The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Exactly Like You

The song of the day for Monday, May 12, 2025, is “Exactly Like You.”

About This Song

“Exactly Like You” was written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields in 1930 for Lew Leslie’s International Revue, which also introduced “On The Sunny Side Of The Street.” While the reviewers were not kind to the production, the score was then, and remains still, quite noteworthy. Even though Fields’ lyrics for the song are very fine, the early recordings of the song were mostly instrumentals, such as that by Louis Armstrong. The song became popular again in 1936, with a fine recording by Benny Goodman that featured Lionel Hampton on the vibraphone, followed by the 1937 recording by Count Basie, which included the vocals by Jimmy Rushing. Later notable recordings include those by Carmen McRae (1954), Bing Crosby (1944), Patti Page (1949), Anita O’Day (1975), Nina Simone (1959) and Diana Krall (2006).

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “Exactly Like You” in May 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.

“Exactly Like You,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

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

The song of the day for Saturday, April 26, 2025, is “You Can’t Lose A Broken Heart.”

About This Song

“You Can’t Love A Broken Heart” was written in 1931 by James P. Johnson and Flournoy Earkin Miller. Johnson, a pianist and composer who was also known as a Harlem Stride pianist, collaborated with author and producer Flournoy Miller to produce the Sugar Hill revue in 1931 for this song. 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 Love A Broken Heart” in March 2002 for their album A Wonderful World, consisting of songs associated with Louis Armstrong. 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 Love A Broken Heart,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the 1949 recording of today’s song by Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday.

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Song of the Day: If We Never Meet Again

The song of the day for Thursday, February 13, 2025, is “If We Never Meet Again.”

About This Song

“If We Never Meet Again” was written in 1936 by Louis Armstrong and Horace Gerlach. Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra recorded the first release of the song on April 19, 1936.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “If We Never Meet Again” 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.

“If We Never Meet Again,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

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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

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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.”