Recording human emotions

A rapidly rising new book is Cynthia Weil’s I’m Glad I Did, a coming of age story about a girl who chooses love and a music career simultaneously and makes it work for her life.  It easily could be called an autobiography instead of fiction.

From “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” the most played single song in the history of music, to the instant movie classic “Somewhere Out There,” for American Tale, Weil has collaborated with composer husband Barry Mann in creating songs that might be called “soundtracks to people’s lives.”  One of the first female writers in pop music (in the early 1960s), Weil has had hit songs pour from her pen (and computer) for every decade since.   

 

 

Cynthia Weil

Just a few of the wide range of the Weil/Mann hits, besides those mentioned above, are Dolly Parton’s “Here You Come Again,” which won country song and most played country song of the year; the Kinks anti-war “We Gotta Get Out of This Place,” and the achingly poignant ballads “Just Once” by James Ingram and “Don’t Know Much” by Aaron Neville.

Few songwriters have had such a knack for capturing and interpreting the broad spectrum of human emotions - the ups and downs of relationships and life. Her ability to adapt to different genres has created words for songs that have become the themes and anthems to our lives.

From Grammys to Academy Awards Weil's countless accolades also include induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for a life’s body of work that led to 60 top ten hit songs.   And now she’s writing books.  As Sonny & Cher used to sing – the beat goes on.

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