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 Thursday, October 15, 2026, is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett wishes Bill Charlap a very happy birthday. He was born in New York on October 15, 1966. His father, Moose Charlap, was a noted Broadway composer; his mother, Sandy Stewart, a singer. You can learn more about Mr. Charlap at his website Bill Charlap.

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 Fred Astaire film Swing Time. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for 1936. Dorothy Fields said this about “The Way You Look Tonight.”

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.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version “The Way You Look Tonight” in 2015 for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. For this song, Bennett is accompanied by Bill Charlap on piano, with no other instruments. Charlap produced the album and wrote the arrangements.

The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern won the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Grammy Award at the 58th annual Grammy Awards.

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

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Song of the Day: Pick Yourself Up

The song of the day for Saturday, October 3, 2026, is “Pick Yourself Up.”

About This Song

“Pick Yourself Up” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields in 1936 for the Fred Astaire movie Swing Time.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Pick Yourself Up” for his 1915 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Accompanying Bennett is The Bill Charlap Trio, with Charlap on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums. Bill Charlap also produced the album and wrote the arrangements.

The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern won the 58th Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

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

We’re pleased to include this clip from Swing Time of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing to “Pick Yourself Up.”

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Song of the Day: Exactly Like You

The song of the day for Friday, August 7, 2026, is “Exactly Like You.”

About This Song

“Exactly Like You” was written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields for the 1930 Lew Leslie’s International Revue, which also include the songwriter’s “On The Sunny Side of the Street.” Notable recordings of “Exactly Like You” include those by Louis Armstrong in 1930, Count Basie, Sam Cooke, Frank Sinatra, and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d lang recorded “Exactly Like You” in 2002 for A Wonderful World, a tribute to Louis Armstrong.

“Exactly Like You,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

We have Louis Armstrong‘s 1930 recording of”Exactly Like You.”

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Song of the Day: Baby, Dream Your Dream

The song of the day for Thursday, July 16, 2026, 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 sung 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 the next year. This recording was also included on the 1967 album For Once In My Life. Johnny Mandel wrote the arrangement.

“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: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 15, 2026, is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About Today

We are very happy to celebrate the great Dorothy Fields on the anniversary of her birth on July 15, 1904. She was born into a prominent show business family. Her father, Lew Fields, was a successful theatrical producer. Her brother Joseph was a writer and producer; her other brother, Herbert, was a writer who collaborated with Dorothy.

She had a remarkable career as librettist and lyricist, starting in 1928, writing with Jimmy McHugh on Blackbirds on Broadway; the pair continued to work on several Cotton Club shows. In the 1930s, she began working on films, especially Jerome Kern. She returned to Broadway shows, writing librettos for Stars in Your Eyes and A Tree Grows In Brooklyn with Arthur Schwartz. Dorothy, with her brother Herbert, wrote the book for Irving Berlin‘s Annie Get Your Gun. In the 1960s, she wrote lyrics for Sweet Charity and Seesaw with Cy Coleman.

Her career lasted for 48 years and in that time she won Tony, Oscar, and Grammy Awards. She was the first woman to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

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 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

Tony Bennett recorded this song in only one take for the 1997 movie My Best Friend’s Wedding. This recording is included in Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2, which was included in the 2011 Complete Collection box set.

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

I’ve included a video of a podcast from David Armstrong’s BROADWAY NATION, Dorothy Fields & the Women Who Invented Broadway.” In addition to Dorothy Fields, the video also looks at Betty Comden, Mary Rodgers, Bella Spewack, and Carolyn Leigh. It’s a bit long at 33 minutes, but well worth watching, so please save the link.