Introduction

The Invisible Hitmaker: Barry Manilow on the Art of the Jingle

While millions know Barry Manilow as the show-stopping legend behind “Copacabana” and “Mandy,” few realize that some of his most enduring “hits” are only thirty seconds long. Before he was a multi-platinum recording artist and a staple of the Las Vegas strip, Manilow was a “desperate young man” in Brooklyn, carving out a career as the king of commercial jingles.

The 30-Second Superstars

In a candid look back at his early career, Manilow reminisced about the songs that almost everyone in America can hum, yet few associate with him. He is the mastermind behind the State Farm Insurance theme (“Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there”) and the iconic Band-Aid jingle (“I am stuck on Band-Aid ’cause Band-Aid’s stuck on me”).

However, the road to success was paved with less-than-glamorous gigs. Manilow jokingly recalled the “low points” of his jingle-writing days, such as the “Toilet Bowl Blues.” Despite his initial desperation to make it in the music industry, the singer-songwriter did have his limits. He famously turned down a request to write a commercial for a feminine hygiene product, humorously noting that “nothing rhymes with douche,” and there was only so far he was willing to go for a paycheck.

A Brooklyn Soul in a Vegas World

Despite the rumors of a $60 million salary for his residency at the Las Vegas Hilton, Manilow insists he doesn’t do it for the money. In fact, he claims to be so singularly focused on music that he has no other hobbies. He doesn’t play poker, and he certainly doesn’t play tennis.

Harkening back to his roots, he joked that in his Brooklyn neighborhood, you didn’t see people carrying “tennis clubs” (rackets). “If you saw somebody with a tennis club walking in Brooklyn,” he quipped, “you knew they stole it and they were going to hit you over the head with it.” This single-minded devotion to his craft is what has allowed him to release a staggering 43 CDs over the course of his career.

The “Fanilows” and a Lasting Legacy

Manilow’s enduring success is perhaps best exemplified by his dedicated fanbase, affectionately known as “Fanilows.” These fans celebrate his “personage” with conventions and unique fashion choices—specifically yellow feathers in their hair, a nod to the legendary Lola from “Copacabana.”

During a recent fan trivia segment, several surprising facts about the icon were highlighted:

• The Early Days: He got his start playing piano and singing backup for the legendary Bette Midler.

• The Missing Link: Despite his massive success, the one major award he has yet to win is an Academy Award (Oscar).

• The Burger King Myth: Contrary to popular belief, he did not write the jingle for Burger King.

From the “Toilet Bowl Blues” to sold-out nights in Vegas, Barry Manilow’s journey is a testament to the power of a good melody. Whether it’s a jingle about insurance or a power ballad about heartbreak, he remains a master of the song.

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