Last night's show rivaled Thursday's show. Barry was at the top of his game from the minute he walked out on stage. He was full of energy and he put everything he had into every song. It was as if he were trying to outdo himself as he progressed through the set list.
Barry was still playing with us during Somewhere in the Night. You wouldn't think such a short snippet of a song could generate the reaction that it does. Both Daybreak and This One's For You seemed to receive extra emphasis tonight. It seemed to be all about the lyrics for both of those songs.
Looks Like We Made It had so much fire in it I thought they were going to have to call out the firetrucks for the crowd. Barry looked like he was about to start laughing after all of the screaming. It was a great performance - it wasn't one of those where you feel the lyrics of the song. Not this time. The only lyrics anyone paid attention to at this show were the ones that went along with the, uhm, choreography. Barry probably could have babbled incoherently for the rest of the song and virtually no one would have noticed.
Weekend in New England was beautiful - just beautiful. Most of the song was the soft version, but Barry moved a little more toward the power ballad at the end. Tonight's performance maintained the romantic feel throughout the entire song, though. Barry was more passionate at the end of the song, but not so much so that he lost the romance.
There was a very funny moment during Can't Smile Without You. The security guards were apparently interested in something someone (or multiple someone's) was doing - and they kept walking back and forth in front of those of us on the front row - this is while Barry is trying to sing the song. I wasn't even able to concentrate on the song. After about the 3rd time, Barry got this look on his face like "What the heck is going on down there?" and he started laughing a little. So everyone started laughing.
The Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again/Even Now medley was back in the show. I just love the way Barry is singing it these days. He doesn't just sing it softly, he sings it tenderly. It's not angsty, not like it used to be. I know I've mentioned before how he can slightly change the way he sings a song and it completely changes the mood of the song. He's done that with TTGTFA - in my opinion, anyway. The way he's performed that song for years has always been like a power ballad. His performance came across as someone who was frustrated, maybe even a little angry at the turn of events - it's as if he wants the whole world to know. That's my interpretation of what I was watching, anyway. But the way Barry is performing the song now, it comes across as someone who is sad, disappointed - and it's more like he's singing it to himself. But what's so striking to me is the difference in the way I feel. The old way I didn't really feel the lyrics - I was in awe of Barry's performance, especially at the end when he would stand up and stomp across the stage, putting everything he had into those final lines of the song. But this way, Barry makes me feel the lyrics - I hear what he's saying and I feel the pain. It always amazes me the way Barry can take a song that I've heard him perform for years and turn it around so that I'm viewing it in a completely different way.
As for Even Now, he didn't sing the song differently. But that long note at the end was incredible - I thought it would last forever.
Yes, there is definitely a competition going on during New York City Rhythm. Ha! Ron P won this one, though. And Barry was in his New York City mood again. Based on the expressions on his face and the energy he's been putting into the song, it must be one of his favorites to perform right now.
The Mayflower segment was outstanding - all of it! It seems to me that it's a big hit with the audience. Every song seems to be received very, very well - even by the civilians. What am I saying?? It "seems to be"?!? The audience takes the roof off the Hilton! The standing ovations are long and loud, and it happens for every song in the segment.
Not What You See was very special tonight. Barry's performance really touched my heart. And every time I hear it I think more and more about the lyrics. There's so much more going on inside all of us than what the rest of the world can see. I'm so glad Barry pulled this song out for the convention and has kept it in the show. There's more to it than just his performance. It reminds me to look at all possibilities when dealing with other people - reminds me that I should try to imagine what's going through their head, especially when I don't agree with what I'm seeing. Or when I see someone backing away, it makes me think about the possibility that they're actually desperately wanting what they're running from but are just too afraid to take that one step forward. It makes me think about a lot of things. There I go again... Someone told me yesterday to stop thinking, just enjoy the music. Telling me to stop thinking is like telling the sun not to shine - ain't gonna happen until the end.
I think the choreography was even better during The Night That Tito played - not sure how it could be, but it sure seemed that way to me. This must be one of Barry's favorites, too - he looks so happy as he performs the song.
Talk To Me was again a brilliant performance. The crowd went wild. How could they not? First, the subject matter has got to be relevant to everyone in one way or another. And then you have Barry's performance - it's so real, so believable. Again, you can feel his pain, his frustration, even the fear of losing someone.
Somewhere Down the Road was as beautiful as it has been all week. Barry didn't change the little monologue that he does as an introduction to the song, but it seemed more heartfelt tonight. It was extremely emotional - definitely was pulling at my heart strings. And the ending when we just have Barry's beautiful voice - exquisite.
The performance of Ships changed again. There was more of a balance between the body of the lyrics and the chorus. There was more of a performance, more life given to the characters in the song. I realized that when Barry performs the song the way he did at this show, I feel the lyrics of the chorus even more strongly. For some reason, it really makes a difference for me. I think I had a bigger lump in my throat for this song than I did SDTR.
I got an interesting series of photos during Ships. For those viewing the version of this with embedded photos, notice the orb in the photo? Very interesting... Speck of dust? Or someone watching over Barry? I prefer to believe the latter because it makes me feel good.
Barry put the passion back into Mandy/Could It Be Magic in a big way! I haven't heard him sing the medley like that in a long time. He was even gesturing throughout the performance. There was a lot of similarity between what our Barry was doing and what the baby Barry was doing on the screen behind him. Excellent!
I Write the Songs was excellent, too. I certainly enjoy seeing Barry's happy face while he's performing it.
Copa was fun, no malfunctioning equipment. Barry was trying to get a few seated audience members to stand for the song - he didn't seem to have much luck with some of them. But the vast majority were standing. You never know, they might not have been able to stand - or might have been too shy to stand. Not What You See? I almost always stand - but there are times when I'm really uncomfortable doing so - it's not a reflection on Barry's performance, and it's not an indication of whether or not I'm enjoying the show. It's just that some nights I'm more introverted than others. Oh, well...
The attack of the killer streamers has returned! More photos of Barry trying to avoid all those little silver balls! LOL Oh, well - they aren't hitting me anymore. Nyah, nyah! Just kidding - luv ya, Barry.
I don't think I've ever mentioned how cool the view is as Barry leaves the stage - probably because it's so depressing when he DOES leave the stage! But, gotta give credit to the folks that designed the set and the lighting. It's really beautiful. Everything is pitch black except the big blue M with the smoke/fog swirling around inside, and the all of those blue stars in the background. It's another one of those sensations of Barry standing alone in the universe. And then he walks off into infinity... Gee, no wonder we suffer from post-Manilow depression! LOL But it's really gorgeous. As long as the universe keeps letting us have him back, it's cool...
Oh, and scratch what I said in my last review about the last show not being so sad since I get to travel East to see him this week - I was so WRONG! I've been right in the middle of post-Manilow depression since the moment he walked off the stage. What this man does to us...
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