Barry Manilow and his fans won me over with their sparkly world and classic hits
I traveled to Glasgow a bit uncertain about what I would find, to use a bit of a cliche, I wondered ‘could it be tragic?’. It’s also fair to say I thought my first Barry Manilow gig, would also be my last one.
But Barry and his Fanilows are all about having a good time – and it is pretty infectious once you step inside their sparkly world. The styling is unashamedly steeped in Vegas shows and the great entertainers from the 70s and 80s. A giant red curtain drops to signal the start of the show, and then Barry walks down the stairs as his band bangs out a tune.
It all feels a bit old fashioned to begin with, but then no one watching in Glasgow seems to want anything else.
Once you embrace that, and the glow sticks thousands of women around me are waving, you realise this is a concert with no trouble, no long queues at the bar, and a place where for 90 minutes, fans forget about the real world. As Barry put it himself: “Lets stay in here, we have music and we all love me!”
What can you say about Barry that hasn’t already been said. When it comes to onstage chatter, he would be the complete opposite of Oasis who I saw launch their comeback last year in completely contrasting settings.
You’re lucky to get a sentence out of Liam and Noel, whereas it sometimes feels like Barry has forgotten in-between his jokes and anecdotes he does have a host of hits to sing. We get tales of his childhood, memories from past UK shows, and of course, a more emotional section where he discusses coming through lung cancer, a story which gets a huge cheer and one of many standing ovations.
And then it is back to his back catalogue of songs and you realise you know so many of them; Mandy, I Made It Through the Rain, Could It Be Magic, the list goes on. His piano playing is superb, some of his choices of suit jacket during the many costume changes are fairly questionable, but everything is done with a smile. Even when his voice sometimes fails him a little, no one seems to care in Barry’s world, they are too busy having a good time.
This tour was never meant to happen.
His last shows at the London Palladium in 2024 were meant to be his last in the UK, but Barry can’t seem to leave the stage. Like a thin glittery strip of metal being pulled in by a magnet, my best guess is he’ll perform live until its impossible for him not to. More Vegas shows and a US tour are already lined up.
Covering his comeback show for the Mirror – his first live gig for over six months – I was not expecting to leave with a big smile on my face.
Fans are unanimous in what they thought after the gig too. On X they lined up to share their delight at seeing him again.
Alongside a photo of the night, Jacqueline Loraine said: “Barry Manilow. An absolute joy!” And Margaret Rose summed up the mood and said: “I first saw Barry Manilow 46 years ago at Wembley Arena. Yes I’m old but not as old as him! Was good to see him back in Scotland at the OVO Hydro tonight. After his recent health issues he still has it.”
Its a show which doesn’t try to be something it is not, Barry entertains and enjoys himself as much as his fans I think. He would be great for the Glastonbury Legends slot if they could persuade him back to the UK next year.
It was my first Barry Manilow show, but he still has London to play later this month on his 83rd birthday, so perhaps it won’t be my last
* For tickets for the rest of the UK dates of Barry’s tour go to BarryManilow.com
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