Who woulda thunk something as small as a finger wiggle could make a person so happy?! I'm still grinning from ear to ear! (we got finger wiggles all night!)
What a show! Take what I said about the show from the previous night and multiply it tenfold. Barry didn't give us a chance to get teary eyed or emotional about this being the last show - at least not while he was on stage. Thinking back, almost every song was upbeat - very few ballads. It was as if he purposely designed the show to keep up from getting too emotional about this being the last - or maybe it was to keep himself from getting to emotional - or maybe both.
I don't have a lot of great photos from the show. I took about a third less than what I normally do - didn't even realize I did that - I guess I was just too "into" the show. And a lot of the ones I do have are blurry. So, sorry for that - but I do have a few.
The show opened with the backups dancing out, as usual. But someone apparently forgot that it tends to help the audience see the performers if there's actually a light shining on them. LOL They finally turned the spotlight on the girls.
Barry was bouncy! He bounced all over the stage all night - it was so cute! He was bouncing During It's A Miracle right after he came on stage. He acted so happy - and he also acted determined to make our night very happy. And he succeeded. I know some ladies had sent back a request for him to wear a tux. He didn't - but he did wear a black suit with a beautiful sparkling tie.
Some of the folks on the front row had brought sheets of paper with letters that spelled out "Thank you" - the intent was for everyone to hold up the letters after the opening song - I was supposed to be the designated photographer of Barry's face if he saw it. But there was some confusion about whether people should hold up the sign after It's A Miracle or after the opening medley - so it all went kind of bust. I think Barry did see it and acknowledged it - but, of course, I missed the shot - so it still went kind of bust.
One thing I need to mention - the incredible feeling among the fans. This was like the old days - no fan politics - just everyone drawn together to love Barry and show him they love him. It was like the old days in Manilow fandom. It was a wonderful feeling. Even though there were a few tears after the curtain went down, we all just stood around looking at each other and knowing we were all feeling the same thing. And we all had the same thing to say - on to the Paris!
I didn't really notice as much emphasis being placed on certain songs and lyrics tonight (with one exception, maybe). It was just a different tone, a different mood. It was happy, very happy.
We even got finger wiggles during the opening medley - why bother emphasizing lyrics when all he has to do is wiggle his fingers and make our hearts flutter! LOL
When Barry finished the opening medley, he said that he was going to do some songs for us that he usually doesn't do. And that led into Why Don't We Live Together for the second night in a row. This performance was even better than the night before. Big smiles all around! I'm having a hard time making a point of how much I love this song, other than to just say that I love it. Again, Barry seemed very happy. It would be difficult for him to smile a huge smile while singing the song, but that's what his eyes conveyed. They sparkled - no, they twinkled! It was like looking into pure joy.
Looks Like We Made It was awesome - but it kind of got eclipsed by the rest of the show. And I guess that's pretty evident by the fact that I totally forgot to include it in the first draft of this review! But Barry did a great job on it. I loved the tone in his voice as he started the song. It may be a break up song, but he was certainly happy about it! The hip action at the end was more cute than sexy this time - because he couldn't get the smile off his face. When it was time for him to start singing again, he just had a huge smile on his face - and he pointed at us with that huge sweeping arm motion that he does so often as if to say, "Oh, you guys!"
I can't remember exactly where in the show he said it, but at one point Barry was walking across the stage engaged in one of his dialogues - and he said, "We made it through another year - healthy, happy and horny." Hey! It's all about the music! (until HE decides to play with us!)
Barry really changed up the set list - so I'm bouncing all over the place trying to write this review. There was no Weekend in New England, no Brooklyn Blues, no Ships, no ballad on a stool at center stage. But we got plenty of other extras. It really was the perfect show considering it was the last of the shows at the Hilton and everyone was on edge emotionally.
Again, Barry gave us Who's Been Sleeping in my Bed. The crowd went wild again. Actually, the crowd hardly sat down again after that! It was really more like an arena show in that respect. He does that song so well - I'll bet if there were any civilians in the audience their mouths were hanging open. He was so animated during the song - what I mean is, he didn't just stand there and sing it - he made us believe it. Yes, Barry really CAN rock!
One shot that would have been awesome because it was so clear is the final shot from the song - but the mic stand got in the way. But we won't complain! (but darn, that was a good shot!) Oh, heck - I'll embed it in the version of the review with photos, anyway. (darn, darn, darn!)
Even Now slowed the pace down a little. It was a very touching, moving performance. I don't think I would call this one passionate - it was the softer Barry - but he really did put a lot of feeling into it. Barry was really into it as he did the part at the piano - he just had this far away look in his eyes. Then when he stood up for the rest of the song, he made it so believable - at the end the performance leaned toward power ballad but not so much that it lost the feeling. And I finally captured my shots of his facial expression as he turns to walk back to the piano for the final notes of the song.
We got Sweet Heaven! No one sat for that! People were cheering so loudly, you couldn't even hear the opening lines of the song. Barry was leaning up against his piano and trying to sing - and also trying not to smile at our reactions. He didn't succeed at the latter. He had a smile on his face throughout the entire song. More sparkling, twinkling eyes. This version of the song was pure Barry - none of the interaction with the backups. It was just a love fest between Barry and the fans. And of course, we loudly sang "We love you Barry Manilow" to him. His facial expressions and mannerisms during the last verse "Oh brother, I'm in love again - so totally in love again" were priceless. I think this may have been the most fun song of the night.
Barry also had us sing along with him for Can't Smile Without You. And his eyes were still twinkling throughout the song. He ran across the stage to get to both side stage areas to get ladies to sing along with him. And I apologize for not getting photos of the people who were singing - I was just having a hard time getting a clear shot considering the angle. I did get some photos of the lady who sang on the right side stage area on Tuesday night - and also the lady standing next to her (I don't know your name, but I've seen you at a lot of shows, so I suspect you'll see this.)
