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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

February 22, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Poor Butterfly

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 23, 2021, is “Poor Butterfly.”

About This Song

“Poor Butterfly” was written in 1916 by Raymond Hubbell and John Golden. The song was inspired by Giacomo Puccini’s opera, Madame Butterfly; the verse references the Puccini melody briefly.The song was written for a 1916 Broadway show called The Big Show, where it was introduced by Sophie Bernard.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Poor Butterfly” for his 1960 album Alone Together. Frank DeVol wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

Poor Butterfly – 2011 Remaster

Listen to Poor Butterfly – 2011 Remaster on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.

“Poor Butterfly,” as well as Alone Together, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Alone Together, Frank DeVol, John Golden, Madame Butterfly, Raymond Hubbell, Tony Bennett

May 1, 2014 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Poor Butterfly

The song of the day for Thursday, May 1, 2014 is “Poor Butterfly.”

About This Song

“Poor Butterfly” was written in 1916 by Raymond Hubbell and John Golden. It was inspired by Giacomo Puccini’s opera, Madame Butterfly; the verse references the Puccini melody briefly.The song was written for a 1916 Broadway show called The Big Show, where it was introduced by Sophie Bernard.

About This Version

I was reminded by my fellow Tony Bennett fan Nick about what a beautiful song this is and I’m happy to showcase it as a song of the day. Tony Bennett recorded this song in 1960 for the album Alone Together, conducted and arranged by Frank DeVol. It’s a beautiful song and I hope you enjoy it today.

Poor Butterfly – 2011 Remaster

Poor Butterfly – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“Poor Butterfly,” as well as the album Alone Together, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Alone Together, Frank DeVol, John Golden, Madame Butterfly, Raymond Hubbell

March 18, 2014 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Poor Butterfly

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 18, 2013 is “Poor Butterfly.”

About This Song

“Poor Butterfly” was inspired by Giacomo Puccini’s opera, Madame Butterfly; the verse references the Puccini melody briefly.The song was written by Raymond Hubbell and John Golden for the 1916 Broadway show The Big Show, where it was introduced by Sophie Bernard.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Poor Butterfly” is the second time he recorded the song: in 1995 for the album Here’s To The Ladies, acknowledging Sarah Vaughan’s performance of this song in 1958. The arrangement is by Jorge Calandrelli. Bennett also recorded this song in 1960 for Alone Together.

You can hear Sarah Vaughan singing this song on YouTube.

Poor Butterfly

Poor Butterfly, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“Poor Butterfly,” as well as the album Here’s To The Ladies, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Here's To The Ladies, John Golden, Raymond Hubbell, The Big Show

May 8, 2013 By Suzanne 1 Comment

Song of the Day: Poor Butterfly

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 8, 2013 is Poor Butterfly.

About This Song

This beautiful song was written in 1916 by Raymond Hubble, with lyrics by John Golden, for the Broadway musical The Big Show. The song was, of course, inspired by the Giacomo Puccini opera Madame Butterfly. It’s been a popular song since 1917 and for good reason; it’s a beautiful song. It’s been recorded by Julie Andrews (in Thoroughly Modern Millie), Deanna Durbin, Errol Garner, Benny Goodman, Al Hirt, Susannah McCorkle, Frank Sinatra with Duke Ellington, and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded Poor Butterfly for his 1995 Grammy Award winning album, Here’s To The Ladies. In this album, he picked songs strongly associated the great female jazz singers; this song is for Sarah Vaughan.

In his liner notes for Here’s To The Ladies, Tony Bennett wrote:

I first heard Sarah sing at the Waldorf Astoria. Being one of Sarah’s biggest fans, I was transported right up to heaven whenever I heard her perform this song.

I know the feeling; I was transported the moment I heard this song this evening. I had picked another song from the album as song for the day. My habit is to listen to the rest of the album while I write the topic for the song each day. A few seconds into Poor Butterfly I started thinking that I couldn’t remember when I’d heard a more beautiful song. And so here is Poor Butterfly.

Poor Butterfly, as well as the full Here’s To The Ladies, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Here's To The Ladies, John Golden, Raymond Hubble, Sarah Vaughan

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