<i> Really</i> Excited by Manilow

In response to Paul Grein’s review “Could It Be Magic? Yes, If You’re Barry Manilow” (Dec. 29), as I was the woman who was called up to the stage to sing “Can’t Smile Without You” with Manilow, I feel compelled to respond to Grein’s quotation of mine:

Yes, my answer to the question, “Do you know the words?” to “Can’t Smile” was, indeed, “I did !” However, that was because I was excited and in total shock to be on stage with this talented, inspirational superstar Barry Manilow. I feared the words I knew so well might fly right out of my head; not that the song was so old I couldn’t remember it, as Grein implied.

As a fan of Manilow, I would never insult or embarrass him. When he and I were singing together, he asked the audience to join in--and they did, and that only proves that everyone knows the words to “Can’t Smile.”

CAROLE MECCA

Solvay, N.Y.