"The Singer" is a song recorded by American singer Liza Minnelli for her 1973 studio album of the same name. Written by Walter Marks, the song was originally conceived for an abandoned project by Barbra Streisand before being offered to Minnelli when she signed with Columbia Records in 1972. The track was arranged in a contemporary singer-songwriter style, aiming to showcase Minnelli’s popularity and versatility following the success of Cabaret and Liza with a Z. Released as the album's lead single by Columbia Records in late 1972, it was issued with "Mr. Emery Won’t Be Home" as its B-side.
The song received positive critical response, with reviewers praising its introspective lyrics and Minnelli's theatrical interpretation, which was noted for blending emotional depth with cabaret-style storytelling. Critics described the piece as one of Minnelli's most expressive recordings, highlighting its haunting atmosphere and reflective tone. Commercially, "The Singer" entered the RPM Adult Contemporary chart in Canada in January 1973, peaking at number 42 after several weeks, marking one of Minnelli’s final chart appearances of the decade.
Overview
The song, written by Walter Marks and arranged by Peter Matz, was originally recorded by Barbra Streisand for a canceled album inspired by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht.[1] Streisand had admired their politically satirical theater since watching The Seven Deadly Sins at sixteen, a "sung ballet" directed and choreographed by George Balanchine, featuring Weill's score, Brecht’'s libretto, and Lotte Lenya in the lead role of Anna, that deeply influenced her artistic vision. The project aimed to capture the dark, expressive tone of German Expressionism, but Columbia Records president Clive Davis considered it too cautious and asked her to focus on more contemporary material instead.[2]
The inspiration for the song "The Singer" came from French singer Edith Piaf, with the music being described as very "Gallic" and the lyrics suited for cabaret. Streisand later released her version of the title track on her 1991 album, Just for the Record....[1]
"The Singer" was later offered to Minnelli when she signed with Columbia in 1972, following the success of Cabaret and Liza with a Z. The label aimed to capture her popularity and youthful image through contemporary singer-songwriter material.[3] The song was arranged by Al Capps and released by Columbia Records as the album's lead single, with "Mr. Emery Won't Be Home" as its B-side, in 1972.
Critics and analysis
According to biographer Mark Wimer, the track, included in the album of the same name stands out as one of Minnelli's finest performances. The song's introspective lyrics, describing a performer who reflects on her art and identity, were seen as lyrically and musically self-reflexive—almost as if drawn from a Kander and Ebb musical. Wimer describes Minnelli's rendition as both haunting and captivating, transforming what might appear as a simple reflection into a moving contemplation of fame and performance.[3] Critic William Ruhlmann of AllMusic similarly praised the composition, suggesting that Marks' writing highlighted Minnelli's theatrical expressiveness and musical storytelling.[4]
Chart performance
The single entered the RPM Adult Contemporary chart in Canada on January 20, 1973, debuting at number 77.[5] On February 24, 1973, the song peaked at number 42, in its final week on the chart.[6]
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