I Write the Songs
Encyclopedia
"I Write the Songs" is a popular song written by Bruce Johnston
in 1975 and made famous by Barry Manilow
. Manilow's version reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in January 1976 after spending two weeks atop the Billboard adult contemporary chart in December 1975. A Grammy Award
for Song of the Year
and nominated for Record of the Year
in 1977
, it became one of Manilow's signature song
s.
The original version was recorded by The Captain & Tennille on their 1975 album, Love Will Keep Us Together
, who worked with Bruce Johnston
in the early 1970s with The Beach Boys
. The first version I Write the Songs released as a single was by then teen-idol David Cassidy
from his 1975 solo album The Higher They Climb
, which was also produced by Bruce Johnston
. Cassidy's version reached #11 on the UK Singles Chart
in August of that year.
The title has been misunderstood to mean that the singer (or songwriter) "writes the songs", but the actual songwriter, The Beach Boys
' Bruce Johnston, has stated that the "I" in the song is "God". He went on to say that songs come from the spirit of creativity in all of us. Another misunderstood myth is Bruce Johnston wrote the song for his Beach Boys bandmate Brian Wilson
. Johnston stated, "I never wrote 'I Write The Songs' about Brian Wilson. I wrote it about 'where music comes from' (for me, music comes only from God). My song has nothing to do with Brian! I admire Brian Wilson's great melodies and, as a member of the Beach Boys, I'm singing these fantastic songs in concert year after year".
Manilow was initially reluctant to record the song, stating in his autobiography Sweet Life: "The problem with the song was that if you didn't listen carefully to the lyric, you would think that the singer was singing about himself. It could be misinterpreted as a monumental ego trip." After persuasion by Clive Davis
, then president of Arista Records
, Manilow relented and recorded the song, and his version of "I Write the Songs" was the first single taken from the album Tryin' to Get the Feeling
. It first charted on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 15, 1975, reaching the top of the chart nine weeks later, on January 17, 1976.
This song has also been recorded by Johnny Mathis
, Tom Jones
, Dinah Shore
, as well as Bruce Johnston himself on his 1977 album, Going Public
. Frank Sinatra
sang it as "I Sing the Songs" from 1976 (leaving out the line "and I wrote some rock and roll so you could move"). In 1979, Sammy Davis, Jr.
performed it as part of his live show. In 2008, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
recorded it on their album Have Another Ball.
Manilow did a parody duet titled "I Write the Songs/I Wreck the Songs" with Rosie O'Donnell
on her talk show
on April 18, 1997.
Manilow did another shortened performance of this song with Stephen Colbert
when he was a guest on The Colbert Report on October 30, 2006.
Bruce Johnston
Bruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
in 1975 and made famous by Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
. Manilow's version reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in January 1976 after spending two weeks atop the Billboard adult contemporary chart in December 1975. A Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Song of the Year
Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
and nominated for Record of the Year
Grammy Award for Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
in 1977
Grammy Awards of 1977
The 19th Grammy Awards were held on February 19, 1977, and were broadcast live on American television . They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1976.-Award winners:*Record of the Year...
, it became one of Manilow's signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
s.
The original version was recorded by The Captain & Tennille on their 1975 album, Love Will Keep Us Together
Love Will Keep Us Together (album)
Love Will Keep Us Together was a 1975 album, the first release by the duo The Captain & Tennille. The album would peak at #2 on the Billboard 200 album chart, while the title song, Love Will Keep Us Together, won the Grammy Award for Record Of The Year and was nominated for Song Of The Year.The...
, who worked with Bruce Johnston
Bruce Johnston
Bruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
in the early 1970s with The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
. The first version I Write the Songs released as a single was by then teen-idol David Cassidy
David Cassidy
David Bruce Cassidy is an American actor, singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his role as the character of Keith Partridge in the 1970s musical/sitcom The Partridge Family. He was one of pop culture's most celebrated teen idols, enjoying a successful pop career in the 1970s, and...
from his 1975 solo album The Higher They Climb
The Higher They Climb (album)
The Higher They Climb or The Higher They Climb the Harder They Fall is an album by David Cassidy. It was his fifth solo release and the first of three albums on RCA Records...
, which was also produced by Bruce Johnston
Bruce Johnston
Bruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
. Cassidy's version reached #11 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in August of that year.
The title has been misunderstood to mean that the singer (or songwriter) "writes the songs", but the actual songwriter, The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
' Bruce Johnston, has stated that the "I" in the song is "God". He went on to say that songs come from the spirit of creativity in all of us. Another misunderstood myth is Bruce Johnston wrote the song for his Beach Boys bandmate Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
. Johnston stated, "I never wrote 'I Write The Songs' about Brian Wilson. I wrote it about 'where music comes from' (for me, music comes only from God). My song has nothing to do with Brian! I admire Brian Wilson's great melodies and, as a member of the Beach Boys, I'm singing these fantastic songs in concert year after year".
Manilow was initially reluctant to record the song, stating in his autobiography Sweet Life: "The problem with the song was that if you didn't listen carefully to the lyric, you would think that the singer was singing about himself. It could be misinterpreted as a monumental ego trip." After persuasion by Clive Davis
Clive Davis
Clive Davis is an American record producer and music industry executive. He has won five Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. From 1967 to 1973 he was the President of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1975...
, then president of Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
, Manilow relented and recorded the song, and his version of "I Write the Songs" was the first single taken from the album Tryin' to Get the Feeling
Tryin' to Get the Feeling
Tryin' to Get the Feeling is the third studio album released by Barry Manilow in 1975. It featured the title track, "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again", with other hits including "New York City Rhythm", "Bandstand Boogie" and "I Write the Songs." The album scored triple platinum.-Side one:#"New York...
. It first charted on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 15, 1975, reaching the top of the chart nine weeks later, on January 17, 1976.
This song has also been recorded by Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
, Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
, Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
, as well as Bruce Johnston himself on his 1977 album, Going Public
Going Public (album)
Going Public is Beach Boys member Bruce Johnston's third and final solo album, and the only one recorded after becoming a member of the band...
. Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
sang it as "I Sing the Songs" from 1976 (leaving out the line "and I wrote some rock and roll so you could move"). In 1979, Sammy Davis, Jr.
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....
performed it as part of his live show. In 2008, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is a punk rock supergroup and cover band that formed in 1995. The Gimmes work exclusively as a cover band. The band is named after a children's book of the same name by Gerald G. Jampolsky and Diane V. Cirincione...
recorded it on their album Have Another Ball.
Manilow did a parody duet titled "I Write the Songs/I Wreck the Songs" with Rosie O'Donnell
Rosie O'Donnell
Roseann "Rosie" O'Donnell is an American stand-up comedian, actress, author and television personality. She has also been a magazine editor and continues to be a celebrity blogger, LGBT rights activist, television producer and collaborative partner in the LGBT family vacation company R Family...
on her talk show
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
The Rosie O'Donnell Show is an Emmy Award-winning American daytime television talk show hosted and produced by actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell. It aired for six seasons from 1996 to 2002...
on April 18, 1997.
Manilow did another shortened performance of this song with Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Tyrone Colbert is an American political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor. He is the host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, a satirical news show in which Colbert portrays a caricatured version of conservative political pundits.Colbert originally studied to be an...
when he was a guest on The Colbert Report on October 30, 2006.
See also
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1975 (U.S.)
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1976 (U.S.)