Definition
Barry Manilow (born Barry Alan Pincus, June 17, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, and producer known for a string of hits in the 1970s and 1980s that became staples of adult contemporary and easy listening radio. His most famous songs include “Mandy,” “Copacabana (At the Copa),” “Can’t Smile Without You,” and “I Write the Songs.” Manilow’s music is characterized by lush orchestration, dramatic key changes, and a vocal style that is both technically precise and emotionally overwrought. He has sold over 75 million records, won a Grammy, an Emmy, and a Tony nomination, and has had a career spanning six decades. But despite his commercial success, Manilow has long been a target of ridicule, seen by critics as the epitome of cheesy, middle-of-the-road pop. This reputation, however, has been complicated by a growing internet-era appreciation for his craft and camp value.
Why It Matters
Barry Manilow matters because he is the ultimate test of how we judge popular music. His songs are undeniably well-crafted: the melodies are memorable, the arrangements are sophisticated, and the production is flawless. But they are also emotionally direct to the point of being embarrassing. “Mandy” is a song about needing someone so badly that you cannot function without them. “Copacabana” is a mini-musical about a nightclub murder, complete with a spoken-word bridge. This sincerity — this refusal to be cool, detached, or ironic — is what made Manilow a punchline for decades. But it is also what makes him interesting. In an age of ironic detachment, Barry Manilow’s unironic emotion is almost radical. He is not pretending to feel. He is feeling, loudly, with strings.
Example
A teenager in 1975 hears “Copacabana” on the radio. They roll their eyes. It is their parent’s music. It is cheesy. It is old. Thirty years later, that teenager — now an adult — is at a karaoke bar. They are drunk. They choose “Copacabana.” They sing it with full commitment, doing the voices, acting out the story, hitting the high notes with desperate enthusiasm. The room loves it. They love it. For three minutes, Barry Manilow is not a joke. He is a genius. And the joke was never on him. It was on the people who were too afraid to sing along.
The Internet Angle
The internet has rehabilitated Barry Manilow through the lens of camp and nostalgia. On Reddit, r/BarryManilow is a small but earnest community that celebrates his music without irony. On Twitter, “Copacabana” is frequently cited as a masterpiece of storytelling songwriting, with users breaking down its narrative structure and emotional beats. On YouTube, reaction videos show young people hearing Manilow for the first time, often surprised by the quality of the arrangements and the sincerity of the delivery. The internet has also documented his cultural impact: “I Write the Songs” was not actually written by Manilow (it was written by Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys), and the irony of Manilow singing a song about writing songs he did not write is a recurring internet joke. Barry Manilow is thus both a relic and a rediscovery — a symbol of the pre-ironic era that the internet cannot stop revisiting.
Related Terms
Pop Music, 1970s, Copacabana, Mandy, Camp, Nostalgia, Karaoke, Easy Listening, Adult Contemporary, Music, Irony, Sincerity, Internet Culture, YouTube