The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep The Music Playing

The song of the day for Friday, July 9, 2021, is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing.”

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing” was written in 1982, with music by Michel Legrand and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, for the movie Best Friends. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael, and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “How Do You Keep The Music Playing” in 2011 with Aretha Franklin for Duets II.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing

Listen to How Do You Keep The Music Playing on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2011.

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing,” as well as Duets II is available on Apple Music.

Please enjoy this video of Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin in the studio while they recorded this song.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing (from Duets II: The Great Performances)

Tony Bennett performing "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" with Aretha Franklin from Duets II: The Great PerfromancesListen to Tony Bennett: https://TonyBen...

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Song of the Day: Watch What Happens

The song of the day for Thursday, May 13, 2021, is “Watch What Happens.”

About This Song

“Watch What Happens” was written by Michel Legrand and Jacques Demy for the 1964 film The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Normal Gimbel wrote the English lyrics. Tony Bennett’s was the first recording of the song, other than the film score, and the first in English.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Watch What Happens” in January 1965 for his album If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the arrangement.

Watch What Happens

Listen to Watch What Happens on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1965.

“Watch What Happens,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: How Do You Keep The Music Playing?

The song of the day for Monday, February 8, 2021, is “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?”

About This Song

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” was written in 1982 by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman for the movie Best Friends, which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman).

The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis, and Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael, and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” with Aretha Franklin for the album Duets II.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing

Listen to How Do You Keep The Music Playing on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2011.

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing?,” as well as Duets II, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Watch What Happens

The song of the day for Friday, November 6, 2020, is “Watch What Happens.”

About This Song

“Watch What Happens” was written by Michel Legrand for the 1964 film The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. The original French lyrics were written by Jacques Demy, who also directed the film. The English lyrics were written by Norman Gimbel. Tony Bennett’s was the first recording of the song, other than the film soundtrack, and the first in English.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Watch What Happens” in 1965 for his album If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the arrangement.

Watch What Happens

Listen to Watch What Happens on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1965.

“Watch What Happens,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: You Must Believe In Spring

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 22, 2020, is “You Must Believe In Spring.”

Note About Today’s Song

Every weekend I listen to the radio show Radio Deluxe, hosted by John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey. This weekend, they featured several songs from Tony Bennett, including today’s song. I was reminded why I love this song and especially this recording of it.

Radio Deluxe is a swell show: part jazz, part cabaret, and all of it excellent. John and Jessica always have something unique and wonderful to say about each of the songs they feature. It’s one of the highlights of my weekend. You can find out more about Radio Deluxe on its website radiodeluxe.com.

About This Song

“You Must Believe In Spring” was composed by the great Michel Legrand. The original French lyrics were written by Jacques Demy (who also wrote and directed the film); the English lyrics were written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. The song was written for the 1967 French film Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, which starred Catherine Deneuve. “You Must Believe In Spring” has been widely recorded by artists including Sylvia Syms, Barbra Streisand, and Bill Evans, in a posthumous release of an album with the same name, featuring sessions with Eddie Gomez and Eliot Zigmund.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “You Must Believe In Spring” in September 1976 for their second album Together Again, released in 1977 on Bennett’s Improv label.

“You Must Believe In Spring,” as well as , is available from Apple Music and Quboz.

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