The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Girl I Love

The song of the day for Friday, September 12, 2025, is “The Girl I Love.”

About This Song

“The Girl I Love” was written in 1924 by George and Ira Gershwin. The song was was originally written for the 1924 Broadway musical Lady, Be Good, though it was cut from that production. It was used again in 1927 for Strike Up The Band, but that production closed out of town. The lyrics were revised to “The Man I Love” for the 1928 Rosalie, but was cut from that production as well. In spite of all that, it rightly has its place as one of the great songs in the American Songbook. Notable recordings include those by Ella Fitzgerald, Helen Forrest, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Helen Morgan, and many, many more.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Girl I Love” live on April 12, 1994, on MTV Unplugged. The album MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett was released a few months later. The songs from the televised concert were arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett won two Grammy Awards in 1994:

  • Album of the Year
  • Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance

“The Girl I Love,” as well as MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: My One And Only

The song of the day for Sunday, December 7, 2025, is “My One And Only.”

About This Song

“My One And Only” was composed in 1927 by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin for the musical Funny Face, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire, Betty Compton, and Gertrude McDonald. The original title was “(What Am I Gonna Do) If You Turn Me Down.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Diana Krall recorded “My One And Only” in 2018 for their album Love Is Here To Stay. Bill Charlap wrote the arrangement and led The Charlap Trio (Charlap on piano), Peter Washington (bass), and Kenny Washington (bass).

“My One And Only,” 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 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:

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Song of the Day: Love Is Here To Stay

The song of the day for Friday, September 26, 2025, is “Love Is Here To Stay.”

About Today

We are celebrating one of America’s greatest songwriters: George Gershwin. He was born in New York City 127 years ago on September 26, 1898, and died in 1937 from a brain tumor. In his too short life, he was incredibly prolific. In addition to the songs he wrote with his brother Ira for state and screen, he created American classics including “Rhapsody in Blue,” “An American in Paris,”Concerto in F, and Porgy and Bess.

About This Song

“Love Is Here To Stay” was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1938 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 and Diana Krall recorded “Love Is Here To Stay” in 2018 for their album of Gershwin songs, Love Is Here To Stay. The Bill Charlap Trio (Charlap on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums) accompanied Bennett and Krall. Bill Charlap wrote the arrangement.

“Love Is Here To Stay,” 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 Saturday, September 13, 2025, is “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.”

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.” Astaire and Rodgers finally danced to “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” in their final film, The Barkleys of Broadway, released in 1949. It is one of the Gershwin brother’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.

This video contains today’s song as performed in both Shall We Dance and The Barkleys of Broadway.