Put Your Records On

Today I did something I wish I got to do more often--lay in bed and listen to Barry on my record player. Of course not feeling well was the perfect excuse to lay in bed for hours at a time, but I digress. Hearing his voice radiate from the speakers of my pink record player was such a calming influence that at one point I started to drift off into the land of sleep like a baby may do with a soft lullaby. I felt so at peace...nothing could bother me.

Everytime I listen to my collection of records I always recall the first time I ever got a Barry record which was purely coincidental. I remember I had gone to a thrift store with my mom as she needed to look for something or along those lines and I was wandering around the store when I began to wonder if they had records. So I went around the store searching for even the slightest sign of records when I found a whole aisle towards the back dedicated to the very dusty and out-dated form of music. I stood there looking through each stack meticulously, hoping for some sign of a Barry record. There were certainly a lot of Engelbert Humperdinck and Barbra Streisand records but no Barry. I had almost given up when my eye caught a red cover and when I pulled it out I realized it was "Tryin' To Get the Feeling." The record wasn't in the best condition but I didn't care. I looked at it as if it were covered in gold. At the time I didn't even own a record player, but I had to have it. I bought it with my own money and to this day I still have it, though I have since bought another "Tryin' To Get the Feeling" record in better condition. I will never part with it though as it's part of my story and those things always mean the most.

*The picture is really a picture of my actual record player though "Here Comes the Night" is currently on it. :)*

Barry's got some "good news" in his pocket

I felt so spoiled on Friday with the release of a new vault song, a heartwarming and beautiful letter from Barry that had great news in it, and the clip from the 1984 AMA even though it was shown for a somber reason. I had not felt, as I call it "Manilow overload" excitement in quite a while as things have been fairly quiet. Events like this make a sometimes boring day into a thrilling and exciting one.

"Nature Boy" sung by little (or as I say wittle) Barry was too adorable for words. I giggled in excitement and smiled when thinking about how this may just have been the time "he finally sung something" for grandpa and actually liked it. It was so nice getting a song from "the vault" after 9 months of waiting. Barry definitely spoiled us with that one, at least I think he did. It was much appreciated it though. And then that letter, I had never been so excited in my life to read something from him. I think it was because of a culmination of things; the effects of the death of Michael Jackson, not hearing anything from him in quite a while in general, and just some personal things that made it oh so good to read something from him in his own words. It's funny too because I can almost hear how he'd be reading the letter out loud if he were to. Though I have my opinions on certain parts of the letter, it was such a wonderful gesture of him to enclose a heartfelt letter with such a wonderful song.

And I am so beyond excited for the new original album. I jumped up from my chair and jumped and screamed in excitement when I read he was finally working on it. Since I have only been a fan for a year and a half, I have never been around for the release of brand new material so I am so excited for the day in the future when I can run out to the music store and buy it. The concept sounds very interesting too and I'm interested to see what Barry's take on "rock" will be. It will probably be more so soft rock than heavy metal, but he has only briefly tried guitar driven songs now and then in songs like "Flashy Lady." I think this album has the chance of being a breakthrough album in his career because when he tries new things they always seem to be the ones that are most highly praised. I have complete confidence in him that he will pull this off in a beautiful way, though as he said he has his doubts. Who doesn't have doubts though when diving into something new? It shows he's human. This summer really does feel like last. Waiting for future shows, a new album, and having a vault song. It's nice. :)

Michael Jackson 1958-2009

"It doesn't seem possible. How could Michael Jackson not be with us? This experience is surreal. He was one of the most gifted and original talents the world has ever known. He inspired a generation of young people and amazed the rest of the world. There has never been anyone like him. There will never be another Michael Jackson. I can't wrap my mind around this terrible news."
-Barry Manilow

I don't think there's one person on this planet who has not at least heard of Michael Jackson's name. Whether that person knew him for his music or for the weird antics he was became famous for, people knew him because of the one thing that affects us all: music.

When I heard the news of Michael Jackson's passing I was in complete shock. I had been eating dinner at my kitchen counter while watching the news and the anchors had announced MJ had gone into cardiac arrest. Like many, I shrugged it off and thought this was just another weird chapter in his story. I continued to watch the news and at around 6:40 (EST) they began to talk to TMZ. As they were talking to TMZ, the representative from TMZ turned around and when he faced the camera again there was a complete look of shock etched on his face. The announcement was then made Michael Jackson was dead at the age of 50. At that moment, the face of music would be changed forever.

No matter what one thought of him, the truth is that he had one of the most profound impacts on music in the history of the music industry. Everybody at some point has danced to "Thriller" or has blasted the radio while "Beat It" pulsated through the speakers. Though I would not classify myself as a fan, I remember listening to the "Thriller" album growing up as my mom loves that album. I even recall listening to that album and dancing to "Thriller" at my 16th birthday party. No matter what age, gender, race, etc. one is, many have even the smallest memories of a time MJ filled their ears with music. He might have been weird and oddly mysterious, but at times like this, it is important to remember the good rather than the bad.

Earlier today while reading a friend's blog, I learned that Barry was a part of a "Merit Award" dedication to MJ at the 1984 American Music Awards. Barry performed "Ben" and "I'll Be There" and after performing there wasn't a dry eye in the theater...even MJ shed a tear behind those famous dark sunglasses. When reading this it made me feel fortunate to know that Barry is still around to give us what I hope is years of beautiful music, even if one day he chose to stop performing. Parents, siblings, children, friends, and fans will now only be able to draw from the past, as MJ will never get the chance to keep doing what he loved. Tragedies like this remind us time and time again that in reality "we live on borrowed time."

