“That’s What Friends Are For” is one of those songs that creates a very special atmosphere from the very first notes.

The song was written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. It became especially famous through Dionne Warwick’s 1985 recording, featuring Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder.

At its heart is a very simple message: Friends are there for each other. Not only during the good times, but especially when life gets difficult.

Musically, I particularly love the combination of the beautiful, gentle melody and the interesting harmonies that are so typical of Burt Bacharach. This makes the song sound familiar and accessible, while at the same time being much more sophisticated than it may seem at first.

For me, this also makes it a wonderful piece for the piano – emotional, melodic, and timeless.