Bennett began singing at an early age. He fought in the final stages of World War II as a U.S. Army infantryman in the European Theater. Afterward, he developed his singing technique, signed with Columbia Records and had his first number-one popular song with "Because of You" in 1951. Several tracks such as "Rags to Riches" followed in early 1953. He then refined his approach to encompass jazz singing. He reached an artistic peak in the late 1950s with albums such as The Beat of My Heart and Basie Swings, Bennett Sings. In 1962, Bennett recorded his signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". His career and personal life experienced an extended downturn during the height of the rock music era. Bennett staged a comeback in the late 1980s and 1990s, putting out gold record albums again and expanding his reach to the MTV generation while keeping his musical style intact.
Bennett continued to create popular and critically praised work into the 21st century. He attracted acclaim for his collaborations with Lady Gaga, which began with the album Cheek to Cheek (2014); the two performers toured together to promote the album throughout 2014 and 2015. With the release of the duo's second album, Love for Sale (2021), Bennett broke the individual record for the longest span of top-10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart for any living artist; his first top-10 record was I Left My Heart in San Francisco in 1962. Bennett also broke the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to release an album of new material, at the age of 95 years and 60 days.
Bennett has amassed numerous accolades throughout his career, including 19 Grammy Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards. He was named an NEA Jazz Master and a Kennedy Center Honoree. Bennett has sold over 50 million records worldwide.
In February 2021, it was revealed that Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016. Due to the slow progression of his illness, he continued to record, tour, and perform until his retirement from concert performances in August 2021 due to physical challenges.
Bennett died in New York City on Friday, July 21, 2023, at the age of 96. His death was announced by his publicist.
Girl Talk
Tony Bennett Lyrics
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They chew the fat about their tresses and the neighbor's fight,
Inconsequential things that men don't really care to know
Become essential things that women find so ap-pro-pos,
But that's a dame, they're all the same it's just a game they call it
Girl talk, girl talk
They all meow about the ups and downs of all their friends,
The who, the how, the why, they dish the dirt, it never ends.
But though we joke, we wouldn't trade you for a ton of gold.
So baby stay and gab away, but hear me say that after
Girl talk, talk to me.
So baby stay, and gab away, but hear me say
That after girl talk, talk to me.
It's all been planned, so take my hand; please understand
The sweetest girl talk talks of me.
In Tony Bennett's song "Girl Talk," the lyrics focus on the different types of conversations that men and women have. The song describes how women tend to talk about the little things that aren't essential to share with men, but are important to share among each other. Men, on the other hand, tend to care less about these little details and prefer more straightforward conversations. This is represented in the lyrics when it says, "Inconsequential things that men don't really care to know, become essential things that women find so apropos."
The lyrics also describe how women tend to gossip about their friends and acquaintances, discussing the ups and downs of their lives. The song presents a humorous take on this behavior, saying that men see women as the "weaker" and "speaker" sex. However, despite poking fun at these differences, the song acknowledges the value in these conversations and how they create strong bonds among women.
The final stanza of the song takes a romantic turn and explains how, while girl talk is important, talking about the one you love is the "sweetest girl talk." The singer asks the woman to stay and continue gossiping, but to remember to include him in the important conversations.
Overall, "Girl Talk" is a fun and lighthearted song that highlights the differences in communication styles between men and women.
Line by Line Meaning
They like to chat about the dresses they will wear tonight
Women enjoy talking about their outfit choices for an upcoming event
They chew the fat about their tresses and the neighbor's fight
Women talk about their hair and gossip about their neighbors
Inconsequential things that men don't really care to know
Men find the topics of women's conversations unimportant and not worth knowing
Become essential things that women find so ap-pro-pos
Women consider even the most trivial things to be important and relevant
But that's a dame, they're all the same it's just a game they call it
Men often make generalizations about women's behavior and consider their conversations to be a game
Girl talk, girl talk
Refers to the topic of conversation among women
They all meow about the ups and downs of all their friends
Women talk extensively about the experiences and emotions of their friends
The who, the how, the why, they dish the dirt, it never ends
Women gossip about the details of their friends' lives and it seems to be never-ending
The weaker sex, the "speaker" sex we mortal males behold
Men sometimes view women as weaker than them, but also acknowledge that they are often the more communicative gender
But though we joke, we wouldn't trade you for a ton of gold
Despite joking about women's conversations, men value and appreciate women in their lives
So baby stay and gab away, but hear me say that after
Men are willing to let women continue their conversation, but also want to be included
Girl talk, talk to me
Men want to be included in women's conversations
It's all been planned, so take my hand; please understand
The singer has a plan and wants the woman to follow his lead
The sweetest girl talk talks of me
The singer wants to be the topic of conversation among the women
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Claude Nougaro, Neal Hefti, Robert William Troup
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind