The king of soft rock
Barry Manilow told Rolling Stone once that he is haunted by Bob Dylan, a man who is still alive. Turns out some years back, Dylan stopped Manilow at a party, gave him a wonderful hug, looked Mainlow in the eye, and said, “Don’t stop doing what you’re doing, man. We’re all inspired by you.” Was Dylan being serious? Or was he subtly mocking Manilow?
I guess we’ll never really know, but such is the case for Manilow, who is keenly aware, at any given moment, that he and his music are often the punchlines to jokes and the butt of mean-spirited teasing. In fact, it seems that a Rite Aid in San Diego started blasting Manilow’s music over its outside loudspeakers in June to deter loiterers. Supposedly, the tactic worked. How’s that for an insult?
What is it, then, about Manilow’s music, with it Frank Sinatra-esque glamour, ’70s dance beats and sappy soft rock quality, that is so adored by some and detested by others?
For Manilow fans, the answer to that is: no matter. He is their soft rock king, and well, why not? Manilow has the most contagious smile out there. One look at him, and how could you not want to give the guy a hug? And he genuinely seems
like a nice guy, someone who certainly knows how to make fans feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
Manilow, 74, will perform in concert Tuesday at Mohegan Sun. Fans will hear an array of the hits that he’s had over the years, from his earlier disco-inspired days to his more recent tunes. Tracks to look forward to include “It’s a Miracle,” “Somewhere in the Night,” “Weekend in New England,” and, of course, “Copacabana” and “Mandy.” Barry Manilow, 8 p.m. Tuesday, Mohegan Sun Arena; $39.50-$125; 1-800745-3000.