Barry Manilow

I just watched a rerun of "Ultimate Manilow", a 2002 live special where he sings his greatest hits.

I can't believe that after 34 years that man can still make me when he sings!

I remember his first album which was released when I was about 11 years old and I've been an unwavering fan of his music ever since.

Any other Manilow fans here?

I think he has a wonderful voice I like his older stuff "Mandy", "Somewhere in the Night", "Weekend in New England".

I was a kid, but I remember very clearly when he first appeared on -- it could have been Mike Douglas, but I'm almost sure it was the Merv Griffin show. The host's introduction was 'way over the top, all sorts of flowery adjectives, and I remember thinking the poor guy was going to have a lot to live up to.

And he did -- whatever you may think of his style, the guy is just a phenomenal talent, and a very likable person, too. I mean... a steady diet of Manilow would soon make me just desperate to rock out! But once in awhile, if you let yourself settle into that style and enjoy it... the guy is just unbeatable.

And "Copacabana" is a fabulous record, no matter what kind of music you like. Didn't I hear awhile back that somebody was going to make a movie based on it? Whatever happened to that?

I became a fan at 15... 19 years later, I'm still hooked. I love him, his music, all that. I've seen him in concert three times, and would love to hit Vegas for his show, but money is an issue.

Just about the only album of his I really can't get into is his 70's tribute album. Summer of Love or something like that. I just can't get into it. I love Big Band sounds and the 50's one are awesome. Of course, I love Mandy. That's what started it all for me.

Amanda (just don't ever CALL me Mandy... I may have to hurt you)

I like Barry Manilow. But I keep my addiction to him hidden because people think Im nuts when I say I like him.

Yep, it seems to be very uncool to like Barry.

When I think of him, I remember one of the most romantic evenings of my life. A friend of my brother's had a crush on me and invited me to dinner. I accepted but only as a friend. After dinner, he drive out to Multnomah Falls. It was about 11pm. We sat on the rock wall looking at the falls, me sitting in front of him. He put his arms around my waist and sang Barry songs to me. How sweet is that?

I never felt anything for him though. Never even kissed him. Think I saw him as nerdy then. I still wonder what might have been

You're a closet Manilow fan?! hehe

I walk to the beat of my own drum and I like him and have never hidden that fact. I don't understand why so many knock him because he is one of the most successful song writers/performers around. The only thing I can think of is outright jealousy for his success and endurance. He has a lot of fans and all his concerts sold out and even his Vegas shows are sell outs, so the man has something going for him otherwise people wouldn't be flocking to hear him perform.

i like barry manilow, i'm a little young to have grown up liking him but i really enjoy his music and you know what's even cooler?

When Barry Manilow came to Maine. . .DH was asked to play 'Bari (Barry)' Sax for his concert!

When I was in high school I was 'in the closet' over Barry... but as I got into college and stopped caring even more over what people thought (I wasn't obsessed with what people thought of me in HS, but I did care a bit), I started telling people I was a fan of his.

Now, I tell people 'Yes, I'm a fan of Barry Manilow, and if you make any snide remarks about him, I'll kick your a**'

How I started on him was when Boston's 'Amanda' came out. I had an argument with my mom and brother at the kitchen table one day about how that was the ONLY song with my name... and if there was another one, i'd know about it. They both swore there was another one... the next day, I came home from school and found this black album cover sitting on my bed (now that I think about it, it was 1986, so I was 13), with silver lettering 'Barry Manilow's Twenty Greatest' and a profile of him in the same silver. I turned it over and the first song on the first side was 'Mandy.' Even then I hated being called that, so I wasn't happy. Within a week, I had the first side memorized... another week and I was bopping aorund my room to Copacabana (it was on Side B). Now, i'll proudly blast his music from my car (in between Bon Jovi and Green Day, of course). One of our local radio stations, Charlie FM, plays all kinds of music (from Def Leppard to Barry White, seriously), and one evening last week, I was listening to it... sure enough, Copacabana came on. I turned the volume up. Of course.

Amanda, Proud Barry Fan

My Mother always talked about his music when I was growing up....wonder if she's seen that TV special!

I was and still am a fan of his. In my college years, I saw him in concert twice, and he really did a great job.

Just have to share this:

Over the weekend, I read Bruce Dern's new autobiography, and he tells a lot of little stories involving other famous people, of course. In one, he says he was at some sort of gathering in Pennsylvania, an award event of some kind, I think, and he went into the men's room...

While he's in there, the door swings open and Barry Manilow walks in. He says, "Hi, Bruce," and gets a little too close for comfort -- so Dern says, "Get a good look there, didja?" The response is a compliment of a very personal nature. Dern quickly exits the restroom.

He returns to the men he was sitting with, and one of them says, "Let me guess: Barry Manilow made a pass at you, right?" Dern confirms that, and the men tell him, "Well, actually, that wasn't Barry Manilow."

Turns out there's this local guy there who looks exactly like Barry Manilow and hangs around special events in order to take advantage of the resemblance. Dern couldn't believe it -- he was certain it was the real Manilow. But he was assured otherwise.

What I want to know is... doesn't it seem to you that the real Barry Manilow ought to have a legal right to keep this guy from ruining his reputation that way? I mean, I know Barry is gay, or maybe bi, and that's fine with me... but I trust that he would not go trolling in public restrooms like this lookalike does. It must be humiliating to him that someone misrepresents him that way!

In 1988, my husband and I attended one of the Big Three's New Car Show in Boston. Very formal dinners. I got to wear a beautiful black strapless gown - something I've always wanted to wear!

Barry was the entertainment for one of the evenings - he can put on a show! It was fun to see some of the more famous names in the car business dancing and singing along with Barry - and wearing their stuffy black ties.
I love the guy!