It's a Miracle...
or I <3 you Barry...

31/100

Today I'm going to repost something I wrote in September of last year. I'm sitting here on this rainy morning listening to Barry Manilow. I found a bunch of his CDs and copied them onto my computer. It's a Barryfest! I realize some people don't care for his music... but every time I hear it I get all happy. And you know? This week? I needed a little happy. And after listening to Cee Lo Green's song  F**k You  (sorry for the semi profanity)obsessively the last few days (which is perhaps one of the BEST songs to come out in a long time... it's absolutely hysterical and well written. The music is catchy and fun! I was dancing around my office to it and am now on the hunt for his CDs) I knew maybe it was time for some new music... *chuckle* And Barry? Somehow his music just sort of soothes the savage beast.

Anyhow, last year I went to his concert. And I am SO SO very fortunate to have seen him live. He's absolutely  incredible. I think, for me, there is nothing more magical than music... so last year I wrote the following 'note' in Facebook about him and this morning? Seems like a good day to share it and him.

Peace,

MaryKate

Basking in Barry Maniglow...

by MaryKate ت Meyer on Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 12:32pm

Mock all you like. I am in love with Barry Manilow. It is true. I am not ashamed. I am, in fact, proud. I went to see his concert last night. Minus the obviously overly stretched skin for a 66 year old man, I was awed. I was amazed. I realized that while some people may not like him, the problem is that they don't 'get' him.

I have never yet seen someone so incredibly invested in music. His life is his music. He got on that stage and NOTHING else mattered. He laughed. He got me to cry and his very presence was a testament to devotion to a gift. His voice, although at times a bit shaky was bliss to me.

People spend their lives trying to reach some sort of happiness, some sort of peace. But watching Barry Manilow last night, I saw someone who had reached that place. Some say his music is juvenile, written to appease old women with no taste. Those people? Are hardened to life. Barry's music wasn't about anyone. His music was about love. I don't mean 'love' like the emotion shared between two people (although that is certainly the theme to many of this songs), I mean love in a grander sense. Devotion. Beauty. Passion. His songs touch on pretty basic emotions: love, losing love, the sadness that comes when perhaps you realize that the love you left behind still haunts you... he also sang simply fun songs like Copa Cabana and Grandstand... his sad songs touched my own sadness and his songs of love and joy reminded me of the best parts of myself. I think to dismiss him because he is 'campy' or 'cheesy' is to miss a bigger picture of one of the greatest talents in music that has come our way. His music had every SINGLE person in that venue smiling, singing and many even dancing! People walked out of that show happy and feeling 'alive'.

So while you may laugh at my apparent "lapse" in taste, I tell you true. Seeing that concert last night renewed my connection and belief in humanity. To see all those people together, happy, basking in Barry Maniglow, feeling this amazingly powerful love for him and for each other, was the best and highest form of religion/meditation group devotion I have seen. And ironically it wasn't for the man, but in fact, it was for the music.

So yes, I am a Barry Manilow fan. Someone like him only comes along once in a lifetime. I feel fortunate he came along in mine.