About the song
A Leap of Faith in Melody: The Timeless Charm of Barry Manilow’s “Ready to Take a Chance Again” (1978)
There are songs that speak to the head, and there are songs that speak to the heart — and then there are those rare pieces that seem to do both at once. Barry Manilow – Ready to Take a Chance Again (1978) belongs firmly in that third category. It’s not just a song; it’s a moment suspended in time, a cinematic reflection of human vulnerability and courage wrapped in a melody so graceful it feels like it’s always been part of us.
Released at the height of Manilow’s popularity, the song was written for the film Foul Play, and from its very first notes, it carries a sense of anticipation — the kind that stirs deep within anyone who’s ever been afraid to open their heart again. What makes Barry Manilow – Ready to Take a Chance Again (1978) so enduring is not just its lyrical theme, but the emotional weight that Manilow brings to every line. His voice, warm and earnest, captures the essence of a person standing at a crossroads: hesitant, perhaps still scarred by the past, yet quietly hopeful about what might lie ahead.
The orchestral arrangement builds gently around his vocals, rising and falling with a cinematic sweep that mirrors the emotional journey the song portrays. It’s a perfect example of how pop music of the late 1970s combined heartfelt storytelling with lush, sophisticated production — a hallmark of Manilow’s style. Every element, from the delicate piano introduction to the soaring strings, serves a purpose: to guide the listener from doubt to determination, from fear to faith.
At its core, Barry Manilow – Ready to Take a Chance Again (1978) is about rediscovery — not just of love, but of trust and courage. It speaks to anyone who has ever sworn off new beginnings, only to find that hope has a way of sneaking back into their lives. And perhaps that’s why the song continues to resonate more than four decades later. It isn’t merely nostalgia that keeps it alive; it’s the universal truth it captures.
In an era overflowing with fleeting pop hits, this song remains a quiet masterpiece — a reminder that even when life bruises us, the heart never truly forgets how to dream. It only waits, patiently, for the right melody to remind it that it’s ready to take a chance again.