Barry Manilow and First Love

Time to revisit this blog which I've woefully neglected!

One singer who holds a special place in my heart is Barry Manilow.
Yup, the guy with the hooked nose, bug eyes, curly hair and nasal voice....and who, incidentally is also a phenomenal songwriter and performer with multiple awards and accolades to his name.

Why so special?

Hmm...a little secret here:

I'm always reminded fondly of my very first boyfriend, E, who was forever humming Mr Manilow's songs whenever we went out....many moons ago when we were still in our teens.

I remember very clearly our first walk together one fateful Saturday evening when we were on our way to a church group BBQ at East Coast Park.
I don't remember how we ended up taking the bus together but somehow we alighted waaay too early at Marine Parade and had to walk all the way along the park up to the Bedok area. I had not really had much opportunity to talk to him prior to that but our chit chat flowed smoothly as we made our way along, not having any idea just how far up from Marine Parade Bedok actually was on foot!
It was an enjoyable tramp, though, made even more fun by the background music of Barry Manilow's songs which E would hum when the conversation lagged.
Of course I had known Barry's music even before that, as Donny and Marie Osmond liked to cover his songs on their variety show.
So it was no problem for me to hum along and after about an hour, we had arrived at the BBQ venue, tired but happy.

Happy?

Indeed.

You know that unmistakeable feeling of gradually realising that you like someone?
It was dawning on me during our jaunt that evening as I found that E was really nice and easy to talk with.
Haha...he was also not too bad in the looks department....not overtly handsome but with a ready smile and a demeanour which belied the fact that he was two years my junior.
He also made me laugh easily....with his deadpan jokes and self-deprecating humour always taking the mickey out of me. :)

I guess the feelings were mutual because after that party, we started going out more and yes, I can remember equally clearly the very first time he held my hand...after a bus journey to Changi Airport on a date...and the sweet emotions that evoked on my part....le sigh....

Anyway, Barry Manilow's music is the soundtrack for that particular relationship, which, sadly lasted less than a year; we broke up due to factors which I shall not enumerate here.
But no, there was no third party nor scandalous affairs of any sort. ;)

I do want to mention one favourite Manilow song which E introduced to me...the lyrics kinda resonated with our situation then too.

The song is Somewhere Down The Road (which is, however not written by Barry) and till now, it still has the power to move me when I listen to Mr Manilow sing it:


We had the right love at the wrong time 
Guess I always knew inside  
I wouldn't have you for a long time
 
Those dreams of yours are shining on distant shores 
And if they're calling you away  
I have no right to make you stay
 
But somewhere down the road  
Our roads are gonna cross again 
It doesn't really matter when
 
But somewhere down the road  
I know that heart of yours will come to see 
That you belong with me
 
Sometimes goodbyes are not forever 
It doesn't matter if you're gone 
I still believe in us together
 
I understand more than you think I can  
You have to go out on your own  
So you can find your way back home
 
And somewhere down the road  
Our roads are gonna cross again  
It doesn't really matter when
But somewhere down the road  
I know that heart of yours will come to see  
That you belong with me
 
Letting go is just another way to say  
I'll always love you so  

We had the right love at the wrong time
Maybe we've only just begun  
Maybe the best is yet to come
 
'Cause somewhere down the road  
Our roads are gonna cross again  
It doesn't really matter when
 
But somewhere down the road  
I know that heart of yours will come to see  
That you belong with me

I'm glad to say that many years later, our roads DID cross again!
When we were both already happily married to others (of course!).
I saw him a couple of times near my workplace and hesitated initially as to whether to approach him.
After some to-ing and fro-ing, I decided...WTH, it had been such a long time....the worst scenario was that he would ignore me.

But thankfully, he was still ever the gentleman and we subsequently met up occasionally for lunch and the conversations flowed on like in the old days....he had also not lost his unique sense of humour and I could not help thinking that his wife and kids should be very grateful for a lovely guy like him. ;)

Do I ever wonder "what if?" we had managed to stay together?
Of course....and all I can say is that I'm glad my first relationship was with such a decent fella and equally, I'm happy that we are now friends who keep in touch occasionally and yes, the conversation can still flow.  :)

Update on 20 Sept 2012:

A Love Letter a la Manilow:


Dearest Mandy,

Could It Be Magic, that Weekend In New England At The Copacobana, when I Made It Through The Rain at Daybreak and Even Now, I'm Ready To Take A Chance Again, 'cos it Looks Like We Made It and I Can't Smile Without You and I Don't Want To Walk Without You, so let's Keep Each Other Warm All The Time, and now I Write The (Old) Songs to sing with my One Voice...This One's For You so Please Don't Be Scared, Stay and we'll never be Lonely Together Somewhere Down The Road.

Love,
Barry