The song “Mandy” by Barry Manilow is one that is still remembered by many, but the story behind it is full of quite several surprises. Several important decisions, ranging from the name change to the arrangement of the song, contributed to the song’s massive success.
Manilow has earned multiple awards worldwide. In fact, his performance of “I Write the Songs” topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976 and won a Grammy for Song of the Year. But this particular song, “Mandy,” won the hearts of fans worldwide.
Barry Manilow and his team decided to change the song’s title, ‘Mandy’, to avoid confusion
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The journey with the song “Mandy” began in 1974 when he heard the original track, “Brandy,” written in 1972 by Scott English. The song was catchy, but there was a problem. In that same year, Looking Glass released a song with the same title: “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl).” So, to avoid confusion, Manilow and his team decided to change the title to “Mandy.”
Doing this made a big difference, and in January 1975, “Mandy” hit No. 1 on the charts, becoming one of Manilow’s most memorable songs. He still remembers how Clive Davis, the president of Arista Records, pushed him to take the song seriously. Davis believed that the track could be a major moment in his career, and Manilow soon saw the potential as well, and just like they predicted, the song became big.
Barry Manilow says that he ‘found a love song hiding in a rock and roll song’
The biggest shift in the song came when Manilow worked on the arrangement. The original version of “Brandy” had a rock vibe, but Manilow decided to change it to his style. When he first recorded it, Clive Davis wasn’t impressed and told him, “That’s terrible.” So, instead of sticking with the original, Manilow decided to change the song completely.
“So I went to the piano, and I played it slowly with my key changes, a very heartfelt version,” he said. This turned “Mandy” into a ballad. Manilow’s arrangement brought out the emotion of the song, and according to him, “In one take, I found the love song hiding in that rock and roll song.” The singer of “I Write the Songs” has also beaten Elvis Presley’s record for the most shows with his residency at the Westgate International Theater in Las Vegas, where Manilow has a permanent spot. Although he plans to keep his residencies going, Manilow is starting a farewell arena tour in May.