Still Crazy After All These Years

Barry Manilow might not "write the songs," as he so candidly mentioned in a recent interview with the Washington Post. In fact, it turns out that he does not even like all of his own songs. As he likes to tell it, he is a songwriter at heart, and the music for which he is so loved - and, in some circles, despised - is only a partial reflection of Barry Manilow the musician. That being said, the man who makes women swoon and men groan stopped by Washington's MCI Center in the midst of his comeback tour, and, needless to say, he still knows how to put on a good show. He may be fifty-five and almost two decades removed from his heyday, but, as far as this fan is concerned, he will always write the songs.

As an adult male who was raised on oldies and the ballads of Barry Manilow, I can say that I have a rather unique perspective on the aging legend. While most of his concert-going fans are female, he does have a broader appeal than that, due in no small part to his seemingly endless repository of radio hits. For roughly ten years, beginning in 1974, Manilow dominated adult contemporary radio, releasing countless #1 singles, all of which are commemorated on his comprehensive Ultimate Manilow disc. Whereas previous attempts at such a collection proved ill-fitting and incomplete, this offering is truly magical, and it provides the novice fan with just the right amount of concert primer. For this show and others on this tour, the singer borrowed liberally from this career-spanning effort.

Fans come to a Barry Manilow show to hear the classics, and this band leader does not disappoint. Stirring renditions of "Mandy," "I Made It Through the Rain," and "Looks Like We Made It" rang true with the thousands of fans in attendance. Even montages of old favorites like "Daybreak" and "Somewhere In the Night" were special, if a little shorter than necessary. While the crowd may have seemed a bit more subdued that the typical concert these days, hundreds of women broke into a frenzy when Manilow readied for "Can't Smile Without You." A concert staple, this familiar tune features a duet between Manilow and an eager female fan, and this show was no exception. After a surprisingly entertaining effort, the jubilant fan was sent back into the audience, complete with a video by which to immortalize her performance.

Unwilling to rest solely on his past successes, Barry Manilow offered up a healthy does of his latest new album, Here At the Mayflower. While reaction was mixed and not nearly as enthusiastic, I respect his efforts and admire his gusto in promoting his newer offering. When it came to closing down his show, though, Manilow went back to the well, trotting out upbeat hits "Copacabana (At the Copa)" and, for a thrilling ending, "I Write the Songs." A short break was followed by the very patriotic "Let Freedom Ring" and a dizzying "It's a Miracle." Barry Manilow may be past his prime, but, for one night, he reminded his legion of followers that the Copacabana is still a rocking place to be.

Submitted 4/11/02.

If you have any questions or comments about this or any other concert, please feel free to e-mail me.