Can't Smile Without You 1996
May 10, 1996 - Mirage Hotel (Las Vegas, Nevada)
photo by Francine Oye
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April 6, 1996 - Wembley Arena (London, England)
April 8, 1996 - International Arena (Cardiff, England)
I had a halter neck top on and as I walked to the stage he made a comment about my BARE SHOULDERS (Can you imagine how I felt?). I was in heaven and then some... I can remember I was terrified and shaking all over but Barry kept squeezing my hand as if saying, "Don't worry, I'll look after you...". Yes please.
I made a silly comment when he asked where I worked: "the CO-OP", as if he would know what that is (...it's our local foodstore). But I was on stage with Barry Manilow...so who cares? The time went all too quick and it was over in a flash, but I can remember how perfect he was to me.
The only sad thing about all of this was that my video of our duet was BLANK! Unfortunately, after alot of tears and heartache, I was told that Barry's copy was blank too. However, I did recieve a goody bag from Barry, I also got a letter and a personal photo which Barry put a special message on for me, so it wasn't all bad ... Thank you Barry for making my life complete. (8/30/97)
April 10, 1996 - Sheffield Arena (Sheffield, England)
Our seats that night were really good, Barry was singing 'in the round' and we were six rows back, almost in line with the centre of the stage and I grabbed the aisle seat. I had just bought a really good camera and when he started the first whistle of "Can't Smile" I was still fiddling with the lens to get a good shot when he came to our side of the stage. Trudy yelled at me to put the [camera] down and get to my feet with my banner.
I was soon on my feet, waving and jumping along with everybody else and when he asked if anyone wanted to come up there and "do it with him" I just jumped up and down on the spot with my banner held high. As he walked round to our side of the stage he stood and read the sign, and in that second before he pointed to me, I KNEW IT WAS MY TURN. He pointed to my sign and said 'What's that say? 'It's me from GMTV', do you wanna come down here?" Needless to say, I didn't need asking twice and I ran straight towards the stage. Halfway there I realised I was still clutching my banner so I turned and threw it in the general direction of Trudy.
By the time I got to the steps I felt a strange sense of calm come over me. It's hard to believe now, but I felt no nerves at all and totally in control!! When Barry met me at the top of the steps I looked straight at those beautiful blue eyes, took his hand and let him lead me across the stage, all the time answering his questions - what's your name, where are you from, etc. I couldn't get it into my head that this was really Barry Manilow up here!
Barry asked me what I did for a living, which really threw me because I had left my job the day before and was starting a new job in two day's time (Which one should I tell him about? What a stupid thing to get worried about at a time like this!). When he asked me if I was married I just told him "not tonight, sweetheart" and gave him a really tight cuddle... I really squeezed the life out of him. I didn't realise this until I heard this funny breathless noise and it dawned on me that I was holding him too tight!
He sat next to me on the piano stool, ran his fingers through my hair and said we were on a blind date. I nuzzled into him and put my head on his shoulder and looked into those eyes. WOW, you have to be there to believe them. They are GORGEOUS! When he told me he'd get me my own microphone I froze. I suddenly remembered why I was on this stage. I HAD TO SING!!
Anyone who knows me can testify that I cannot sing a note, I am tone deaf and sound awful. In a blind panic my mind went blank (What song was it? Did I know the words?). Barry was holding my hand and counting to three, I opened my mouth and didn't know what was supposed to come out of it. But something did and believe it or not, it was the right words to the right song (Thank God!). I tried to hold the microphone down a little too far so that nobody could here the awful noise coming from me, but who was I trying to kid? Barry just told me to sing up and pushed the microphone nearer to my mouth! I almost laughed out loud when he said, "You're good ... You must have been practicing" (remember Trudy's comment in the car!).
We walked and sang our way around the piano and I knew that any second I was going to have Barry Manilow's legs wrapped around me. I was in heaven. Just waiting to get to the other side of the piano seemed like a lifetime, but when the moment finally came it was better than anything I could ever have imagined. I lost control and was in ecstasy. All too soon the dreaded last note was upon me and I started to shake. Barry - ever the gentleman, and by now realising that he had picked a woman with a voice like rusty nails - helped me through it and sang the note with me. THANK YOU, BARRY!!
The bear hug at the end was worth the torture of singing, and when he led me back towards the steps he pulled me back and asked for a kiss. I suddenly realised that THIS WAS BARRY MANILOW, AND HE WAS ASKING ME FOR A KISS! Who was I to refuse the great man himself?
Back in my seat I was a crumpled wreck. I remember very little about the rest of the show. I know I took photograghs all the way through the concert because I've got the pictures, but I was on such a high I just wanted to get to a video recorder to make sure it was really true.
