♫ I Write The Songs ♫

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

Well, it seems my two co-directors cannot agree about Barry Manilow.  One of them, Carolyn, suggested Manilow’s I Write the Songs, while the other, Clive, threatened to sick up if he had to listen to Manilow.  And then my friend Ryinger ringed in and suggested Copacabana!  So much to consider, yes?  So, I considered all viewpoints, listened to Copacabana … a song I’ve always liked, but never really bothered to listen and contemplate the lyrics & meaning before.  I opted out of that one, and then reviewed Manilow’s record in the UK … not a very impressive set of charts for him, I must admit.  And after much pondering and listening to a variety of Manilow’s songs, I settled on the one Carolyn originally suggested!  Why?  Well, I’m not gonna please Clive, nor likely any of my UK friends, with ANY Manilow song, so I might as well play what I want, and frankly, I Write the Songs is one of my top favourites of Barry Manilow’s music.  And so, that’s my reason/excuse for tonight’s song!  Now if somebody would get Clive a bag …

According to SongFacts …

This was written by Bruce Johnston, who is a member of The Beach Boys. The song is sometimes erroneously rumored to be about Brian Wilson. Johnston cleared this up when he told us: “The Captain & Tennille were the first artists to record my song ‘I Write The Songs.’ I never wrote ‘I Write The Songs’ about Brian Wilson. I wrote it about ‘where music comes from’ (for me, music comes only from God). My song has nothing to do with Brian! I admire Brian Wilson’s great melodies and, as a member of the Beach Boys, I’m singing these fantastic songs in concert year after year.”

Teen heartthrob David Cassidy released a successful version that was a single in England and hit #11 on the UK charts. Clive Davis, who was in charge of Manilow’s record label, heard Cassidy’s version and had Manilow record it.

This won a Grammy for Song of the Year. The Beach Boys never won a Grammy – after winning this, Johnston became the only member of the group to get one until Brian Wilson’s “Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow” was awarded Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 2005.

From the liner notes of The Complete Collection And Then Some…: Manilow was originally reluctant to record this song, saying to Arista Records chief Clive Davis, “This ‘I Write The Songs’ thing Clive, I really don’t want to do it.” Manilow says his worry “was that the listeners would think I was singing about how I write the songs, when it was really about the inspiration of music. Clive understood, but didn’t think it would be a problem. ‘Besides,’ he told me, ‘You DO write songs!'”

Manilow says he was concerned about coming off as a gigantic egomaniac, but that he liked the song so much he decided to record it. He adds, “Whenever I heard the song in public, I felt the need to run to everyone who was listening and say, ‘You know, I’m really not singing about myself!'”

Interestingly, the David Cassidy version did make the UK charts at #11, but Manilow fell short there, not even charting in the UK and charting in the U.S. at #1 and in Canada at #3.

I Write the Songs

Barry Manilow

I’ve been alive forever
And I wrote the very first song
I put the words and the melodies together
I am music
And I write the songs

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

My home lies deep within you
And I’ve got my own place in your soul
Now when I look out through your eyes
I’m young again, even tho’ I’m very old

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

Oh, my music makes you dance and gives you spirit to take a chance
And I wrote some rock ‘n roll so you can move
Music fills your heart, well that’s a real fine place to start
It’s from me, it’s for you
It’s from you, it’s for me
It’s a worldwide symphony

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

I am music and I write the songs

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66 thoughts on “♫ I Write The Songs ♫”

  1. I would like to note that had my preference been chosen there would have been a sharp Salsa beat and Barry being shot. A happy ending so to speak. 🙂

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  4. Jill, I must confess I do like a few of Barry Manilow songs, but he had a few cheesy ones, too. This one is not a favorite, but like with others it soared to the top of the pop charts. I do like that when he won a Grammy, he acknowledged that it was good to see Billy Joel getting the notoriety he deserved being nominated. It should be noted, in my view, Billy Joel’s body of work far exceeds Manilow’s in terms of quantity and quality. Keith

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