Chicago Tribune -- Review
Scooter
Chicago Tribune
December 19, 2009
Review: Barry Manilow at Rosemont Theatre
By Andy Downing Special to the Tribune
With Christmas but a week away, singer Barry Manilow, who's maintained a
residency at the Las Vegas Hilton for the past five years, sounded more
drawn to the North Pole than the Vegas Strip. The singer's 70-minute
concert at a crowded Rosemont Theatre featured a full orchestra decked out
in Santa hats, white confetti falling from the rafters like snow and even
a Santa-led conga line during the obligatory performance of "Copacabana."
Manilow opened Thursday's show -- the first in a three-night stand that
ends Saturday -- with a casual "Happy Holiday/White Christmas" before
easing into "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays." The seasonal
material proved a good fit for the singer, whose appeal rests, at least in
part, on his refusal to shift with the times. In many ways, Manilow's
songs function as musical comfort food, akin to that family meatloaf
recipe that's gone unchanged for three-plus decades.
"Some people ask if I get tired of singing this one," he said introducing
"Mandy." "Of course not." And, aside from some slight weathering in
Manilow's voice, the song likely sounded much like it did in 1974,
building from a lonely piano ballad to a grandly-orchestrated finish.
Trim and sporting blonde highlights, the 64-year-old came across like a
combination between a Vegas crooner and a Borscht Belt comedian. After
flubbing a chord he cracked, "They ain't making pianos like they used
to." And when an audience member interrupted "Weekend in New England"
(Manilow (singing): "When can I touch you?" Unknown Woman: "Right NOW!")
the singer delivered a bug-eyed double-take worthy of a Marx Brother.
Sure, there were times Manilow embraced a level of schmaltz that would
make even a greeting card writer blush (just scan the lyrics to "Looks
Like We Made It"). And his decision to rework Joni Mitchell's intimate
"River" into a full-fledged showstopper was dubious at best (though it
went hand-in-hand with his tendency to reach for that big, emotional
climax on every tune -- a move since adopted by each "American Idol"
contestant). But credit the unrepentant cornball with giving the audience
exactly what it wanted, alongside a handful of holiday treats.
..................
--
Scooter
IttybittyBarrycommittee
Haha, When can I touch you.... RIGHT NOW! Love it!
Voice is 'weathering' what is weathering?? Withering maybe?? I
don't feel that or hear it when he sings. He is now 64 years old.
But a 70 minute show for the money people put out for that and those
that drove and traveled probably thousands of miles???? SEVENTY
MINUTES? Thats barely more than an hour. Most artists will play a
minimum of 1 hour 45 minutes and some like Lyle Lovett will play for
over 2 7/2 hours and charge less than half the price.
Dawn
wrote:
I know at Palm Springs his voice was getting hoarse and you could tell
it was starting to go by the end of the show. Maybe that's why the
show was so short. I'll leave it up to those who went to the concert
to decide if they would rather have a "weathering" Barry Manilow or
more cancelled shows. Just a thought. :o)
Dawn
Scooter
> I know at Palm Springs his voice was getting hoarse and you could tell
> it was starting to go by the end of the show. Maybe that's why the
> show was so short. I'll leave it up to those who went to the concert
> to decide if they would rather have a "weathering" Barry Manilow or
> more cancelled shows. Just a thought. :o)
Maybe his voice wouldn't be so weathered, and he wouldn't have to cancel so
many shows, if he'd stop smoking. Yes, I know it's hard. I'm an ex-smoker,
so I know how hard it is. But you can do it. You just have to want to do
it.
He's an intelligent man. He knows smoking aggravates his voice and his
bronchial tubes, not to mention what his lungs look like on the inside (just
Google smoking lung pictures). But he obviously doesn't want to stop at this
point in his life. Hopefully he won't follow his mom's fate. ;-(
--
Scooter
Dawn
I agree.
This is from back in September: http://genealotech.blogspot.com/2009/09/please-dont-smoke.html
Dawn
PS: I got blasted for having the audacity to post the link to this on
MMN. :o) Apparently showing pictures of how my Dad died from his
smoking was infringing on Barry's personal life.
Scooter
> On Dec 19, 9:17�am, Scooter <em...@invalid.com> wrote:
>>
>> He's an intelligent man. �He knows smoking aggravates his voice and his
>> bronchial tubes, not to mention what his lungs look like on the inside
>> (just Google smoking lung pictures). �But he obviously doesn't want to
>> stop at this point in his life. �Hopefully he won't follow his mom's
>> fate. �;-(
>
> I agree.
>
> This is from back in September:
> http://genealotech.blogspot.com/2009/09/please-dont-smoke.html
>
> Dawn
>
> PS: I got blasted for having the audacity to post the link to this on
> MMN. :o) Apparently showing pictures of how my Dad died from his
> smoking was infringing on Barry's personal life.
Thanks for sharing that post. I'm so sorry your dad had to suffer. May
he rest in peace.
As for the reaction on the "official" site, when Barry chooses to smoke in
public (on the beach, on public streets, taking smoke-breaks when he's
waiting in TV studios, etc.), he's putting his personal habit out there
for discussion, especially by people who know the consequences of smoking.
He's said numerous times that he's never taken care of his voice. That's
becoming increasingly obvious.
I've noticed in some photos, Marc is also smoking. That means they both
have smoker's breath and stinky clothes. Probably why Platinum folks say
Barry's breath smells like mints. Gotta eat those to cover the nicotine
smell. :-P
It's also bad for the dogs.
http://www.healthypet.com/faq_view.aspx?ID=152
--
Scooter
IttybittyBarrycommittee
>
> - Show quoted text -
ABSOLUTELY- pets suffer as well. What I could never figure out is
this: Why do smokers 'smoke outside', 'won't smoke in their car',
'won't smoke around their children', YET kill THEMSELVES by smoking??
If they don't want to mess up their car or their house, thats fookin'
saying something, isn't it????
Maria
wrote:
Why do smokers 'smoke outside', 'won't smoke in their car',
> 'won't smoke around their children', YET kill THEMSELVES by smoking??
> If they don't want to mess up their car or their house, thats fookin'
> saying something, isn't it????- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
I think smokers should only be allowed to smoke in their homes or
their cars. Why should I have to intake their exhales? I grew up
with smokers and never realized, until I moved out, how much I must
have stunk. It is just in everything and it's disgusting.
Maria
Dawn
Amen. I didn't realize it either until I lived elsewhere. Of course
I have asthma as a result of a lifetime of breathing second hand
smoke. Dad smoked indoors, in the truck, anywhere but work (hazardous
chemicals). It hurts the kids as well.
Dawn