Memory ( song ) - wikipedia Memory ( song ) For the Sugarcult song, see Memory ( Sugarcult song ). `` Memory '' is a show tune from the 1981 musical Cats. It is sung by the character Grizabella, a one - time glamour cat who is now only a shell of her former self. The song is a nostalgic remembrance of her glorious past and a declaration of her wish to start a new life. Sung briefly in the first act and in full near the end of the show, `` Memory '' is the climax of the musical, and by far its most popular and best - known song. Elaine Paige originated the role of Grizabella in the West End production of Cats, the first to perform the song publicly on stage and bringing attention to its writers Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn, who received the 1981 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically. Contents 1 Conception and composition 2 Cover versions 3 Barbra Streisand version 3.1 Weekly charts 4 References 5 External links Conception and composition The lyric, written by Cats director Trevor Nunn, was loosely based on T.S. Eliot 's poems `` Preludes '' and `` Rhapsody on a Windy Night ''. '' Andrew Lloyd Webber 's former writing partner Tim Rice and contemporary collaborator Don Black submitted a lyric to the show 's producers for consideration, although Nunn 's version was favoured. Elaine Paige has said that she sang a different lyric to the tune of `` Memory '' for the first ten previews of Cats. Composer Lloyd Webber feared that the tune sounded too similar to Ravel 's Bolero and to a work by Puccini, and also that the opening -- the haunting main theme -- closely resembled the flute solo ( improvised by Bud Shank in the studio ) from The Mamas & the Papas ' 1965 song `` California Dreamin ' ''. He asked his father 's opinion ; according to Lloyd Webber, his father responded `` It sounds like a million dollars ! '' Prior to its inclusion in Cats, the tune was earmarked for earlier Lloyd Webber projects, including a ballad for Perón in Evita and as a song for Max in his original 1970s draft of Sunset Boulevard. In its original orchestration, the song 's climax is in the key of D - flat major, the composer 's favourite. While Lloyd Webber mentions Ravel 's Bolero, there is no mention of similarity to `` Bolero in Blue '' written by Larry Clinton. In this case Lloyd Webber 's composition appears to replicate note for note the first several measures from Clinton 's composition. Larry Clinton wrote `` Bolero in Blue '' in the 1930s and performed it on his mid-fifties album `` Larry Clinton in hi fi ''. The arrangement of the lyrics in the show were changed after the initial recordings of the track, with the first verse, beginning `` Midnight, not a sound from the pavement... '' being used in only the brief, Act I rendition of the song and a new verse, `` Memory, turn your face to the moonlight... ' '' in its place for the Act II performance. In addition, the original second bridge section became the first and a new second bridge was added. Consequently, the arrangement of the lyric for a recording usually depends on whether the artist has played the role on stage. Cover versions `` Memory '' has been covered by numerous musical acts. Among the more notable are the following : Elaine Paige, who originated the role of Grizabella in the West End production of Cats, released a version of the song that was a Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at # 6 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1981. She re-recorded the song in 1998 with a slight lyrical alteration, which was included in the video release of the musical. This version reached # 36 in the UK Singles Chart in October of that year. Paige also recorded a version for her 1983 album Stages. Barry Manilow released a cover of `` Memory '' as a single in late 1982 ; this became the highest - charting version to date on the Billboard Hot 100 when it reached No. 39 in January 1983. Manilow 's recording also made the Top 10 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart, reaching No. 8. This version is included on his album Here Comes the Night. in 1983, Hong Kong singer Sam Hui covered in Cantonese. Barbra Streisand version `` Memory '' Single by Barbra Streisand from the album Memories B - side `` Evergreen ( Love Theme from A Star Is Born ) '' Released 1982 Format LP Length 3 : 52 Label Columbia Songwriter ( s ) Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn, Producer ( s ) Andrew Lloyd Webber Barbra Streisand singles chronology `` Comin ' In and Out of Your Life '' ( 1981 ) `` Memory '' ( 1982 ) `` The Way He Makes Me Feel '' ( 1983 ) `` Comin ' In and Out of Your Life '' ( 1981 ) Memory ( 1982 ) `` The Way He Makes Me Feel '' ( 1983 ) Barbra Streisand recorded `` Memory '' ( produced by Lloyd Webber himself, and widely regarded as the definitive version ) for her 1981 album Memories. When released as a single, Streisand 's cover reached No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 9 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart in 1982. In the UK this version peaked at No. 34 the same year. A music video was made for her version of the song ; it was filmed with only one camera on a set resembling a recording studio, and utilized some vintage stock footage of New York City and New Year 's Eve parties to make the mood melancholic. The video was produced by Chips Chipperfield. The single sold 749 000 copies in France and is the 231st best - selling single of all - time in the country. Weekly charts Chart ( 1981 -- 1984 ) Peak position Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 14 Canadian Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) 30 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 19 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) 6 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 34 US Billboard Hot 100 52 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) 9 Chart ( 2012 ) Peak position France ( SNEP ) 185 References Jump up ^ `` Cats '' ReallyUseful.com. Retrieved 26 April 2009. Jump up ^ Lister, David, Pop ballads bite back in lyrical fashion, The Independent, 28 May 1994 Jump up ^ T.S. Eliot, `` Preludes '', Academy of American Poets. Accessed Aug. 18, 2017 Jump up ^ T.S. Eliot, `` Rhapsody on a Windy Night '', Academy of American Poets. Accessed Aug. 18, 2017 Jump up ^ Bence Olveczky, Cats -- Stage Review, The Tech, Issue 48 : Friday, 8 October 1999 ^ Jump up to : `` Elaine Paige -- Full Official Chart History ''. Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition ( Billboard Publications ), page 394. Jump up ^ Hyatt, Wesley ( 1999 ). The Billboard Book of No. 1 Adult Contemporary Hits ( Billboard Publications ), page 260. Jump up ^ `` -- Full Official Chart History ''. Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Barbra Streisand -- Memory '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` Adult Contemporary -- Volume 36, No. 14 May 15, 1982 ''. RPM. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Barbra Streisand -- Memory ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Barbra Streisand -- Memory '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Barbra Streisand -- Memory ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- Barbra Streisand -- Memory ''. Singles Top 100. Retrieved 13 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 6, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Barbra Streisand Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved 13 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` Barbra Streisand Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- Barbra Streisand -- Memory '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Retrieved 13 September 2016. External links Rhapsody on a Windy Night and Preludes the T.S. Eliot poems that inspired the lyrics to `` Memory '' Memories 1981 Album Barbra Streisand Archives Memories album page ( 1 ) ( 2 ) Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals The Likes of Us Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Jesus Christ Superstar Evita Tell Me on a Sunday Cats Song and Dance Starlight Express Cricket The Phantom of the Opera Aspects of Love Sunset Boulevard By Jeeves aka Jeeves Whistle Down the Wind The Beautiful Game ( aka The Boys in the Photograph ) The Woman in White Love Never Dies The Wizard of Oz Stephen Ward School of Rock Songs `` Any Dream Will Do '' `` Close Every Door '' `` Everything 's Alright '' `` This Jesus Must Die '' `` I Do n't Know How to Love Him '' `` Superstar '' `` Oh What a Circus '' `` Another Suitcase in Another Hall '' `` Do n't Cry for Me Argentina '' `` You Must Love Me '' `` Take That Look Off Your Face '' `` Unexpected Song '' `` Memory '' `` Pie Jesu '' `` The Phantom of the Opera '' `` The Music of the Night '' `` All I Ask of You '' `` Anything But Lonely '' `` As If We Never Said Goodbye '' `` No Matter What '' `` ' Til I Hear You Sing '' Other compositions Variations Requiem Watership Down Film adaptations Jesus Christ Superstar