The song of the day for Thursday, September 9, 2021, is “All For You.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett would like to wish Susan Benedetto a very happy birthday!

About This Song

Today’s song, “All For You,” is based on a song composed in 1940 by Belgian jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, “Nuages.” The song became quite popular and Reinhardt played it often with his group, Quintette du Hot Club de France, which he founded with Violinist Stephan Grappelli.

Danny Bennett, Tony’s son and manager, had suggested that Tony write a song. Tony relates:

At first I felt skeptical about it, but then I received my inspiration. After I played a concert in Hawaii, I went to hear a wonderful jazz group perform. One of their songs in particular spoke to me. When I asked the piano player for its name, he told me it was called “Nuages,” and was written by Django Reinhardt.

I asked Danny to get hold of the family that owned the song, and they gave us an okay for me to write the lyrics, inspired by and dedicated to my wife, Susan Benedetto, which became “All for You.” And oddly enough, I wrote the lyrics in only an hour. I guess from interpreting songs for so many years, I know to stay away from trite material, and I thought it came out pretty well. Then when we were in Fresno, California, I performed it in front of an audience for the first time, and I was bowled over by their reaction; they went crazy for it. So at eighty-six, I now have my first songwriting credit.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “All For You” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance, featuring an arrangment by Johnny Mandel.

“All For You,” as well as The Art of Romance is available on Apple Music.

Et voici Django Reinhardt avec le Quintette Hot Club de France (I knew high school French would come in handy some day).