The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Make Believe

The song of the day for Friday, March 10, 2023, is “Make Believe.”

About This Song

“Make Believe” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the groundbreaking 1927 musical Show Boat.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap recorded “Make Believe” for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, released in 2015.

“Make Believe,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson singing “Make Believe” from the 1951 film version of Show Boat:

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Song of the Day: I’m Old Fashioned

The song of the day for Thursday, March 9, 2023, is “I’m Old Fashioned.”

About This Song

“I’m Old Fashioned” was written by Jerome Kern and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film You Were Never Lovelier, where it was first sung by Nan Wynn who dubbed for Rita Hayworth as part of a song and dance routine with Fred Astaire.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and The Bill Charlap Trio (Charlap on piano; Peter Washington on bass; and Kenny Washington on drums) recorded “I’m Old Fashioned” for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, released in 2015.

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

Here are Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth, and Nan Wynn’s voice from You Were Never Lovelier:

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Song of the Day: The Last Time I Saw Paris

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 7, 2023, is “The Last Time I Saw Paris.”

About This Song

“The Last Time I Saw Paris” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein in 1940. Kate Smith recorded it in 1940; the song touched many people after France was taken over by Germany and the Nazi party. The song was also used in the 1941 movie Lady Be Good, sung by Ann Sothern and won Kern and Hammerstein an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Kern was upset upon winning the award for a song that was not written specifically for a film and that had been published and recorded prior to the release of the movie. The Motion Picture Academy, upon Kern’s recommendation, changed the rules which now require a song to be written specifically for a film to be considered.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Last Time I Saw Paris” with Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes on piano for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, released in 2015.

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

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Monday, March 6, 2023, is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written in 1936 by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 movie Swing Time. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Fields was the first woman to win an Oscar for songwriting. It’s a magnificent love song that found a position as a jazz standard, with recordings by Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Mel Tormé, and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Bill Charlap on piano, recorded “The Way You Look Tonight” for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.

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

Here’s Fred Astaire singing “The Way You Look Tonight” from Swing Time:

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Song of the Day: Pick Yourself Up

The song of the day for Sunday, March 5, 2023, is “Pick Yourself Up.”

About This Song

“Pick Yourself Up” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 movie Swing Time, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It was used in the early part of the film when Astaire pretends to be unable to dance and asks for Ginger Rogers as his dance instructor just so he can dance with her. This song has been widely recorded, including those by Nat King Cole, Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Pick Yourself Up” for his album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, released in 2015. He was backed by The Bill Charlap, with Charlap on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums.

The album won the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“Pick Yourself Up,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern is available on Apple Music.

Here are Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing to “Pick Yourself Up” from Swing Time:

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