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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

May 10, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Cheek To Cheek

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 11, 2021, is “Cheek To Cheek.”

About Today

Israel Berlin, later known as Irving Berlin, was born in Tolochin, Russian Empire on May 11, 1888. His family emigrated to the United States when he was only five years old. He is widely considered on the great songwriters in American history, with his tremendous contributions to both film and stage productions. Berlin lived to be 101 years old, dying on September 22, 1989.

About This Song

“Cheek To Cheek” was written by Irving Berlin for the 1935 film Top Hat, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, where it was introduced (beautifully) by Fred Astaire. Though the song was nominated for an Academy Award (it lost to “Lullaby Of Broadway”), it became a hit in 1935 and has remained popular to this day. Significant recordings include those by Harry James, Glenn Miller, Roy Eldridge, Bing Crosby and many, many more. Fans of the Tom Hanks’ movie The Green Mile might remember this song, as Top Hat is viewed in the prison. For many, it is one of the very first songs that comes to mind when one thinks of Fred Astaire and the 1930s Hollywood musical.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “Cheek To Cheek” for their 2014 album Cheek To Cheek. The wonderful Marion Evans wrote the arrangement.

Cheek To Cheek

Listen to Cheek To Cheek on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2014.

“Cheek To Cheek,” as well as the album Cheek To Cheek, is available from Apple Music.

About Irving Berlin’s Piano

Berlin was a self-taught pianist who preferred to play on the black keys and played only in F#. He composed on a transposing upright piano, his first one was made in 1909. In 1940, another was made for him by Weser Brothers in New York. He only needed to adjust the transposing mechanism to change the key.The 1940 piano resides in the Smithsonian Museum. This video shows Berlin demonstrating the transposing feature to Dinah Shore and Tony Martin.

Irving Berlin- on television (very RARE clip)

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Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, Happy Birthday Irving Berlin, Irving Berlin, Lady Gaga, Marion Evans, Tony Bennett, Top Hat, transposing piano

March 27, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: But Beautiful

The song of the day for Sunday, March 28, 2021, is “But Beautiful.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is very happy to celebrate the birthday of Lady Gaga, who was born on March 28, 1986. Thanks for all the great music! We anticipate your upcoming album with Tony later this year.

About This Song

“But Beautiful” was written in 1947 by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. This song was written for Bing Crosby to sing in the 1947 movie The Road to Rio. The song has been widely recorded, including recordings by Bill Evans, Johnny Hartman, Billie Holiday, Gregory Porter, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “But Beautiful” in 2014 for their album Cheek To Cheek. We especially like the lovely solo guitar from Gray Sargent at the beginning.

But Beautiful

Listen to But Beautiful on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2014.

“But Beautiful,” as well as Cheek to Cheek, is available from Apple Music.

We also have a video from the recording of today’s song.

Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga - But Beautiful (Studio Video)

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Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett

March 9, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Lady is a Tramp

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 10. 2021, is “The Lady is a Tramp.”

About This Song

“The Lady is a Tramp” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1937 Broadway musical Babes In Arms, where it was introduced by Mitzi Green. The song was meant as a spoof on the high society of New York, where the singer is clear about what she likes to do, no matter what everyone else is doing. “The Lady Is A Tramp” has been sung by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lena Horne.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “The Lady is a Tramp” in 2011 for Duets II. It features an impeccable arrangement by Marion Evans.

This was the first time the pair worked together. Since that time, they put out the album Cheek to Cheek in 2014 and another album is due later this year.

The Lady is a Tramp

Listen to The Lady is a Tramp on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2011.

“The Lady is a Tramp,” as well as Duets II, is available from Apple Music.

And here are Tony and Lady Gaga!

Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga - The Lady is a Tramp (from Duets II: The Great Performances)

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Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Duets II, Lady Gaga, Larry Hart, Marion Evans, Richard Rodgers, Tony Bennett

January 27, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Won’t Dance

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 28, 2020, is “I Won’t Dance.”

About Today

We’re honoring the great composer Jerome Kern, who was born 135 years ago this week.

About This Song

“I Won’t Dance” was originally written in 1934 for a London musical called Three Sisters, though the show was a flop and was quickly forgotten. The following year, a film of Roberta was made, and the song was re-purposed, this time with the new Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields lyrics.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “I Won’t Dance” in 2014 for their album Cheek to Cheek. The great Marion Evans wrote the arrangement.

“I Won’t Dance,” as well as Cheek to Cheek, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern, Jimmy McHugh, Lady Gaga, Marion Evans, Tony Bennett

September 15, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: But Beautiful

The song of the day for Monday, September 16, 2019, is “But Beautiful.”

About This Song

“But Beautiful” was written in 1947 by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke for Bing Crosby to sing in the 1947 movie The Road to Rio. The song has been widely recorded, including recordings by Bill Evans, Johnny Hartman, Billie Holiday, Gregory Porter, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “But Beautiful” in 2014 for their album Cheek To Cheek, featuring an arrangement by Jorge Calandrelli. It’s a pleasure to present this recording. I feature this song often on this site, but always the recording that Tony made with Bill Evans for The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album. Both of these recordings are stunning.

“But Beautiful,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

I’d also like to include this video from the recording of “But Beautiful for Cheek To Cheek. Thre are many videos of Tony Bennett recording with duet partners, but this one is my absolute favorite. First, it’s a great illustration of how Tony likes to record, which is not as common these days. The video shows Tony and Lady Gaga in the recording studio, as well as Bennett’s quartet. These are all great musicians and it’s wonderful to see them. Note the exquisite guitar by Gray Sargent. Second, it’s meaningful to see these Tony and Lady Gaga work this song. “But Beautiful” is not your garden-variety love song, with lyrics like

Love is tearful, or it’s gay
it’s a problem or it’s play
It’s a heartache either way
but beautiful…

Even reading these lines tugs at my heart. Watching Tony and Lady Gaga sing this song is like watching the arc of a love affair.

Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga - But Beautiful (Studio Video)

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Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cheek to Cheek, Gray Sargent, Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke, Jorge Calandrelli, Lady Gaga, quartet, Tony Bennett

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