Barry Manilow and the Magic of Feeling

Barry Manilow and the Magic of Feeling: A Tarot-Inspired Reflection

Some artists don’t just write songs — they create lifelines.  For me, Barry Manilow is that artist.

His music was the backdrop of my early teen years, and in many ways, the reason I made it through them. Those were the years when I was learning what it meant to feel deeply, to long for something unnamed, to believe that someone out there got me. Barry did. His voice, his melodies, and especially his lyrics made me feel less alone.  As an inspirational speaker, I have used his music as a backdrop to talks I have given.

Seeing Barry Manilow live at Radio City Music Hall last week was a full-circle moment. Not just for me, but my husband too.  Tears rolled down our faces more than once and we spent a majority of our time on our feet singing along with the crowd. The energy was electric. It felt like we were all part of a shared invocation. Barry wasn’t just performing — he was conjuring. Holding the whole room in his spell.

Barry Manilow is the Magician

In Tarot terms, Barry is the Magician: channeling divine inspiration, transforming pain into beauty, and reminding us that creation itself is a kind of magic. He doesn’t just tell stories — he alchemizes them. His music offers medicine for the heart, a mirror for the soul, and a reminder that emotion is power.

That’s what makes his songs so enduring. They don’t just entertain — they speak. They echo the same emotional landscapes found in the Tarot: joy, longing, resilience, heartbreak, and hope.

Barry Through the Tarot’s Lens

Here’s how some of his most beloved songs reflect those archetypes and energies — as seen through a Tarot lens:

“Bandstand Boogie”

Joyful and full of sparkle, this one radiates youthful energy (Page of Wands), celebration (Six of Wands), and a broad reach of joy (Three of Wands). Pure fun with a purpose.

“Can’t Smile Without You”

Sweet, simple, and emotionally powerful. The deep bond of The Lovers is clear, but so is the risk of losing oneself in another — a soft echo of the Devil’s dependency.

“Copacabana”

Beneath its glitter is a tragic tale of fame, obsession, and loss. The fated turns of Lola and Tony’s lives echo (the Wheel of Fortune), while the story’s explosive climax embodies the Tower. There’s also the Devil here — in the excess, the passion, and the price of clinging to illusions.

“Could It Be Magic”

A song of passion stirring to life. It builds like a spell — slowly, then all at once. The spark of new desire (Ace of Wands), the mystery and intuitive pull of the unknown (High Priestess), and the powerful act of creation itself (Magician) all come alive in this deeply sensual track.

“Daybreak”

This is a song we have used in several church services, and George has included in our Spiritual Song Series he writes for my site.  A sunrise for the soul. This song sings of new possibilities (Ace of Wands), innocent hope (Page of Cups), and the life-giving warmth of The Sun.

“Even Now”

A song of reconciliation and inner reckoning. It captures the journey toward balance (Justice), the longing for restored love (Two of Cups), and the soul-searching needed to get there (Hermit).

“I Write the Songs”

Ironically, Barry Manilow did not write this song, but he made it his own.  A declaration of the creative soul’s purpose. This is the Magician fully embodied — the artist as conduit for inspiration. The song’s sense of expansion and sharing with the world reflects the Three of Wands, and its joy and radiance is pure Sun energy.

“I Made It Through the Rain”

A victory earned, not given. This is the story of Strength — the inner resilience it takes to keep going. And in the end, The World welcomes the survivor: whole, changed, and wiser.

“It’s a Miracle”

Bright and celebratory, this song pulses with gratitude. It captures the joy of new beginnings (Ace of Wands), the excitement of forward motion (Knight of Wands), and the radiant happiness of The Sun.

“Looks Like We Made It”

A bittersweet celebration. There’s triumph in reaching the other side (World), lasting love (Ten of Cups), and the public recognition of that success (Six of Wands). But the Devil still lingers — a reminder of past entanglements that may not be fully gone.

“Mandy”

This is a song of grief dressed as love. The longing is thick, the regret palpable. “Mandy” doesn’t just leave — she haunts. It shows us a once-deep connection now lost or imbalanced (Two of Cups Reversed), the over-focus on what is gone (Five of Cups), and painful choices in love; a partnership now fractured (The Lovers Reversed).

“Memory”

Barry’s rendition of this classic from the Broadway musical Cats is deeply introspective and achingly nostalgic. It reflects the solitude of aging and the longing for what once was. The Hermit is present in the quiet reflection and inner searching for meaning. The Six of Cups adds the emotional depth — memories of youth, beauty, and connection that linger with bittersweet ache (The Hermit, Six of Cups).

“One Voice”

An anthem of unity and healing. The harmony of community (Ten of Cups) and the delicate balance of individual effort within the whole (Two of Pentacles) make this song a call for collective uplift.

“Ships”

An aching farewell. There’s heartbreak in this song’s quiet devastation — the pain of endings (Ten of Swords), lingering conflict or unresolved words (Five of Swords), and the surrender to what cannot be changed (Hanged Man).

“Somewhere Down the Road”

A song for the soul’s long journey. The bittersweet departure (Eight of Cups), the help we give and receive along the way (Six of Pentacles), and the faith that the journey itself has meaning — even when the end isn’t clear.

“This One’s for You”

A love letter to the past, he tells the story of his grandpa and dedicates it to his memory. This one carries the tenderness of memories (Six of Cups), especially of his grandfather, and honors the impact of those who helped shape us.

“Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again”

An emotional excavation. This song speaks to searching for what once brought joy (Nine of Cups), feeling the loss of it (Five of Cups), and pulling back to reflect in solitude (Hermit).

“Weekend in New England”

Romantic yearning at its finest. The dream of reunion (Ten of Cups), the emotional connection still felt (Two of Cups), and the ache of wanting what’s not quite here (Four of Cups) all resonate in this tender ballad.

Final Reflection

Barry Manilow’s music doesn’t shy away from emotion — it leans into it. His songs are invitations to feel more, love harder, and believe that beauty can emerge even from pain. That’s why he remains beloved: because he gives voice to what so many of us feel but struggle to say.

Each lyric, each crescendo, each moment of silence between notes becomes part of a larger story. A story not just of one man’s artistry — but of all of us, making our way through love, loss, and everything in between.

His legacy isn’t just in the records or the applause — it’s in the healing his music has offered, the tears it has held, and the hope it continues to stir.

It’s a miracle, indeed — and one that’s woven itself into the greater tapestry of our collective heart.

You can find other Singers/Songwriters in this Tarot Song Series here.