Ultimate Manilow

Posted by EditorChoice

Thursday, 04 September 2008

Following a three-year sold out run at the Las Vegas Hilton, Barry Manilow is returning with "ULTIMATE MANILOW: The Hits". With more than forty Top Forty Hit Songs, "ULTIMATE MANILOW: The Hits" at the Las Vegas Hilton is packed with Manilow's hits spanning his spectacular career. With worldwide sales of more than 75 million records, the success of Barry Manilow is a benchmark in popular music.

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Ultimate Manilow

Last night was the first night of the new show entitled Ultimate Manilow: The Hits.

When the show was announced, if my memory serves me correctly, Barry said it would include more of his music. I believe that is all I remember, but the way Barry speaks there are always some extra adjectives thrown in there.

Getting back to last night, the fans filed into the theater, seeing the new set up…hearts all palpitating with anticipation of the new show that has been talked and raved about for weeks. For Pete’s sake, the man hasn’t been on stage for two months - he is going to come out and pull out all the stops.

The curtain goes up. The fog. Here he comes….

Fast forward to the reviews, the first few that I saw were not favorable…Why? Barry does not half step, what is going on? Someone even said that he appeared to not want to be there. What? Opinions are like asses, everyone has one, and that is just one person’s opinion. Then, I saw another review, the person was disappointed after falling for the hype and expecting a different show.

Rewind - Barry said the show would include more of his music. Didn’t he do that? Memory, Somewhere Down the Road, Ships, Even Now, WINE. I recall those used to get switched out in some shows right?

I have found some fans take everything Barry says so literal. Example: I remember reading an article where Barry was discussing the arena shows, he said in Vegas he has a time limit, and in the arenas he can play as long as he wanted. Also, the arena shows are a “blown up version” of the Vegas show. Well, the arena shows are still 90 minutes, we just have an opening act. There are a few more songs added, and the backups Copa costumes are WOW. Oh yeh, we do get an encore.

Complaining, no I am not. Just using an example of the comments placed in articles to get the fans to pack the place. Like anyone else, you have to take what is said as advertisement and something to entice you to buy a ticket to attend. Remember, Barry is an entertainer, but he does not entertain for free.

Hopes were high for an all new show. The reviews were a result of differences of opinions, albeit, the songs selected, the mood the reviewer was in - anything. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and the differences in reviews show that people in the same theater will see and enjoy different things. It does not mean that either person is wrong or right. It means they have a difference of opinion.

The mention of enjoyment moves me to discuss the excitement of two of our younger Barry fans. Reading their blog made me smile because you could feel the emotion, and that is what Barry is about. He obviously felt that excitement because of the interactions they received from him. He made their night, and gave them memories they will never forget. Surely, the attention Barry gave them ruffled some feathers, and the ugly green monster of jealousy poked his head out (and it is probably still out).

Jealousy in the Manilow world is another blog all together and frankly I don’t have the energy tonight.

You know as a writer, for many years, I would write and keep it for myself. No one read anything I ever wrote for pleasure - why? Because I was afraid they’d read it and say “ewwww” or “I don’t get it.” Finally, a few years ago, I allowed a friend to read it and she said “why have you been hiding this for so long?” Others have read stories and commented on them. I won a couple of writing contests - so I might not be too bad after all.

I said that to say, artists (whether musical, written or visual) put all they have into their craft in hopes that people will like it, that it will touch someone, or just give them inspiration. What if you put your energy into something to have it shot down? To hear it really wasn’t that great? Or they were disappointed? I know how I would feel - and it isn’t a good feeling.

Barry has performed sick, he has traveled in snow and rain - when he doesn’t have to. I am confident when I type this, he gives us his best when he steps onto that stage. If he wasn’t feeling it, really - he doesn’t have to get out there and I truly believe that he wouldn’t.

Changing Times

Times they are achanging.

http://www.ultimatemanilow.com/

New Show, New Name, New Sign

I like it!

Las Vegas Hilton

Okay, only my Barry friends will really understand this. My other friends, don't think that I have totally lost my mind - because I have not.

Barry refers to the LV Hilton as his home away from home. I guess we fanilows can say the same thing. There is something that comes over you when you walk into the lobby - there is this large revolving door - that I don't go in but it is a nice touch. You walk to the desk and then they tell you which tower you are located. I have stayed in the East and Central towers and never below the 16th floor. My wonderful views have only been either the golf course, the Stratosphere - good huh?

The restaurants offer a variety, from Pizza Hut to Benihana's. Paradise Cafe is by far my favorite because when you go there, you will NOT leave hungry. The portions are huge and the prices are wonderful.

I cannot leave out the M Store, that is the gathering place. First, second or third trip you will always strike up a conversation with other Manilow fans getting ready for the show. It is also a sure bet that you will find one or two things that you do not have in your Barry Collection.

You know that you have come home when you go into the restaurant and recognize the wait staff and they recognize you. "Glad to see you back." Uhhh yeh, been to Vegas pretty regular, and I wouldn't change a thing.

Oh did I mention that the mural on the side of the hotel can be seen down Paradise? On the ride to the hotel, I look and say "there he goes - I'll be there in a little bit Barry."

There are other shows in Vegas ...

Yes, there are other shows in Las Vegas. During this last trip, I saw three (in addition to Barry of course). Each was worth the money.