Negativity is a vile word

There are too options in life: viewing the glass half full or viewing it as half empty. Lately, most have been viewing it as half empty and it's quite depressing. I mean in life you have to take risks otherwise life would be so dull and boring. I do on occasion worry about spending a vast amount of money for shows that cannot be guaranteed, but I'm not going to stop my life just because of what has happened in the past and what could happen in the future. If Barry were to cancel on me I would be very upset but I would know I'd see him again and that my trip could always be rescheduled even though there'd be some stress involved. There are worse things in life, yet people tend to forget that. The one thing I've been told time and time again is that things will be okay, yet those who preach don't always follow through. I am so tired of the constant negativity whether it's from drama related things or the whole Manilow world freaking out because another show was cancelled. And I want to make it clear I do care about the cancellations because many people close to me have been affected by them so I do care deeply about it, but my point is that there two ways to go about this. Know you will see him again or in sit in your puddle of misery. It's your choice.

New York City

From a young age I have always been mesmerized by the brisk motion and ongoing activity New York City provides. The city (as us New Yorkers call it) holds so many memories that have partly shaped the individual I am today because my future lies within the streets of New York.

Yesterday as I visited the city for what seems like the millionth time in my life, that burst of excitement rushed through my body as if I was a first time visitor. Nothing compares with coming over the hill on the expressway and seeing the city skyline within reach. At that moment I know I am home. When looking at the looming skyline I often remember my first memorable city experience at when I was 6. My grandparents took me to the Empire State Building and I remember leaning against the metal barrier looking down at the taxis which seemed like toys a child may play with. To a 6 year old nothing else can offer that sort of amazement. I still have the snow globe from that trip sitting on a shelf too. I then recall my first visit to Rockefeller Centre during Christmas time and learning to ice skate there in front of that gigantic, but majestic Christmas tree. To this day I love being able to tell people I learned how to ice skate at Rockefeller Centre at 8 years old. Then of course standing outside in the freezing cold wind waiting for Barry to arrive at the Good Morning America studio. That is certainly a day that will remain as one of my most memorable city experiences.

As I was leaving Brooklyn later that night I could not help but feel a pang of sadness. The city skyline at night to me is one of the most breathtaking sights in the world. My eyes just never seem to be able to leave the daunting electricity that seems to submerge the city at night. I never want to leave and that pang of sadness was me not wanting to leave what sometimes feels like home.

It really is true when Barry says:

When my heart is torn apart by love I wish I had,

Well, I spend my nights in the city's lights and things don't seem so bad.

Ya know the movement seems to soothe me, and the tempo takes control,

and I lose my blues when the New York City rhythm fill my soul

Paparazzi of a different sort

I think this song is appropriate for those who feel the need to invade Barry's personal life, especially those who believe they have some sort of "chance" with him. I do listen to some current music, even though it's just for temporary enjoyment, but while listening to this song the other night it reminded me of those stated above. I believe it rings especially true now after all this talk of Barry selling his Malibu residence. I got a laugh out of it though. :)

Deja Vu

The past few weeks have been a very emotional experience for me in the sense that it brings back a lot of memories of things that once were, could be, and will be. This time last year I was anxiously awaiting August 27th to come as that would be the first "real" time I was going to see Barry. I can still feel that excitement and nervousness as though it was going to happen tomorrow. It's amazing how certain feelings stay with you throughout time.

I spent my days talking to my best friend about Barry and Las Vegas and wondering what was going to happen. We'd ask ourselves, will it be everything we imagined? Wonder if he'll notice us? Do you think $250 will be enough for the M store? Each day the anticipation will build and by the time mid-August rolled around I couldn't shut up about Barry and Vegas.

I remember ordering our front row tickets on June 24th and afterwards staring at the computer screen not believing I just ordered a front row seat to see Barry Manilow. Later on July 1st I remember standing in my living room getting ready to go for a walk when the UPS man arrived. I froze and my heart started to beat literally a million miles a second. My mom answered the door and signed for the package. I anxiously stood behind her asking "What is it? What is it?!" She turned around so I couldn't see what it was and once she turned back around she was smiling and she held up the tickets and said "It's 2 front row tickets to see Barry Manilow." I jumped and screamed and immediately called my best friend to tell her. She didn't pick up at first and I franctically kept trying to call her wondering where she could be. Once she finally picked up, I think I muttered something in English and ran out the door to bring her her ticket. It was halfway through the walk that I actually remembered to see where we were sitting. As I looked at the tickets I could never have even dreamt what the future had in store. When I think about that night I still feel that excitement and disbelief that everything that happened, actually happened. As I said in my review of that night, words will never properly describe my feelings towards what Barry did.

As I sit here typing almost a year later after these events, I realize that even though things have changed in many ways during the past year, the one thing or rather person that has remained constant through it all is Barry. That excitement I feel, even when just watching the 3rd TV special (obviously I watched that this morning) has never changed. I still have my "teenage" excitement of course where I feel giddy and prance around my house with a huge grin on my face. But most impotantly my love for the music has deepened in so many ways. I notice things within songs I may not have noticed a year ago and songs I didn't connect to at first are now some of my favorites.

As I think back on everything that has happened I can't help but get teary because there have been so many memories and emotions involved in this crazy ride. Many things can change in the course of a year, but some things, the things that mean most to you, will never change. :)