Barry Manilow appears a fabulously free man in first London show since coming out publicly – review
The legendary crooner took the the stage at London's O2 Arena on Sunday night (September 9).
By Will Stroude
After publicly coming out as gay last year Barry Manilow now gives off the air of a fabulously free man, embracing the camp and cheesy aspects of his stage persona even more than before – and I mean that as a compliment.
Now 75 and having been with the same fella for 40 years, he said he was fearful of losing fans if he announced his sexuality but he needn’t have worried if the cheering, screaming crowd at his O2 show on Sunday (Sepetmber 9) are anything to go by.
This greatest of showmen didn’t reference his revelation and let’s be honest, it hardly came as a huge surprise, especially when you consider that in the ’70s he played piano for Bette Midler in New York’s Continental gay bathhouse.
But Manilow was a man on a mission, woefully wondering “Where are all the melodies?” when it comes to most pop music today. He has a point and proved it with a setlist boasting one great melody after another.
He writes the songs that make the whole world sing. Well, he didn’t write ‘I Write The Songs’, actually, or ‘Can’t Smile Without You’ or ‘Mandy’ for that matter. But he co-wrote ‘It’s A Miracle’ (a lively opener to the two-hour show) and ‘Bermuda Triangle’ and ‘Daybreak’ and the eternal camp-fest that is ‘Copacabana’.
Manilow’s clearly had some, er, assistance when it comes to not looking his age but his voice is as velvety as it ever was, sending ballads soaring through the ceiling. And his disco-fied version of ‘Could It Be Magic?’ (another Bazza composition with a bit of help from Chopin) showed a man revelling in the fact he can now be as flamboyant as he likes.
Rating: 5/5
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Words: Simon Button