Barry Manilow, London Palladium, review: an epic night of pure showbiz

Barry Manilow kicked off his 15-show run at the London Palladium, and the atmosphere was electric. The audience was in full force with their excitement, smiles, and exaggerated reactions. This tour is being promoted as the final UK concerts for the 80-year-old singer (although he's made this claim before in 2015). Nevertheless, the anticipation for this show was undeniable.

A large group of people, including many elderly, came dressed up to have fun. They wore shiny outfits and held glowing sticks while singing loudly as the show began. Manilow and his 10-piece band played his hit song from 1975, and the audience enjoyed it. For the next two hours, Manilow performed with enthusiasm, energy, humor, and charisma. He clearly loves performing and is devoted to his music and fans, who feel the same way about him.

Can Barry Manilow be compared to Bruce Springsteen in terms of easy listening music? Let's explore this idea. Both artists are known for their passion for music and creating unforgettable performances filled with lengthy, emotional ballads accompanied by grand orchestration featuring pianos, horns, and harmonies. They embrace every showbiz trope, from corny jokes and serious speeches to synchronized dancing with bandmates, feigned modesty and self-promotion, and songs that appear to be coming to an end only to come back to life with renewed vigor. However, something about their sincere performances enables them to create a unique bond with their audiences, who happily surrender to the experience, feeling like they are all part of a grand spectacle.

Alright, we shouldn't stretch the comparison to the Boss of rock and roll too much. Manilow is just as cheesy, providing a night of overly sentimental entertainment without much finesse or complexity. He overdoes every song with little substance or relevance beyond the immediate performance, leaving no room for individual musical expression from his highly rehearsed band, who could easily be playing at a Vegas show or a theatrical production.

Unlike Bruce Springsteen, Barry Manilow hasn't managed to maintain his youthful look. He has always been a bit awkward-looking, which he even joked about during a performance of his classic song "Mandy" while watching a video of himself from a 1975 US TV show. He quipped, "Wow, am I looking like Taylor Swift having a bad hair day!" However, things have changed since then. His use of plastic surgery, heavy makeup, and wigs to combat ageing has made him look more like a poorly-made puppet.

Manilow, who is 80 years old, moves in a stiff and jerky manner. Although he is still capable of hitting high notes, his voice has undergone changes. It has become lower, rougher, and less flexible. In order to hide the fact that he sometimes sings off-pitch, his vocals are kept low in the sound mix.

I think that the people who come to see him don't really care about the things he does or sings. He seems to be just a way for them to have a good time - which takes a lot of skill. At his show in the Palladium, everyone sang along with his most famous song from 1975, I Write the Songs, even though it's actually by Bruce Johnston from the Beach Boys. There's no room for being ironic at a Barry Manilow concert - you just have to let go and have fun. Even though some people might make fun of him for being cheesy, his fans will always support him.

From now until June 9th, you can visit barrymanilow.com.