Barry's Response to Australia's Plan
July 18, 2006
Dear Friends,
During the past few weeks, we've been reading about the scheme in
Australia to make one of their dangerous parks safer by playing Barry's
music continually and hoping that the hoodlums would run away.
Over the last few days, the press has begun to print just one sentence
of a press release that Barry issued. That one sentence does not
represent Barry's response to Australia's plan at all.
Here's Barry's response. It was just printed this week in the "People
Magazine" of Australia called "Who Weekly". And remember what Barry has
always said: "If you don't hear it from my mouth, don't believe it."
Thanks,
Gary
To Whom It May Concern:
I've been reading about Rockdale, Australia's decision to blast my
music 24 hours a day in a park that appeals to hoodlums and their hope
that my music will drive the hoodlums away.
Frankly, I think that if you played ANYONE'S music for that long you'd
drive any rationally minded human being out-of-their mind!
But, have they thought that the hoodlums might like my music? What if
some of them began to sing along with "Can't Smile Without You"? Or lit
candles on "I Write The Songs"? Or, heaven forbid, dance around the
grounds to the infectious beat of "Copacabana"? What if it attracted
more hoodlums and not rid them of the ones that were already there?
What if it brought people together? What if put smiles on their faces?
What if the absurdity of this plan began to hit everyone at the same
time and everyone began to laugh and become friends"? That's what my
music usually does for people.
The council may have their adjectives mixed up. My music has been
called "Catchy" (easy to remember because of having an effective
melody, not "Catchy" (Able to be caught).
Good luck.
Barry Manilow
So Barry, if you're out there, you have created a "chosen" fan base.
Congratulations!