I saw Barry Manilow perform over the past weekend. It was the second time I have seen him perform live; the first was in 1995. A lot of years and a lot of songs later, Manilow didn’t disappoint, except when he left the stage.
Manilow is a true entertainer. He never was the best vocalist, and as he has grown older, that certainly remains true, but his love for music and his enthusiasm makes his aging audience appreciate him even more.
I think what I loved best about the concert was how his songs made me feel. I got to reminisce about a time in my life when Manilow was in his 30s and I, a teenager.
It was my dad who first brought Barry Manilow to my attention. It was 1975 and he was driving me somewhere; I was 11 years old. The song “I Write the Songs” was playing on the radio and my dad turned to me and said “that kid is going to be something.” I made a mental note and went about my business.
Well, my dad was right and all through my formative years, Manilow’s music touched me. I remember “slow dancing” to his tunes at teen dances, bands would play “Can’t Smile Without You” at bar-mitzvahs, and “Mandy” was an anthem for love-ridden angst. Manilow’s music was also behind some of the more memorable jingles of the 1970s – I am Stuck on Band-Aid; State Farm: Like a Good Neighbor; and You Deserve a Break Today at McDonald’s.
During the concert, there were clips of Manilow from the 1970s, and I particularly loved a story he told about his grandfather. He also spoke about how important music teachers were in his life. As a dancer, and mom to a guitarist, I could really relate to the importance of these role models and their influence on a budding performer.
The audience was full of baby boomers and we danced and sang along with Manilow. If our kids were there, they would be embarrassed, but we didn’t care as we grooved to one hit after another. I think most of us were remembering times past. There is something about how a song can bring you back to a time and place, and all 19,000 of us concert goers that night had our own personal recollections. We all left the show smiling and wishing time didn’t pass so quickly.
Yes, we are getting older, but music stands the test of time. I think it is safe to say that all the “Fanilows” who are seeing this final Manilow tour are glad to be a part of this end of an era celebration, where life seemed more innocent, lyrics more meaningful, and teenagers asked “Could it be Magic?”
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Previously Published on substack
Image: Matt Becker (talk) (Uploads)
on Wikimedia under CC License
