I Write the Songs – Barry Manilow (Live)

“I Write the Songs” is one of those timeless anthems that feels bigger than the artist performing it. Though closely associated with Barry Manilow, the song was actually written by Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys. Manilow’s powerful interpretation helped turn it into one of the defining pop hits of the 1970s.

Manilow released his version in 1975 on the album Tryin’ to Get the Feeling. The single soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1976 and also topped the Adult Contemporary chart. It became one of the biggest hits of his career and earned a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1977 (awarded to songwriter Bruce Johnston).

Despite the title, the song isn’t about a literal songwriter boasting of his craft. Instead, it speaks from the perspective of music itself – the universal spirit of melody and emotion that connects people around the world. With sweeping orchestration and Manilow’s dramatic vocal delivery, the song captures the magic and grandeur of music’s impact on our lives.

Decades later, “I Write the Songs” remains a concert favorite and a shining example of 1970s pop at its most heartfelt and theatrical.