They lowered the curtain and moved the keyboard out onto the stage. Lately, for this part of the show, Barry walks over to the left side stage area and talks a little about something. Tonight he again thanked the Hilton people (I forgot to mention that he thanked housekeeping, as well) - and he also thanked the pole dancers. ?!? And then he shook his head and said, "No, no!" LOL
Barry performed It's Just Another New Year's Eve on his keyboard. He started off by saying that a lot of people don't like New Year's Eve - and then he said, "But it's really just another night." He always performs this song at the last show of the year - and in the past I've always dreaded it because I'm one of those people who doesn't really care for NYE, and the song always brings me down. Things just seem to happen on NYE. The last 3 years in a row I've lost a pet on NYE. One of my youngest was killed in a freak accident while I was on this trip. So, hearing a song that talks about NYE reminds me of things like that - I don't even want to hear it.
But the song didn't bring me down at this particular show - not at all. This time I found Marty's lyrics very meaningful and very hopeful. And of course, Barry's performance of the lyrics was fantastic - he always crawls into Marty's lyrics and makes you believe every word. It was a really nice performance of the song. I loved Barry's facial expressions throughout the song and his gestures. I guess Barry really did put a lot of emphasis on these lyrics. Barry sang the first part of the song at the keyboard, but then got up and walked to center stage for the rest of it. I believe it was last year I commented that there's something more personal about when he sings the song without the keyboard in front of him - I noticed that this year, too. I don't think it's anything you would notice unless you get to see him do it both ways during the same performance.
As I mentioned Barry skipped Brooklyn Blues, but he did New York City Rhythm. Again, he seemed so very happy and upbeat. The keyboardists were doing more than running around the piano - they were running up and down the keys! Each of them did his own version of a run - it was kind of cool! So for the previous show I refused to pick a winner because everyone was doing something different. This time I refuse to pick a winner because I can't!
In place of the ballad and Ships, we got the upbeat version of Could It Be Magic. Barry always starts it off with the slow version - that was just so beautiful tonight. We suspected the upbeat version was coming. But I was thoroughly enjoying the slow version - another case of Barry crawling into the lyrics. And then it did turn into the upbeat version. Barry was all over the stage - from side to side - actually, he was all night, but there was just something about it this time that stood out. And yes, there were BAMs. You know, I've always enjoyed the BAMs as a cute piece of choreography and enjoyed watching and hearing the audience reaction - but at this show I got to view them from a different perspective. I was sitting dead center on the front row - when Barry walked up to the edge of the stage (and he did walk all the way up to the edge), complete with the wiggling fingers - well, I have been BAMmed! That will definitely get your attention! LOL It's all in fun, though. And I was blushing - I know I was!
Mandy meant more to me tonight than it has in a long time - I'm not sure why - I just know that I was really drawn in to the song and paying close attention to every nuance of Barry's performance. There was a funny moment at the very beginning. As the piano started moving forward from the back of the stage it was still in darkness. I understand the GREEN movement, but that's taking it just a tad too far! Barry started singing anyway - and then he sang, "Walked away when love was dark". He's so quick! The rest of it was beautiful - just beautiful.
He skipped I Write the Songs again - went straight into Copacabana. Barry did most of the song at center stage, which is unusual. He usually goes to the side stage areas. Of course, since I was sitting front and center, I enjoyed the change in routine! He was so cute when he sang, "Ah, love...ah, romance". The cutest facial expression as he cut his eyes over toward us. Also the cutest facial expression as he pouted when he sang, "She lost her love."
For the colorful part of Copa, the platform came down this time. As Barry was walking up the stairs, Kye started his hip-hop routine. One of the security guards, CJ (everyone knows CJ, right) was standing up against the stage with his back to Kye. Kye reached down and put his hand on CJ's head as he was dancing and singing. We all laughed, and so did CJ. I took a photo of it, but it didn't turn out well.
Barry closed with the It's A Miracle reprise - but he managed to arrange Auld Lang Syne right into the middle of it as only Barry can do. There were even balloons that came down from the ceiling along with the streamers and the confetti. Barry did dodge the streamers, but none came close to him. On the other hand, Keely ran into them and was totally covered - and she seemed to be having a blast with that.
Barry didn't really linger that long when he left the stage. He did stop and take one good look at us. Then about halfway to the back of the stage, he turned again and took another quick look - and then he walked off.
No encore - but you know, we would have been crying like babies. As it was, I think almost everyone was fine until he walked through the smoke and the curtain started coming down. Then we were all fighting back tears. Yeah, we'll be seeing him again very soon. But it was still the end of an era in a place that feels like home to so many of us. And there are a lot of unknowns about the new venue. I guess it's human nature to not want to let go of something that we know is good, to be hesitant to take a chance on something new. But like I said in the last review, we'll follow Barry to the ends of the earth. (Note to Garry: I'm speaking figuratively here - don't get any bright ideas - there isn't that much room left on our credit cards!)
And like Barry said in the New Year's Eve song - "we'll be just fine."
As I was leaving the hotel, I looked over at the Manilow store and felt a huge lump starting to form in my throat. But on the way to the airport, I looked out the cab window and saw a huge, bright, magnificent moon setting over the Luxor. So, that put everything in perspective. A magical moon to go with a magical night caused by a magical man. I think Barry got an early start on the Blue Moon - because this weekend was definitely something that will only happen once in a blue moon.
So, let's start the countdown! 60 days until we see Barry at the Paris! (and thank goodness, only 20 until we see him on QVC!)
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