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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

June 27, 2013 By Suzanne 1 Comment

Song of the Day: Quiet Nights (Corcovado)

The song of the day for Thursday, June 27, 2013 is “Quiet Nights.”

About This Song

“Quiet Nights” was written by Antonio Carlos Jobim in 1960. The original Portuguese title was “Corcovado,” after the mountain in Rio de Janiero. Gene Lees wrote the English lyrics.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first heard bossa nova music in the early 1960s on the beaches of Rio de Janiero when he was performing there.  His bass player, Don Payne, woke him up one morning and dragged him down to the beach to hear Joao and Astrud Gilberto singing and playing. He fell in love with the music and began to feature Jobim songs in concerts and on his albums.

“Quiet Nights” from I Wanna Be Around was his first recording of Jobim’s bossa nova music in 1963.

Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)

Listen to Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1963

“Quiet Nights,” as well as the entire I Wanna Be Around album, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Astrud Gilberto, bossa nova, Gene Lees, Joao Gilberto, Rio de Janiero

September 16, 2012 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars

The Song of the Day for September 16, 2012 is Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars.

About Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars

This bossa nova song was written in 1962 by Antonio Carlos Jobim, with the English lyrics later written by Gene Lees. The actual title of the song in Portuguese is Corcovado, after the mountain in Rio de Janiero.

The song is jazz classic and a bossa nova standard. Jazz versions include Miles Davis, Charlie Byrd, Frank Sinatra,  Ella Fitzgerald and Diana Krall. Bossa nova recordings include João Gilberto and Quarteto Jobim-Morelenbaum.

About This Version

Mr. Bennett recorded this song for the 1963 I Wanna Be Around. I believe that Tony Bennett has a wonderful feel for singing bossa nova, exemplified by his 1965 recording of How Insensitive (Insensatez) on If Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set. Enjoy this song as the summer winds down.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Antonio Carlos Jobim, bossa nova, Joao Gilberto

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