I write the songs… but not like that: Barry Manilow looks to modern muses

American singer Barry Manilow has said he “studied” artists like Billie Eilish with a view to writing his upcoming album like her – but was unable to.

The 82-year-old, known for Mandy and I Wanna Do It With You, announced his 33rd studio album just weeks after he was treated for lung cancer.

The 13-track record, What A Time, is his first in 15 years and will be out in June, and features a song co-written by Take That singer Gary Barlow.

Speaking to The Times, Manilow said: “The truth is that for this record I really studied what’s going on out there — artists like Billie Eilish.

“I tried to write like her but I just couldn’t, because I’m used to verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, ending — but pop music now just sounds like run-on sentences.

“Where is the chorus? Hook? Song after song is like that, so I went back to what I know and people will either think I haven’t listened to pop radio in 40 years or they’ll say: ‘Thank God! Something to hang my ears on!’”

Eilish, 24, has won 10 Grammy awards and is best known for her hit songs Bad Guy, Birds Of A Feather and What Was I Made For from the 2023 Barbie soundtrack.

Manilow continued to claim that he does not feel songs are written by “bona fide musicians” any more.

He said: “They feel written by young people, who know a couple of chords, and some new songs are really good, but the stars of pop nowadays are studio engineers, and the last thing you pay attention to in a modern record are the lyrics or melody.

“The rhythm and grooves are delicious. But songwriters? I don’t think they’re there any more.”

Following his diagnosis and treatment, the singer had to postpone a number of shows, adding that he is not “totally healed”.

He said: “The doctors said that it would take a while, but I have no patience, and waiting is agony. For my voice to come back, for my breathing to come back… It’s driving me nuts.

“I tried to sing my show, but I have not been able to make it to the end without getting so winded that I have to stop.

“I haven’t been able to do 90 minutes yet. I am getting closer and the doctors say it will come back, but they say: ‘Barry, you’ve been through hell. Ease up!’ And I have never heard a doctor say that, so it must have been more difficult than I thought.”

Manilow will be touring the UK this summer, possibly for the last time, with dates scheduled in London, Glasgow, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham.

He said: “By the time we are done with Britain we’ve got a couple more shows, but then that will probably be it for me.”

The singer began his career in the early 1960s, and had his first hit in the UK with Mandy in 1975.

He has gone on to sell more than 85 million records as a solo artist worldwide, being nominated for 15 Grammy Awards, and winning one.

Manilow has also achieved seven UK top 10 albums, including a number one with Barry Live In Britain, and one UK top 10 single with I Wanna Do It With You.

He recently broke Elvis Presley’s record of 636 for most shows performed in Las Vegas in 2023, with his current long-running residency at the Westgate casino and resort.