Tony Bennett
A Reason To Smile
Many people are called legends. Few embodied the word like Tony Bennett, who passed away this week at the age of 96.
His voice. His presence. His style. He was timely and timeless. He had an otherworldly talent of coaxing the sublime out of the music he sang. But he was also a consummate craftsman and tireless worker. He earned his longevity, and we all benefited from it.
Bennett was such a fixture across the decades that it is almost unbelievable that he is gone. But life, like the songs we sing, eventually must hit its final notes. And in Bennett’s case they crescendoed toward the end. His later-life collaborations with singers young enough to be his grandchildren — like Lady Gaga — prove that relevance is a state of mind. In art, music, and life in general, we all can benefit when we reach across generations to learn from each other, staying curious and inspired.
In the outpouring of tributes to Bennett, we learned about his service in World War II, his support for civil rights, and his dark period in mid-life when his popularity had ebbed and substance abuse nearly killed him. But America loves second acts, and Bennett had many highlights — and Grammys — to come. In a pop culture often obsessed with youth, Bennett’s popularity with young listeners shows we may want to rethink society’s definition of “cool.”
Over the decades, Bennett’s songs have brought countless smiles, so we figured it would be fitting to share a few of them today. Choosing from his catalog, however, is an exercise in being overwhelmed — so many classics. We’ve selected three that we felt spoke to the spirit of the Steady newsletter. But please add your own ideas to the comments section.
We start with “The Best Is Yet To Come,” which brims with optimism and resilience. The melody swings, and the lyrics match a feeling of uplift and hope. This version with the incomparable Diana Krall and dancers was particularly joyful.
Bennett’s 1965 classic “If I Ruled the World” speaks to a yearning for inclusion, love, and empathy. The line “Every voice would be a voice to be heard” feels particularly fitting at a time when many who are already marginalized are also being silenced.
And we end with “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” It was recorded on a whim and became an unlikely classic. People just liked hearing it and hearing Tony Bennett. And what better tribute can a singer or a song have?
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Dan and Elliott,
Tears are on my cheeks as I write this. Just like millions of Americans I have suffered the loss of someone who made a difference in my life.
My father worked as Head Usher at the NY Paramount theater in the late 1940's while he was going to Podiatry School. He knew all the great crooners, and in fact, hired Vic Damone to be an usher there. He and Vic remained friends for decades. My dad's love of these iconic artists was instilled in the hearts of my siblings and myself. We had many long car rides shortened by singing these songs.
Many years later, I had the privilege of sitting across the aisle from Tony on a flight to Brazil. I was reluctant to even speak to him and invade his personal space. It was Tony who reached out to me by asking questions about the purpose of my trip, my family, and my preferences for music. I was able to tell him how much his music had influenced my musical tastes. Halfway through our long flight, Tony got up, walked back into the Coach section of the plane, and just shook hands and greeted everyone. He made each person feel special, and created for them memories that will never fade.
While I love the songs you selected, my top Tony Bennett tunes are different:
1. The Very Thought of You
2. The Way You Look Tonight
3. It Had To Be You
4. For Once In My Life
CNN had a wonderful recap of his life. Anderson Cooper spent a lot of time with Tony in his final years. The power of his music was evident when, suffering from Alheizmer's and having lost his ability for short term memory, Tony only needed to hear one or two notes and could recall the lyrics and perform one of his songs.
The world is poorer today for his loss, but heaven is benefitting from his Angelic voice. The best word to describe Tony is to say he was "gentle." He was gentle with his voice, with his thoughts, with his love and with his fans around the world.
As we say in the Jewish Faith: BDE (Baruch Dayan Emmes - G-d Is the Ultimate Truth)!
One doesn't have to be a "fan" to appreciate Tony Bennett's talent and longevity. But, he was so much more than that. He was a mensch. He loved people, appreciated them and let them know it. Bennett's humanity defined him. He will be sorely missed.