“Copacabana (At the Copa)” (1978)

"Her name was Lola. She was a showgirl."

So begins Barry Manilow's 1978 Grammy-winning song, "Copacabana (At the Copa)." The lyrics are by Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman.

The club began in the early 1940s and was located at 10 East 60th Street. The name is from Rio's famous beach, Copacabana, in Brazil. In 2003, a club with the same name was opened at 560 West 34th Street.

Barry Manilow made a musical of the song, and it's played out of town for many years. Beyonce is (or was) said to have been interested in the part of Lola, so it might reach Broadway yet.

http://www.bigbandsandbignames.com/copacabana.html
Tips on Tables — Robert W. Dana — June 13, 1949

Food Is Tops, Too At the Copacabana

In all the years it has gained a nationwide reputation for its excellent shows, fine music and gilt-edged atmosphere, the Copacabana, 10 E. 60th St., has been doing an outstanding job of preparing food in immaculate kitchens behind the scenes. So often I had heard the remark: "We never knew a night club could serve such food" that I decided to meet the chefs

http://www.copacabanany.com/
560 WEST 34TH ST
(11TH AVENUE)
NY, NY 10001
1.212.239.2672

http://www.lyricsdepot.com/barry-manilow/copacabana.html
Copacabana (At the Copa)

-Artist: Barry Manilow as sung on "Greatest Hits" -Arista A2L 8601
-peak Billboard position # 8 in 1978
-Words and Music by Barry Manilow, Bruce Sussman, and J. Feldman


Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl
With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there
She would merengue and do the cha-cha
And while she tried to be a star, Tony always tended bar
Across a crowded floor, they worked from 8 till 4
They were young and they had each other
Who could ask for more?

At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana
Music and passion were always the fashion
At the Copa....they fell in love

http://www.pittsburghclo.org/copacabana2.html
"Her name was Lola." The unforgettable opening of Barry Manilow's Grammy award-winning hit song, Copacabana is the inspiration for this exciting and passionate new musical coming to your town soon! Barry Manilow's Copacabana is a captivating tale of love and romance set amidst the swinging nightclub scene of the 1940's.

Following 18 months of sold-out performances in London's West End and a two-year tour through the United Kingdom Barry Manilow's Copacabana kicked off this national tour with its American premiere at the Pittsburgh CLO, followed by a run as part of the Dallas Summer Musical season.