The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Got Lost in Her Arms

The song of the day for Thursday, February 12, 2026, is “I Got Lost in Her Arms.”

About This Song

“I Got Lost in Her Arms” was written by Irving Berlin for the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, which starred Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton. The song’s actual title is “I Got Lost in His Arms” and was introduced by Miss Merman.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Got Lost in Her Arms” on January 10, 1986, for The Art of Excellence. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“I Got Lost in Her Arms,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available on Apple Music.

We’re happy to present Ethel Merman singing “I Got Lost in His Arms” from the 1946 original cast album of Annie Get Your Gun.

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Song of the Day: Anything Goes

The song of the day for Friday, January, 16, 2026, is “Anything Goes.”

About This Song

“Anything Goes” was written by Cole Porter in 1934. In Anything Goes, Cole Porter and book writers Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse created one of the great musical comedy characters of all time: Reno Sweeney, played by Ethel Merman in the original 1934 production. The score contains many of Porter’s most popular songs, including “I Get a Kick Out You,” “You’re The Top,” and “Blow, Gabriel, Blow.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “Anything Goes” in 2014 for their first album: Cheek To Cheek. Marion Evans wrote the arrangement.

“Anything Goes,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available on Apple Music.

We have a video Ethel Merman singing “Anything Goes” from the 1936 movie Anything Goes.

Miss Merman was born Queens 118 years ago on January 16, 1908.

We also have a live video of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga singing “Anything Goes.”

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Song of the Day: Anything Goes

The song of the day for Thursday, January 16, 2025, is “Anything Goes.”

About This Song

“Anything Goes” was written in 1934 by Cole Porter. In Anything Goes, Cole Porter and book writers Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse created one of the great musical comedy characters of all time: Reno Sweeney, played by Ethel Merman in the original 1934 production. The score contains many of Porter’s most popular songs, including “I Get a Kick Out You,” “You’re The Top,” “Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” and today’s song “Anything Goes.”

Ethel Merman was born on January 16, 1908, in New York City. We’re featuring “Anything Goes” in memory of Ethel Merman.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “Anything Goes” on January 5, 1959, for their first album Basie Swings/Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Anything Goes,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ethel Merman singing “Anything Goes,” from 1954.

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Song of the Day: I Got Rhythm

The song of the day for Saturday, September 26, 2020, is “I Got Rhythm.”

About Today

Today marks the birthday of George Gershwin, who was born on September 26, 1898.

About This Song

“I Got Rhythm” was written by George and Ira Gershwin in 1928. Gershwin originally wrote this song with a slow tempo for the 1928 musical Treasure Girl. In 1930 for Girl Crazy, he decided on a faster rhythm. The song was introduced by Ethel Merman and became wildly popular based on her performance. It has been recorded many times by artists including Miss Merman, Fred Astaire, John Pizzarelli, and Ethel Waters. It’s one of the great jazz standards.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Got Rhythm” for his 1995 album Here’s To The Ladies, which featured songs made famous by great women singers on the 20th century. This song is, of course, associated with Ethel Merman. Bennett and Ralph Sharon did the arrangements for the entire album.

“I Got Rhythm,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available from Apple Music.

While you’re here, I hope you’ll take a moment to listen to Ethel Merman’s recording from Girl Crazy. She sure had a set of pipes!

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Song of the Day: Anything Goes

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 3, 2017 is “Anything Goes.”

About This Song

In Anything Goes, Cole Porter and book writers Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse created one of the great musical comedy characters of all time: Reno Sweeney, played by Ethel Merman in the original 1934 production. The score contains many of Porter’s most popular songs, including “I Get a Kick Out You,” “You’re The Top,” and “Blow, Gabriel, Blow.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga chose “Anything Goes” as the first cut on their album Cheek to Cheek. Marion Evans did the big band arrangement.

Anything Goes

Listen to Anything Goes on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · 2014


“Anything Goes,” as well as Cheek to Cheek, is available from iTunes.

Here’s Miss Merman singing today’s song from the film version of Anything Goes!

Ethel Merman, born Ethel Agnes Zimmerman, grew up in Astoria, Queens. She learned secretarial skills in high school and after graduation in 1924, was able to get a job as a stenographer at $28 a week, which was good money in those days. With a pay check to back her up, she sang in clubs evenings and weekends in her goal of making it to Broadway.

In 1934, she was cast as Reno Sweeney in Cole Porter’s Anything Goes. When the script of Anything Goes was re-written during rehearsals, Ethel put her secretarial skills to good use by taking down dialogue in shorthand as the authors improvised. She then typed out the material herself.