The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Won’t Dance

The song of the day for Saturday, January 16, 2016 is “I Won’t Dance.”

About This Song

“I Won’t Dance” was originally written in 1934 for a London musical called Three Sisters by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein and Otto Harbach, though the show was 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

Today’s version of “I Won’t Dance” is from the 2015 Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. The unexpected waltz tempo for this version was determined by Tony Bennett. It’s really delightful. This song features the Bill Charlap Trio.

I Won"t Dance

Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap · The Silver Lining - The Songs of Jerome Kern · Song · 2015


“I Won’t Dance,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

About Today

For our Saturday video, here’s a selection from the PBS Cheek To Cheek special, featuring Tony and Lady Gaga:

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Song of the Day: I Won’t Dance

The song of the day for Thursday, March 19, 2015 is “I Won’t Dance.”

About This Song

“I Won’t Dance” was written in 1934 by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Otto Harbach, for a short-lived London musical called Three Sisters. The following year, Kern revived the tune for the film Roberta and new lyrics were written by Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh. Today, most singers work with the 1935 Fields and McHugh lyrics, though the earlier version is still performed.

About This Version

Today’s exuberant version is from the recent album Cheek To Cheek with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. The terrific arrangement is from Marion Evans. I dare you to not, at the very least, think about dancing.

I Won"t Dance

Listen to I Won"t Dance on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · 2014


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

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Song of the Day: Yesterdays

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 3, 2013 is “Yesterdays.”

About This Song

“Yesterdays” was written for the 1933 Broadway musical Roberta, with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Otto Harbach. The song was introduced by Irene Dunne. The cast of the Broadway production also featured Bob Hope, George Murphy, Sidney Greenstreet and Fred MacMurray. One of Kern’s best outings, Roberta also introduced “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” and “Let’s Begin.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett’s version of “Yesterdays” is from the 1966 album A Time To Love, though this recording is from 1964. It has a wonderful arrangement by Ralph Sharon and features the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Billy Exiner on drums and Hal Gaylord on bass.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7kMbKFR6oWtx3jt3ZeyQ2u
“Yesterdays,” as well as the remastered A Time For Love, is available from iTunes.

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