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Barry Manilow

by 16 Comments

Venue:

Co-Op Live, Manchester

Date: 19/05/2024

Whilst perusing Ticketmaster to see what else was coming up at the new arena in Manchester, I saw resale tickets priced at a very reasonable £23 for this show. My partner didn’t really fancy it, but was happy for me to go so I thought why the hell not?! It’s a chance to see a true icon & I have always admired the exquisite, lush orchestration of his music & there is no denying the charm of his string of hits.
Due to the need to avoid the footfall from the recently finished City game, I was a bit late & walked into the arena to see the support act Jimmy Tarbuck (yes, really) thanking the crowd – I am non the wiser to what his performance encompassed & wish I had at least seen a few minutes of him so I could report further!
After a 40 minute break, the lights went down & to strains of Born Slippy by Underworld & Rockafeller Skank by Fatboy Slim*, on came the main man who launched straight into It’s A Miracle. His voice sounded fantastic & this is before you take into account he turns 81 in a matter of weeks.
His band were incredibly tight & the patter between songs was excellent. He regaled us with stories of his career & some great anecdotes as below:
– Whilst studying at Juilliard he did a piano performance in a hospital (“I said to an old man ‘I hope you get better’ & he said ‘I hope that you get better too’)
– He reminisced about the first time he played Manchester in 1982 (“I was just 16 years old back then, I had not even grown into my nose”)
– Donna Summer covering Could It Be Magic after his first album ‘sold 15 copies’ (“At first I liked it, then it got to number 1 & I realised I loved it”)

The standout tracks for me where ‘I’m Your Man’ & ‘The One That Got Away’, the latter of which I was not familiar with but loved. He played everything you would want & did a great version of Mandy. As he was offstage a video played of him performing it live on TV for the first time in 1975 before he took over – It was cheesy & fun, but brilliant. I have often seen arena shows where the artist seems to have not realised they are there to entertain & give all a good night, this was not a concern at all last night.

* I am not taking the piss, this is what he came on to

The audience:

I was definitely at the younger end of the spectrum, but the fans were a lovely bunch. Lots of glow sticks on display & some real diehard Baz fans! (I was chatting to a couple on the walk to the venue who were seeing him for the 41st time!)

It made me think..

I hope I get chance to see him again. One of the most likeable people I have ever seen on stage (the anti Ray Davies!)

4

Comments

  1. Setlist
    It’s a Miracle
    I’m Your Man
    Can’t Smile Without You
    Somewhere in the Night
    Daybreak
    Looks Like We Made It
    Sweet Heaven (I’m in Love Again)
    Sing It
    This One’s for You
    Bermuda Triangle
    Even Now
    The One That Got Away
    Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed
    Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again
    Dancin’ in the Aisles / Dancin’ in the Streets
    Could It Be Magic
    I Made It Through the Rain
    Mandy / Could It Be Magic
    I Write the Songs
    Copacabana
    It’s a Miracle (Reprise)

  2. Fun! Was he really singing though?

    My 17 yr old daughter absolutely loves Copacabana, hope he did that one. Guess he did, posted before you added setlist

    Probably for the best you missed Tarby.

  3. Good to see most of the hits, but sadly no Weekend In New England. Always a huge live act, and I remember the BBC used to have his shows on quite often in the late 70s and 80s.

  4. A while back, BBC2 had a night of programmes about him, and he came across as a really decent sort – quite self-deprecating, grateful for his lot, and (as you say) more than happy to entertain with some fun stories between the absolute choons.

    I’ve got a 2CD best-of that is probably enough Barry for me, but he clearly puts on a good show, and he has a hit-packed back catalogue. I’ll never tire of his original version of Could It Be Magic – the speeded-up and disco-fied cover by Take That has none of the atmosphere and power of his arrangement, and must never be played again.

  5. My aunt was a huge fan and ran a chunk of his UK fan club so she met him a number of times. Apparently he’s a lovely bloke. I wouldn’t have gone to see him, though he wrote some bangers.

  7. I like the story he’s told about getting a job early on as a songwriter-for-hire with a record company. Over the moon, he rushes home to tell his parents, convinced that this will show them that he has found his life’s calling and that writing music really can be a good career.

    IIRC, he says the conversation went like this:

    “Dad! Dad! I’ve got a job with a record company!”
    “That’s great, son … Doing what?”

  9. My sister is a huge fan and has was waved a glow stick at him.

    Many years ago I was in Tower Records on Piccadilly Circus in London. Don’t look for it. It’s not there anymore. He was sitting in the foyer behind a raised platform, quite obviously waiting to do a signing session. What was odd was that, as I walked past in that moment, he was completely alone. No minders or staff or hangers on around him, they were a few yards away faffing. It was just him. Waiting. Looking at me as I left the shop.

  10. I’d love to see him live. In interviews I’ve seen/read he comes across as a thoroughly lovely and funny chap who is fully aware of his role in this world as an entertainer.

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