The Beat of My Heart
I Will Forever Love You, Tony Bennett
About four years ago, my mother and I had the opportunity to see him. He was just as powerful as he was on those early records. Lucid, subtle, forceful, sorrowful, and joyous. And he brought his dog out to wave good night after the encore!
Please enjoy the below selections I’ve made. All of these songs deeply affect me. I have also assembled them as a playlist on YouTube for easier listening.1
Have a great day. Remember Tony’s big, beautiful smile. It's Monday. Go out and get it!
Obviously, this is a mere sliver of his magnificent, eighty-year career. I have some of the early, popular stuff here, as well as his late, seasoned work with Bill Charlap. Woefully, I have only included one cut with Bill Evans. If you want a dive into Bennett’s skill using his voice as an instrument — anything with Evans is magnificent. That said, I stuck more to songs that have emotional value for me, done in more accessible tones. (I also left out the late duets he did. These have their value [particularly his work with K.D. Lang], but I was focused more on Tony himself.)
Love it!