I traveled to see Barry Manilow’s Savannah, Georgia date of the “Hits 2023!” Tour. Does a concert consisting of only hits work? If your Barry Manilow it does. As you’ll read in this review, seeing the show increased my appreciation for Barry Manilow. The songs he sings are hits for a reason.
I was in a melancholic mood that Sunday. There was a chill in the air, but the night had plenty of promise. Why? I maybe felt the blues, but was about to put myself in the hands of a professional. Not a therapist or even a bartender, but rather an entertainer named Barry Manilow.
As someone who has seen a great many musical performers take the stage, I can verify that Manilow as an artist is a man alone. He’s one of those people you see bathed in the bright lights and you think: “he was meant for the stage.”
Manilow on stage: “the highest calling”
His friend and longtime songwriting partner Marty Panzer put it so passionately and directly:
“When I watch Barry on the stage in Vegas, you think, there just is no greater thrill than being on that stage! It doesn’t matter what you do behind the scenes. When you see Barry glowing on stage, you think, that is the highest calling!”
And Marty is right, Barry does glow on stage. And a funny thing happens to the audience. They start glowing too. It’s kind of a miracle.
Barry Manilow first performance in Savannah since 1985
Barry Manilow was performing in Savannah, Georgia. It felt poetic to travel there to see his show, especially for a lover of the American Songbook. It would be Manilow’s first performance in Savannah in 38 years (1985).
Whenever in Savannah, I always remember and pay respects to the late Johnny Mercer, by visiting his statue in Ellis Square. Mercer was one of the greatest lyricists ever and had a mutual admiration for Manilow. After his passing, Johnny’s widow sent Manilow some of his unfinished lyrics to hopefully become songs. Manilow composed a gorgeous, but brooding melody that fit one of Mercer’s lyrics perfectly and it became somewhat of a standard: “When October Goes.”
Although the original version from Manilow’s “2:00 AM Paradise Cafe” is sublime, you’ll also enjoy the interpretation Tamela D’Amico recorded.
However, Barry Manilow’s concert wouldn’t focus on the obscure, yet remarkable songs like “When October Goes.” This tour was entitled “Manilow Hits 2023!” Whereas some great performers only have one or two, Barry has always been long on hits.
“It’s a Miracle,” a stalwart opening song
The opening song was “It’s a Miracle.” As Marty Panzer told me more than 10 years ago: “You know, it’s been his opening number for thirty-two years? For as long as he’s been on the road, it’s been his opening number. He’s tried a hundred other numbers as the opening number, but the one number that gets the audience excited in a familiar, friendly, comfortable, approachable way is “It’s A Miracle”, and it was our first hit single, too.”
It’s a tried and true opener. The song had the entire arena in full-on festive mood. By the end of the tune, I was singing along, full of smiles and feeling great about my decision to make the sojourn.
Hits, hits and hits
From there, Manilow and his band, who he described as some of the most talented people you’ll ever meet, mesmerized the crowd with hit after hit. What the audience was promised, they got. They played these hits like their life depended it. Some of the songs Manilow wrote, some he didn’t: “Daybreak,” “Looks Like We Made It,” “Can’t Smile Without You,” “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs,” “I Made It Through the Rain.” In Barry’s hands, he made them his own. Do you know what I mean?
The songs that night captured every facet of human emotion. To quote an old country song, “cry a little, it’ll be good for you.” For me, that was a part of the show too. It happened during “Even Now,” and I can be quite certain I was not alone.
Barry Manilow’s concerts are a confluence of greatness
Barry Manilow is a perfectionist, as anyone who saw the show in Savannah could attest. Eventually there was the last song: “Copacabana.” As I stood alone in the crowd I marveled at what had transpired.
It was the confluence of a lot of great things. All of the light and sound crew shining at their expertise, then the skilled instrumentalists and the excellent backing vocalists. Of course we can’t forget the top lyricists and composers, Barry included, who crafted these songs.
Then there was the man himself: Barry Manilow. Barry from Brooklyn is always worth the trip no matter where he goes.
Frank Sinatra Jr. expressed his appreciation for Manilow
Almost nobody did a better job of describing Manilow than the late Frank Sinatra, Jr.
“Barry Manilow is one of the biggest musical talents to hit the recording industry in decades and unfortunately we’re talking about the ’70s. I wonder, if Barry Manilow were 35, 40 years younger, right now, and just getting started, if anybody in the quote ‘music community’ unquote, would even pay attention to him.
His songs have melodies, they have harmonic changes, they are intelligent, they are musical, and this is the kind of thing that no longer seems to matter anymore.”
Jeff Pike describes the appeal of Barry Manilow
A versatile, seasoned performing and recording artist Jeff Pike has bonded with me for years over a lot of great music. Barry Manilow has always been a part of our friendship. Jeff described Barry’s appeal:
“The first time I saw Barry Manilow live was in 1982 at the Omni and I will never forget it. Since then I’ve seen Barry countless times and I have a wide variety of music I enjoy and I’m a rock and roller too. A lot of people wonder why I would go see a Barry Manilow concert and then make fun of me. And I still get it. I’d say: ‘You don’t understand. There’s good musicians and there’s good entertainers regardless of what genre of music you’re in.’
I have seen hundreds of concerts in my time. And I have rarely seen an entertainer give a well-rounded show like Barry Manilow.
He’s personable. He’s likable. It’s show biz. It’s Las Vegas. It’s cabaret. It’s club. It’s pop. It’s rock and roll. It’s theatre. It’s everything. And you smile all the time. You walk into his theatre and you leave smiling. And you leave dancing. And all of the songs, whether you know them or not, they stick in your heart and they stick in your head.
And all I can say is, no matter what kind of music you like, you owe it to yourself to see Barry Manilow at least one time. Whether you like his music or not, you will have a great time. And you’ll walk away with a respect for him you didn’t have going in. Barry Manilow is the man.”
Listening to Barry Manilow is to be in a good place
For those who have seen a Barry Manilow concert, you understand. If it has to be explained, maybe you won’t ever understand. But, being grouped in club Manilow is not a bad place to be.
Frank Sinatra considered himself a fan, just like his son did. But, Bob Dylan sang Barry’s praises too. If you’ve never seen him, as Jeff Pike said “you owe it to yourself to see him.” For those who have seen the man in concert, “Why don’t you see the show again?”
P. S. Driving to Savannah, I had the clever and humorous Robert McCready on the phone to keep me company. Thank you Mr. McCready, for the food for thought and all of the laughs.
