Hi Everyone.
Boy, this concert brings back some great memories!
The year was 1983 and for the first time ever, we played Tokyo, Japan.
Boy, talk about feeling out of place!
I had no idea what was about to happen. I was convinced nobody would come to the show, that nobody in Japan (Japan!!) would even be able to pronounce my last name and that my records hadn’t sold there.
But, boy was I ever wrong!
I was right that the audience barely spoke English, but they had memorized all of my hits and learned them phonetically, so the thousands of people at the Budokon (the big arena there) all sang every song along with me. It was amazing and very moving.
I had anticipated the language barrier, so I had a Japanese friend write out most of my talk in between songs in phonetic Japanese and had them printed on cardboard so I could introduce songs to the crowd in Japanese.
I think they were very grateful, because, as you’ll see, they are a wonderful audience.
I also learned one of their beloved songs called “Sakura, Sakura” (cherry blossoms).
Of course, I re-arranged their song and made it into a lovely ballad.
You’ll see all of this on this month’s video.
Have fun.
Sayonara!
B.
Up Next in '80s
-
Start of the Big Fun Tour - Milwaukee...
Hi Everyone,
This is a very rare video. I don’t think I’ve seen this one since the morning after it was recorded.
Thanks to Marc for finding this one.
It’s a video of one of the first performance of the “Big Fun” tour in Minneapolis in 1987.
The show kept changing and changing as the tour wen...
-
Barry Manilow's Christmas Magic - N.E...
Barry Manilow's Christmas Magic
National Exhibition Center
Birmingham, England
November 1984Hi Everyone,
It's that time of the year so some holiday music seemed fitting.
We received such great feedback on the last episode that we’ve decided to show the 2nd BBC special from this con...
-
1981 World Tour UK TV Special
Hi Everyone,
This month’s video happened in Britain 34 years ago. Ironic, because I just finished touring Britain.
I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the audience members on this video were in the audience during this tour.
It’s terribly moving watching this young guy who hasn’t any idea what...
85 Comments