Here We Go Again Barry Manilow

For Barry Manilow's self-titled 1989 album, he recorded a wistful ballad, "When the Practiced Times Come Once again," that was never released as a single. Now, 31 years later, information technology has become an unlikely hit and a lotion as people deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and not being able to meet their loved ones for extended periods of time.

This week, the song rose to No. 18 on Billboard's Developed Contemporary nautical chart, making Manilow the beginning artist to span reaching the top 20 of the nautical chart from the '70s to the '20s. It is his 36th top 20 hitting on the nautical chart.

The song's resurrection started afterwards an Israeli fan fabricated a lyric video for the melody as the coronavirus spread. It came to Manilow'southward attending and, in late April, he posted it on his Facebook page. His direction company, Stiletto Amusement, sent the song to developed contemporary radio and and then RCA/Sony assisted with radio promotion.

The superstar historic some other milestone earlier this twelvemonth when Night Songs II debuted at No. 32 on the Billboard 200, marking his sixth consecutive decade of top forty-charting albums beginning withBarry Manilow II in 1975.

From his house in Palm Springs, Manilow spoke to Billboard about his please in finding himself in the AC top 20 for the first fourth dimension since 2012, his surprise at missing performing, his business organisation nearly the spike in coronavirus cases and when the good times will come once again.

Billboard: How are you doing?

Barry Manilow: I get very nervous about people who are running exterior and the protestation marches. These helicopter shots of thousands of people marching. And I kept proverb, "Wait a infinitesimal. What happened to the mask and staying six anxiety away from each other?" What'due south going to happen with all these people in every urban center? In every country? Are they all going to get sick? I think we're stuck with this. The numbers are beginning to go upwardly all over the place. And me, with my career, I don't know when information technology'll ever be rubber to go to a Broadway evidence or one of my things in Vegas. When will nosotros all feel comfortable sitting next to somebody?

That's what's and so remarkable almost "When the Good Times Come Once more." Fifty-fifty though it wasn't written for these times, information technology somehow fits into the anxious situation nosotros notice ourselves in and wondering when we tin celebrate good times again together. What does it hateful to you that so many people are finding comfort through the song?

The comfort role makes me experience real good. That's what I've ever wanted to do. That's what I try to do anytime I'm making a record or anytime I'm performing, my focus is e'er on [the audience]. My arrows e'er point out, never back to me. So when you say that it's giving condolement to people, that's exactly what my goal is as an entertainer, as a songwriter, as a performer — to affect people, whether it's to make them laugh or to make them feel good.  I just experience very lucky. It'southward a 30-twelvemonth old record. I never idea, ever, I would end up on the peak twenty ever again simply I couldn't exist happier about it.

The song, brought to you by Clive Davis and written by Volition Jennings and Richard Kerr, has the line "Hope we both survive the world out there." Do you think why the song appealed to you originally?

It's a very moving idea. I used to end every concert with that song: "I'll see you then when the skillful times come again." I did it on a tour that lasted effectually 2 years and I ended every show with it. That'south what got me when Clive presented it to me and information technology moved me every bit a song and so information technology moved the audience every night.

You'd already had some success recording songs written by Volition and Richard, like "Looks Like Nosotros Made Information technology" and "Somewhere in the Night," then you must have known their songs were a skilful match for you.

Yeah, and they're corking guys, too. Richard is a beautiful pop composer. I called Richard when this began to happen and said, "Do you have whatsoever kind of story you can tell me well-nigh how yous wrote this?" He said, "All I can remember is that there was a close friend of Will'due south and [mine] and he passed away and we were really grieving and that'due south when we wrote that lyric." Over the years I accept been very proud to introduce songs by talented songwriters similar Richard and Will. I think that'southward my task. I'one thousand very happy to write "Copacabana" and "This One's for You lot," but I'm very, very happy to be able to introduce great songs and great songwriters to the public. And this one is very gratifying.

Your history on the Adult Gimmicky nautical chart starts with "Mandy," which hit No. 1 in 1974. Richard Kerr co-wrote the song, and so this really brings it all total circle.

My life changed overnight with "Mandy." Clive institute my commencement anthology on his desk when he took over Bell Records and changed it to Arista Records. He came down to see me perform and he kept me on his label. I was in the middle of making my 2d anthology. He said, "I like it, but you need a striking record." I had no experience with striking records at all.  I said, "No problem. I'll get home right now and write one." It'south impossible [laughs]. A couple of days later on he sent me a demo of a song called "Brandy," which had been a small striking in England for the co-writer Scott English. It was rock 'northward' roll. I said "Actually? You want me to practice that?" So I did it just like the record. Clive came into the studio and said, "That's terrible." I said, "I know information technology'south terrible. That'southward not what I do."

But during the afternoon, when I was sitting at the piano, I inverse the chords effectually. I plant the love song in this rock 'n' roll song and slowed it down. I played him my version of "Brandy" and he said, "Do that! Simply do that." We changed the name to "Mandy." And that's the record. There were two takes of me playing the pianoforte and singing it and the first have wasn't good because I sang Brandy instead of Mandy. [For the second take], we added drums, guitar and strings.

You span six decades on this chart with a top 20 striking in every decade but the '90s, when the highest y'all reached was No. 26.

Damn it. Why don't y'all just lie? [laughs]

What does that mean to you?

It's amazing. I never started out wanting to practise this, so information technology'southward even more amazing because I was going to be an arranger. I was going to exist a conductor. I was going to be a songwriter. I never thought near singing or performing or making records. And then this kind of career continues to exist the near astonishing thing that I could e'er imagine.

Speaking of performing, you were supposed to be playing your Las Vegas residency during this fourth dimension and had to postpone the shows. You've said that performing is non your favorite thing, but now that y'all can't practise it, is at that place whatsoever part of information technology that you miss?

All of it. I've been kvetching for years about leaving home and going on the road, but, boy, you never miss the water 'til the well runs dry. Not only practise I miss the audiences, I miss my band, I miss the crew. I miss the excitement of that life that I had. Now, and over again, I enquire Garry [Kief, Manilow'south longtime manager and married man] simply to applaud and so tin can I hear that audio over again [laughs]… I never thought I'd miss it as deeply as I exercise. That was the big surprise for me.

Y'all have a home studio. Are you putting it to good apply while we're shut downwards?

When the axe fell, I was in the middle of making an original album, and so I can still do that. I'thousand working on it with Michael Lloyd [who produced "When the Good Times Come Again"]. And Clive gave me another one of his crazy ideas that could very well exist another striking thought. And then I'yard working on ii concepts with two albums and that definitely keeps me busy.

Is there anything else about "When The Good Times Come up Once again"  you desire to talk about?

Who knows where this is going to current of air upwards? If information technology stopped correct at present, it'due south been an unbelievable ride for me these final couple of months while we're all going through this nightmare. I'chiliad so glad a song like this tin can actually brand people feel better. I couldn't exist more than grateful.

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Source: https://www.billboard.com/pro/barry-manilow-when-the-good-times-come-again-interview/

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