I have an unhealthy love for Barry Manilow’s music. It is toe-tapping, happy and brings on a belt-it-out sing-a-long which disturbs not only my sons but my husband too. I saw Barry Manilow perform live at the Sydney Entertainment Centre back in 1994 and I still count it amongst the best concerts I have ever attended. It was full of laughter and joy with great audience participation. Barry is a funny man.
I have many favourite Bazza songs but I particularly love “I Can’t Smile Without You”. This song can give you such a happiness high when you are with the person you love, whether you are singing it with your partner, child, parent or friend. Yet, it is the sadness it invokes when it comes on the radio and I am not with the people I love, with my sons, my husband and sadly my long departed father, that touches me most. This song makes me cry.
In this clip, Barry is accompanied by the accordian and BBC Orchestra.
Oh! And I still own the T-shirt!
You know I can’t smile without you
I can’t smile without you
I can’t laugh and I can’t sing
I’m finding it hard to do anything
You see I feel sad when you’re sad
I feel glad when you’re glad
If you only knew what I’m going through
I just can’t smile without you
You came along just like a song
And brighten my day
Who would of believed that you where part of a dream
Now it all seems light years away
And now you know I can’t smile without you
I can’t smile without you
I can’t laugh and I can’t sing
I’m finding it hard to do anything
You see I feel sad when your sad
I feel glad when you’re glad
If you only knew what I’m going through
I just can’t smile
Now some people say happiness takes so very long to find
Well, I’m finding it hard leaving your love behind me
And you see I can’t smile without you
I can’t smile without you
I can’t laugh and I can’t sing
I’m finding it hard to do anything
You see I feel glad when you’re glad
I feel sad when you’re sad
If you only knew what I’m going through
I just can’t smile without you
Shallowreader 
Y’know Vassiliki….you gotta be a brave person. I have huge admiration for you and your ability to publicly declare and defend not only a love of romance literature, but a passion for Barry Manilow. It’s not that I hate them. I think, that if I had been permitted, I might be there with you. I wasn’t allowed to read romance comics. My mum chucked a huge spac attack – on par with finding violent pornography in my possession I guess – the one time I bought romance comics as a teenager. I kept them hidden. And I do know the words to Can’t smile without you. But both feel like candy to me. I try them and they make me feel a little sick. But you rock.