The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: You’re All The World To Me

The song of the day for Sunday, January 1, 2023, is “You’re All The World To Me.”

About This Song

“You’re All The World To Me” was written by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner for the 1951 MGM musical Royal Wedding, starring Fred Astaire. Astaire performed this song in one of the most famous shots in all of musical film: the dancing on the ceiling number.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “You’re All The World To Me” in July 1993 and was released that year on Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

“You’re All The World To Me,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

And here’s that famous sequence of Fred Astaire dancing on the ceiling in Royal Wedding:

As a special treat, this video explains how this was filmed.

For more explanation, see the timeline and more information from the person who figured this out!

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Song of the Day: A Shine On Your Shoes

The song of the day for Saturday, December 31, 2022, is “A Shine On Your Shoes.”

About This Song

“A Shine On Your Shoes” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1932 Broadway musical Flying Colors. The same song was used for the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, which starred Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Shine On Your Shoes” in July 1993 and was released that year on Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

“A Shine On Your Shoes,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

This clip of “A Shine on My Shoes” from The Band Wagon with Fred Astaire is a favorite number of mine. Astaire wanted a genuine shoeshine man for the number and found Leroy Daniels, who had a stand at Sixth and Main Street in Los Angeles. Turned out he was also an excellent dancer. To get business and set himself apart, Daniels had an old jukebox stocked with jazz records and performed and danced while giving shoeshines.

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Song of the Day: By Myself

The song of the day for Thursday, December 29, 2022, is “By Myself.”

About This Song

“By Myself” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1937 musical Between the Devil, where it was introduced by Jack Buchanan. Another great Schwartz-Dietz song from Between the Devil was “I See Your Face Before Me.” This song was used in the 1953 Fred Astaire film, The Band Wagon.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “By Myself” in July 1993 and was released that year on Steppin’ Out.

The arrangement by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon is very effective, with the brush snare drum as an accompaniment.

“By Myself,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Mr. Astaire performing “By Myself” from The Band Wagon.

Judy Garland sang “By Myself” on her CBS program in 1964. It’s a breathtaking turn.

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Song of the Day: Steppin’ Out With My Baby

The song of the day for Wednesday, December 28, 2022, is “Steppin’ Out With My Baby.”

About This Song

“Steppin’ Out With My Baby” was written by Irving Berlin for the 1948 film musical Easter Parade, which starred Fred Astaire and Judy Garland. The score of Easter Parade won the Academy Award for Best Original Music Score.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” in July 1993 and was released that year on Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

“Steppin’ Out With My Baby,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Fred Astaire and the “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” number from Easter Parade.

We’ve also got the official video of Tony Bennett singing today’s song!

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Song of the Day: Dancing in the Dark

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 27, 2022, is “Dancing in the Dark.”

About This Song

“Dancing in the Dark” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1931 revue The Band Wagon and is widely considered to be the finest of the songs written by Schwartz and Dietz. Alec Wilder in American Popular Song describes it as “… a very strong song with a superb, poetic lyric.”

Fred Astaire introduced “Dancing in the Dark” in the 1931 film The Band Wagon; he sang it again in the 1955 film of the same name.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Dancing in the Dark” in July 1993 and was released that year on Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

“Dancing in the Dark,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

Here is Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse in 1953’s The Band Wagon. I think this may be one of Astaire’s most beautiful and elegant dances.

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