Review: Barry Manilow

Photos by Susan Pfannmuller/Special to The Star

Sunday was Barry Manilow’s 69th birthday, which was evident long before he mentioned it to a crowd of about 5,000 at Starlight Theatre, who then serenaded him with “Happy Birthday.” Several of the many fans who brought signs to the show expressed birthday greetings. At least one person brought him a gift.

The crowd included many folks who were Manilow’s age and older and many who were half his age and younger. It was also Father’s Day, and throughout the amphitheater families of two and three generations sat and sang along together. Manilow’s gift to them was 90 minutes of songs they’d been listening to for most of their lives.

Backed by a band laden with keyboards and two background singers, he opened with a version of “It’s a Miracle” that bounced to soft disco beat, then a mashup of “Somewhere in the Night” and “Looks Like We Made It.” 

Last year, Manilow ended a seven-year run at two venues in Las Vegas and he is back on the road for a long series of weekend shows. He may be away from the Vegas lights, but he hasn’t taken the Vegas glitz out of his show. He busted a few low-key dance moves — he is recovering from hip surgery — and he showed off his skills on the piano and keyboards. 

He is a smooth, slick showman, one not above some self-effacing humor. When the video screen behind him showed the “Even Now” album cover, which features the Manhattan skyline, he wisecracked: “My nose looks like one of the buildings.” 

That video screen broadcast lots of images from way back, including Manilow’s first appearance on “American Bandstand” and, before he sang “Mandy,” an appearance on “The Midnight Special,” in which he was introduced by Clive Davis and Mac Davis. Manilow has never been an elite vocalist, but for the most part he has managed to preserve and maintain the voice he’s always had. After he hit a long high note to close “Even Now,” the crowd gave him a loud long ovation. 

He dropped in some of his lesser-known songs, such as “Brooklyn Blues,” which he prefaced with a verse from “Kansas City,” and “I Am Your Child,” which he performed solo, at the keyboards. 

Manilow also performed two songs from his tributes-to-the-decades albums: “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” But the songs that made the crowd sing and wave their orange glow sticks and the couples dance at their seats and in the aisles were the sweeping ballads, like “Even Now,” “Weekend in New England,” “Trying to Get the Feeling Again” and, his signature tune, “Mandy.”

He closed with a Vegas version of “Copacabana (At the Copa),” then one of his most beloved songs (and one he didn’t write), “I Write the Songs,” which ignited more singing and swaying. After a reprise of “It’s a Miracle,” a blizzard of confetti and streamers was unleashed from the stage and rained on the crowd in the front sections. 

Manilow then brought the night to a slow, quiet close with an a cappella rendition of “One Voice,” a song about the power of music and the contagiousness of lone voice. It was an apt ending for a guy whose long career has provided many happy returns. And reruns.

Setlist: It’s a Miracle; Could it be Magic; Somewhere in the Night/Looks Like We Made It; Can’t Smile Without You; American Bandstand; The Old Songs; Even Now; Brooklyn Blues; I am Your Child; This One’s for You; New York City Rhythm; Weekend In New England; He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother; Can’t Take My Eyes Off You; All the Time; Trying to Get the Feeling Again; I Made it Through the Rain; Mandy/Could it Be Magic; Copacabana (At the Copa); I Write the Songs; It’s a Miracle (Reprise); One Voice.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Comments

[Kip]

I still dont "get it". I never have have understood the attraction he has, but he sure does have "it" and he has had "it" and has been doing "it" for a long long time.

Big props to Barry Manilow, a long term performer still out there doing his thing at 69 years young, that is awesome.

[Kip]

I suppose I should add, although I dont "get it",for some reason I know about 1/2 those songs by name and I would probably recognize another 1/4 or more them.... and they dont grate, they are are just good ole American songs sung by a great American Singer, Props to Mr Manilow!

[Mark]

Check out all the commercial jingles he has written over the years. Amazing quantity of big ones like: "your in good hands with Allstate".

[Kip]

Thanks for that tidbit Mark, I did not know that. Is there a website to see/hear all of his "jingles", that would be interesting see/hear.

I will add that I despise with a passion the new crop of manufactured to the formula, children of the American Idol generation and the crap they fabricate... and pump and dump.

My main problem with them? thier stupid cute faces, having iot handed to them and then traveling the world as swarms of girls buy their garbage, while people not deemd worthy but full of real talent are left in the dust bin.

Lets see where the (shall not be named by me) spoiled are in 5 years, probably rich and glooooong gone away.... while Mr Manilow has done it for 50 years.

In conclusion, I challenge this new crop to stick around as long, pay their dues, earn their props, show me I am wrong. I have been wrong before, not often, but sometimes.

[Gary]

I attended the show with my 32 year old daughter and two 19 year olds. I must say I was impressed with Mr. Manilow's voice and all the younger people with me loved him. I thought it was a great show.

[Pam]

I've seen about 8 of Barry Manilow's concerts. My daughter and I were at the one last night and I have to say it was one of his best ever! I'll never get tired of going with her to these because at that moment we're having a great time together singing to "The Old Songs"!

[jestcher]

Would have loved to seen this American icon. Even though I never bought one of his albumns, I recognize the majority of the songs on the list. Like Bon Jovi songs (blush)...I can sing along with most of them. If you are thinking "cheese"...well then you can giggle at me for seeing Tony Bennett. He was absolutely fabulous. Cheers to these guys and to their achievements as long timers in the tough music biz. I can't wait to see Tom Jones. I'm hoping for a Midland date soon. Rock of Mr. Manilow. You are one amazing dude! Oh and Happy Birthday, Barry!

[jhnycat]

Gotta draw the line at Barry, I'd sooner see Elvis's suit tour.

[tami richards]

always a good show , since 1973!

[chaussures air max]

Big props to Barry Manilow, a long term performer still out there doing his thing at 69 years young, that is awesome.

[Supra Footwear]

Thanks for the blog tips - I'm saving to hire a freckled nest genius :)