The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Cheek to Cheek

he song of the day for Monday, May 11, 2026,”Cheek to Cheek.”

About Today

We have another birthday today: Irving Berlin. Israel Isidor Beilin was born in Tyumen, Russia, on May 11, 1988. His family emigrated to the US in 1893, settling in New York. The family name was changed to Berlin when they were naturalized.

You can read more about Irving Berlin at irvingberlin.com.

About This Song

“Cheek to Cheek” was written by Irving Berlin for the 1935 film Top Hat, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, where it was introduced (beautifully) by Fred Astaire. Though the song was nominated for an Academy Award (it lost to “Lullaby Of Broadway”), it became a hit in 1935 and has remained popular to this day. Significant recordings include those by Harry James, Glenn Miller, Roy Eldridge, Bing Crosby and many, many more. Fans of the Tom Hanks’ movie The Green Mile might remember this song, as Top Hat is viewed in the prison. For many, it is one of the very first songs that comes to mind when one thinks of Fred Astaire and the 1930s Hollywood musical.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Cheek to Cheek” in May 1987 for his tribute to Irving Berlin: Bennett/Berlin, featuring George Benson on guitar. Bennett wrote the arrangement.

“Cheek to Cheek,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available on Apple Music.

Of course, here are Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers performing “Cheek to Cheek” from Top Hat.

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Song of the Day: Dancing in the Dark

The song of the day for Sunday, May 10, 2026, is “Dancing in the Dark.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is pleased to to remember the great Fred Astaire, who was born on May 10, 1899, in Omaha, Nebraska. His 76-year career was remarkable; Astaire was a dancer, singer, actor, singer, musician, and choreographer. His awards include three Emmy Awards, two Globe Awards, a Grammy Award, a BAFTA award, and an honorary Academy Award.

About This Song

“Dancing in the Dark” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for for the 1931 revue The Band Wagon and is widely considered to be the finest of the songs written by Schwartz and Dietz. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder describes it as “a very strong song with a superb, poetic lyric.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Dancing in the Dark” in July 1993 for Steppin’ Out, Bennett’s tribute to Fred Astaire. Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Steppin’ Out won the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Dancing in the Dark,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available on Apple Music.

We have the video of Fred Astaire‘s and Cyd Charisse‘s performance of “Dancing in the Dark “from the 1953 film The Band Wagon. As far as I’m concerned, it’s one of most beautiful dances ever filmed.

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Saturday, January 31, 2026, is “The Way Look Tonight.”

Today’s song marks the end of Jerome Kern Week at The Year of Tony Bennett. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have.

About This Song

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

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, Frank Sinatra, and many more.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap recorded “The Way You Look Tonight” in 2015 for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Charlap wrote the arrangement.

The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern won the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“The Way 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: Isn’t This a Lovely Day

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, is “Isn’t This a Lovely Day.”

About This Song

“Isn’t This a Lovely Day” was written by Irving Berlin for the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers movie Top Hat. In the film, Astaire and Rogers are caught in a rainstorm while sitting in an outdoors gazebo. The song was introduced by Fred Astaire. This song has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Diana Krall, Jeri Southern, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Isn’t This a Lovely Day” in May 1987 for the album Bennett/Berlin. Accompanying Bennett was the Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums).

“Isn’t This a Lovely Day,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available on Apple Music.

Here are Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers performing “Isn’t This a Lovely Day” from Top Hat.

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Song of the Day: They Can’t Take That Away From Me

The song of the day for Sunday, November 16, 2025, is “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.”

About Today

We are very happy to wish Diana Krall a very happy birthday! She was born on November 16, 1964, in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. She has collaborated with Tony Bennett on several albums: MTV Unplugged, Playin’ With My Friends, Duets: An American Classic, and their duets album Love Is Here To Stay.

About This Song

“They Can’t Take That Away From Me” was written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin for the 1937 Fred Astaire – Ginger Rodgers movie Shall We Dance. Unlike most songs that Astaire introduced in his films, there was no dance number associated with “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” It is one of the Gershwins’ finest love songs. George Gershwin died just two months after this film was released.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Diana Krall recorded “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” in 2018 for their album Love Is Here To Stay. The Bill Charlap Trio accompanied; Charlap and Dae Bennett produced the album.

“They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” as well as Love Is Here To Stay, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Fred Astaire singing “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” from Shall We Dance: