The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Saturday, April 23, 2016 is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight,” written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, was introduced by Fred Astaire in the 1936 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

Today’s version of “The Way You Look Tonight” is from the soundtrack of My Best Friend’s Wedding and was recorded ~1997 with the Ralph Sharon Trio. Thankfully, this beautiful recording was included on Volume 2 of Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights in the 2011 Complete Collection box set, which is now also available from iTunes.

I have to say that I cannot get enough of hearing Tony Bennett sing this song. I’ve heard him sing it concert several times and I am always moved to tears. Bennett “gets” this song.

The Way You Look Tonight

Listen to The Way You Look Tonight on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2012


“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 2, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Saturday is here again and that means a video. Today we have Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap performing “The Way You Look Tonight” from an Elvis Costello special from New Year’s Eve 2008.

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Congratulations to Tony and Bill!

The Year of Tony Bennett is proud to congratulate Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap on winning the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album tonight for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. I love this album and am glad to see that the Grammy voters loved it too.

I can’t pick out one favorite song from the album to feature, so instead will feature the entire album.

The Silver Lining - The Songs of Jerome Kern

Listen to The Silver Lining - The Songs of Jerome Kern on Spotify · Album · Tony Bennett · 2015 · 14 songs

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 27, 2016 is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “The Way You Look Tonight,” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 film Swing Time, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire.

The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the year; lyricist Dorothy Fields was the first woman to win an Oscar for songwriting. She later remarked 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.

“The Way You Look Tonight” is 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 Bennett has recorded this song several times, both as a solo and on his Duets album. Up until last year, my favorite version was the one he did for the film My Best Friend’s Wedding, which is included on Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 2.

But even that wonderful recording is, for me, eclipsed by the exquisite recording he made with Bill Charlap for their 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.

The Way You Look Tonight

Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap · The Silver Lining - The Songs of Jerome Kern · Song · 2015


“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Jerome David Kern was born 131 years ago today on January 27, 1885. In reviewing songs of his over this month, I’ve come to appreciate his work more and more and, like many fans, am so happy that Mr. Bennett and Mr. Charlap decided to do an album of these wonderful songs. Like many songs in the American Songbook, and more than most, the songs of Jerome Kern are as relevant, as beautiful and meaningful to us today as they were when written.

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Song of the Day: The Last Time I Saw Paris

The song of the day for Sunday, January 24, 2016 is “The Last Time I Saw Paris.”

About This Song

Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein wrote “The Last Time I Saw Paris” in 1940 for the movie Lady Be Good, where it was introduced by Ann Southern. “The Last Time I Saw Paris” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was not written especially for the 1954 film The Last Time I Saw Paris, which starred Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson, though the song was used liberally throughout that movie.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song for his 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. On piano are Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes.

The Last Time I Saw Paris

Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap · The Silver Lining - The Songs of Jerome Kern · Song · 2015


“The Last Time I Saw Paris,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I’m Old Fashioned

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 20, 2016 is “I’m Old Fashioned.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “I’m Old Fashioned,” was written in 1942 by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Johnny Mercer (does it get any better than this?). The song was written for the film You Were Never Lovelier, which starred Rita Hayworth and Fred Astaire. It was introduced by Nan Wynn, who voiced the song for Rita Hayworth.

Johnny Mercer said of his collaboration with Kern:

We hit it off right away. I was in such awe of him, I think he must have sensed that. He was very kind to me, treated me more like a son than a collaborator. And when he thought I had a great lyric he said, ‘Eva, Eva, come down here’, and he kissed me on the cheek and he said, ‘Eva, I want you to hear this lyric’. Well, of course I was thrilled that he liked it that much, you know. ‘I’m Old Fashioned’, that one was.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m Old Fashioned” with the Bill Charlap Trio for his 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. In addition to Mr. Charlap on piano, the trio features Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums.

I"m Old Fashioned

Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap · The Silver Lining - The Songs of Jerome Kern · Song · 2015


“I’m Old Fashioned,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

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