* CoveredUp:
** In 1971 singer-songwriter Scott English recorded a slightly melodramatic midtempo song called "Brandy", which became a minor hit. Three years later Manilow slowed it down, eliminated half a verse, and changed the title to "Mandy", to avoid people confusing it with the earlier hit "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" by Looking Glass. It became his BreakthroughHit.
** Not only did he not write "I Write the Songs", he also wasn't the first to record it (that was Music/CaptainAndTennille).
** Music/RandyEdelman originally wrote and recorded "Weekend in New England".
** "Read Em and Weep", written by Music/JimSteinman, was originally a minor hit for Music/MeatLoaf in 1981.
** "Can't Smile Without You" was originally recorded by Music/TheCranberries.
* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: He is perhaps most popular in the United Kingdom.
* HilariousInHindsight: "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKjw47pUEHw Oh Quagmire]]" from ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', especially in light of his coming out as gay.
* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: His duet of [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic I Write the Songs]] with Stephen Colbert. FYI, Colbert views Manilow as an ArchEnemy (he has a lot).
* SignatureSong: "Copacabana", "Can't Smile Without You", "Mandy", and of course "I Write the Songs".
* SampledUp: Music/DaftPunk's "Superheroes" does this with a looped sample of "Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed?"
* TheWoobie: Lola of the Copacabana song. The love of her life is killed in front of her, and she spends the rest of her days mired in grief and alcohol.