Trudy and I drove all the way back to High Wycombe that night, arriving home at about four in the morning. We watched the video three times before we even took our coats off!
Since then I have received photographs from all over. People I do not know, from all over the country and even fans from America that sent them to people in England to pass on to me if I could be found! I have never been able to express the thanks I have to those people. I couldn't believe that so many people would take pictures of someone that they didn't know. What a great bunch of people Barry's fans are!
By the way, my banner said "It's me from GMTV" because the week before the concert I had driven with two friends to the GMTV studios to see Barry, and when we had been waiting for nearly three hours we were told that he was on the show, but that it was live via satellite and he wasn't coming in person. Trudy, at home watching the TV called the programme and asked the presenter to tell Barry that we were there. Barry said "Hi" to us and mentioned that we would perhaps meet another time. Little did I know then that it would be only one week later!! (7/1/2000)
April 15, 1996 - The Point (Dublin, Ireland)
April 18, 1996 - N.E.C. (Birmingham, England)
I ran all the way. When I got there I was out of breath. I think I cuddled him as if cuddling
was going out of fashion. When he asked if I was married, I answered "Not if you're proposing." He laughed then asked again if I was married for tonight, I said "Nooooo, are
you proposing?" and he said "Well tonight, maybe".
I think he thought he had better get on with it so he got me my own microphone and all I can remember thinking was "I still hadn't got my breath back so how on earth was I going to sing". Then I did a bit of ad libbing and sang 'Can't laugh, Can't breathe' to which Barry who had sang the right words quickly corrected himself to sing 'Can't breathe' as if it was he who had got it wrong.
When it came to the bit where he jumped on the piano, I let out an almighty scream, which had him and the crowd in hysterics and because he had his black satin suit on, he kept slipping off the piano and had to wriggle to slide back on to it.
The whole experience was one I will never forget, and he even asked for a copy of MY (CSWY) video. I would love to know if he ever watched it. For all you wannabe Can't Smile girls, as Barry says, "Don't give up your dreams" and one day I hope it happens to all of you. (8/14/97)
May 9, 1996 - Mirage Hotel (Las Vegas, Nevada)
May 10, 1996 - Mirage Hotel (Las Vegas, Nevada)
May 11, 1996 - Mirage Hotel (Las Vegas, Nevada)
May 12, 1996 - Mirage Hotel (Las Vegas, Nevada)
May 13, 1996 - Mirage Hotel (Las Vegas, Nevada)
May 14, 1996 - Mirage Hotel (Las Vegas, Nevada)
May 17, 1996 - Auditorio Nacional (Mexico City, Mexico)
May 18, 1996 - Auditorio Nacional (Mexico City, Mexico)
I enjoyed every word Barry said and every song. When the time of singing CSWY arrived, I
told my brother, "Get my purse, because I'm stepping up." Then Barry asked to turn on the
lights so he could see the audience, and asked the girls to stay in their seats. He waved
his hands inviting us to stay seated, and I stood up!
When he saw me, I said "Do you like my dress?" I imagine it seemed funny to him, and he
asked me, "Will you do it?" Of course I said yes, and everything was just terrific.
And the most important thing was that when he asked my name and if I was married, I said,
"No, will you marry me?" And he responsed, "Will I marry you?", thinking I was crazy.
Everything was so great, that when it was all over he told me, "Of course I will marry you!"
And let me tell you that I have 10,000 witnesses! (9/5/97)
June 8, 1996 - Brisbane Q.L.D. (Brisbane, Australia)
June 13, 1996 - Entertainment Center (Perth, Australia)
I drove all my friends/associates crazy from that day! I told them all that Barry would ask me to sing with him (Of course, you can imagine what sort of comments I got back!). On the day of the show, I rushed to get my hair styled. I then went to buy a new "Sparkly Black Cardigan" so he would notice me, then bought a pair of new shoes that gave me more height. I kept insisting to my family and friends at a pre-show dinner that this was going to be "MY night" singing with Barry. They all laughed. From the moment I took my seat, I was had this nervous energy, and I sang to all the songs that were playing pre-show. I had "Willed" this moment for years! The show started, and the stage revolved, I was completely "blown away" by seeing my idol right up close. Then came the moment when Barry sat at his piano on the side facing me directly, and started the famous "Can't Smile Without You" song. He got up halfway through and walked to the centre front of the stage to view the audience. He asked if anyone wanted to come up and sing. I was heartbroken as I was left on the side. Then suddenly he swung around and pointed his finger at me! I was hysterically jumping up and down. My feet had wings to those stage steps (Security couldn't get to me) and there I was running into the arms of Barry. He told the audience, "I CAN SEE A LIVE WIRE COMING UP!" After asking my name, where I'm from, etc., he asked me if I knew the words to "Can't Smile Without You." I said "yes" and immediately started to sing. He said, "Hold on! Wait for me!" I felt very comfortable on stage as I am a dance teacher. He told me that I had beautiful blue eyes and I melted. We finished the whole song dancing arm-in-arm around to the piano which had revolved to the opposite side of the stage. When he pulled me into his arms I was delirious. When it was all finished, I was shown back to my seat next to my daughter who was crying with happiness at my achievment. Barry finished the song with "Can't Smile Without You, 'Jean'." The audience went ballistic. I was then presented with a video to which I treasure so very much. At the interval I was swarmed with Barry fans asking me if it was "fixed..." Dreams do come true! I "Willed" this to happen to me. It was a Miracle. (6/13/2011)
June 15, 1996 - Melbourne Park (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)
Next minute, Barry was jumping up and down and the spotlight was on me! Cheryl H. went into hysterics and Barry yelled out to me, "How about you in the black pants?"
