7 Songs You May Not Know the Bee Gees Wrote

The Bee Gees, known as the "Disco Kings" of the 1970s, are one of the most successful pop-rock groups ever. Brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb created hits like "Stayin' Alive" and "How Deep Is Your Love."

The brothers wrote all their own songs. They are the only songwriters to have five hits in the U.S. top 10 at the same time. They also wrote songs for other major artists.

Famous Songs Written by the Bee Gees

"Islands In The Stream" // Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers recorded "Islands In The Stream" in 1983. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was originally meant for Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross.

Named after an Ernest Hemingway novel, it's a sweet love song that boosted country-pop. The Bee Gees also sang on the duet and released their own version in 2001.

"Immortality" // Céline Dion

The Bee Gees wrote "Immortality" specifically for Céline Dion. The song came about quickly after a difficult session on another project. Engineer John Marchant recalled that Barry suggested one last idea.

Maurice played the first chord, and they wrote the song in about three and a half minutes. It was initially planned for the Saturday Night Fever musical. Dion's version is very close to what the band created that night.

The song appeared on Dion’s 1997 album Let’s Talk About Love. The Bee Gees provided backing vocals. Dion performed the song at a 2017 Bee Gees tribute, thanking the band for the gift.

"Woman in Love" // Barbra Streisand

"Woman in Love" is one of Barbra Streisand’s biggest hits from 1980, reaching No. 1 in 22 countries. Barry and Robin Gibb co-wrote it. Barry was initially nervous to work with Streisand. His wife convinced him to do it.

The song's rhythm section used a drum loop from "Night Fever," which was also used for "Stayin’ Alive." Barry either wrote or co-wrote all nine songs on Streisand’s album Guilty. He was also featured on the title track.

"Heartbreaker" // Dionne Warwick

All three Gibb brothers wrote Dionne Warwick’s "Heartbreaker." It became a huge hit for her. Warwick was initially unsure about the song, but the Bee Gees convinced her it would succeed.

Maurice Gibb loved the track and thought the Bee Gees should have kept it. Barry sang on the track, making it a duet with Warwick. The song was the title track of Warwick’s fifth album with Arista Records. Barry wrote most of the album's songs and played on it.

"Grease" // Frankie Valli

The Bee Gees are known for their contributions to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. They also wrote a major song for another movie musical, Grease. After their manager Robert Stigwood became a producer for the Grease film, he asked the band for a new theme song.

The song had the Bee Gees' disco style. Stigwood chose Frankie Valli to sing it, who was known for his falsetto. Barry Gibb called Valli, saying he wrote a song for him to be the title track.

Valli loved the song and chose to sing it instead of playing the "Teen Angel" role in the movie. He said "Grease" became one of the biggest records of his career.

“Emotion” // Samantha Sang

The Bee Gees originally wrote "Emotion" for the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Samantha Sang recorded it in 1977. It was cut from the film but used in the 1978 movie The Stud.

The Bee Gees released their own version in 1994. In 2001, Destiny’s Child released their version, which became a massive hit.

"Chain Reaction" // Diana Ross

The Bee Gees' career slowed in the early 1980s due to disco backlash. They focused on songwriting, which proved successful. After working with Barbra Streisand and Dionne Warwick, they wrote and produced Diana Ross's entire 1985 album Eaten Alive.

"Chain Reaction" was one of the most memorable songs. It was almost not on the album. Barry said they had the song but were hesitant to play it for Ross because it sounded very Motown. Robin Gibb convinced her, saying it was time for her to do something like she would have done with The Supremes. Ross loved it once she heard the playback.