• Home
  • About
    • About This Blog
    • About the Authors
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
    • Tony Live!
    • Music
      • Viva Duets
      • Songs
      • Albums
    • Art
  • And More
    • Collaborator of the Month
    • Songwriter of the Month – 2016
    • News
      • Cheek To Cheek
      • Bennett & Brubeck -The White House Sessions Live 1962
      • Life is a Gift
      • Viva Duets
      • Zen of Bennett
      • Other News
    • About His Collaborators
    • Musings
    • Extras
      • Books
      • Interviews
      • Media
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

April 11, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Pick Yourself Up

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.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Actor's Fund, Bill Charlap, Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern, Kenny Washington, Peter Washington, Tony Bennett

January 18, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Pick Yourself Up

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 19, 2022, is “Pick Yourself Up.”

About This Song

This song was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1939 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. Peter Washington (bass) and Kenny Washington (drums) join Bill Charlap on piano.

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

In the first year of the COVID pandemic, the Actor’s Fund got a lot of jazz musicians together, under the direction of Tony DeSare, to create a video of this song as a fundraiser. It’s a joyous version and did raise a lot of money for out-of-work actors. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern, Kenny Washington, Peter Washington, The Bill Charlap Trio, Tony Bennett

November 15, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Somebody Loves Me

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 16, 2021, is “Somebody Loves Me.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett wishes the wonderful Diana Krall a very happy birthday!

About This Song

“Somebody Loves Me” was written by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ballard MacDonald, for George White’s Scandals of 1924. Popular early recordings include those by Paul Whiteman and Cliff Edwards, also known as Ukulele Ike. Other recordings include those by Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Fletcher Henderson, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, and many more.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Diana Krall recorded “Somebody Loves Me” for their 2018 album Love Is Here To Stay with The Bill Charlap Trio (Charlap on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums).

“Somebody Loves Me,” as well as Love Is Here To Stay is available on Apple Music.

Tony and Diana did this story on NPR about their album.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Ballard MacDonald, Bill Charlap, Diana Krall, George Gershwin, Happy Birthday Diana Krall, Kenny Washington, Peter Washington, The Bill Charlap Trio, Tony Bennett

September 29, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: S’Wonderful

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 30, 2020, is “S’Wonderful.”

About This Song

George and Ira Gershwin wrote “S’Wonderful” for the 1927 musical Funny Face, where it was introduced by Adele Astaire (Fred’s sister) and Allen Kearns.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Diana Krall, with The Bill Charlap Trio, recorded “S’Wonderful” for their 2018 album Love Is Here To Stay. Bill Charlap arranged and produced the album. In addition to Charlap, the trio includes Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums.

“S’Wonderful,” as well as Love Is Here To Stay, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bill Charlap, Diana Krall, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Kenny Washington, Love is Here to Stay, Peter Washington, The Bill Charlap Trio, Tony Bennett

June 16, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Love Is Here To Stay

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 17, 2020, is “Love Is Here To Stay.”

About This Song

“Love Is Here To Stay” was written by George and Ira Gershwin in 1937 for The Goldwyn Follies movie, which was released after George Gershwin’s death. It’s also known as “Our Love Is Here To Stay,” but the published title of the song omits the “Our.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Diana Krall recorded “Love Is Here To Stay” for their 2018 album Love Is Here To Stay. They are accompanied by the wonderful Bill Charlap Trio, featuring Charlap on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums.

“Love Is Here To Stay,” as well as Love Is Here To Stay, is available from Apple Music.

Here’s the lovely video for this song:

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bill Charlap, Bill Charlap Trio, Diana Krall, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Kenny Washington, Love is Here to Stay, Peter Washington, Tony Bennett

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites

  • Song of the Day: Watch What Happens
  • Song of the Day: Penthouse Serenade
  • Song of the Day: When Joanna Loved Me
  • Duke Ellington and the Harlem Renaissance
  • Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight
  • Song of the Day: Can't Get Out Of This Mood
  • Home
  • About
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
  • And More
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

Copyright © 2022 The Year of Tony Bennett · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress

Posting....