Tonight's show was fantastic. Barry put on a powerful performance. I know that some people say I'm not being realistic when I report this show after show, but this is what I actually see show after show. He's either one fantastic actor or he loves what he's doing.

He opened in a beautiful pink vest - this time I made sure I got some photos of it! I'll get them put up for you all to see after I get home.

Tonight he gave us Even Now after the Mandy/Could It Be Magic medley. On the Dew Drop side he sang All the Time.

Jewelry, jewelry, jewelry! Three rings. And a chain around his neck - a choker type. Looks great! (I think so, anyway) The rings appeared to be the same ones that he wore during the various 50's CD TV appearances - he was just wearing them all at once.

Tonight, something changed during I Write the Songs. As Barry got to the part where he sings, "And I wrote some rock and roll" I noticed a change in the drums. And then Barry didn't go on with the next line. Then he said, "Yeah, I wrote some rock and roll" and I recognized "Some Kind of Friend". He even stood at the piano while he was playing, kind of like Jerry Lee Lewis. It was the beginning of a fantastic new medley. First he sang part of Some Kind of Friend, then went into Looks Like We Made It, then Ships, and then Ready to Take a Chance Again before sliding back into I Write the Songs! It was great! And, I don't know if it was intentional on his part, but the choice of songs seems to tell a story, from breakup to being ready to give it another shot. And I guess that's kind of the story of his music, so it fits in perfectly in the middle of I Write the Songs. Bravo, Barry! You did it again!

Another fantastic, powerful show! Barry is really "up" these days!

There appeared to be a lot of non-fans in the audience tonight, at least towards the front of the theater. They didn't want to stand for anything, which is alright. But some of the fans did stand during It's a Miracle - or they tried to. And there were some *very* loud voices coming from behind them yelling "Sit down!!!" Whoa! Some fans decided to stand anyway. But this audience wasn't even into standing ovations when they were deserved. It was just a more sedate audience. The medley at the end of the show got them up, though!

Tonight Barry opened in that beautiful blue that I loved so much a couple of weeks ago. The vest matched what he wore Thursday night, except that it was a gorgeous shade of blue.

He did I Made it Through the Rain tonight in place of Even Now. On the Dew Drop side he performed Lay Me Down. The jacket girl was a lady from Fort Worth, Texas (go Texas!).

Some had wondered when he would make a joke about the new Hilton show "Menopause". Well, he did last night. When he was talking about people and shows that had played the Hilton, he said "And now they have Menopause." He paused a moment and then pointed at the audience and said, "I think we have some menopause out here, too."

The 50's segment was funny as ever - I think it's really one of my favorite parts of the show. I noticed something tonight that I'd never noticed before. First he sings to Monica, and she starts hyperventilating - then a little later in the song he sings to Melanie and I noticed that Monica started pouting. LOL Okay, maybe the backups have been paying more attention to the fans than they should?? Or maybe the fans should be more careful of what they're letting the backups see?? LOL

Barry's still wearing his great leather jackets. Tonight it was the one with the reddish trim. He took it off at one point and was looking for somewhere to put it - someone in the audience yelled "I'll take it" (no, it wasn't me!) and he said, "No, you can't have the jacket - sorry."

We got the new medley again. *That* finally got the crowd up on their feet. After Barry finished, as he was walking off the stage, I noticed Ron Pedley and some of the other bandmembers smiling and shaking their heads - I wondered if they were marveling at how Barry is able to get even a tame crowd on their feet with some of these super medleys that he comes up with.

Okay, two more shows to go - I'll have to run out early from the late show in order to catch my flight. Crossing my fingers I can make it at least through part of Copa - I have a front row center seat and don't want to miss any possible opportunity for a handshake (even though I seem to keep passing them up - duh!)

The Saturday night shows were just as great as the other two I've seen this week. And what an outfit he wore to open the early show! Loved it! A purple satin jacket and a blueish (teal?) satin shirt under it! Very bright and colorful!

At the early show we got Even Now again - he seems to sing that song more passionately every time. I often wonder where he goes to pull up the emotions that he puts into his songs. I guess he must be feeling them the same way that we all do - maybe that's why he's able to touch us so deeply. He believes it, so we believe it, too.

At the late show he did Trying To Get the Feeling Again - and it was another chilling performance. I say "chilling" because the last several times I've seen him perform it he did it with such emotion that I got chills watching him.

And sweet heaven, we got Sweet Heaven! He said he'd had a request and decided to do it. I had made a comment that the fans always sang along with him - well, there were a lot of non-fans in the audience, but a few fans did sing along - I don't know if it was loud enough for him to hear. But I was so giddy that he was performing the song, I completely forgot about the singing along part. Duh! Oh, well... I was just really happy to see him include it in the show.

I'm still loving the 50's segment. For the first time I noticed the stage lights to the rear of the stage were shining red and white beams of light - I thought it looked kind of cool. And next time I really have to try to get some photos of the antics of the backup singers while he's singing Venus and Love Is A Many Splendored thing. This time when Melanie pretends to faint and fall backwards, Keely used her own skirt to try to cover Melanie up. It was very funny! This time I did get a good shot of Keely sliding between Barry's legs (okay, that didn't exactly come out right!). And I also got one of Kye screaming when he comes face to face with Barry. So next time I need to try to capture some of the facial expressions of the backups and some of the other things they do while he's singing.

During Unchained Melody at the late show Barry got so emotional that he got a little choked up - I noticed that during one of the performances of Are You Lonesome Tonight, as well. He gets so deep into those songs, and just carries us along with him.

