While reminiscing, Barry Manilow, the 80-year-old singer, admitted that he never knows which of his creations will strike a chord with the audience. Barry Manilow, a renowned songwriter, shed light on the unpredictable nature of hit songs, expressing his lack of foresight when it comes to predicting their success. Manilow’s doubts extended to one of his most celebrated songs, the timeless ‘Copacabana,’ co-written with Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman.
Released in 1978 as part of his fifth studio album ‘Even Now,’ ‘Copacabana’ was inspired by New York’s iconic nightclub. Despite its catchy melody and Manilow’s signature flair, he and his co-producer Ron Dante harbored doubts about its radio appeal. They believed it was too much of a novelty song, a genre that wasn’t particularly popular at the time.
However, fate had a different plan. When they played ‘Copacabana’ at a disco, the crowd erupted with enthusiasm, dancing like they had been transported back to the 1940s. Witnessing this unexpected reaction, Manilow realized they might have stumbled upon something extraordinary.
‘Copacabana’ went on to become a massive success, Manilow’s first certified gold single. It peaked at number 8 on the U.S. Billboard Charts and earned him his first and only Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1979. The song’s popularity extended beyond the music charts, inspiring a 1985 musical TV movie and a stage musical titled ‘Copacabana.’
Reflecting on ‘Copacabana’s’ unexpected journey, Manilow emphasized his enduring love for the creative process, regardless of a song’s commercial fate. ‘Sometimes I know they’re not going to ever be heard,’ he said. ‘I just love making music, I love creating. I’m a creator.’
Manilow finds solace and joy in the act of creation, reveling in the opportunity to explore new ideas and sounds. Even if they never reach the public, the process itself brings him immense satisfaction. ‘And that’s why I stay in my studio and I just come up with ideas. And most of the time I throw them out. But for me, it’s my happiest time.’
