Barry Mann Quotes

Powerful Barry Mann for Daily Growth

About Barry Mann

Barry Mann (born October 17, 1938) is an American songwriter, musician, and record producer who played a significant role in shaping the pop music landscape of the mid-20th century. Born in New York City to Jewish immigrants, his musical journey began in his childhood, influenced by the harmonies he heard from the street musicians in Brooklyn's Sheepshead Bay neighborhood. After high school, Mann joined Clyde Ott and Jerry Lieber as part of a songwriting team that penned hits for artists like Elvis Presley and The Drifters. However, their partnership dissolved, leading to Mann partnering with Cynthia Weil in the late 1950s. This collaboration would prove to be one of the most successful songwriting teams in popular music history. Together, Mann and Weil composed a series of iconic songs that became anthems for their time. These include "Who's Sorry Now?" by Connie Francis, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (recorded by The Righteous Brothers, still one of the biggest-selling singles in music history), "On Broadway" by The Drifters, and "(The Night) We Couldn't Sleep Tonight" by The Shirelles. In 1965, Mann and Weil were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008. Their work continues to resonate, with their songs being covered by contemporary artists such as Adele and The Killers. In addition to his songwriting success, Mann pursued a career as a record producer and co-founded the music publishing company Tiger Lily Music Inc. Despite retiring from active songwriting in the 1970s, Mann continues to be celebrated for his significant contributions to popular music.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"To write a hit song, you have to believe it's the best thing ever written."

This quote highlights Barry Mann's conviction that creating a successful song requires an unwavering belief in its quality and uniqueness - viewing it as the "best thing ever written." Essentially, he is suggesting that genuine passion, confidence, and self-belief are key ingredients for composing a hit song. This perspective underscores the emotional connection between the artist and their work, inspiring them to strive for greatness and share their creation with the world.

"A melody is like a river of sound that's going to take you someplace."

This quote by Barry Mann suggests that a melody, much like a flowing river, carries an emotional journey or narrative within its rhythm and tune. Just as a river takes us somewhere geographically, a melody transports listeners emotionally, guiding them through a unique musical landscape. The key takeaway is that music has the power to evoke feelings and memories, transporting us to different places or moments in time.

"I always wrote songs from my heart and from my soul."

Barry Mann's quote suggests that he composed music directly from his emotional core, expressing feelings deep within himself through his songwriting. This approach to music creation allows for a more authentic and genuine expression of emotions, resulting in deeply personal and impactful songs.

"If a song's not crying out for its own existence, it's probably not worth writing."

This quote by Barry Mann suggests that a truly meaningful song should not just be written for any random reason; instead, it ought to have an intrinsic value or purpose that makes it necessary or essential. In other words, a great song should express emotions, ideas, or stories so deeply and passionately that it feels like it cannot help but exist. If a song fails to convey this sense of urgency or necessity, then perhaps it is not worth writing or sharing with others.

"I've written songs for people like Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and The Drifters. I feel incredibly fortunate that these incredible artists have recorded my work."

This quote by Barry Mann, a renowned songwriter, expresses his gratitude and sense of fortune for the opportunity to have his compositions performed by iconic musicians like Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and The Drifters. It underscores the impact that these artists had on popular music culture and highlights the unique privilege and validation afforded to Mann as a songwriter when his work is chosen for their repertoire.

If I waited for inspiration every time I sat down to write a song I probably would be a plumber today.

- Barry Mann

Song, Inspiration, Sat, Plumber

I've written songs sober and I've written songs high.

- Barry Mann

High, Songs, Written, Sober

There's so much fear involved in trying to do something you don't know how to do that drugs and alcohol can become a big part of your life if you have an addictive personality or are very unsure, which most songwriters are.

- Barry Mann

Big, Very, Big Part, Addictive

Cynthia's lyrics always expressed the feelings people felt but they couldn't express themselves.

- Barry Mann

Always, Themselves, Felt, Lyrics

I quit college. I was studying architecture for about a year.

- Barry Mann

College, Year, About A Year, I Quit

One other thing, if it's possible, as songwriters, you should also develop yourself as record producers.

- Barry Mann

Other, Songwriters, Also, Producers

You can get stale writing with each other for a while.

- Barry Mann

Writing, Other, Get, Stale

I get a different kind of lyric from someone else that might make me go in a different musical direction.

- Barry Mann

Kind, Might, Musical, Lyric

You have to be very brave in that first writing session.

- Barry Mann

Writing, Very, Session, Brave

Probably most successful songwriters have an innate songwriting ability.

- Barry Mann

Songwriting, Most, Innate, Songwriters

We lived, ate, and breathed pop songs.

- Barry Mann

Songs, Pop, Pop Songs, Ate

It's very hard to teach someone how to write a song if to begin with there's no creative crop to harvest.

- Barry Mann

Song, Harvest, Very, Crop

You're going to have more rejection than acceptance.

- Barry Mann

Acceptance, More, Going, Rejection

You've got to really be able to accept the rejection.

- Barry Mann

You, Able, Got, Rejection

I also used to work in the Catskill Mountains as a bus boy, and I performed in talent shows.

- Barry Mann

Mountains, Bus, Shows, Performed

It's very important, at least for me and for Cynthia, to get outside input.

- Barry Mann

Important, Outside, Very, Input

I looked through our catalog year by year, and I saw that there were pockets of time when we wrote some terrific songs. Then all of a sudden, we'd go for another two or three months and there weren't great songs.

- Barry Mann

Year, Through, Some, Sudden

The real danger of writing a great song when you're on something is that it might get you thinking that the only way to repeat that is by only writing when you're high.

- Barry Mann

Song, Real, Might, Repeat

I think if one wants to be in a continual state of insanity one should stay married to that writing partner.

- Barry Mann

Think, Insanity, I Think, Partner

A guitar riff played on a piano doesn't come close to the purity of it being played on a guitar but I faked it enough to get by.

- Barry Mann

Purity, Come, Riff, Piano

I think that most writers who wait until they're inspired to write are just waiting for the fear to subside.

- Barry Mann

Think, Wait, I Think, Writers

It's amazing how a competitive nature can turn a negative into something positive.

- Barry Mann

Nature, Amazing, How, Negative

I know at the beginning of our careers, my wife and I were gut wrenchingly competitive.

- Barry Mann

Wife, Beginning, Careers, Competitive

If we were the team that won out, then life was good and we felt that we were worth something.

- Barry Mann

Team, Were, Felt, Won

You have certain writing tools but generally creating something from nothing makes one quite mad and Cynthia and I are quite mad you know.

- Barry Mann

Tools, Nothing, Makes, Mad

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