My heart was in my mouth (I still feel this way "even now" when I think about it). It was surreal. Running up the stairs, Barry grabbed my hand. His hold was so strong. He took me over to the piano and asked me my name, etc. I gave him a cuddle. I couldn't resist it. We sat on the piano stool and Barry snuggled up to me (Mmm! Mmm!).
He began his routine questioning:
"Do you like Chinese food?" "Yep," I replied.
Barry then asked if I'd seen the show before and I said, "Yes. Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth." He replied, "I had a feeling..." I think he was pretty impressed that I'd seen all the shows. He said something about "Jewish guilt beginning to kick in (all that money)."
Anyway, he stood me up and put a microphone in my "other left hand" and we began our duet. What a blast! I was singing - actually singing with my hero - Barry Manilow!! He was very sweet and very supportive. He made me feel very relaxed. He said something about having "beautiful blue eyes" and I got the giggles. Here I was, just inches away from his big baby blues! Ahhh! I pulled some face and HE got the giggles. We then went for a walk and started dancing (He'd never done that before)!
By this time I was really getting into it and having a great time (I really loved being up there!). When Barry jumped up onto the piano and pulled me in, I think I died and went to heaven. I completely lost it! Oh my God! I was between his legs! But he was determined that I hit that last note, which I did (I think it was more of a "near miss"). He gave me a big hug and walked me downstage where he kissed me lightly on the lips but I quickly planted another kiss on his cheek and sneaked another cuddle (What the heck!).
Somehow I managed to stagger back to my seat. The best part was the reaction from you guys (my Barry friends). You were fantastic! Cheryl H. told me to keep standing and to keep waving at Barry. When I did, he then went on about having lipstick on his cheek, having Debra make sure it was off, and how Elizabeth's kiss was all over his face (!) and he didn't want to wipe off Elizabeth's magic! How embarrassing!!
If I didn't have the video I would not believe it had happened. If you have ever experienced a dream come true, it is the most incredible feeling. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry! It goes down as one of the proudest moments of my life. (12/27/2001)
August 22, 1996 - Mirage Hotel (Las Vegas, Nevada)
August 23, 1996 - Mirage Hotel (Las Vegas, Nevada)
August 24, 1996 - Mirage Hotel (Las Vegas, Nevada)
August 25, 1996 - Mirage Hotel (Las Vegas, Nevada)
August 26, 1996 - Mirage Hotel (Las Vegas, Nevada)
To have Barry's legs wrapped around me as he sat on top of the piano, with his face touching mine, boggles the mind. It was impossible for me to believe that there were 1,500 people watching us. I felt as if I had been transported into a world of fantasy with Barry singing in my ear, and OH!! the memory of that hug when our duet finished, please can these precious moments last forever? Alas, no. All joyous, indescribable things must come to an end, and my five and a half enchanted minutes of heaven were indeed over.
But no . . . I was to be treated to an extra special ecstatic moment. Barry started to sing the very sexy "Could It Be Magic." And when he got to the part when he sings "Lady take me, high up on a hillside, high up where the stallion meets the sun", I just couldn't believe my own ears! He continued with "Ah, Angela, I could love you, I could, build my world around you" - right in front of me with his arm reaching out for heavens sake!!! Well, at this point I was comatose. My mind was just blown away. For a second or two I thought "is this a dream, surely this can't be real?" But it was. The noise and uproar created by all my friends was like the volcano erupting at the entrance to the Mirage Hotel.
What a treasured memory I had to take back to England. It was the most exciting and intoxicating evening I have ever known. (11/24/97)
August 27, 1996 - Mirage Hotel (Las Vegas, Nevada)
August 31, 1996 - Palace Theater (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina)
September 1, 1996 - Palace Theater (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina)
September 3, 1996 - Proctor's Theater (Schenectady, New York)
I felt so much at sea standing there [on stage]. I HAD to hug him, which was so comforting - I couldn't let go... Barry's hand was my lifeline. He asked if I'd seen the show before. I said, "Oh, several times", and [told him] his name was on my second mortgage!
