The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Let’s Face The Music And Dance

The song of the day for Monday, August 31, 2020, is “Let’s Face The Music And Dance.”

About This Song

“Let’s Face the Music and Dance” was written in 1936 for the film Follow the Fleet with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The Astaire – Rogers dance to this song is considered one of their best. It has also been recorded by singers including Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Let’s Face The Music And Dance” for his 1987 album Bennett/Berlin. Bennett arranged the song for this album.

“Let’s Face The Music And Dance,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from Apple Music.

Of course I’m including the video of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers from Follow The Fleet. I’m not some kind of monster.

Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers: Let"s Face the Music and Dance

From "Follow the Fleet" (1936)

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Song of the Day: Top Hat, White Tie and Tails

The song of the day for Friday, July 5, 2019, is “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails.”

About This Song

Irving Berlin wrote “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails” for the 1935 film Top Hat, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Berlin also wrote “Cheek to Cheek” for the film.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails” in 1993 for the album Steppin’ Out. Bennett and Ralph Sharon arranged the album.

Top Hat, White Tie and Tails

Top Hat, White Tie and Tails, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Top Hat, White Tie and Tails,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from iTunes.

For a bit more fun this holiday weekend, we have this clip from Top Hat:

Top Hat, White Tie & Tails Fred Astaire, Top Hat

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Song of the Day: Cheek To Cheek

The song of the day for Thursday, October 5, 2017 is “Cheek To Cheek.”

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 and Lady Gaga recorded “Cheek To Cheek” in 2014 for the album Cheek To Cheek. It’s a very nice rendition of this song.

Cheek To Cheek

Listen to Cheek To Cheek on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · 2014


“Cheek To Cheek,” as well as the album Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

I have a video special for today, featuring some dancer named Fred Astaire. I hear he’s pretty good. 🙂

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Song of the Day: Isn’t This a Lovely Day?

The song of the day for is “Isn’t This a Lovely Day?”

About This Song

Irving Berlin wrote “Isn’t This a Lovely Day?” in 1935 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. 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 1987 for his album of Irving Berlin songs, Bennett/Berlin.

Isn"t This a Lovely Day

Listen to Isn"t This a Lovely Day on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1987


“Isn’t This a Lovely Day?,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from iTunes.

Here is that clip from Top Hat!

I must say that Miss Rogers kills in those jodhpurs.

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Song of the Day: I Won’t Dance

The song of the day for Sunday, October 4, 2015 is “I Won’t Dance.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “I Won’t Dance,” has a wonderful tune written by Jerome Kern. The lyrics are, on the other hand, a bit complicated. The song was originally written for for a 1934 London musical called Three Sisters with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Otto Harbach; alas the production was flop and closed quickly. Kern decided to use this great tune for the 1935 film of Roberta, starring Irene Dunne with Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. This time, the lyrics were from Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields. I won’t even begin to figure out how they split the royalties.

About These Versions

Tony Bennett has recorded “I Won’t Dance” twice. The first time was in 2014 with Lady Gaga on their album Cheek To Cheek, with a great big band arrangement from Marion Evans. I’ve always loved this song and thought that Bennett and Gaga sang it just great. It was also quite effective on the Cheek To Cheek television special. [I don’t care what the Television Academy thinks. As far as I’m concerned, it earned the Emmy Award for Best Variety Special hands down.]

The second recording was just released in September 2015 on Bennett’s album with Bill Charlap–The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Bennett and Charlap arranged this version 3/4 waltz time. It’s quiet and sweet; Bennett dances lightly over the piano.

“I Won’t Dance” is a perfect example of why I started this Sunday feature of presenting different versions of the same song sung by Tony Bennett. Whether separated by decades, as in last week’s song, or a matter of months, as for today’s song, it is telling on many levels how this master treats the material. Just brilliant, Tony Bennett is.

2014

I Won"t Dance

Listen to I Won"t Dance on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · 2014


“I Won’t Dance,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

2015

I Won"t Dance

Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap · The Silver Lining - The Songs of Jerome Kern · Song · 2015


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

Because I’m in a great mood today, here’s a video of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers from Roberta. This film is the first time they worked together. I don’t know if Astaire actually played the piano or not. If he didn’t, it’s the best fake piano playing I’ve ever seen on film. And if he did play piano, he plays great! And Ginger’s gown is fantastic!

Your author is off to the Newport, Oregon Jazz Festival for concert by Bill Charlap and his Trio, also joined by his wife and pianist, Renee Rosnes. I’ll report in a few days.