Barry Manilow To Drive Out Hooligans

BBC NEWS ^ | 06/05/2006

[SirLinksalot]

I POSTED THIS IN THE AMERICAN IDOL THREAD, BUT THOUGHT IT DESERVES A WIDER CIRCULATION...

BARRY MANILOW DON'T GET NO RESPECT. BUT HE's USEFUL

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5047610.stm

Manilow to drive out 'hooligans'

A council in the Australian city of Sydney is taking radical measures against car-revving youths - the calming tones of singer Barry Manilow. Officials in Rockdale say that local youths have been hanging around in car parks, revving their engines and generally annoying residents.

So the council has decided to strike back.

From July, Barry Manilow's greatest hits will be piped into one car park in a bid to drive the youths away.

Deputy mayor Bill Saravinovski said the decision was taken because the youths were intimidating local people.

"They are just hanging out and causing a nuisance to the general public," he told the AFP news agency.

The music will be played for a six-month trial period at a car park in the suburb of Brighton-le-Sands.

Mr Saravinovski said it should not annoy residents, but would will be loud enough for the youths to hear it.

"Daggy music is one way to make the hoons leave an area, because they can't stand the music," he told Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph.

Daggy is Australian slang for unfashionable or uncool.

The music would not be limited to Barry Manilow, he said.

"It will be all types of classical music and music that doesn't appeal to these people."

Rockdale Council is not the first to employ such measures.

In 1999, the Warrawong Westfield shopping mall in Wollongong played Bing Crosby hits over and over again to drive away loitering teenagers.

[Dog]

Maaaaaaaannnnnnnddddddddyyyyy...ohhhh Mannnnnnnady.

[Gay State Conservative]

Hey,it would work for me.That,or the Ditzy Chicks.

[Berosus]

Back in the 1980s, I remember a science fiction magazine predicted Barry Manilow's name would become a future swear word for annoying TV or radio programs, as in "Turn that Barrimaniloh down!" Looks like it's coming true already.

[Mike Bates]

A post on your favorite Democrat!

[Dark Skies]

Mr Saravinovski said it should not annoy residents, but would will be loud enough for the youths to hear it.

Would these hooligans perhaps be "disaffected" youths? If so, I suggest a little Pat Boone be added to the mix. George Beverly Shea might be considered also.

[Palladin]

That's pretty funny--

"Her name was Lola...she was a showgirl..."

[DJ MacWoW]

They don't have laws against loitering?

[Gator101]

Yeah you might chase off the kids but what happens when you attract the "Fanilows"?

[Freedom4US]

Don't they have any sense of aesthetics?? Revving car yoots are at least arguably better than Barry Manilow.. /s

[patton]

no comment

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

Isn't this a violation of the international convention banning torture?

[ladyinred]

I love Barry, so I would stay! I can think of others that would drive me away however, like the Dixie Chicks.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"The music will be played for a six-month trial period at a car park in the suburb of Brighton-le-Sands."

Six months? Six MINUTES ought to do the trick, LOL!

Actually, I have a radio in the chicken coop and it plays Public Radio 24/7. Racoon, wild mink or other predators shy away from the looney liberal blathering and leave my hens alone.

So, this just might work! (But is your general layabout "thug" really any smarter than a racoon? LOL!)

[Spiff]

Last year I stayed in the Las Vegas Hilton. Manilow was not only their featured act, and he didn't just have an entire story within the hotel devoted to his products, but his image and music was everywhere. The elevator ride to the 11th floor was hell. Heck, just being on hold waiting for an operator to take my hotel reservation a month before while being forced to listen to Manilow was unbearable. I got to the room and turned on the TV and it defaulted to the hotel's channel. I immediately was assaulted with more Manilow sounds and images. I decided to leave the hotel for a while and to take the tram to the strip. On the way I was further assaulted with HUGE Manilow banners. I boarded the tram. I thought that if I didn't look out the window back at the hotel I wouldn't see any more Manilow stuff or hear any for hours until I had to return. I would deal with the Manilow monster later after some fun on the strip. The tram doors shut. I was immediately assaulted with a Hilton ad for the Manilow show played over the loudspeaker.

They had to taser me...

[leda]

( i wont share his real feelings on this subject ) ;)

[DJ MacWoW]

Actually I like Barry Manilow. It's the "yoots" loitering that give me pause. I hate the mall for that reason.

[Dumpster Baby]

Even better for driving out ALL life forms would be to play "Yellow Submarine" endlessly at high volume.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I don't suppose you mean the "In a Metal Mood" Pat Boone?

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Hey, I'm willing to lend out my Arthur Godfrey records for the cause.