Manilow defines “trouper.”
He is also an excellent showman. No-one leaves his shows disappointed.
Heck, I bought that greatest hits collection. And I was one of those angry rocker types in the late 70s and early 80s.
The simple fact is he knows what he’s doing with a song. Just like Elton John, Neil Diamond (who could also sell out stadiums), Bill Joel, et al. In fact, I might well put Manilow at the top of that list. Crafter’s of songs and nothing less.
And Manilow does have a sense of humor about himself. When he appeared on American Idol, his first words after he got onstage were “Ladies and gentlemen, Clay Aiken in 20 years.” 
I had forgotten he penned the lyrics to American Bandstand.
He could have retired after that one song and lived in his mansion atop the Biggest Mountian in Da World…yet, he wrote the songs that made the young girl cry…
Ok, I have to say, I am tempted to buy his greatest hits now. [size] I am so conflicted.[/size]
I would just like to state that Her Name Was Lola would be a most excellent user name here.
He’ll be in Ohio next week!
could it be magic?
I’ve seen him in concert twice, very satisfied both times. I’d go again if he was close enough.
I’ve seen all of them in concert except for David Cassidy. You may now feel free to put me on your “ignore” list. 
I adore Barry and have since Mandy first hit the airwaves. He was the only singer I could listen to at home without my mother having a heart attack. I have been to several of his concerts and they were all a lot of fun.
And, c’mon. He’s not that uncool. He dated “Debbie” from Debbie Does Dallas for quite awhile.
No, I am a guy and a very masculine straight male in case you wondered. That just goes to show you how far-reaching his fan base can be. I normally listen to heavy metal and country music.
Last year he ran into a wall at home and broke his nose… I can recall he anticipated the many quips about that and made a few himself.
Barry Manilow wrote a commercial pop ditty that still gets stuck in my head.
I’m a Pepper
You’re a Pepper
He’s a Pepper
She’s a Pepper
Wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper too
OK, I may have it slightly wrong (We’re is in there somewhere)
I also think he wrote “It’s The Real Thing” for Coke.
I don’t like his music but I have seen him interviewed a few times and he seems to have a really good sense of humour about all the slagging he gets. It was hard to listen him and not like him a little.
Lillith Fair, how on Earth can you have a screen name like yours and yet display such a horrendous lack of musical sophistication? To group David Cassidy with the likes of Elton, Billy Joel and Neil Diamond would be like grouping Ashlee Simpson with the likes of Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer.
Manilow didn’t so much share the bathhouse stage with Bette as work for her: he was her pianist, it was her act.
And though I like Manilow himself a lot more than any of his music, I won’t have much respect for him until he comes out of the closet.
Barry Manilow makes me hard!!
He wrote a lot of them
“I am stuck on Band-aid, and Band-aid’s stuck on me”
“You deserve a break today, so get up and get away, to McDonald’s”
Barry’s homosexual?!
I was wondering the exact same thing. It seems like Lillith Fair just has a music trash can in her brain that she throws everything old into whether it is junk or a priceless antique.
Wow. That is like so the best trivia quiz question in there.
Barry Manilow… his album was the first I ever bought. Even now I still own some of his 8-tracks (as well as his boxed CD set). It’d be great to see him in concert, but the dork ain’t comin’ to Kansas City. Bastid.