About the song

There are songs that entertain you — and then there are songs that speak to you. “This One’s for You” by Barry Manilow is one of those rare songs that feels like a quiet thank-you letter set to music. It’s tender, deeply personal, and full of that unmistakable Manilow warmth that has comforted listeners for decades.

Released in 1976, during the height of his career, this song marked one of Manilow’s most heartfelt creations. Written as a tribute to the people who inspired him — those who stood by him, believed in him, or perhaps even broke his heart — it transcends simple love-song territory. It becomes something bigger: a message of gratitude, remembrance, and reflection.

Manilow’s voice here feels different — gentler, more vulnerable. There’s no showmanship, no grand crescendo — just sincerity. The piano opens like an embrace, and as the melody unfolds, you feel as though he’s sitting at the keys late at night, singing not to an audience, but to one person who truly mattered.

What makes “This One’s for You” so timeless is how universal it feels. We’ve all had someone — a friend, a parent, a love — who shaped who we are, even if they’re no longer here. This song captures that bittersweet feeling perfectly: part gratitude, part longing, and part acceptance.

It’s not just about remembering someone; it’s about honoring them. Every lyric sounds like a conversation between the heart and the past. And that’s the beauty of Barry Manilow — his ability to turn emotion into melody, memory into music.

“This One’s for You” isn’t just a song — it’s a moment of pause in a busy world. A gentle reminder to stop, look back, and say: thank you.

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