The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Baby, Dream Your Dream

The song of the day for Saturday, July 17, 2021, is “Baby, Dream Your Dream.”

About This Song

“Baby, Dream Your Dream” was one of the hit songs from the very successful Cy Coleman – Dorothy Fields 1966 musical Sweet Charity, directed by Bob Fosse and starring Gwen Verdon. “Baby, Dream Your Dream” was introduced by Helen Gallagher and Thelma Oliver.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Baby, Dream Your Dream” in December 1965; it was released as a single 1966, with an arrangement by Johnny Mandel. The recording was added to the 1967 album For Once In My Life.

Baby, Dream Your Dream

Listen to Baby, Dream Your Dream on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1967.

“Baby, Dream Your Dream,” as well as For Once In My Life is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Won’t Dance

The song of the day for Sunday, January 31, 2021, is “I Won’t Dance.”

About This Song

“I Won’t Dance” was originally written in 1934 by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein, for a London musical called Three Sisters, though the show was a flop and was quickly forgotten. The following year, a film of Roberta was made, and the song was re-purposed, this time with lyrics by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields.

About This Version

With The Bill Charlap Trio, Tony Bennett recorded “I Won’t Dance” for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Charlap wrote the arrangement.

I Won"t Dance

Listen to I Won"t Dance on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2015.

“I Won’t Dance,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Pick Yourself Up

The song of the day for Saturday, January 30, 2021, is “Pick Yourself Up.”

About This Song

“Pick Yourself Up” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the film Swing Time, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It was used in the early part of the film where Astaire pretends to not be able to dance and asks for Ginger Rogers as his dance instructor just so he could 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” with The Bill Charlap Trio for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. It swings quite nicely.

Pick Yourself Up

Listen to Pick Yourself Up on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2015.

“Pick Yourself Up,” as well as The Silver Lining, is available from Apple Music.

We’ve got some great videos today:

Here’s Astaire and Rogers from Swing Time

Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers - Pick Yourself Up [High Quality]

An iconic dance scene from the 1936 movie "Swing Time".This movie was selected in 2004 for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Li...

Last June, singer Tony DeSare created this fabulous All-Star Jazz Collab for the Actors Fund version of “Pick Yourself Up.” It was a fundraiser for the Actors Fund and much needed as actors have not been able to work since the pandemic began. I find myself returning to this video often, as it always makes me feel happy!

Pick Yourself Up - All-Star Jazz Collab for the Actors Fund

Go here to donate to Actors Fund: http://actorsfund.org/jazzPick Yourself Up - By Jerome Kern and Dorothy FieldsFeaturing:Piano: Tedd Firth Bass: Billy Thorn...

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 27, 2021, is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

Composer Jerome Kern was born on January 27, 1885. As I write this, I am listening to the version of today’s songs and am struck by the timeless quality of this song. It’s just as relevant now as when it was written 85 years ago and will be relevant for generations to come.

We’ll be celebrating Jerome Kern for the rest of the week.

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 film Swing Time. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the year; Dorothy Fields was the first woman to win an Oscar for songwriting.

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.

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 Bennett recorded this version of “The Way You Look Tonight” in 1977 for the movie My Best Friend’s Wedding; the exquisite piano is from Ralph Sharon.

I had several choices of versions of today’s song to feature, but the version Bennett recorded for My Best Friend’s Wedding is the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard and so I feature it today.

The Way You Look Tonight

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

“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as the song collected on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Pick Yourself Up

The song of the day for Friday, August 7, 2020, is “Pick Yourself Up.”

About This Song

“Pick Yourself Up” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields in 1936 for the movie Swing Time, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It was used in the early part of the film where Astaire pretends to not be able to dance and asks for Ginger Rogers as his dance instructor just so he could 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” with the Bill Charlap Trio for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. I think it’s one of the best recordings on this very fine album, which won the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.

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

I have a lot of friends who work in the theater as well as friends who are performing musicians. During this pandemic, these artists are, of course, unable to work, as performances for live audiences are impossible under CDC guidelines and just plain common sense. So I was quite pleased when I learned of a project to raise money for the Actor’s Fund, which is providing emergency financial assistance to performing arts and entertainment professionals. Tony DeSare, a talented jazz singer, put together an All-Star Jazz Collab for the Actors Fund of “Pick Yourself Up” to help raise money. The video is just wonderful.

Pick Yourself Up - All-Star Jazz Collab for the Actors Fund

Go here to donate to Actors Fund: http://actorsfund.org/jazzPick Yourself Up - By Jerome Kern and Dorothy FieldsFeaturing:Piano: Tedd Firth Bass: Billy Thorn...

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