The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: If I Ruled The World

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 4, 2024, is “If I Ruled The World.”

About This Song

“If I Ruled The World” was written by Cyril Ornadel and Leslie Bricusse the 1963 West End musical Pickwick, based on Dicken’s The Pickwick Papers. Harry Secombe, the British actor, originated the role of Pickwick and his version of this song charted at #18 in the UK. The production opened in New York in 1965 on Broadway. Tony Bennett’s was one of the earliest American recordings and the song reached #34 on the US pop singles charts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “If I Ruled The World” on February 19, 1965, for his album If I Ruled the World: Songs For The Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the very fine arrangement.

“If I Ruled The World,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs For The Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Fly Me To The Moon

The song of the day for Saturday, June 1, 2024, is “Fly Me To The Moon.”

About This Song

“Fly Me To The Moon” was written in 1954 by Bart Howard. “Fly Me To The Moon” was originally titled “In Other Words,” but the song was not doing that well, despite several recordings. In 1962, Howard renamed the song “Fly Me To The Moon,” and the song began to catch on. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording for If I Ruled The World was a big hit for Bennett. There have been many recordings of the song, including those by Frank Sinatra, Kaye Ballard, and many more. However, Bart Howard told Bennett that his 1965 recording was “the definitive performance of this song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Fly Me To The Moon” on February 18, 1965, for If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the excellent arrangement.

“Fly Me To The Moon,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Right To Love

The song of the day for Sunday, May 26, 2024, is “The Right To Love.”

About This Song

“The Right To Love” was written in 1963 by Lalo Schifrin and was first recorded, without lyrics, for an album called Reflections, with Schfrin and Stan Getz. From the beginning, Tony Bennett liked the song and suggested that Gene Lees write the lyrics. The resulting song is an anthem for “forbidden” love. At that time, most people associated the song with interracial relationships; in later years, it has been sung by gay singers. In addition to Bennett’s recording, this song has been recorded by Peggy Lee, Carmen McRae, and k.d. lang.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Right To Love” on February 18, 1965, for If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, with a fine arrangement by Don Costa. Next to “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” “The Right To Love” is the most searched-for song on this site.

“The Right To Love,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Two By Two

The song of the day for Friday, March 22, 2024, is “Two By Two.”

About Today

We honor the late Stephen Sondheim, who co-wrote today’s song with Richard Rodgers. Sondheim was born on March 22, 1930, and died on November 26, 2021. My very first Broadway show was the original production of Company. He was one of the greatest composers who ever wrote for the musical theatre.

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim wrote “Two By Two” in 1965 for the musical Do I Hear a Waltz?, though it was cut before the production opened. Sondheim was mentored by Oscar Hammerstein, and recommended to both Rodgers and Sondheim that they should work together after Hammerstein died in 1960. Do I Hear a Waltz? was based on Arthur Luarents’ book The Time of the Cuckoo and wrote the book for the musical. Laurents and Mary Rodgers (daughter of Richard Rodbgers and a close friend of Sondheim) asked Sondheim to write lyrics. Laurents had previously worked with Sondheim on West Side Story, for which he also wrote the book.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Two By Two” on February 19, 1965, for If I Ruled the World: Songs For the Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the arrangement.

“Two By Two,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set/em>, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Falling in Love With Love

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 20, 2024, is “Falling in Love With Love.”

About This Song

“Falling in Love With Love” was written by Richard Rogers and Larry Hart for the 1938 Broadway musical The Boys of Syracuse. With the beautiful Rodgers waltz melody and the rather somber lyrics by Hart, it’s a perfect Rodgers and Hart song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Falling in Love With Love” on February 19, 1965, featuring an arrangement by Don Costa. While recorded for Bennett’s 1965 album If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, it was not included in the original LP release, but was added to the 1997 CD re-release.

“Falling in Love With Love,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.

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