WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – It’ll be Barry Manilow versus the mall rats. The New Zealand city of Christchurch hopes that putting the American crooner’s smooth and gentle tones into the mix of music to be broadcast through the central mall district can pacify unruly teens who congregate there- or at least convince them to go elsewhere.
“The intention is to change the environment in a positive way … so nobody feels threatened or intimidated,” Central City Business Association manager Paul Lonsdale told The Associated Press. “I did not say Barry Manilow is a weapon of mass destruction.” A group of several dozen young people regularly spread rubbish, spray graffiti, get intoxicated, use drugs, swear and intimidate patrons at the outdoor mall, he said.
The city council, police and local property owners covering 410 businesses agree that “nice, easy listening” music like Manilow’s “Can’t Smile Without You,””Mandy” and other hits might change the behavior of loitering teens.
But one 16-year-old told The Press newspaper that unfashionable music wouldn’t deter them.
“We would just bring a stereo and play it louder,” Emma Belcher said.
Lonsdale countered that the city would then hit them with anti-noise laws.
This would work for teens and most adults I suspect.
That would flush me from the mall.
That photo is almost as scary as the pregnant octomom.
They just need a security cop like LaFours, even Jay and Silent Bob were intimidated by him.
One word: iPod.
Instead of torturing everybody with endless-loop Manilow, pipe in that special not-so-pleasant frequency that only teen ears can detect. They’ll move along and All will be saved from the effects of Brutalizing Barry Burnout.
Oh how times change…
I remember walking along the beach one summer in the early 80’s with two of my friends. We saw a couple of girls our age lying on their stomachs with their tops undone, tanning their backs. One of my friends said in a loud voice “look, there’s Barry Manilow”. The girls were fans evidently because they both sat up and looked around, without bothering to fasten their bikini tops. The name Barry Manilow still bring back memories of that beautiful scene.
Maybe they should pick up the parents and force them to listen to rap until they learn to manage their children.
Christchurch, is the black shirt and Neo-Nazi capital of New Zealand. I suspect that any Motown tune would have the same desirous effect as a Manilow.
Manilow just keeps looking scarier as he gets older. He had a show in Las Vegas not long ago. His audience was mostly the kinds of women that used to swoon over Liberace 30 years ago.
Manilow gets a bad rap (“bad rap” – there’s an oxymoron). He is probably the most heard musician in history. His worldwide favorite “You deserve a break today…” is an all-time favorite.
He look’s like a hobbit in that picture. There is really nothing wrong with his music, as long as he’s not singing it. I can’t stand his voice.
Psychological warfare at it best.
I remember Manilow back when his jingles were used to advertise a jeans store. Then he changed the words of the jingle in “Its A Miracle”. And I thought it was hilarious, that people made such a fuss over it. Cause every time I heard it, I’d sing along with the jeans store wording. What a hack! It wasn’t until I heard the “Copacabana” song, that I ever became ill from listening to a song. You may have noticed, it doesn’t get played much, compared to all his other songs/jingles. I’d run out of any mall that dared to play it, screaming “NO, NOT THAT DAMN SONG!” And I’m over 50. Of all the musical nimrods to pick, why is Manilow so favored? Why not Neil Sedaka or Daryl Dragon of “Captain & Tennille” fame?
Does anyone really think Manilow would be so popular for so long, if he weren’t the male equivalent of Barbra Streisand (IOW a jewish icon)? When certain people run a biz (or own most of it), you’ve just got to figure that they’ll promote people based on their own personal bias. But call attention to this, and you’re the one they labeled as prejudice.
Manilow does Rick Astley’s song better than Rick Astley.