Evita Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall Family William Lloyd Webber ( father ) Julian Lloyd Webber ( brother ) Imogen Lloyd Webber ( daughter ) Sarah Brightman ( second wife ) Madeleine Gurdon ( third wife ) Jiaxin Cheng ( sister - in - law ) Company Really Useful Group Andrew Lloyd Webber and T.S. Eliot 's Cats Characters Alonzo Bombalurina Carbucketty Cat Morgan Demeter Electra Etcetera Griddlebone Grizabella Jellylorum Jemima Jennyanydots Macavity Mr. Mistoffelees Mungojerrie Munkustrap Old Deuteronomy Pouncival Rum Tum Tugger Rumpleteazer Rumpus Cat Skimbleshanks Victoria the White Cat Inspiration Old Possum 's Book of Practical Cats `` The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles '' `` Bustopher Jones '' `` Growltiger 's Last Stand '' `` Gus : The Theatre Cat '' `` The Naming of Cats '' Adaptations Cats ( film ) Songs `` Memory '' Albums CATS Other Jellicle cats Barry Manilow singles 1970s `` Mandy '' ( 1974 ) `` Sandra '' ( 1974 ) `` It 's a Miracle '' ( 1975 ) `` Could It Be Magic '' ( 1975 ) `` I Write the Songs '' ( 1975 ) `` Tryin ' to Get the Feeling Again '' ( 1976 ) `` This One 's for You '' ( 1976 ) `` Weekend in New England '' ( 1976 ) `` Looks Like We Made It '' ( 1977 ) `` Daybreak '' ( 1977 ) `` It 's Just Another New Year 's Eve '' ( 1977 ) `` Ca n't Smile Without You '' ( 1978 ) `` Even Now '' ( 1978 ) `` Copacabana '' ( 1978 ) `` Ready to Take a Chance Again '' ( 1978 ) `` Somewhere in the Night '' ( 1978 ) `` Ships '' ( 1979 ) `` When I Wanted You '' ( 1979 ) 1980s `` I Do n't Want to Walk Without You '' ( 1980 ) `` Bermuda Triangle '' ( 1980 ) `` I Made It Through the Rain '' ( 1980 ) `` Lonely Together '' ( 1981 ) `` The Old Songs '' ( 1981 ) `` Somewhere Down the Road '' ( 1981 ) `` Let 's Hang On ! '' ( 1982 ) `` Oh Julie '' ( 1982 ) `` Memory '' ( 1982 ) `` I 'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter '' ( 1982 ) `` Read ' Em and Weep '' ( 1983 ) `` When October Goes '' ( 1984 ) `` Run to Me '' ( 1985 ) `` I 'm Your Man '' ( 1986 ) `` Keep Each Other Warm '' ( 1989 ) 1990s `` If I Can Dream '' ( 1990 ) `` I 'd Really Love to See You Tonight '' ( 1997 ) 2000s `` River '' ( 2003 ) `` Unchained Melody '' ( 2006 ) `` Love Is a Many - Splendored Thing '' ( 2006 ) 2010s `` Santa Claus Is Coming to Town '' ( 2012 ) Ivor Novello Awards -- Best Song Musically and Lyrically 1960s She 's Leaving Home ( 1968 ) 1970s Where Do You Go To ( My Lovely ) ? ( 1970 ) Something ( 1971 ) Do n't Let It Die ( 1972 ) Without You ( 1973 ) Daniel ( 1974 ) Streets of London * ( 1975 ) Do n't Cry for Me Argentina ( 1978 ) Baker Street ( 1979 ) 1980s The Logical Song ( 1980 ) Woman in Love ( 1981 ) Memory ( 1982 ) Have You Ever Been in Love ( 1983 ) Every Breath You Take ( 1984 ) Against All Odds ( 1985 ) Nikita ( 1986 ) Do n't Give Up ( 1987 ) Something Inside So Strong ( 1988 ) They Dance Alone ( 1989 ) 1990s The Living Years ( 1990 ) Sacrifice ( 1991 ) The Whole of the Moon ( 1992 ) Why ( 1993 ) If I Ever Lose My Faith in You ( 1994 ) Think Twice ( 1995 ) Common People ( 1996 ) Too Much Love Will Kill You ( 1997 ) Paranoid Android ( 1998 ) Believe ( 1999 ) 2000s Strong ( 2000 ) Babylon ( 2001 ) Walk On ( 2002 ) The Other Side ( 2003 ) Leave Right Now ( 2004 ) Dry Your Eyes ( 2005 ) Suddenly I See ( 2006 ) Elusive ( 2007 ) Love Is a Losing Game ( 2008 ) One Day Like This ( 2009 ) 2010s The Fear ( 2010 ) Becoming a Jackal ( 2011 ) The A Team ( 2012 ) Next to Me ( 2013 ) Strong ( 2014 ) Take Me to Church ( 2015 ) Was n't Expecting That ( 2016 ) Black Man in a White World ( 2017 ) * Awarded as The Best Song Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Memory_(song)&oldid=832272079 '' Categories : 1981 songs 1983 singles 1980s ballads Songs from musicals Songs with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber Barbra Streisand songs Barry Manilow songs Cats ( musical ) Hidden categories : EngvarB from July 2014 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from August 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from August 2016 Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart making named ref Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for France Use dmy dates from July 2014 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Italiano עברית 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Svenska 3 more Edit links This page was last edited on 24 March 2018, at 22 : 49. 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Question: who wrote the lyrics to memory from cats
Answer: Trevor Nunn