The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: While The Music Plays On

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 2, 2019, is “While The Music Plays On.”

About This Song

“While The Music Plays On” was written in 1939 by Emery “Eddie” Heim, who was born in Budapest and moved to America in 1939. He served in the US Army, Special Services, during World War II. Irving Mills and Lupin Fein wrote the lyrics.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “While The Music Plays On” in 1954 for his first full-length album, Cloud 7, released in 1955. The very nice trumpet interlude was played by Charles Panely.

While the Music Plays On

While the Music Plays On, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“While The Music Plays On,” as well as Cloud 7, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: While The Music Plays On

The song of the day for Monday, January 19, 2015 is “While The Music Plays On.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “While The Music Plays On,” was written in 1939 by Emery “Eddie” Heimm with lyrics by Irving Mills and Lupin Fein. Heim was born in Budapest and moved to America in 1939. He served in the US Army, Special Services, during World War II.

About This Version

“While The Music Plays On” is the 8th song on our album of the month, Cloud 7. I’ve always found this song quite poignant, in its telling the tale of the singer whose girl has left him, found another and is dancing with her new love as he sings, while the music plays on. It’s a lovely song and is, of course, beautifully sung by Tony Bennett. It was recorded on August 11, 1954 at the famed CBS 30th Street Studio and was arranged by Chuck Wayne, the guitarist for the album.

While the Music Plays On

Listen to While the Music Plays On on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1955.


“While The Music Plays On,” as well as Cloud 7, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: While The Music Plays On

The song of the day for Thursday, April 11, 2013 is While The Music Plays On.

About This Song

While The Music Plays On was composed by Emery Heim (sometimes called Eddie Heim), with lyrics by Irving Mills and Lupin Fein, in 1939. In addition to Tony Bennett’s recording, this song has also been recorded by Les Brown, Jimmy Dorsey and Anne Shelton.

About This Version

I was reminded today by a Tony Bennett fan on Twitter that Bennett’s recording of While The Music Plays On is an outstanding jazz recording and so it is our song of the day. Recorded for his 1955 Cloud 7 album, this song describes a singer watching his love dancing with someone new:

Oh, what madness to discover
Music still possesses all its charms
As I serenade my lover
Dancing by in someone else’s arms

But I am not allowed to show the crowd
What happens when romance has gone
I must hide my fears singing through the tears
While the music plays on

It’s a beautiful song, sung with great heart and emotion.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2TkGosz6lz6xqUWmTGuRMQ
While The Music Plays On, as well as the full Cloud 7 album, is available from iTunes.

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