An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett
The song of the day for Sunday, January 22, 2023, is “Firefly”
“Firefly” was written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh in 1958 as an audition piece for the musical Gypsy (which went on to be written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by a 28-year-old Stephen Sondheim).
Tony Bennett and Kermit the Frog recorded “Firefly” in June 1998 for the album The Playground.
“Firefly” as well as The Playground is available on Apple Music. .
The song of the day for Sunday, October 18, 2015 is “Firefly.”
“Firefly” was written in 1958 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. It was written as an audition piece for the musical Gypsy; this was after Ethel Merman rejected the producer’s choice of a relatively young Stephen Sondheim to write the music and lyrics. The composing duties went to the great Jule Styne, who did insist on Sondheim for the lyrics.
It’s Sunday and hopefully most of us have a little extra time to listen to more than one recording today.
This song must be a favorite of Bennett’s as he’s recorded it six times, from 1958 to 2014!
There are two recordings from 1958: first as a single arranged by Ray Ellis and later that year with Count Basie, which is probably my favorite version of them all. Next up are two live recordings: 1962 at Carnegie Hall and 1964 at The Sahara. Finally are our two duet versions: 1998 with Kermit The Frog and 2014 with Lady Gaga. There’s a lot to choose from today!
Firefly
Listen to Firefly on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2011.
Firefly - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962
Listen to Firefly - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · Song · 1962.
Firefly - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964
Listen to Firefly - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964 on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.
Firefly
Listen to Firefly on Spotify. Tony Bennett, Kermit the Frog · Song · 1998.
Firefly
Listen to Firefly on Spotify. Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · Song · 2014.
It’s a beautiful summer day and today is about joyful and happy songs. Thus, the Song of the Day for August 12, 2012 is Firefly.
Firefly was written by Cy Coleman (music) and Carolyn Leigh (lyrics) in 1958. Originally, it was written as an audition piece for the planned musical Gypsy and was intended to be sung by Baby June in Act One. Gypsy was given to Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim and was, and remains, one of the greatest American musicals ever written. Thankfully, the song Firefly survived and was recorded by Tony in 1959 for In Person! With Count Basie and His Orchestra. He also has a sweet and funny duet of this song with Kermit the Frog on The Playground, his children’s album from 1998. Kermit swings pretty good for a frog.
Today’s version of Firefly is from Tony’s extraordinary 1962 Carnegie Hall concert. You can hear the audience enjoying it as much I do.