"You know the words to Can't Smile?" I looked down [at his] shiny black alligator-type boots. "You bet your boots!" I realized my mouth was as dry as the Sahara Desert. I glanced out into the audience. It looked like a big black hole. Gazing back at Barry was the only way to stay grounded. His face was SO CLOSE. He was larger than life!
Hoping my voice didn't crack, I could hear myself very well ... I was almost in tune! Barry didn't make me dance too much, which was good - - I have two left feet!!. Barry jumped [on the piano] and pulled me between his legs. I was afraid to face the audience. I couldn't turn my back to Barry. I turned sideways so I could still see his face. We were practically cheek to cheek for the last few lines. I managed to hit the last note!
He said, "Give me a hug ... You were great!" We got to the stairs and he turned me for that final kiss. Then I was going down the stairs - nervous - I was such a wreck! When Barry finished the song, he said, "Oh Lorrie, you are Sooooo Cuuute!"
September 4, 1996 - Arts Center (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
September 6, 1996 - Foxwoods Casino (Ledyard, Connecticut)
September 7, 1996 - Foxwoods Casino (early) (Ledyard, Connecticut)
As I tossed the sign somewhere towards Massachusetts, I screamed, praying I wouldn't fall as I ran down the steps and also that no one was hurt by my sign!! John was there to take me to the "other" steps. I really did try - for about half a second - to compose myself. It was useless. I knew the people at the table right by the steps. When I saw them, I started jumping up and down. John instructed me to " just go up the steps" which I happily obeyed.
Barry took my hand and I started running towards the piano. I didn't realize Barry was running right along with me until I saw the video. As we stood at the piano bouncing, it finally hit me that Barry had asked me my name THREE TIMES! (Sorry Barry). I stopped huggin' the stuffin' out of him long enough to answer that question as well as a couple of others. After I told him where I worked (in the Emergency Room of a Trauma Center as a Unit Coordinator) he said, "Oh, I'm in love. I love it when people do work for other people." He then asked, "Have you seen the show before?" I replied, "Tonight is 29 times, just this tour!" He said, "Susan, are you in therapy?"
I told him he was my wish as I blew out the candles on my birthday cake a couple of nights before. I got this HUGE hug! Barry asked, "Do you know the words to CSWY?" I said, "I think so." As he handed me the mic, I told myself to CALM DOWN! I was almost there when he said, "Do YOU know mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?" ("Oh, yes!").
The mic he had given me didn't work. As he was yelling several "HELLO"s into a dead mic, I thought any minute someone would bring a new one. DIDN'T happen. Instead Barry said, " We're just going to have to sing on one MIC!!" I nearly fainted, but before I had too much time to think about it, we had started our duet. If I was going to get through this I had to focus on something. What better than those gorgeous blue eyes? It worked. I was okay. Barry was wonderful. [With a single mic] we moved toward center stage, [then] headed back to the piano for what we all know comes next ("How are we going to do THIS?") Barry jumped on the piano and pulled me close to him so we could still be heard on just the one mic!! "Isn't he the nicest guy?"
Barry [jumped] down off the piano and as he did he said I was great and gave me a hug! ... He wished me a Happy Birthday and then gently kissed me goodbye. THUD!! [Fortunately] John was waiting at the bottom of the steps to take me back to my seat. I had no idea what direction to go in because of that blinding light, but did i care? I just SANG WITH BARRY MANILOW!! (5/10/98)
September 7, 1996 - Foxwoods Casino (late) (Ledyard, Connecticut)
Barry asked me "You came all the way from Manchester just to see the show?" I replied "You take my breath away!" I don't remember ever saying that to anyone else before in my life!
I remember wandering through the casino afterwards and people would stop me and say "Hey, aren't you Julie from Manchester? Didn't you just sing with Barry Manilow?" They say that everyone is famous for a few minutes in their life and maybe that was it! All I knew was that I had just spent the most magical 8 minutes of my life with someone truly amazing.
After a year has passed by since I [sang] with barry, I look back on it and it was still worth every mile I ever travelled and every dollar I spent! The real and lasting joy of doing CSWY is this - Not one day goes by without my remembering it and smiling when I think of the man who takes my breath away! (9/1/97)
September 8, 1996 - Foxwoods Casino (afternoon) (Ledyard, Connecticut)
September 8, 1996 - Foxwoods Casino (evening) (Ledyard, Connecticut)
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This Page Created April 24, 1996 (Last Updated May 19, 2013)
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