The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Saturday, January 31, 2026, is “The Way Look Tonight.”

Today’s song marks the end of Jerome Kern Week at The Year of Tony Bennett. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have.

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 film Swing Time, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire; the song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the year. Dorothy Fields said about the song:

The first time Jerry played that melody for me I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn’t stop, it was so beautiful.”

Dorothy Fields was the first woman to win an Oscar for songwriting. It’s a magnificent love song that has found a strong position as a jazz standard, with recordings by Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Mel Tormé, Frank Sinatra, and many more.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap recorded “The Way You Look Tonight” in 2015 for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Charlap wrote the arrangement.

The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern won the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Pick Yourself Up

The song of the day for Sunday, January 25, 2026, is “Pick Yourself Up.”

About This Week

Today is the first day of Jerome Kern Week, who was born in New York City on January 27, 1885.

About This Song

“Pick Yourself Up” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 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” for his 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Bill Charlap wrote the arrangement and led The Bill Charlap Trio (Charlap on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums).

The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern won the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

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

We’ve got two videos for today’s post.

First is a clip from Swing Time, with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing to “Pick Yourself Up.”

Next is the “Pick Yourself Up – All-Star Jazz Collab for the Actors Fund,” which was created during COVID pandemic to help performers while the performing venues were closed and prevented them from working.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 15, 2025, is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is pleased to wish Bill Charlap a very happy birthday. Bill Charlap was born on October 15, 1966, in New York City. His father, Moose Charlap, was a noted Broadway composer; his mother is Sandy Stewart, a jazz and cabaret performer. The Bill Charlap Trio has released many fine albums, including Bill Charlap & Sandy Stewart: Love Is Here To Stay and Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein, which I am listening to as I write today’s post.

For more information about Bill Charlap, The Bill Charlap Trio, his recordings, and his live performances, visit his website billcharlap.com.

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields. It was introduced by Fred Astaire in the 1936 film Swing Time; the song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the year. Dorothy Fields remarked:

The first time Jerry played that melody for me I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn’t stop, it was so beautiful.

Dorothy Fields was the first woman to win an Oscar for songwriting. It’s a magnificent love song that has found a strong position as a jazz standard, with recordings by Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Mel Tormé, and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, accompanied by Bill Charlap, recorded “The Way You Look Tonight” in 2015 for <The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Charlap wrote the arrangement.

The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern won the 58th Annual Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Saturday, April 12, 2025, is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 film Swing Time, starring Fred Astaire, who introduced the song. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Lyricist Dorothy Fields remarked:

The first time Jerry played that melody for me, I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn’t stop, it was so beautiful.

Fields was the first woman to win an Oscar for songwriting. It’s a magnificent love song that has found a strong position as a jazz standard, with recordings by Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Mel Tormé, and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, accompanied by Bill Charlap on piano, recorded “The Way You Look Tonight” in 2015 for The Silver Lining: The Songs Of Jerome Kern. Bill Charlap, who produced the album, wrote the arrangement.

The Silver Lining: The Songs Of Jerome Kern won the 58th Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs Of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.

We’ve got a couple of videos today:

Official VEVO video for today’s song:

And here’s the scene from Swing Time, where Fred Astaire sings today’s song:

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Monday, January 27, 2025, is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About Today

Today we are remembering Jerome Kern, who was born on January 27, 1885, in New York City.

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 movie Swing Time, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the year. Dorothy Fields remarked “The first time Jerry played that melody for me I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn’t stop, it was so beautiful.” It’s a magnificent love song that has found a strong position as a jazz standard, with recordings by Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Mel Tormé, and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Way You Look Tonight” with The Ralph Sharon Trio in 1977 for the soundtrack of My Best Friend’s Wedding.

“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2, is available on Apple Music.