# Which is the best version of "I Write The Songs"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 27, 2019, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540 "2019-10-27T06:52:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/1 "2019-10-27T06:52:41Z")
It was originally written for [David Cassidy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l86u5PUttiQ), who put it on a single, then it was covered by [The Captain And Tennille](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHCYCNVDaw4) who put it on their “Love Will Keep Us Together” album, then [Berry Manilow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-8YqZkE0PI) got his mitts on it and the rest is history. Personally, I think Cassidy had the best version. You? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/2 "2019-10-27T13:21:53Z")
Huh? Never knew there were other versions other than Barry’s. And with my wonky internet, ain’t gonna see or hear them other two for a spell. Just as well, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/3 "2019-10-27T14:27:02Z")
So, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard David Cassidy sing anything, that I can remember. I think all three of the versions you linked to do the song justice, and are better than songwriter [Bruce Johnston](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hz16lpf4ds)’s own version; but Barry’s is the version I grew up with. It’s kind of his signature song, and it really works well with his shtick of starting soft and building to a huge, over-the-top climax. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/4 "2019-10-27T18:37:55Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Huh? Never knew there were other versions other than Barry’s. And with my wonky internet, ain’t gonna see or hear them other two for a spell. > > Just as well, I guess. Sinatra did a version that isn’t gonna be anyone’s favorite. My favorite is the one on Marcel Marceau’s self-titled LP. No not that one, the one he did a capella. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/5 "2019-10-27T18:53:10Z")
They’re all bad. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/6 "2019-10-27T21:45:13Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > They’re all bad. I know. I’d like to say “Well, the best of the worst is … .” but my heart isn’t into that at all. I went looking for the [version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hz16lpf4ds) by the guy who actually wrote the song and … yeeeech. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/7 "2019-10-27T22:15:44Z")
Who did that song best? Isn’t that like citing vintage years for RC Cola? Or making urination a Nobel Prize category? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/8 "2019-10-27T22:36:44Z")
Submitted without comment- [Rene Simard](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owG3jkCW4TM). ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/9 "2019-10-28T11:09:28Z")
I thought this had to be a joke thread of some sort. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/10 "2019-10-28T11:18:57Z")
That song always makes me think of Adventure Comics #477 which had the Plastic Man story “Disco Plas” featuring Rod Sewage, Rupert Hoax and Morrie Banalo (who sings “I write the songs that make the young girls itch, I write the songs that make ASCAP rich”). ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/11 "2019-10-28T12:21:14Z")
[Tony Roletti, on _Fernwood Tonight_.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3ZwRC-CEGk) ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/12 "2019-10-28T13:08:35Z")
If John Cage ever did a version of it, that’s probably the best one. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/13 "2019-10-28T13:12:40Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > That song always makes me think of Adventure Comics #477 which had the Plastic Man story “Disco Plas” featuring Rod Sewage, Rupert Hoax and Morrie Banalo (who sings “I write the songs that make the young girls itch, I write the songs that make ASCAP rich”). It’s an easy song to write parody lyrics for, that’s for sure. Mine go: _I write the songs that make the whole world cry, I write the songs that make you want to die_ which nicely sum up my feelings about the song. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/14 "2019-10-28T16:38:05Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I thought this had to be a joke thread of some sort. Welp, it is, isn’t it? Since Barry M. as it turns out, did NOT write the song, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/15 "2019-10-28T17:02:56Z")
Is this a trick question? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/16 "2019-10-28T20:18:49Z")
I listened to each of the linked songs, at least for 60 seconds or so. I actually like Toni Tenille’s singing on some ballads. Unfortunately, this isn’t one of them. Since Rene Simard’s version was submitted without comment, I will refrain for comment, as well. I recently drove down Highway 47. Toni Rolletti has his own club now. He doesn’t perform much anymore, but if you ask him nicely, he’ll do a song between acts. Bruce Johnston would have been better if he had done a quiet version with an acoustic guitar. He simply didn’t have the chops for that arrangement. David Cassidy was better than I expected. Unfortunately, that only gets him up to “not bad,” which isn’t good enough. It’s a battle of the ehh. I’ll stick with Manilow. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/17 "2019-10-28T21:12:15Z")
At first glance I read that as ‘Brian Johnson’ and thought that would be, uh, interesting. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/18 "2019-10-29T03:58:20Z")
Somehow, Bruce Johnston is the only Beach Boy with a Grammy for songwriting because of this song. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/19 "2019-10-29T04:19:07Z")
I’m going have to give this one to my boy Barry. Why? Because [I Really Do Write the Songs](https://youtu.be/Ei1oE7u58l8) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-version-of-i-write-the-songs/842540/20 "2019-10-30T14:39:44Z")
I had a massive crush on David Cassidy when I was a kid. But I don’t remember him singing that song! I choose David because he needs some recognition. He had a nice voice (and he was very good looking) but was never able to rise above the teen idol status. His life really turned out crappy. I always felt bad for him…even worse after I heard how he was treated by his father.