The song of the day for Thursday, October 27, 2016 is “The Way You Look Tonight.”
About This Song
“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields in 1936. It was introduced by Fred Astaire in the film Swing Time; the song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the year. Dorothy Fields remarked “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.” Dorothy Fields was the first woman to win an Oscar for songwriting. It’s a magnificent love song that has found a strong position as a jazz standard, with recordings by Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Mel Tormé and Frank Sinatra.
About This Version
Tony Bennet has recorded this beautiful song several times. Today I feature his most recent recording from last year’s The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, with Bill Charlap on piano.
“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.
About Today
Tonight, my friend Lesley and I had the great honor to see Tony Bennett in concert here in Portland. We had a wonderful time, for the most part, save a few drunks seated in front of and behind us. One drank from a flask throughout, getting drunker and talking louder the entire time. The one behind us was yelling and shouting like he was at football game. He also sang along to many of the songs, especially this one. So tonight when Tony sings “The Way You Look Tonight,” I mostly heard the idiot drunk behind me. I dedicate this recording to me and to Lesley, so that we can hear it sung by the master himself.
But who needs an excuse to listen to this song? It’s one of Kern’s best and Tony’s recording is better than great.
Nothing diminishes the pleasure I get from hearing Tony sing this song. He brings his heart and holds the moment of exquisite vulnerability for us. Priceless. Thanks for the dedication, my wonderful and creative friend! What a great night!
My absolute favourite song from the Great American Songbook sung by the greatest exponent ever of that genre.
What a shame, and it shows no respect for a great artist either. I’ve seen Tony many times down the years and nothing like this has happened at any of his concerts in the UK.
My friend and I discussed this last night. I’d never seen such behavior in Portland and it broke my heart.