I hope they all went home with a wonderful memory of the experience. I did get some photos of the kids - but they aren't good photos at all. I was trying a new camera, and it just didn't work out - and while I took quite a few shots, there were only about 4 that turned out, none of them with the kids. But if anyone knows any of those kids, I'll share the photos - the people are recognizable for the most part - just not sharp, clear photos. Barry crossed his fingers before performing River - meaning that he was hoping he could hit the high notes. I thought it was beautiful. This song also seemed to get to him a little more than it usually does. Or maybe it was something else. But the song seemed a little "deeper" than it usually does. After the Christmas segment, Barry and crew moved into the sock hop segment. Barry was just funny - no, just plain silly - during the entire segment. He's always goofed around during the dances portion, but this was throughout the entire segment - his facial expressions, the way he sang the lyrics, the side comments he would make - there wasn't an ounce of anything serious about him. And the goofing around during the dances - oh my... He was hilarious. During I Write the Songs, Barry stopped the song long enough to say he had received an early Christmas present - and then he told us about his Grammy nomination. There was a big cheer from the fans in the audience - and Barry got the sweetest smile on his face. Hopefully, he has no doubt that we're all pulling for him. And regardless of whether or not he actually wins that particular competition, he's already a winner in our eyes - and always will be. We know there's no one better.
We're never going to get over the way he looks in a tux, are we? Nope, I don't think we are. The Copa segment was fun, as always. But why does it always come so soon?!?
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