|
I'm writing this review on the airplane, on my way home, looking down at a white desert. How weird is that? All this time that I've been flying to Vegas, this is the first time I've seen snow on the desert.
|
|
Barry gave us a great show to end out the year. He opened the show wearing the tux again - he looks so great in that. It was the talk of the audience before the show. Everyone loved it. Oh, and when he takes off the jacket and he's standing there in the black vest and white shirt... I know I'm not the only one who feels that way, because there was an audible reaction from the audience!
|
|
There was again a lot of energy in the show. And we got the little skipping dance several times throughout the evening.
I finally figured out what Keely, Melanie and Monica are saying at the beginning of the show - and now I've forgotten! Darn!
During It's A Miracle tonight, I suddenly became aware of Brandon playing the flute. I've never heard that before - don't know if it was a sound "thing" or if it was new or if it was just one of those things that I suddenly have become aware of. It sounded nice - it was just somewhat surprising.
|
|
Weekend in New England was incredible again. That, and Memory, seem to be the two songs that Barry is really connecting with right now. The WINE performance was very much like last night's, but Barry seemed to connect more. I heard a lot of audience reaction to that one, too. No, not yelling out - but a lot of "wonderful", "beautiful", and just plain sighs.
|
|
|
Barry did his fake dance for us again during the decades medley. He actually did it twice, but I only took photos for the first one. I wish I had still been taking photos, because he was so cute when he did it a second time - he was sticking his tongue out and just plain being silly.
|
|
Okay, we need to make up our mind about whether we're going to stand or sit during the 60's portion of the decades medley. LOL Tonight, everyone was standing for Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You and You've Lost That Loving Feeling. I glanced behind me as they started What the World Needs Now Is Love and everyone was still standing. I started trying to take photos of the backups - with the way this portion of the medley has been restructured, I only have a brief moment to capture a shot of each one. I put my camera down after taking a shot of Melanie and then turned to wait for Kye's moment - and then I realized everyone behind the front row were sitting down - most of the front row was still up. I went ahead and tried to get a couple of shots of Kye, but for some reason they didn't put the spotlight on him. I guess the lighting guy must have been too busy trying to sit down!! LOL It reminded me of a crack that Garry made during his Q&A at the Bash - he said something about the standing and sitting being like church.
|
|
In contrast to that, part of the audience wouldn't stand during Islands in the Stream - the part that was directly behind me. So I didn't stand, either. But that song has such a great groove - well, even Barry commented on that as the music started. It's really a crowd favorite, and from all appearances, seems to be favorite of Barry and the backups, too.
|
|
Looks Like We Made It was wonderful. And we got our blue curtain back - thank goodness! It's an absolute requirement that we be able to swoon over his eyes during that song! Barry performed this song a little differently tonight. Still sexy, but something else, too. I don't know - I'm having a hard time finding words for this one. I guess just the best way to say it is that he "connected".
|
|
Barry again performed the Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again/Even Now medley. Kye brought a new jacket out for Barry - it was kind of snazzy - black, but with a really shiny lapel - everyone in the audience said, "ooohhhh" - Barry turned to us with one of his "Yes, I know I'm gorgeous" looks. At the beginning of the song, he commented about what a beautiful song TTGTFA is. Both songs were beautiful. Barry put a lot into the ending of Even Now.
|
I Made It Through the Rain seemed extra special tonight - no little laugh like last night. But Barry's performance just seemed very poignant. He really managed to connect with that song. Connected with me, anyway.
As I mentioned earlier, Memory was incredible tonight. Barry's "conducting" gave me chills again - I so love watching him do that. The lighting seemed different - there really didn't seem to be much light on him at all as he started the song. I didn't try to take photos because I just wanted to watch - but I remember thinking that it was way too dark for me to be able to take any. And then the mahogany glow came up. I could actually see his face at times while he was conducting - if I had to find a word to describe his expression, it would probably be bliss - he just looked so content and seemed to be so totally immersed in the music. His performance and his vocals were outstanding. Usually the song makes me sad - but Barry changed the tone of it tonight - it wasn't sad.
|
Something else that I noticed during Memory for the first time - there's a line in the song about another day dawning - as Barry sang this, a spotlight on both sides of the stage (behind the band) started shining, and they put forth the most beautiful rays of light that grew until they encompassed the entire stage - just like a sunrise. I would have liked to have had a photo of that, but I was just too mesmerized watching it to take one.
New York City Rhythm seemed even more upbeat tonight. It was fun watching Barry at the piano. Both of the Ron's and Joe are still competing with each other - they all did great tonight. Well, they always do great, of course! Gotta give this one to Ron P, though. I don't know how much longer Barry will keep this segment in the show, but it's fun. And it's interesting to hear the different styles - each of the guys has a different way of playing - none of them are the same.
