Latest news with #BarryManilow
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Barry Manilow heartbroken by Billy Joel's health crisis
Barry Manilow's heart "broke" when he heard about Billy Joel's health crisis. The veteran musician was forced to cancel all of his tour dates for the rest of the year after he was diagnosed with a rare brain condition called Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), which is caused by a build-up of fluid in the brain, and now Manilow has admitted he feels terrible about seeing the Piano Man go through such a tough time. He told Billboard: "Oh, it's so horrible, so horrible. It just broke my heart when I heard about Billy Joel. I'm such a fan of his work. I really hope he's able to get back to it." Manilow went on to admit there aren't many of his contemporaries still performing. He said: "It's like: 'What? Am I the only one left?' It's Billy Joel, and Elton [John] is not well and Rod [Stewart] and Neil [Diamond]. Diana Ross is still in great shape, I think. "There must be only a handful of people in my world that are still there. "I'm still healthy. I'm strong and I've still got my voice and my energy. The night I can't hit the F natural on Even Now, that's the night I throw in the towel. But I can still do it." Joel recently axed all of his tour dates - including 17 dates in North America and England - but reports suggest he has no plans to retire despite the diagnosis. Announcing the news on social media, a statement from Joel's team read: "Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance. "Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritising his health. "He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage." Billy added his own message to fans, saying: "I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Songwriting has changed, says Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow thinks "songwriting has changed". The 81-year-old star released his eponymous debut album back in 1973, but he admits that songwriting has changed dramatically during the course of his career. Speaking to Billboard, he explained: "The songwriting has changed. "Young people don't write the way I was trained to write. There's no verse which goes into the chorus which goes back to the verse which goes to ending, and you change keys. They don't do that. "They start the song and then they just … it feels like a run-on sentence to me. I can't find the hook. I can't find the chorus. It just keeps on going, and then it ends." Manilow observed that a lot of his contemporaries have already retired from the music business. However, he has no intention of stepping back for the time being. The 'Could It Be Magic' hitmaker said: "It's like, 'What? Am I the only one left?' "It's Billy Joel, and Elton (John) is not well and Rod (Stewart) and Neil (Diamond). Diana Ross is still in great shape, I think. There must be only a handful of people in my world that are still there. "I'm still healthy. I'm strong and I've still got my voice and my energy. The night I can't hit the F natural on 'Even Now,' that's the night I throw in the towel. But I can still do it." Manilow has recently been working on a new album, which he hopes to release later this year. However, he admits that the creative process has been far from straightforward. The music icon explained: "This'll probably be my last album. "I've been working on it for a long time … for so long that the style of music has changed. "I had to go back and redo (the songs) so they sounded a little more contemporary. I had to take all the strings out, all the background vocals out 'cause they don't do that anymore. They don't use strings and background vocals and all that. "Even I heard that it sounded dated, so we had to go back and redo it."
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Songwriting has changed, says Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow thinks "songwriting has changed". The 81-year-old star released his eponymous debut album back in 1973, but he admits that songwriting has changed dramatically during the course of his career. Speaking to Billboard, he explained: "The songwriting has changed. "Young people don't write the way I was trained to write. There's no verse which goes into the chorus which goes back to the verse which goes to ending, and you change keys. They don't do that. "They start the song and then they just … it feels like a run-on sentence to me. I can't find the hook. I can't find the chorus. It just keeps on going, and then it ends." Manilow observed that a lot of his contemporaries have already retired from the music business. However, he has no intention of stepping back for the time being. The 'Could It Be Magic' hitmaker said: "It's like, 'What? Am I the only one left?' "It's Billy Joel, and Elton (John) is not well and Rod (Stewart) and Neil (Diamond). Diana Ross is still in great shape, I think. There must be only a handful of people in my world that are still there. "I'm still healthy. I'm strong and I've still got my voice and my energy. The night I can't hit the F natural on 'Even Now,' that's the night I throw in the towel. But I can still do it." Manilow has recently been working on a new album, which he hopes to release later this year. However, he admits that the creative process has been far from straightforward. The music icon explained: "This'll probably be my last album. "I've been working on it for a long time … for so long that the style of music has changed. "I had to go back and redo (the songs) so they sounded a little more contemporary. I had to take all the strings out, all the background vocals out 'cause they don't do that anymore. They don't use strings and background vocals and all that. "Even I heard that it sounded dated, so we had to go back and redo it."
CTV News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Barry Manilow looks back on career ahead of ‘last Montreal concert'
Barry Manilow performs at State Farm Arena, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, in Atlanta. (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP)
CTV News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Barry Manilow superfan almost missed out on Toronto concert due to lack of accessible seating
Superfan Cynthia from Brampton, wanted to see Barry very badly and was disappointed when she couldn't get wheelchair accessible tickets for the concert. There are some big-name acts coming to Toronto this summer, with the city is hosting concerts including Oasis, Coldplay and Stevie Knicks among others. Barry Manilow will bring six decades of hits to Toronto's Scotiabank Arena on his 'Last Concerts' tour on May 31st. Superfan Cynthia from Brampton – who asked we only use her first name – said she was extremely excited to see him perform. 'I've played his CDs so much that some of them have worn out,' Cynthia told CTV News. Manilow had numerous major hits in the '70s such as 'I Write the Songs,' 'Mandy,' and 'Copacabana.' Cynthia says she's seen him in concert twice already, and was excited about getting to attend the 81-year-old singer's final tour. She says she has also read all of Manilow's books and can play his songs on the piano. 'Oh boy. Barry, Barry, Barry. It would be so thrilling just to see him. I would just die to go.' Cynthia has a disability and requires a mobility scooter, wheelchair, and walker to get around. She first contacted CTV News in February when she was trying to buy tickets for Manilow's concert and was shocked to find out there were no wheelchair accessible tickets available. 'They checked and said we are not selling tickets for the handicapped spots. I don't know why,' said Cynthia. An advocacy group, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance (AODAA), says there needs to be more accessible seating made available for people with disabilities at concerts and sporting events. 'For fans of Barry Manilow, they are going to be older folks because he was a hit back in the '70s,' said AODAA Chair David Lepofsky. 'We need to have proper standards enacted and enforced so that when future venues are built, they are designed to maximize accessibility.' 'If you don't have equal access that's not fair, and our human rights code guarantees equal treatment in respect to goods, services and facilities without discrimination because of disability.' Scotiabank Arena's website says it provides one per cent of fixed seating for the disabled and their companions. CTV reached out to Ticketmaster and a spokesperson said, 'Accessible seating tickets were available for the show and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to demand, this ticket type is no longer available.' When CTV contacted Scotiabank Arena, they were able to locate two wheelchair accessible tickets and gave them to Cynthia and her husband free of charge. 'I got tickets to Barry Manilow. I've died and gone to heaven. I am so excited and just thrilled to pieces. I just so thankful,' said Cynthia.
