Fanilow Flaxperson

Moonlight, Stage Lights, Anonymity and Bliss

I was hoarse and happy on Saturday morning– I’d sung my heart out, cheered and yelled as I danced, swayed and blissed out at the Barry Manilow concert at the Rexall Centre the night before. Open air stadium concerts are the best! You can let it rip, and no one else can see you, hear you or cares as you immerse yourself into the moment. Stand, sit, lean, move, dance, sit-dance, sing, chant and feel the goose bumps in complete abandon.

I have always been a bit shy to say I like Barry Manilow. But I love him. As the concert started, I wondered if it would be a caricature of his best moments, decades old, as he sprang around the stage blazing at us from the jumbotrons. Maybe I would have been as well off watching a tribute band. But no, it was magic. He talks and all his stories seem genuine and heartfelt and fascinating. When he sang from his new album, 15 Minutes, it was golden too! Of course the highlights were the oldies and those blew me away. Along with thousands of swaying screaming like-minded Fanilows!

Someone told me that I should buy the album and skip the concert. Was that your thought? Why drive to hell and back again to see this live? Because it was LIVE! I am proud that I love music and all types of singing, dancing and celebration. They were piping in Lady Gaga at the start and the fans were loving that too! It was a joyous night and man, or Manilow, I am so glad I was part of it!