The Year of Tony Bennett pays tribute today to the great Jerome Kern, born on January 27, 1885. We honor Jerome Kern with our song of the day for Saturday, January 27, 2013: The Way You Look Tonight.

About The Way You Look Tonight

Written for the 1936 Fred Astaire film, Swing Time, The Way You Look Tonight is by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.  It immediately became a standard for popular and jazz singers, including Bing Crosby and Billie Holiday. It has also become a jazz instrumental favorite, with recordings by Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson, among others.

Dorothy Fields is quoted as saying

The first time Jerry played the 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 first recorded The Way You Look Tonight in 1958 and was featured on the album Long Ago … And Far Away.

Today’s version is from 1997. Originally recorded for the soundtrack for My Best Friend’s Wedding, it was included on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Volume 2 from the 2011 Tony Bennett Complete Collection. Mr. Bennett sings this song at most, if not all, of his live performances. Viva Duets, released in 2012, features a duet of this song with Thalia.

The Way You Look Tonight, as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Volume 2, is available at iTunes.