{{Infobox song | name = The Singer | cover = Liza Minnelli - The Singer (single label).jpg | alt = | caption = A-side label of US vinyl single | type = single | artist = Liza Minnelli | album = The Singer | B-side = Mr. Emery Won't Be Home | released = 1972 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = | length = 2:31 | label = Columbia | composer = Walter Marks | lyricist = | producer = | prev_title = Ring Them Bells | prev_year = 1972 | next_title = Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight | next_year = 1973 }} "'''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. 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. Commercially, it entered the ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary chart in Canada in January 1973, peaking at number 42 after several weeks.
==Overview== The song, written by Walter Marks and arranged by Peter Matz, was originally recorded by Barbra Streisand for a canceled album inspired by the politically satirical theater of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht.<ref name="Edwards">{{cite book |last1=Edwards |first1=Anne |url=https://www.google.com.br/books/edition/Streisand/8OHVCwAAQBAJ |title=Streisand: A Biography |date=15 February 2016 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-63076-129-5 |page=244 |access-date=13 October 2025}}</ref> Streisand had admired their works since watching ''The Seven Deadly Sins'' at sixteen, a "sung ballet" directed and choreographed by George Balanchine. "The Singer" 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Streisand |first=Barbra |title=My Name Is Barbra |publisher=Viking Press |year=2023 |isbn=978-0-525-42952-4 |location=New York |page=382 [pdf] |authorlink=Barbra Streisand}}</ref> The song was inspired by the French singer Edith Piaf, According to Anni Edwards, author of ''Streisand: A Biography'', the song is very "Gallic" and the lyrics suited for cabaret. Barbra Streisand later released her version on her 1991 album, ''Just for the Record...''.<ref name="Edwards" />
"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 material.<ref name="wimer">{{cite book |last1=Wimmer |first1=Martin |title=Clockwork Liza: Star and Artist: The Career Achievement of Liza Minnelli |date=12 September 2021 |publisher=BoD – Books on Demand |isbn=978-3-7543-4624-2 |pages=168-169 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Clockwork_Liza/BJhCEAAAQBAJ |access-date=13 October 2025}}</ref> 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. He considered that the song's introspective lyrics, which describe a performer reflecting on her art and identity, sound like they could come from a Kander and Ebb musical.Wimer described Minnelli's rendition as both haunting and captivating, transforming what might appear as a simple reflection into a moving contemplation of fame and performance.<ref name=wimer/> Critic William Ruhlmann of AllMusic similarly praised the composition, suggesting that Marks' writing highlighted Minnelli's theatrical expressiveness and musical storytelling.<ref name="llMusic">{{cite web |title=Liza Minnelli, The Singer - Liza Minnelli|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/liza-minnelli-the-singer-r24159/review |access-date=August 29, 2012 |website=AllMusic|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314002813/http://www.allmusic.com/album/liza-minnelli-the-singer-r24159/review|archive-date=14 March 2011|publisher=RhythmOne|first=William|last=Ruhlmann}}</ref>
==Chart performance== The single entered the ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary chart in Canada on January 20, 1973, debuting at number 77.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Programmers - Adult Contemporary Additions |magazine=RPM |date=January 20, 1973 |volume=18 |issue=23 |page=28 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RPM-IDX/IDX/70s/RPM-1973-01-20-OCR-Page-0025.pdf |access-date=13 October 2025|url-status=live|archive-date=13 October 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251013223307/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RPM-IDX/IDX/70s/RPM-1973-01-20-OCR-Page-0025.pdf}}</ref> On February 24, 1973, the song peaked at number 42, in its final week on the chart.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Programmers - Adult Contemporary Additions |magazine=RPM |date=February 24, 1973 |volume=19 |issue=2 |page=28 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RPM-IDX/IDX/70s/RPM-1973-02-24-OCR-Page-0026.pdf |access-date=13 October 2025|url-status=live|archive-date=13 October 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251013223659/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RPM-IDX/IDX/70s/RPM-1973-02-24-OCR-Page-0026.pdf}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = "The Singer" — Side A | title1 = The Singer | writer1 = Walter Marks | length1 = 2:31 }} {{Track listing | headline = "The Singer" — Side B | title2 = Mr. Emery Won't Be Home | writer2 = Bob Stone | length2 = 2:48 }}
==Personnel== Credits adapted from ''The Singer'' 7", 45 RPM, Single.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Liza Minnelli: The Singer|year=1972|publisher=Columbia Records|id=4-45746}}</ref>
* Arranged by Al Capps * Produced by Snuff Garret for Garret Music Enterprises
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1973) !Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|42|chartid=4272|access-date=October 13, 2025|refname=canac}} |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Liza Minnelli}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singer, The}} Category:1972 songs Category:1972 singles Category:Liza Minnelli songs Category:Columbia Records singles