The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Make Believe

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 2, 2019, is “Make Believe.”

About This Song

“Make Believe” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1927 Broadway musical Show Boat. The first recording of this song was made in 1928 by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, featuring vocals by Bing Crosby.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Make Believe” for his 2015 album with the Bill Charlap Trio, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.

Make Believe

Make Believe, a song by Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap on Spotify

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

About Today

This January we are featuring the songs of Jerome Kern, who was born in January 1885. Look forward to lots of very great songs by Jerome Kern sung by Tony Bennett this month.

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Song of the Day: They Didn’t Believe Me

The song of the day for Thursday, July 13, 2018 is “They Didn’t Believe Me.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “They Didn’t Believe Me,” was written in 1914 by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Herbert Reynolds. First introduced in the 1914 musical The Girl from Utah it was one of five numbers added to the show by Kern and Reynolds for its Broadway debut at the Knickerbocker Theatre on August 14, 1914. The show had originated in Britain, but impresario Charles Frohman had felt it needed additional material to enliven its U.S. run. It became Kern’s first major song success.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap recorded “They Didn’t Believe Me” for their 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. In addition to Bennett’s beautifully intimate choices in singing today’s song, the piano work by Mr. Charlap and the bass from Peter Washington is just splendid. Thank you all, gentlemen.

You might be saying, “But Suzanne. You played a Jerome Kern song yesterday.” All I can say is that once I get Jerome Kern music in my head, I just can’t let it go.

They Didn"t Believe Me

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


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

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Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 20, 2018 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’s first recording of “All The Things You Are” was for his 1962 Concert at Carnegie Hall. I have to confess that I not heard of this before listening to the album from that concert. But I fell completely in love with this song and often wondered when he might record again. My dreams came true in 2015 with The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, recorded with pianist Bill Charlap. Their version is quite lovely and Charlap’s piano solo is just exquisite.

All The Things You Are

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


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

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Saturday, May 12, 2018 is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “The Way You Look Tonight,” was written in 1936 by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Dorothy Fields for 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 has recorded “The Way You Look Tonight” many times: as early as 1958 for the album Long Ago and Far Way and most recently for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. I’m featuring the 2015 recording, with the wonderful Bill Charlap on piano.

The Way You Look Tonight

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


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

About Today

Today’s video is from a 2015 episode of The View, featuring Mr. Bennett and Mr. Charlap.

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Saturday, January 27, 2018 is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for 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 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.

Today we are pleased to honor Jerome Kern, who was born on January 27, 1885, on the anniversary of his birth.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “The Way You Look Tonight” with the Ralph Sharon Trio in 1997 for the film My Best Friend’s Wedding. It’s an exquisite recording of an exquisite song.

The Way You Look Tonight

Listen to The Way You Look Tonight on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2012


“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as all of the songs collected on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Once again it’s Saturday–our video today is a performance of today’s song by Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap on CBS This Morning in 2015 for release of their album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.

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