In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
- Davey the Fat Boy
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In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
No - I’m not going to mount a defense of Manilow as an artist. I could probably pick out a few songs of his I don’t mind (“Weekend in New England”, his cover of “Ships” - not much more) - but I think this one stands out as a pretty special record. It was his first hit on his first album, before all of the key changes and the hokeyness.
I wonder how we’d regard Manilow and this track if he’d never followed it up. Would we be more willing to hear it on its own terms?
Anyhow - if you don’t like this kind of piano ballad, you won’t find much value in revisiting this. But if you like a record like Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself” - this might just push some pleasure buttons for you.
I wonder how we’d regard Manilow and this track if he’d never followed it up. Would we be more willing to hear it on its own terms?
Anyhow - if you don’t like this kind of piano ballad, you won’t find much value in revisiting this. But if you like a record like Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself” - this might just push some pleasure buttons for you.
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
Makes me yearn to hear Celine Dion do helpless.
If I jerk- the handle jerk- the handle you'll thrill me and thrill me
- Davey the Fat Boy
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
jimboo wrote:Makes me yearn to hear Celine Dion do helpless.
I think you’d deserve that.
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- George P. Smackers
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
The Chopin C minor Prelude that takes up the first minute seems aggressively middle-brow, and I can't decide whether to admire it as ballsy or just think "this is his way of saying he's fancy in a way that's just not for me."
- naughty boy
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
I just found it tiresome.
Take That’s cover is better in every aspect.
Take That’s cover is better in every aspect.
Matt 'interesting' Wilson wrote:So I went from looking at the "I'm a Man" riff, to showing how the rave up was popular for awhile.
- harvey k-tel
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
Come back, Googamooga! All is forgiven.
Tempora mutatur et nos mutamur in illis
- harvey k-tel
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
Also, if I may pick a nit, Rayge-style, how else are we supposed to discuss this stuff, other than "in hindsight", unless one's opinion was formed and hasn't changed a bit since this stuff was released?
Tempora mutatur et nos mutamur in illis
- Davey the Fat Boy
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
Harvey K-Tel wrote:Also, if I may pick a nit, Rayge-style, how else are we supposed to discuss this stuff, other than "in hindsight", unless one's opinion was formed and hasn't changed a bit since this stuff was released?
Always a possibility.
“Remember I have said good things about benevolent despots before.” - Jimbo
- ChrisB
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
Irrespective of what we all think of Manilow, it's a great song
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
Cracking track.
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
I love it to bits. Wouldn't call myself any sort of Manilow-fan, but this song/record kicks serious ass.
I played it to close a recent DJ night, and yeah - naturally, it sounded magnificent at full volume, but...tellingly, an old friend of mine had popped in, and he was having a real moment with it, along the lines of 'WHY hasn't some super heavy, sludgy, saturated behemoth of a rock band put this in their act!?!?" (the descending cycle of chords in the chorus is the sort of thing you could easily milk for ten minutes with nary a diminishing return).
So fucking good.
I played it to close a recent DJ night, and yeah - naturally, it sounded magnificent at full volume, but...tellingly, an old friend of mine had popped in, and he was having a real moment with it, along the lines of 'WHY hasn't some super heavy, sludgy, saturated behemoth of a rock band put this in their act!?!?" (the descending cycle of chords in the chorus is the sort of thing you could easily milk for ten minutes with nary a diminishing return).
So fucking good.
- Quaco
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
It may not be my favorite of his, but it's very good and undoubtedly epic. BM often descends into cheesiness, which is why I keep picking up his studio albums and keep being disappointed, but his best is crystalline perfection. Barry Manilow's Greatest Hits is a stronger double album than Exile on Main Street.
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- naughty boy
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
oh WOW
Matt 'interesting' Wilson wrote:So I went from looking at the "I'm a Man" riff, to showing how the rave up was popular for awhile.
- Quaco
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
Yep that's how I roll!
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- Sneelock
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
Insert “projectile vomit” emoticon here.
uggy poopy doody.
- Sneelock
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
The timbre of his voice makes me feel all stabby.
uggy poopy doody.
- toomanyhatz
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
I'll take "Dizzy" by Tommy Roe for the key changes into eternity. There's some Barry I like - I still have a soft spot for "Mandy" - but this is a bit OTT even for me.
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- Ranking Ted
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
Top 5 threads this evening:
Prog corner
Barry Manilow
Phil Collins
Cliff Richard
Meat Loaf
Jesus Christ. And this song is a load of show tune rubbish as well.
Prog corner
Barry Manilow
Phil Collins
Cliff Richard
Meat Loaf
Jesus Christ. And this song is a load of show tune rubbish as well.
- naughty boy
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
Ranking Ted wrote:Top 5 threads this evening:
Prog corner
Barry Manilow
Phil Collins
Cliff Richard
Meat Loaf
You know what to do!
Matt 'interesting' Wilson wrote:So I went from looking at the "I'm a Man" riff, to showing how the rave up was popular for awhile.
- WG Kaspar
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Re: In Hindsight, Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow
Quaco wrote:It may not be my favorite of his, but it's very good and undoubtedly epic. BM often descends into cheesiness, which is why I keep picking up his studio albums and keep being disappointed, but his best is crystalline perfection. Barry Manilow's Greatest Hits is a stronger double album than Exile on Main Street.
Oh Jim...
I would be willing to forgive the Demis Roussos defence but this is a misstep too far.
I run out of talent