By admin 
Introduction
Barry Manilow Opens Up Ahead of His Final Global Tour
Barry Manilow — the legendary performer with more than 85 million album sales and a six-decade career — is preparing to release new music as he readies what he says will be his final tour. Speaking live from Los Angeles, he joined BBC Breakfast to reflect on returning to the UK, his legacy, and why he still isn’t sure he belongs on stage as a “singer.”
Manilow began by discussing “Once Before I Go,” a song often associated with him, though he reminded viewers he didn’t actually write it. “I’d love to say I did,” he said with a laugh. “But it was written by Peter Allen, a wonderful songwriter and a good friend.” Manilow explained that Allen had played the song for him decades ago in New York, but Manilow felt too young at the time to sing it truthfully. “Now that I’m a hundred years old,” he joked, “I can finally sing it honestly.”
The title, of course, feels fitting. Manilow insists that this upcoming trip to the UK — a run of shows across Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff, Birmingham, and a final night at London’s O2 Arena — will truly be his last.
“I know I’ve said that before,” he admitted. “Don’t pay attention to me. But as I sit here right now, yes, this is the last UK tour.”
He recalled the moment after his previous “farewell” tour when he realized he still wanted to return. “There was a little bug in my ear saying, ‘Are you sure you want to say goodbye?’ But I had made such a big deal about it that coming back felt ridiculous. And then… I came back anyway.”
Manilow spoke warmly about British audiences, describing them as fiercely loyal from the very first time he performed there. “They’ve always been great to me. They were on my side from the beginning, and they’ve stayed that way for… how many years now?”
Asked what happens on stage when he launches into classics like “Mandy” or “Copacabana,” he laughed. “Kind of? Yeah. They go wild. I’m lucky — I can fill an hour with songs everyone knows.” What once surprised him is now one of his favorite parts of performing: the audience singalongs.
“I used to think, ‘Aren’t you supposed to listen to me?’ But it’s much more fun to let them have a good time. I’m not there for me — I’m there for them.”
As for what the final song of his final UK show might be, Manilow admitted he hasn’t fully decided. “As of now, it would be ‘Once Before I Go.’ It’s a beautiful goodbye song.” But he said it wouldn’t be the last song of the night — that would need to be something joyful, loud, and celebratory.
When asked how he maintains the energy to keep touring, Manilow revealed something surprising: he has never taken a singing lesson and he doesn’t warm up. “I don’t consider myself a singer,” he said. “I consider myself a musician. That’s who I am.” What he loves most, he explained, is the family he’s built with his band and crew over the years. And, of course, the moment the curtain rises. “If you felt that rush of thousands of people cheering, you’d do it over and over again too.”
Reflecting on how the music industry has transformed — from vinyl to streaming, TikTok, and everything in between — he remains optimistic. “As long as there’s a melody and a lyric, music will survive. How it’s delivered will always change.”
Manilow said his songs endure because they focus on feelings. That’s always been his mission. “I want them to feel something,” he said. “Night after night, I hope the audience is feeling what I’m trying to say.”
Even after 60 years on stage, Manilow confessed he still hasn’t fully made peace with being a “singer.” “Sometimes I wonder why they’re applauding so much — there are so many better singers out there. But maybe what keeps people coming back is that I’m honest about everything I do on stage.”
The interview closed with warm thanks and a lighthearted exchange between the presenters, who noted how much emotion Manilow’s music continues to stir.
“He says he’s not sentimental,” one remarked, “but his songs create so much feeling in everyone else.”