The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Look For The Silver Lining

The song of the day for Sunday, December 31, 2017 is “Look For The Silver Lining.”

About This Song

“Look for the Silver Lining” was written in 1919 (!) by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by B.G. (Buddy) DeSylva, for the musical Zip, Goes a Million and again in 1920 for a musical named Sally. The song has remained popular ever since; at 98 years old, it’s a great song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap recorded “Look for the Silver Lining” for the album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, released in 2015. It won the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.

Look For the Silver Lining

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


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

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Friday, October 6, 2017 is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About This Song

Written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, “The Way You Look Tonight” 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 and Bill Charlap recorded this exquisite version of “The Way You Look Tonight” for their 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.

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.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Saturday, January 28, 2017 is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written in 1936 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

I decided that a celebration of Jerome Kern’s birthday could easily be extended for a second day; I also know for a fact that this song is favorite of several of this site’s readers, because they write to me and tell me so. And for good reason–the song is more than beautiful. When I listen to it, I understand exactly how Dorothy Fields felt when she first heard the song.

Today I’m featuring Bennett’s most recent version from the 2015 album with Bill Charlap; The Silver Lining: The Music of Jerome Kern.

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 Music of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

About Today

It’s a video Saturday! Here are Tony and Bill Charlap.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Sunday, January 1, 2017 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 recorded performance of “All The Things You Are” was at his legendary 1962 Carnegie Hall concert. Today’s version is his most recent, from the 2015 album with Bill Charlap: The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.

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.

By 4 Comments

Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Thursday, October 27, 2016 is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields in 1936. It was introduced by Fred Astaire in the 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 Bennet has recorded this beautiful song several times. Today I feature his most recent recording from last year’s The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, with 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

Tonight, my friend Lesley and I had the great honor to see Tony Bennett in concert here in Portland. We had a wonderful time, for the most part, save a few drunks seated in front of and behind us. One drank from a flask throughout, getting drunker and talking louder the entire time. The one behind us was yelling and shouting like he was at football game. He also sang along to many of the songs, especially this one. So tonight when Tony sings “The Way You Look Tonight,” I mostly heard the idiot drunk behind me. I dedicate this recording to me and to Lesley, so that we can hear it sung by the master himself.

But who needs an excuse to listen to this song? It’s one of Kern’s best and Tony’s recording is better than great.