Barry Manilow Acts in Music Video for New Single ‘Once Before I Go’

Barry Manilow released a new video on Tuesday (Nov. 11) for his new single “Once Before I Go.” In the video, Manilow portrays a character who sacrifices a traditional family life to pursue his dream as a performer. Filmed at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, home to Manilow’s long-running residency, the video was directed by Jamie Thraves, who has helmed such clips as Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” and Coldplay’s “The Scientist.”

Thraves’ video for “The Scientist” received a Grammy nomination for best short-form music video 22 years ago. Manilow has received 15 Grammy nominations, winning best pop vocal performance, male in 1979 for “Copacabana (at the Copa).” He also received record of the year nods for “Mandy” and “I Write the Songs” and an album of the year nod for Even Now.

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Manilow’s first video with a narrative storyline was “Read ‘Em and Weep” in 1983, when video ruled the music business. Bob Giraldi directed the clip.

“Once Before I Go” was coproduced by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Demonte Posey, and cowritten by Peter Allen and Dean Pitchford. The song was first recorded by Allen in 1983 on his album Not the Boy Next Door. Other artists who have covered it include Patti LaBelle, Hugh Jackman (in the Broadway show The Boy From Oz) and Johnny Mathis (on his most recent non-holiday studio album, Johnny Mathis Sings the Great New American Songbook – which was also produced by Babyface).

Manilow has had two No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, nearly 30 years apart – Barry Manilow Live! (1977) and The Greatest Songs of the Fifties (2006). He has had three No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 – “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs” and “Looks Like We Made It.” Manilow has won two Primetime Emmys, a Grammy and an honorary Tony. He was elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002 and has received the BMI Icon Award.

In April 2026, Manilow will be presented with the American Advertising Federation’s 2026 President’s Award at the AAF’s Advertising Hall of Fame induction ceremony for his early work in advertising. Manilow has produced, composed, and performed some of the most iconic commercial jingles of all time for companies and brands such as State Farm, Band-Aid, KFC, Pepsi and McDonald’s.

The new music video arrives as Manilow prepares for a series of farewell performances in nine U.S. cities this January. These dates mark his final concerts in each market. For all dates, tickets, and VIP packages, visit Manilow’s site.

Watch Manilow’s video below: