James Rabe’s Top Nine Tony Bennett Songs You Have to Hear!
I'm a big Tony Bennett fan, so on his 90th birthday, I thought I'd put together a few of my favorites to make it easy for you to celebrate a living legend.
Born 90 years ago today as Anthony Dominick Benedetto, Tony Bennett has shown many generations how to be true to yourself. He was in the infantry near the end
of WWII, and then, when he got home, he got serious about his singing career. His first hit came in 1951 and by the 70's he thought he was done.
Then Tony partnered with his son, and he talked him into doing MTV: Unplugged. That was the beginning of Tony Bennett's big comeback Gold record after gold record, Grammy after Grammy, and even an Emmy, too.
And the best part? He didn't switch it up to fit the times. He let the times fit him.
Maybe that's why I respect him so. He's had some bad bad times, but he's also climbed the mountain. And he did it by being himself. 100% Tony Bennett.
Fly Me to the Moon
One of the sweetest love songs there is. I really like Frank Sinatra's version of it...it's fast, and fun, but this one? Tony takes it nice and slow.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
I'm including this for two reasons...he really belts it out a the end, and because I think of this song whenever I play Green Day's Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
Nobody's Heart Belongs To Me
This is one of the saddest love-lost songs ever. Ever. Its just Tony and Ralph, his pianist. Soft, sad, sweet.
Close Your Eyes
I love to dance, I love to dance with my sweetie-pie, and we used to do that, in my living room in Idaho, every week We'd move the tables and chairs to the side and feel the music in us. Sometimes we'd swing, but more often, we danced slow and close. When I close my eyes, I can still feel those moments.
The Very Thought of You
"The very thought of you, and I forget to do, the little ordinary things that everyone ought to do..." Now THIS is a love song!
The Shadow of Your Smile
A lot of times I want to go back to the original version of a song, but this duet is just wonderful. Juanes and Tony Bennett sound like they're made to sing together. And, at the end, when they both sing in Spanish? I always sink into it.
My Favorite Things
Maybe the most perfect non-Christmas Christmas-time song.
It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing
Tony Bennett released a series of tribute CD's. This song is from his Duke Ellington CD. I picked it because it shows his generous side. He steps aside and gives his amazing drummer, Clayton Cameron, the spotlight. BUT, he doesn't walk off stage for a braek, he stands in the shadows, watching, you can see he's into it. I've seen Tony live four or five times and every time Clayton Cameron does a solo, I get goosebumps.
Steppin' Out With My Baby
This was the first and only Tony Bennett song I played on the air when I worked down the hall at 106.9 KROC. It was a Make-it or Break-it song (it didn't make it). The video is perfect for the time and class of the man. The song was first performed in public in 1948!
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