The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Yesterdays

The song of the day for Sunday, October 26, 2025, is “Yesterdays.”

About This Song

“Yesterdays” was written by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach for the 1933 Broadway musical Roberta, where it was introduced by Irene Dunne. Roberta was made into a film in 1935. The Kern-Harbach score for Roberta also included “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” and “Let’s Begin,” which Tony Bennett recorded in 1957 for his third album, The Beat of My Heart.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Yesterdays” on February 26, 1964; it was released in 1966 on A Time For Love. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.

“Yesterdays,” as well as A Time For Love, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 15, 2025, is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is pleased to wish Bill Charlap a very happy birthday. Bill Charlap was born on October 15, 1966, in New York City. His father, Moose Charlap, was a noted Broadway composer; his mother is Sandy Stewart, a jazz and cabaret performer. The Bill Charlap Trio has released many fine albums, including Bill Charlap & Sandy Stewart: Love Is Here To Stay and Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein, which I am listening to as I write today’s post.

For more information about Bill Charlap, The Bill Charlap Trio, his recordings, and his live performances, visit his website billcharlap.com.

About This Song

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

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, and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, accompanied by 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 58th Annual Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal 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: Look For the Silver Lining

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 1, 2025, is “Look For the Silver Lining.”

About This Song

“Look For the Silver Lining” was written by Jerome Kern and Buddy DeSylva for the 1919 musical Zip, Goes a Million, as well the 1920 musical Sally. The song has been widely recorded by artists including Chet Baker, Margaret Whiting, Bing Crosby, and Susannah McCorkle.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Look For the Silver Lining” in 2015 for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes accompanied Bennett for this album. Charlap wrote the arrangement.

em>The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern won Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.

“Look For the Silver Lining,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 15, 2025, is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About Today

We are very happy to celebrate the great Dorothy Fields on the anniversary of her birth on July 15, 1904. She was born into a prominent show business family. Her father, Lew Fields, was a successful theatrical producer. Her brother Joseph was a writer and producer; her other brother, Herbert, was a writer who collaborated with Dorothy.

She had a remarkable career as librettist and lyricist, starting in 1928, writing with Jimmy McHugh on Blackbirds on Broadway; the pair continued to work on several Cotton Club shows. In the 1930s, she began working on films, especially Jerome Kern. She returned to Broadway shows, writing librettos for Stars in Your Eyes and A Tree Grows In Brooklyn with Arthur Schwartz. Dorothy, with her brother Herbert, wrote the book for Irving Berlin‘s Annie Get Your Gun. In the 1960s, she wrote lyrics for Sweet Charity and Seesaw with Cy Coleman.

Her career lasted for 48 years and in that time she won Tony, Oscar, and Grammy Awards. She was the first woman to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

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; she was the first woman to win an Oscar for songwriting.

Dorothy Fields wrote 32 songs with Jerome Kern between 1935 and 1952. She wrote this about “The Way You Look Tonight.”

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.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “The Way You Look Tonight” with The Ralph Sharon Trio for the 1977 movie My Best Friend’s Wedding.

“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2, is available on Apple Music.

Tony Bennett recorded “The Way You Look Tonight” with Bill Charlap for their 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.

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Song of the Day: The Folks That Live On The Hill

The song of the day for Saturday, July 12, 2025, is “The Folks That Live On The Hill.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett honors Oscar Hammerstein on the anniversary of his birth 130 years ago on July 12, 1985. In addition his work as a lyricist for Jerome Kern (with whom he wrote today’s song) and Richard Rodgers, he was also a theatre director and producer. He was was a mentor to the teen-age Stephen Sondheim.

About This Song

“The Folks That Live On The Hill” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1937 movie High, Wide, and Handsome, where it was introduced by Irene Dunne. Bing Crosby recorded it that same year. Peggy Lee recorded it 1957 for her album The Man I Love, conducted by Frank Sinatra. Other recordings include those by Diana Krall, Jo Stafford, and Nina Simone.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Folks That Live On The Hill” on May 18, 1989, for <em>Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, released in 1990. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“The Folks That Live On The Hill,” as well as , is available on Apple Music.