We got the upbeat version of Could It Be Magic again. I just love it! And so did the rest of the audience. Barry played the song for all it's worth, starting with the intro music. Again, I didn't take photos - nope, this one was for me. When it came time for the BAMs, we got that adorable "come hither" finger wiggle as he strutted right up the very front of the stage - that's the closest I've ever seen him come to the audience for that song! After the song was over, Barry walked even closer to the front of the stage, right to the edge - and again defiantly announced, "I'm STILL a sex god!" Oh, yeah...
|
Tonight Barry opted to do It's Just Another New Year's Eve out front rather than at the piano. Kye brought out a stool for him. Barry talked again about how he didn't play New Year's Eve anymore, complete with the "See ya" comment. He played with the word "Wikipedia" again - he said, "Isn't that a funny little word?"
Barry also said something as an intro to It's Just Another New Year's Eve that was unexpected. He said he knew that there were people in the audience who came to see the show over and over. He said he really can only see shadows, that occasionally when the lights come up he can see faces - but he said he knew that we were out there and that he appreciated us. And then he said he felt obligated to pay for our therapy. LOL (Don't let my family hear you say that, Barry - they'll take you up on it.) I can just imagine my conversation with the shrink...
|
| Psychiatrist: | "What does this ink blot represent to you?" |
| Me: | "Barry" |
| Psychiatrist: | "What about this one?" |
| Me: | "Barry" |
| Psychiatrist: | "I see... Well, what about this one?" |
| Me: | "Barry" |
| Psychiatrist: | "Hmmm... Do you think that perhaps you might spend a great deal of time thinking about Barry?" |
| Me: | "WELL, DUH!!!!" |
Nope, only therapy we need is more Barry! Right???
Anyway, my personal opinion is that It's Just Another New Year's Eve works best this way, with Barry right there in front of us instead of hiding behind the piano. It's much more effective - Barry can really "connect" with us this way - and he did. He sat on the stool for the first few lines of the song, but then he stood up for the rest. Honestly, I've seen him do this song several times before at the piano - it doesn't have nearly the same impact as when he's standing there right in front of us, singing *to* us, rather than singing out into space at the piano. Barry stressed again that the song is about hope. This is one of his songs that always makes me cry, and it did again tonight (just a little) - but somehow it felt comforting to have him standing there right in front of me singing "we'll be just fine."
I think Ships needs to be added to the list of songs that Barry really seems to be connecting with. Lana made a comment about my previous review regarding her interpretation of what the stage setting is trying to convey during the song. Her comments seem to be right on target. I was sitting dead center tonight - the effect was even more stunning. It really is as if Barry is just suspended there, a solitary figure in the universe. It's kind of surreal. It's not just the lighting - it's more than that - it's Barry's presence, too. And then when you add the way Barry's performs the song to all of that, it's really amazing. No, it's breathtaking - it's really breathtaking.
|
|
These two photos can give you a taste of the effect that's being created with Ships. Multiply what you see here by about 1000.
|
|
Barry put the passion back into Mandy/Could It Be Magic tonight - really a lot of it. And he put a lot of smiles into I Write the Songs. That's the only way I know to describe it. He had a big smile on his face throughout the song (maybe he knew it was almost time for him to be able to say "See ya!"). And he managed to put a smile on my face. I was dreading that part of the show because I don't know when I'm coming back - and the show really did seem to fly by quickly - but I had to smile back at him. Did I mention that I just love my favorite white jacket with his tux shirt and tie? :-)
|
|
I was afraid that I would lose it during this show - but I didn't. There was one moment as Barry walked off the stage to change jackets at the end of IWTS where I almost did - but I pulled it together by turning and applauding the backups.
|
But overall, the show that Barry gave us made it impossible to be sad. His theme for the entire night seemed to be "hope" - for almost every song, Barry performed it in such a way that there was hope. Even songs such as Ships, where you have people separated for whatever reason - Barry's portrayal of that song tonight said, "Yes, we're physically separated, but that's okay - because *we* really are still here." That's just how the entire night went.
We got another funny little dance when Barry appeared at the top of the stairs for Copa. Some of the backups were really laughing at him. They still don't have much light on Barry when he's at the top of the stairs, but I got a photo where you can at least see his expression - well, I hope you'll be able to see it.
|
|
They have most definitely got more light on Kye now as he does his dance routine. I actually got one good photo of that. Would have taken more, but CJ was in my way.
|
|
I took one last shot of Barry doing Copa, but then I put the camera down for the It's A Miracle reprise. I just had to see those last few moments with my own eyes, ya know? Barry blended Auld Lang Syne into the middle again - someone said they wondered how he could do that - well, he did it seamlessly, that's how he did it! But then he's a master at that, isn't he? All, or most, of the streamers were the silver mylar. There seemed to be a lot of them - and it looked like they hit Barry this time (instead of me)!
|
Barry lingered on the stage for a few moments, looking at the audience. Then he blew us a kiss and walked off into the smoke.
Around here, they always say that whatever you do on New Year's Day, you'll be doing all year. So, since I've spent my day writing this review, that must mean that I'll spend 2009 writing reviews of Barry's shows. Right??? Sounds good to me!
|
|
|
