Why did New Zealand authorities pick on Barry Manilow's songs?

@JudyEv (382658)

Rockingham, Australia

February 12, 2022 9:43pm CST

I’m not buying into either side of the argument here. I just thought it was funny. Last week, there were protests in New Zealand against vaccination mandates and tough COVID-19 restrictions. NZ has reported just 53 deaths in a population of 5 million. But people are now tiring of the rules and regulations. At first, over 1,000 protesters gathered. The number then dwindled but rose again on Saturday. Instead of sending in riot squads, the Parliamentary Speaker ordered that sprinklers be activated. The protesters responded by digging trenches and bringing in bales of straw to scatter on the sodden lawns at parliament. By evening, after the fifth day of protests, Trevor Mallard, parliament speaker, went for his big guns. A sound system began blasting out a mix of vaccine messages, Barry Manilow songs and the Latin hit, Macarena. These played on a continuous loop. I can’t help wondering why they picked on Barry Manilow’s songs. But at least they’re not shooting up each other – as in guns, not needles. Borders will be reopening soon Photo is of a NZ Christmas tree or Pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa). This grew outside the kitchen window of our previous home. We haven’t visited NZ yet.

18 people like this

17 responses

@BarBaraPrz (51839)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

13 Feb 22

A while back, there were news stories of convenience stores playing classical music outside to discourage teen gangs. I guess it's the same principle there.

4 people like this

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@Fleura (35154)

• United Kingdom

14 Feb 22

@JudyEv @BarBaraPrz or maybe it attracted a better class of teenage gang

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

You could have something there!!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

I hadn't heard of that. I guess it must have worked or they wouldn't have done it.

3 people like this

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@LindaOHio (222898)

• United States

13 Feb 22

Lovely photo. I wouldn't mind the Barry Manilow songs...but the Macarena.... Funny. People need to CHILL!

4 people like this

@marlina (154103)

• Canada

13 Feb 22

I wouldn't mind the Barry Manilow songs either.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

It just seems really funny. @LindaOHio @marlina as if they're trying to think outside the square to find a way to get rid of the protesters.

3 people like this

@bunnybon7 (50970)

• Holiday, Florida

13 Feb 22

This virus is taking it's toll and making the whole world crazy

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

It certainly seems that way sometimes.

1 person likes this

@FourWalls (86901)

• United States

13 Feb 22

Their picking on Barry Manilow saved us the trouble of doing it.

I hadn’t heard anything about the New Zealand protests, probably because we’re close to Canada and they’re having their own protests.

3 people like this

@DWDavis (25797)

• United States

13 Feb 22

Canada is going to have an abundance of out-of-work, no longer licensed, white truckers pretty soon. Also, if you're looking for a great deal on a truck, the Ontario government will have several for sale, cheap.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

They say NZ got the idea from Canada. I'm not sure what's so new about having protests.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

2 people like this

@marlina (154103)

• Canada

13 Feb 22

Have you seen the news from Canada about the truckers manifestations?

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

They are saying this is where NZ got their ideas from.

2 people like this

@marlina (154103)

• Canada

14 Feb 22

@JudyEv They are saying the same here on the Canadian news channels.

1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (136039)

• Marion, Ohio

13 Feb 22

If it stayed peaceful thats a good way to handle it.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb 22

It's like they're all playing games!!

3 people like this

@rebelann (117279)

• El Paso, Texas

13 Feb 22

Maybe because his songs are so boring, just a thought. Wow, you're so close to NZ yet haven't been there yet?

1 person likes this

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@rebelann (117279)

• El Paso, Texas

14 Feb 22

Ahhhh, ok, that makes sense. It's like me wanting to go to Cuba which is closer to Florida

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

It's a six-hour flight from us but we're on the far side of Australia so it's less if you live in the eastern states.

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@Shavkat (141905)

• Philippines

13 Feb 22

I think they prefer to have a relaxing song by this singer.

1 person likes this

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@Shavkat (141905)

• Philippines

14 Feb 22

@JudyEv Oh, the main goal is to pester them then.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

@Shavkat Yes, that's true.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

They thought the protesters wouldn't like the singer and would all go home.

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@jstory07 (148777)

• Roseburg, Oregon

13 Feb 22

Are they still being peaceful?

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb 22

Some were arrested for various misdemeanours.

1 person likes this

@xFiacre (14804)

• Ireland

13 Feb 22

@judyev Howe very polite and civilised! Perhaps Ukraine might try a similar ploy with the recalcitrant Russians. Barry Manilow playing on a loop would certainly discourage and dissuade me from persisting.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb 22

Pretty funnym isn't it? The mob retaliated by playing their own choices, including We're Not Gonna Take It by Twisted Sister.

2 people like this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

13 Feb 22

Maybe they hoped to soothe the masses. At least they were productive about the sprinklers. The straw will promote growth.

1 person likes this

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

14 Feb 22

@JudyEv One-upmanship can backfire.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 Feb 22

@just4him It can indeed. I'm not sure what the latest is.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

It was like they were all playing games - just playing a sort of one-up-man-ship game.

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@Deepizzaguy (122336)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

13 Feb 22

That is a good question why the authorities would play Barry Manilow songs since I guess his songs fit the atmosphere of the event.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Feb 22

It seems a strange choice.

2 people like this

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 Feb 22

Protests with only 53 deaths? Wow. Lovely photo for sure.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

They have kept their borders closed and have had a number of lockdowns.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 Feb 22

@JudyEv Good for them.

1 person likes this

@Faster16 (3248)

• Indonesia

14 Feb 22

it must be fun in the flower garden, there must be a lot of butterflies there too

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

There were certainly a lot of bees.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

16 Feb 22

@Faster16 I think I'll just buy my honey from a store. I don't want to get stung.

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@Faster16 (3248)

• Indonesia

16 Feb 22

@JudyEv means that there is also a bee cage around there, you can harvest honey

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@DWDavis (25797)

• United States

13 Feb 22

If I wanted to torture someone with music, I would play Justin Bieber and Ted Nugent songs.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

I guess every bureaucrat would have a different choice!

1 person likes this

@Fleura (35154)

• United Kingdom

13 Feb 22

Yes I chortled about that too! Funnily enough we were all dancing to the Macarena last weekend - but I guess there's only so long you can keep that up!

1 person likes this

@sol_cee (38669)

• Philippines

14 Feb 22

Love Barry Manilow songs. They’re on the FM station round the clock

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Feb 22

Is that so? Obviously the NZ person didn't like them. lol