The song of the day for Tuesday, April 12, 2022, is “Pick Yourself Up.”

About This Song

“Pick Yourself Up” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the film Swing Time, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It was used in the early part of the film where Astaire pretends to not be able to dance and asks for Ginger Rogers as his dance instructor just so he could dance with her. This song has been widely recorded, including those by Nat King Cole, Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Pick Yourself Up” with The Bill Charlap Trio for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Rounding out Charlap on piano, the trio features Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums. Bill Charlap wrote all arrangements for this album.

This album won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“Pick Yourself Up,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern is available on Apple Music.

One of the things that got me through the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 was this fund-raising video for the Actors Fund of “Pick Yourself Up.” Pianist Tony DeSare pulled together jazz and stage performers to create this video. Whenever I’m feeling blue, I always play this video. And contribute something to The Actors Fund, led by Brian Stokes Mitchell, which helped support actors and musicians who were unable to work during the height of the pandemic.