Poor, Poor Mandy

I remember all my life
Raining down as cold as ice
A shadow of a man
A face through a window
Crying in the night
The night goes into...
Morning, just another day

Do you recognize this song? It's Barry Manilow's Mandy. With the use of simple words, we feel the deep regret of a man who failed to appreciate the girl, who loved him wholeheartedly.

Now however, Mr. Manilow has a new reason to cry:

Australia turns to Manilow music to disperse youths

A local Sydney council has decided on a new weapon in its bid to remove groups of youths from gathering in carparks and disrupting residents -- the music of 1970s crooner Barry Manilow.

Deputy Mayor of the Rockdale Council, Bill Saravinoski says:
"It will be all types of classical music and music that doesn't appeal to these people". [emphasis added]

I can think of no greater humiliation for an artist than to be certified as "uncool" and "unappealing". And as such, I pity Mr. Manilow.

Describing the use of his music as a "new weapon (to discourage gathering of youths)" is just a thinly veiled disguise to rub salt into the wounds of Barry Manilow... and his girl, Mandy.

And to say these songs don't appeal to youths? Well, for the record, I typed the first verse above from memory!
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Article credits: M&G Online | BBC News : 'Uncool' Manilow to battle yobs
Topics of interest: Full lyrics to Mandy