Barry is taking 2008 out on a high note - it was a fantastic show. He was full of energy, bouncing and skipping - yes, I said skipping - we got the old "It's A Miracle" skip several times during the show.
Last time I commented that I had never heard the "this one's for you" bit in the intro of the show. Well, tonight I made it a point to listen for it. And yes, I could hear it, but barely. So, it has something to do with where you're sitting in the audience.
Barry opened the show wearing something I haven't seen in a very long time - the white shirt and tux tie with black jacket and vest - he looked so sharp. When it came time to change jackets, and he was standing there in that vest against the white shirt - uhm, wow... I usually don't go on about how great he looks - but, uh, wow... LOL
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The audience was outstanding tonight - not crazy and loud, just very appreciative and responsive - even Barry noticed it by the end of It's A Miracle. As everyone was applauding the song, Barry said, "Wow, where did you come from?" I've heard him say that a lot, but this time it seemed totally sincere.
Weekend in New England was incredible tonight, really incredible. It was as if Barry had taken the best parts out of the various ways he's performed the song over the years and put them all together in this one performance. It was soft and tender and it was passionate and emotional. Barry redefined "power ballad" tonight - a new standard has been set. A fantastic performance.
Looks Like We Made It was excellent - and very sexy, too. At first, I didn't think we were going to get that blue curtain behind him - it was a steel gray color, and then kind of turned purple - but they finally got it blue. We MUST have that blue curtain to go with those blue eyes! LOL
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Barry put his Trying to Get the Feelin' Again/Even Now medley back in. He kind of dove into the first song without much preparation; but as the music transitioned into Even Now, you could really see Barry moving into the song emotionally.
After one of the ballads (can't remember which one now), Barry mentioned that he was a little hoarse - and he said something to the effect of "I managed to hit that natural F" - and then he put his thumb to his shoulder to signify that he's "hot stuff". Then he said we would have to wait to see if he could hit the high note on I Write the Songs at the end of the show. I really didn't notice him being hoarse - maybe in a spot or two - but mainly he just sounded great.
During the decades medley, Barry again did his little tap dance for us a couple of times - and then said, uh... Yeah, that's what he said! LOL
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One of the funny moments of the night (and there were a lot of them!) was as they moved into the 60's portion of the decades medley. A couple of people stood up for Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Barry motioned to the audience and told us all to stand up - so we did. Then as they moved into the What The World Needs Now Is Love portion Barry said, "Ok, you can sit down now" - LOL.
Islands in the Stream had the entire audience up dancing again. Barry seems very pleased with that.
I Made It Through the Rain seemed to have special meaning tonight - Barry was more expressive than usual. Just before he moved into the chorus of the song, he paused and kind of laughed a little.
We got the uptempo Could It Be Magic! Yes, with BAMs, but I didn't take any photos of that. Hey, I wanted to enjoy it! LOL I *love* watching Barry does those kinds of songs - I just love him like that. After the song was over, Barry started to walk back toward his piano, but then he turned to the audience and with more than just a touch of attitude he declared, "I'm STILL a sex god!" Dang straight!!
New York City Rhythm was a lot of fun tonight. The guys definitely still have their competition going on - and they were all great. Joe was really being the showman tonight - reminded me of Jerry Lee Lewis. Everybody wins tonight!
Memory was again outstanding. While last time I saw the show, Barry seemed to throw the conducting in as a last minute thought, tonight he gave it his all. I still love watching him do that - I guess I always will. Barry started out very softly with the song. But it ended with a lot of power and passion.
Barry started talking about New Year's Eve. He talked about how crazy Vegas gets on New Year's Eve, and how he played the Aladdin once on New Year's Eve to a totally wasted audience. He swore he would never do that again. He said now he'll play the two nights before New Year's Eve and then say, "See ya!"
All of that was a lead in to It's Just Another New Year's Eve. Barry said he only gets to play that song once a year - and that it's really the only New Year's Eve song except for Auld Lang Syne - he said he looked up what that meant in the wikipedia - he really seemed to enjoy saying "wikipedia" - LOL! Way too many syllables in that word for me - I'm a native Texan - we leave out all unnecessary syllables! (I think it's a state law or something...)
And then as Barry got ready to start the song, his piano had no sound. He kept fiddling with it, but nothing - he said, "It ain't working". So Barry said that Ron W could play it and he would "piano sync"! And he got a goofy look on his face and pretended to play the piano. The audience was laughing. But then Barry said, "Well, this ruins the moment!" A guy came running from backstage and he did some things but nothing worked. So, Barry just grabbed the mic and stood up to sing the song. Actually, I think that works best, because he can be so much more expressive when he's standing there facing us.
It's Just Another New Year's Eve is always a hard song for me, and I knew it would really be hard this year. But Barry introduced the song as saying that it's about hope - and then all of the comedy with the non-functioning piano - and then the way he performed the song - all that combined seemed to lighten things up a little. Barry still managed to pull a few tears out of me, though.
Barry moved straight into Ships from there. The lighting just seemed incredible tonight. Barry had previously always started that song by sitting on a stool. But tonight there was no stool, and the piano was moved back - and even the band was moved back. So, basically Barry was standing there surrounded by blackness, but with tons of blue stars shining behind him. And there were small spotlights shining from different directions down on him. It's like he's in another world - it's just him, all alone - he looks like a lone human standing in the middle of the vast universe. And then he acts out the parts of the song, totally becoming the characters. It's a great effect, a great performance.
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At the end of I Write the Songs, Barry looked at the audience and crossed his fingers as he prepared to sing that final note. And, of course, he hit it! After the song was over, Barry gave kind of a thumbs up gesture to the audience, and then kissed himself on each shoulder! LOL
We got Barry's silly little dance at the top of the stairs tonight. Based on the reactions of the backups, I don't think they ever have any idea what he may do up there!
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And Barry ended the show doing his little skip dance. During the It's a Miracle reprise, they slipped into Auld Lang Syne - an uptempo version of it - and the confetti spewed into the air. Then they slipped back into It's A Miracle and the streamers shot out as usual. Except tonight most of the streamers were paper - there were only a few of the mylar streamers.
Great show - only one more for 2008.
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