Copacabana: High class bar, or low class strip club?

One of my favorite songs over the years has been a Barry Manilow classic. No, I'm not talking about "Mandy", or the Dr. Pepper jingle. I'm refering to that fabulous song "Copacabana". For a long time, I believed it to be a tragic love song: a couple so very much in love, an evil gangster who has his sights set on the heroine, a battle, a death, a lover lamenting, all set to a disco beat. So very touching, it almost brings a tear to your eye. While trying to explain the nuiances of this fabulous song to Kahn today, though, he brought to my attention some very important details that I had overlooked.
For starters, I had always assumed that Rico was a gangster. I mean, come on. He wore a diamond. His name was Rico. What more proof do you need that he was a gangster? But Kahn conviently pointed out that hey never actually said that he was a gangster. Sure, just liking gaudy jewelry isn't enough to convict you in a court of law (although it should be). And having been born to a family whose choices in names are questionable doesn't necessarily condem a person to a life of crime. Organized crime. Very organized crime. It is entirely possible that Rico went to the Copa (Copacabana) with the intention of taking in a show, having a couple of cocktails, and having an all round pleasant evening. He may be a nice guy, who's just a bit of a "Grabby Sammy".
That said, what kind of club is the Copa anyways? Lola is a showgirl, with yellow feathers in her hair, and a dress cut down to there. I had always pictured he to be a Las Vegas style showgirl. Kahn mentioned that it was a little more likely that her dress that was cut down to there, actually ended up on the floor before long. The Lola the stripper scenario certainly explains why Tony jumped across the bar and risked his life to protect her. He was really defending the time honored "No Touching" rule. Now, I don't know if you've ever tried to slap a stripper on the ass, but boy, those bouncers sure don't tolerate it all. I've actually witnessed a guy whose hands got a little wandery get dragged out in tears, so afraid of what was going to happen to him.
Now, the end of the song had always left me feeling a little confused. Lola ends up as a crazed drunk who still mourns for her man 30 years later? Come on, no man is worth that much. After realizing the seedy undertones earlier in the song, the ending makes muc more sense. Without Tony's influence, Lola naturally turns to drugs and booze. She is so desperate for her next fix that she will do anything or anyone to get it. We've all seen that pathetic girl at the bar propsitioning anyone who will listen to her. That's Lola!
After listening to this song, I realize that Barry Manilow is a sick individual. Manilow is worse than Tupaq, Jerry O'Hagan, and Marilyn Manson all rolled into one. This man should, nay, needs to be stopped. That's why I'm urging you to write to your congressman/woman. Tell them to pass H.R. 3998-3999, the Freedom from Manilow Act of 2005. Together, we can make this world a better, Manilow-free, place.