The song of the day for Saturday, July 19, 2014 is “The Way You Look Tonight.”
About This Song
Today’s song, “The Way You Look Tonight” was written for the 1936 Fred Astaire – Ginger Rogers movie Swing Time by Jerome Kern (music) and Dorothy Fields (lyrics). It should come as no surprise to anyone that the song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Dorothy Fields said that
The first time Jerry played that melody for me I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn’t stop, it was so beautiful.
It’s one of the most beautiful songs in the American songbook and nobody sings it better than Tony Bennett and, maybe, Fred Astaire.
About This Version
Today’s version of “The Way You Look Tonight” was recorded for the soundtrack for My Best Friend’s Wedding, released in 1997. Danny Bennett, Tony’s son and manager, tells the story of this recording. It had to be done remotely, over the Internet, as Bennett was needed in New York. The special high-speed lines were set up and Tony Bennett did the song in just a couple of takes. The Hollywood people were amazed — I guess they were used to these things taking all day with other artists. It’s a terrific version and I’m happy it’s now available for everyone to listen to.
The Way You Look Tonight
The Way You Look Tonight, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify
“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well all the songs collected on Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 2, is available from iTunes.
And for YouTube Saturday, we have this video of Tony Bennett singing this song live in London, with Bruce Barth on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, Harold Jones on drums and the most excellent Gray Sargent on guitar.
I can’t help myself. Here’s another video, this one from Swing Time …
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