LaCage, has been on the strip (at the Riveria) for the last 22 years. All of the performers are awesome and absolutely gorgeous. It starts out with the song, "One of the Girls That's One of the Guys" and that pretty much sums it up. The entire show are female impersonators, and they are breathtaking.


Menopause: The MusicalMy friends that went with me said that I didn't get it totally because I haven't gone through it yet. It was cute though, after it got started - the beginning was slow no matter what they say. This show plays at the Las Vegas Hilton.



Lastly, David Copperfield's show at the MGM Grand was mindblowing. You leave the theater wondering how in the hell he do that? He appears first in a box on a motorcyle (like in the photo here), he continues to make a car appear on stage, make a duck disappear and reappear, and then make 12 members of the audience vanish right in front of the audience.

I would recommend any of these shows, they are very entertaining and worth the money. Of course, Manilow is the BEST show on the strip, but he is not playing all of the time, so we have to find something else to occupy our time. :) There is so much to see in Vegas, get out and explore.

Dang, did I just sound like a commercial for the city, or what?

Performing Like A Professional — Barry Manilow

The nice reviews are telling everyone what we, fanilows, have known all along. Barry is the best show around.

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Lessons learned from a Barry Manilow performance.

This weekend (Memorial Day weekend) I saw Barry Manilow perform Music and Passion at the Las Vegas Hilton, a sold-out show for 1700 people. It’s been about two years since I’ve seen his show. It was one of the best in town then. And it still is. I ran into friend Peter Pizor at the end of the show who also had seen it two years ago and he said: “Two years ago I thought it was the best Las Vegas show I’d ever seen. Tonight’s show was even better!”

I reviewed lessons learned from his show in an April 2006 blog post. I highlighted:
1. His smile.
2. His eye contact.
3. His natural delivery.
4. Story telling.
5. His personal contact with the audience.
6. Poking fun at himself.
7. Clean humor. (We know he can be a little naughty)

Here are some more Keepers from Barry Manilow’s Music and Passion.

Keep in shape. In less than a month, Barry Manilow turns 62. They sure cannot get his age right, can they? All of us are screaming 65 people 65!! He looks great. Fit. Energetic. Enjoying himself. He has been performing nightly at the Las Vegas Hilton for over two years and shows no hint of being tired of it. What impressed me both times, in addition to his overall good shape, was the fitness of his voice. To sing for 90 minutes with no break, while keeping a strong voice, is amazing. Professional singers have great coaches who show them how to perform. Effective use of the voice. Proper breathing. There is a lot we can learn from that as speakers.

Powerful Stories. He tells the story of his grandfather and his first performance at Carnegie Hall. The audience was noticeably moved. He added power to the story by including photographs and sound clips from those early days. He also shared video footage of one of his first TV appearances, being introduced by Clive Davis. It showed the young Manilow singing Mandy. It was one of my favorite parts of the show. He closed that segment by singing a duet with the younger Manilow. Powerful storytelling, taking us back in time.

The Power of You. As speakers, we’ve examined in previous posts the power of YOU versus ME or I. He opened his show with It’s A Miracle (the miracle is you) and This One’s For You. Perfect choices for connecting with the audience right at the start. As speakers we need to open with segments that connect and relate to our audience. It’s not about us.

Building The Energy. There are at least two elements to this lesson. First part of lesson, he built the energy before the show started with high-energy recorded music. One of the last songs (not THE last song) before the show started was The Village People’s YMCA. I don’t think any recorded song does more to get the audience involved than that one. The next song was also high-energy (I don’t remember what it was) but the audience basically sat down and listened to it. However, the musical energy continued to build. What was interesting was the obvious increase in energy when the LIVE band struck the first chord, reinforced with lighting cues. It was Showtime and the audience was primed and ready to go. The second part of the lesson, he built the energy throughout the show, closing with Copacabana (At The Copa) and a drop-down stage that brought him into the middle of the audience. Streamers. Confetti. A first-class closing to one of the best shows in town.

Catch him at the Las Vegas Hilton while you can. He won’t be there forever! I also highly recommend Barry Manilow’s Music and Passion DVD recorded live at the Las Vegas Hilton. It’s the next best thing to being there.




http://www.humorpower.com/blog/2008/05/performing-like-a-professional-barry-manilow/

Barry Manilow really delivers music and passion at the Las Vegas Hilton

Barry Manilow really delivers music and passion at the Las Vegas Hilton
If you’re a Manilow ‘fanilow,’ Barry Manilow’s Music and Passion show at the Las Vegas Hilton is a must-see.

Although, as he sings in I Write the Songs, he’s “been alive forever,” he’s remarkably in-touch with what it is all good entertainers do. He’s a showman, a performer, and he surrounds himself with people who are just as talented as he is.

The musicians and back-up singers were just as impressive as Manilow.

Music and Passion is well-written and includes a good variety of music from the past handful of decades.

It’s apparent that Manilow has had some work done, but what self-respecting, aging celebrity hasn’t? He’s still in good voice and he actually sings throughout his show (unlike some other celebrities who will remain nameless, Ms. Sing-Speak Braxton).

I didn’t expect to enjoy Manilow’s performance — no, I’m not a fanilow. But I have to admit, as far as Las Vegas shows go, it’s one of the better ones I’ve seen.

http://www.bloggingvegas.com/lasvegas/entertainment/barry_manilow_really_delivers_music_and_passion_at-110244.html