The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Nice Work If You Can Get It

The song of the day for Sunday, August 9, 2026, is “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”

About This Song

“Nice Work If You Can Get It” was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1937 film Damsel In Distress, starring Fred Astaire, who introduced the song. It has been widely recorded by artists including Astaire, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Diana Krall recorded “Nice Work If You Can Get It” for their 2018 album Love Us Here To Stay. Bill Charlap wrote arrangement. The Bill Charlap Trio (Charlap, piano; Peter Washington, bass; Kenny Washington, drums) accompanied Bennett and Krall on this album.

“Nice Work If You Can Get It,” as well as Love Is Here to Stay, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Fred Astaire from Damsel in Distress, performing today’s song:

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got a Crush On You

The song of the day for Monday, July 6, 2026, is “I’ve Got a Crush On You.”

About This Song

“I’ve Got a Crush on You” was written in 1928 by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1928 musical Treasure Girl, where it was introduced by Clifton Webb and May Hay, and again in 1930 for Strike Up The Band, where it was sung by Doris Caron and Gordon Smith. It’s been widely sung by jazz vocalists, including Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Diana Krall recorded “I’ve Got a Crush on You” for their 2018 album Love Is Here To Stay. Krall and Bill Charlap wrote the arrangement. The Bill Charlap Trio (Charlap, piano; Peter Washington, bass; Kenny Washington, drums) accompanied the album.

“I’ve Got a Crush On You,” as well as Love Is Here To Stay, is available on Apple Music.

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

The song of the day for Thursday, June 25, 2026, is “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.”

About This Song

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

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” on October 16, 1967, for the album For Once In My Life. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

“They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” as well as For Once In My Life, is available on Apple Music.

We have the scene from Shall We Dance where Fred Astaire sings today’s song to Ginger Rogers. Sorry, no dancing.

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Song of the Day: Who Cares?

The song of the day for Friday, May 29, 2026, is “Who Cares?”

About This Song

“Who Cares?” was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1931 Broadway musical Of Thee I Sing which won the 1932 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It’s one of their very popular songs with many fine recordings, including those by Fred Astaire, Ella Fitzgerald, and Judy Garland.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Who Cares?” for his 2018 album Love Is Here To Stay. He was accompanied by The Bill Charlap Trio (Charlap, piano; Peter Washington, bass; Kenny Washington, drums). Bill Charlap wrote the arrangement.

“Who Cares?,” as well as Love Is Here To Stay, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Love Is Here To Stay

The song of the day for Thursday, May 21, 2026, is “Love Is Here To Stay.”

About This Song

“Love Is Here To Stay” was written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin in 1937 for The Goldwyn Follies movie, which was released after George Gershwin’s death. It’s also known as “Our Love Is Here To Stay,” but the published title of the song omits the “Our.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Love Is Here To Stay” on November 4, 1958, for his album Hometown, My Town, released in 1959. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Love Is Here To Stay,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available on Apple Music.