Copacabana. I named my car Lola because of that song. I couldn’t help myself. She was a showgirl.
I have to confess: I like a lot of Barry’s music. Mandy was a big one for me when I was younger, but less so now. I’ll have to think more about it…
Ah yes. Gaiken. 
Those are two people you don’t want to imagine having sex. Separately, nor together. Yet, here I am imagining it. Now I have to go flush out my mind’s eye.
Ahhhh! I so hate you for that.
All The Time is my favorite too!
VCNJ~
Okay,
I have generally avoided Barry Manilow (not nearly as easily avoided as Clay Aiken) but it is doable. However I don’t HATE his ballads and among them, for perhaps sentimental reasons, Weekend in New England and Mandy are the two I actually like.
Now, let’s talk about why I like Neil Diamond. . .
The usual suspects: Mandy, Weekend in New England, Could It Be Magic, Can’t Smile Without You. But I also like Read 'Em and Weep (written, I believe, by Jim Steinman–the guy who writes all of Meatloaf’s famous songs) and his version of Send in the Clowns.
Oooh, I’d forgotten about that one! It’s a good ‘angry’ song. You’re correct about the writer, too.
FTR, I don’t think Manilow writes many, if any, of his own lyrics. He writes the music for them, though.
My favorite is a duet with Bette Midler on her album “Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook” The song is called “Slow Boat to China.” Barry sings the part that was sung by Bing Crosby originally.
I am proud to stand up and identify myself as a Barry Manilow fan !
I like most all of his songs, but guess some of my favorites are Even Now, Weekend In New England , and Mandy.
The man is ugly as homemade dirt, but MAN ! can he sing !
I am proud to stand up and identify myself as a Barry Manilow fan !
I like most all of his songs, but guess some of my favorites are Even Now, Weekend In New England , and Mandy.
The man is ugly as homemade dirt, but MAN ! can he sing !
Not only that, he can play pian-o and pian-ee.
Sadly, he did write both the lyrics and the music for “You’re Looking Hot Tonight”. The aptly named refrain (if only he had) goes:
“You’re looking hot tonight
You’re looking hot tonight
I can see you smiling at me
I know where you wanna be”
“Eroic” couplets? Enough to have Pope turning in his grave.
I’m still trying to hear “Sweet Melissa” (from “Could It Be Magic”) as that rather than as “sweet molester”.
I Write The Songs and Mandy.
I used to like Copacabana but it has been ruined by too much airplay.
This thread’s bringing back lots of memories. No way could I pick one favorite.
One song that always stands out, though, is one I saw him perform at the Providence Civic Center just before the movie Foul Play was released. He explained the song was going to be in the movie: Ready to Take a Chance Again. It was a nice enough song. Then later, I saw the movie, which we’ve all probably seen a thousand times now. After the Chevy Chase stupid flirting scene, watching the aerial shots of the little car driving along with Ready to Take a Chance Again playing under the opening titles was kind of thrilling because I’d heard it performed live just a short time before.
Copa’s one of my least favorite Manilow songs.
No favorite here. The young lady I was dating at the time was into Barry Manilow, and when her parents would head off for the night, she’d put on his music and shortly thereafter, booty ensued. For that I owe Barry a smile and nod.
What, no votes for Daybreak (“Singing to the world, singing, singing . . .”)?
But it’s Daybreak
If you wanna believe
It can be Daybreak
Ain’t no time to grieve
Said it’s Daybreak
If you’ll only believe
And let it shine, shine, shine
All around the world
That’s on my iPod. Just makes me feel happy when I’m working out.
Copacabana, hands down.
Why? Because as kids, my brother and I made up our own lyrics. One stanza about a hooker who “Would do anything for a buck, even a quick and dirty…” and my favorite “His name was CoCo. He was a Monkey…” For some reason our parents complained that we ruined their enjoyment of the song But it was better than our other attempt “I write the songs that make the whole world scream, children cry…”
Bermuda Triangle, naturally.
I have a nostalgic fondness for “I Write the Songs.”