The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Wonder

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 26, 2024, is “I Wonder.”

About This Song

“I Wonder” was written in 1944 by Cecil Gant and Raymond Leveen. Gant, made the first recording while still serving in the Army just at the end of World War II, recorded as Pvt. Cecil Gant; the recording moved easily to #1 on Juke Box Race charts. In 1945, the Roosevelt Sykes recording replaced the Gant version as #1. Louis Armstrong recorded “I Wonder” in 1945, which reached #3 on the Juke Box chart. Aretha Franklin also recorded the song in 1967.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “I Wonder” in March 2002 for their album A Wonderful World. Vocal arrangements were made by Rob Mathes. The album was orchestrated and conducted by Peter Matz, with musical direction and arrangements by Lee Musiker.

“I Wonder,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: La Vie En Rose

The song of the day for Saturday, November 2, 2024, is “La Vie En Rose.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett wishes k.d. lang a very happy birthday. She was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on November 2, 1961. lang’s career started with country and western songs, with early albums including Angel with a Lariat and Absolute Torch and Twang in the 1980s. She also made several notable studio albums in the 1980s and 1990s, including Shadowland and Ingenue.

Her recording of “So In Love” for the 1990 Red Hot + Blue (a Cole Porter tribute album that raised money ACT UP) was significant to me–I knew then that she was a great singer of the American Songbook:

k.d. lang began her association with Tony Bennett in 1994 when she sang a duet of “Moonglow” with Bennett on MTV Unplugged. This was followed by the 2001 Playin’ With My Friends (“Keep The Faith, Baby”); 2002 A Wonderful World; 2006 Duets: An American Classic (“Because of You”); and the 2011 Duets II (“Blue Velvet”). Also note that CBS Sunday Morning invited her to sing “Because Of You” in their tribute to Tony Bennett after his death:

k.d. lang pays tribute to Tony Bennett on "CBS Sunday Morning" #shorts

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Happy Birthday to k.d. lang!

About This Song

“La Vie En Rose” was written in 1945 by Marguerite Monnot and Louis Guglielmi (aka Louiguy), with lyrics by Edith Piaf. English lyrics were written by Mack David. Initially, the song was thought to be weak compared to the rest of her repertoire and she was encouraged to not sing it at her concerts. She did not sing it publicly until 1946 and it quickly became a favorite of audiences. She finally recorded the song in 1947. “La Vie en Rose” has been widely recorded ever since and used in many films, from Bull Durham to WALL-E. The 2007 film biography of Edith Piaf, which starred Marion Cotillard, was titled La Vie en Rose.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “La Vie En Rose” in March 2002 for their album Tony Bennett & k.d. lang: A Wonderful World. Vocal arrangements were by Rob Mathes. The album was orchestrated and conducted by Peter Matz, with musical direction and arrangements by Lee Musiker.

“La Vie En Rose,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s a 1954 recording of Edith Piaf singing “La Vie En Rose.”

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Song of the Day: Dream a Little Dream of Me

The song of the day for Monday, September 16, 2024, is “Dream a Little Dream of Me.”

About This Song

“Dream a Little Dream of Me” was written in 1931 by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt, with lyrics by Gus Kahn. It was first recorded in 1931 by Ozzie Nelson and also by Wayne King and His Orchestra, The song has remained popular over the decades, with recordings by Kate Smith, Frankie Laine, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Shore, Doris Day, and even The Mamas and The Papas, with Mama Cass. Louis Armstrong first recorded the song in 1950.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “Dream a Little Dream of Me” in March 2002 for their album A Wonderful World. Vocal arrangements were by Rob Mathes. The album was orchestrated and conducted by Peter Matz, with musical direction and arrangements by Lee Musiker.

“Dream a Little Dream of Me,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s that Louis Armstrong recording:

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Song of the Day: Because of You

The song of the day for Thursday, September 12, 2024, is “Because of You.”

About This Song

“Because of You” was written in 1940 by Arthur Hammerstein (uncle to Oscar Hammerstein II) and Dudley Wilkinson. Arthur Hammerstein built what is now known as The Ed Sullivan Theatre, home to Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “Because of You” on February 10, 2006, for Duets: An American Classic. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli; Chris Botti played trumpet on the recording.

“Because of You,” as well as Duets: An American Classis, is available on Apple Music.

The last song Tony Bennett sang before he died on July 21, 2023, was “Because of You.”

Here’s the video of Tony and k.d. recording “Because of You” from 2005:

We’ve also got a snippet of Tony Bennett singing “Because of You” from 1951:

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Song of the Day: You Can’t Lose A Broken Heart

The song of the day for Sunday, August 4, 2024, is “You Can’t Lose A Broken Heart.”

About This Song

“You Can’t Lose A Broken Heart” was written in 1931 by James P. Johnson and Flournoy Earkin Miller for the 1931 revue Sugar Hill. Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday recorded “You Can’t Lose A Broken Heart” as a duet with Sy Oliver and His Orchestra in 1949 on the Decca label.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “You Can’t Lose A Broken Heart” in March 2002 for their duet album, A Wonderful World. Vocal arrangements were by Rob Mathes. The album was orchestrated and conducted by Peter Matz, with musical direction and arrangements by Lee Musiker.

“You Can’t Lose A Broken Heart,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s that Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday recording of today’s song from 1949: