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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

August 6, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Pick Yourself Up

The song of the day for Friday, August 7, 2020, is “Pick Yourself Up.”

About This Song

“Pick Yourself Up” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields in 1936 for the movie 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. I think it’s one of the best recordings on this very fine album, which won the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.

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

I have a lot of friends who work in the theater as well as friends who are performing musicians. During this pandemic, these artists are, of course, unable to work, as performances for live audiences are impossible under CDC guidelines and just plain common sense. So I was quite pleased when I learned of a project to raise money for the Actor’s Fund, which is providing emergency financial assistance to performing arts and entertainment professionals. Tony DeSare, a talented jazz singer, put together an All-Star Jazz Collab for the Actors Fund of “Pick Yourself Up” to help raise money. The video is just wonderful.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Actor's Fund, Bill Charlap, Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, Tony Bennett, Tony DeSare

August 5, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Thursday, August 6, 2020, is “All The Things You Are.”

About This Song

“All The Things You Are” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder considers it to be one of Kern’s finest songs and with good reason. It’s a beautiful tune and Hammerstein’s lyrics are excellent.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “All The Things You Are” for his 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, with Bill Charlap. This recording features a very fine piano solo by Charlap.

“All The Things You Are,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bill Charlap, Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, Tony Bennett

January 30, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Look For the Silver Lining

The song of the day for Friday, January 31, 2020, is “Look For the Silver Lining.”

About This Song

“Look For the Silver Lining” was written in 1919 by Jerome Kern and B.G. (Buddy) DeSylva for. the unsuccessful musical Zip, Goes a Million. In 1920 it was published and reused in the musical Sally where it was popularized by Marilyn Miller. The song remains popular to this day and has been sung by many artists.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Look For the Silver Lining,” accompanied by Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes (both on piano), for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.

“Look For the Silver Lining,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: B.G. DeSylva, Bill Charlap, Buddy DeSylva, Jerome Kern, Renee Rosnes, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern

January 29, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: They Didn’t Believe Me

The song of the day for Thursday. January 30, 2020, is “They Didn’t Believe Me.”

About This Song

Jerome Kern and Herbert Reynolds wrote “They Didn’t Believe Me” in 1914 for Broadway musical The Girl From Utah. It became Kern’s first major song success.

This song redefined the American love song. Before “They Didn’t Believe Me,” love songs reflected the customary waltz-rhythms of European influence. Kern broke the mold and fitted the new American passion for modern dances such as the fox-trot. The song is also remarkable in its use of ‘everyday’ language in a love song. Theatre historian John Kenrick writes that, until this point, the majority of love songs had relied on flowery vocabulary to express romantic sentiments. The song put Kern in great demand on Broadway and established a pattern for musical theatre love songs that lasted through the 1960s.

“They Didn’t Believe Me” became a standard and was used in several films in the 1930s and 1940s. Significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dinah Washington, Jeanette MacDonald, Johnny Mercer, Charlie Parker, Elvis Costello, Stan Kenton, Bill Frisell, Bud Powell, Edward Woodward, Harry Belafonte, Leontyne Price, and Marian McPartland.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “They Didn’t Believe Me” with the Bill Charlap Trio for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.

I think that Bennett’s recording of “They Didn’t Believe Me” is remarkable. With quiet and subdued accompanimnet from the Bill Charlap Trio, Bennett sings from his heart. It’s sincere, touching, and as real as can be.

“They Didn’t Believe Me,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Herbert Reynolds, Jerome Kern, The Bill Charlap Trio, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, Tony Bennett

October 22, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Dearly Beloved

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 23, 2019, is “Dearly Beloved.”

About This Song

“Dearly Beloved” was written in 1942 by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, for the film You Were Never Lovelier, starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth. The song was nominated for an Academy Award.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Dearly Beloved” with The Bill Charlap Trio for his 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Bill Charlap wrote the arrangement.

“Dearly Beloved,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bill Charlap, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, The Bill Charlap Trio, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, Tony Bennett

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