The new medley is really coming together - I mean, it's just getting better. I love the key change in Looks Like We Made It. And I love the way he moves from song to song. This one is a keeper!

I was expecting to have to leave the late show early to catch my flight, but I didn't - I got to see the entire show (and made my flight, although group 4 was already boarding by the time I got there). And I didn't get a handshake, but it doesn't matter - I left that show happier than I've ever been. Barry made it a very special night - I think I'm still grinning from ear to ear. Gotta love him!

Another fantastic show! Barry seemed very "up" tonight. I heard that I missed Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed earlier in the week - darn! But there was a lot of energy and excitement during the show. He opened the show wearing a shiny/sparkly vest that was a shade of green - sorry, can't describe it better than that - only that it appeared to be some shade of green. He's still wearing the chain around his neck - love it!

The Mandy/Could It Be Magic medley had a lot of feeling in it tonight - a LOT. He followed with Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again - his performance of this song always gives me chills. He consistently pulls whatever from wherever to deliver an emotional, passionate performance.

We got All the Time on the Dew Drop side. Barry mentioned that Marty Panzer was in the audience. I didn't see him this time, but I've been fortunate enough to see him several times. Marty is *the* best lyricist in the world - well, Marty and Bruce are the best (can't pick a favorite).

I tried to get some good photos of the backups during the 50s segments. I got a couple of decent shots this time, but for the most part there just isn't enough light to get a photo of them. I have a couple more opportunities on this trip, so maybe I'll get lucky. One of the exceptional songs tonight was Love Is A Many Splendored Thing. Are You Lonesome Tonight was very emotional. Unchained Melody is always great.

The Mayflower segment seemed even more energetic and upbeat than usual. Not sure why - maybe I was more energetic and upbeat?? Nah! Couldn't be me - my mother sent me to dance school when I was three hoping that I could at least learn to walk across the floor with out falling down! Coordination is not my strong point! But I felt like dancing along even if I couldn't do it. Barry had no problem getting the audience on their feet tonight.

During I Write the Songs, when Barry mouths "I love you", all the girls responded to him. I seem to recall hearing a few "I love yous" thrown Barry's way from the audience tonight, too.

We got the new medley again - I really like it. It's somehow better than it was a couple of weeks ago - and I thought it was great then. How *does* he keep doing that?

The show ended much too soon. Time-wise it was about right, but the night just flew by so quickly. I hope tomorrow night's shows go by more slowly. I'm not ready for this weekend to be over.

I've had a lot of feelings and emotions over the years as I've watched Barry perform, but tonight what I was feeling was pride.

At the early show, the American Idol contestants were in the audience. We had heard through the grapevine that part of the reason they were there was to see how Barry performs a song. Our man outdid himself. I hope the AI kids were paying attention. Barry consistently nailed every song. Every performance was one of the strongest I've seen. I'm surprised he had anything left for the late show (but he did!).

Mandy/Could It Be Magic was again very passionate and emotional, definitely deserving of a standing ovation. He followed with I Made It Through the Rain. It seemed to be a very good choice considering who was in the audience.

On the Dew Drop side he performed Studio Musician, another good choice for the evening.

A huge and welcome surprise was Debra Byrd. When Barry started talking about her, I was hoping she would perform and I was hoping the song would be I'll Never Love This Way Again. It was one of the most exciting moments of the show for me.

He ended the early show with his new medley. And again, I think it was a good choice for the AI contestants.

At the late show Barry seemed very happy, almost silly sometimes (I love it when he's like that!).

He performed Memory - not one of my favorite songs, but a very powerful performance. It's another example of his being able to make me enjoy a song that I really don't care for. It was definitely a WOW performance.

On the Dew Drop side he sang I Am Your Child. He mentioned that Marty Panzer was in the audience again. Barry's voice was starting to get a little scratchy. He commented that there were too many high notes in that song for the late show.

The 50s segment is still one of my favorites. Barry was especially funny (and cute!) during Venus tonight. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing was excellent again. Barry's voice was really scratchy as he was ready to start Unchained Melody. He stopped to get a drink of water and made a comment about the fact that it was the hardest song of the night and he was going to attempt it anyway - then he said something to the effect of "How bright is that?. He said that he might not be able to hit the high note, "but you know what I mean" - he laughed and told us to cross our fingers. And then he proceeded to nail the song - it was perfect, no scratchy voice, the high note was right on. It was absolutely beautiful. Again, I got that feeling of pride - proud of him for being who he is and just plain proud to be a Manilow fan. And of course he got a standing ovation. After the song was over he said, "I love a good comeback!"

It almost seems as if they turned up the lights on the backup singers during tonight's shows - I was able to get some photos.

Has anyone mentioned the mini-BAMs that he's started putting in while he's standing on the piano? And has anyone mentioned that Barry has changed the ending of the Mayflower segment? Now instead of sitting down on the piano with the backups gathered around him, they're keeping it upbeat with the backups in front dancing - then Barry joins then. And Kye is doing some incredible dancing.

Barry seems to have found the way he wants to perform Are You Lonesome Tonight. He sings it very tenderly, even sweetly. And the ending is so soft and emotional. It's very touching.

We didn't get the new medley at the late show, he performed I Write the Songs straight. He did cross his fingers before attempting the ending note - he nailed it, of course.

And now I guess post-Manilow depression will set in - it's already started. Not sure when I'll be back - definitely June - a possibility that it will be sooner - I hope it will be sooner! I think I'm going into withdrawals already!