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.
I'm Glad There Is You
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
extraordinary people,
I'm glad there is you.
In this world of overrated pleasures,
of underrated treasures,
I'm glad there is you.
I'll love to live with you beside me,
This role so new
I'll muddle through with you to guide me.
In this world where many, many play at love,
And hardly stay in love,
I'm glad there is you, more than ever, I'm glad there is you.
Tony Bennett's "I'm Glad There Is You" is a love song that recognizes how difficult it can be to find true love in a world where genuine love can often be overrated or ignored. The song's opening lyrics refer to the many ordinary and extraordinary people who exist in the world, suggesting that it can be challenging to find someone with whom you can truly connect. Bennett acknowledges the existence of both overrated pleasures and underrated treasures, but ultimately affirms his gratitude for the person he loves.
The chorus of the song describes how the singer intends to live his life with the person he loves by his side. He recognizes that this new role will have its challenges, but he will overcome them with the help of his partner. The final verse underscores how challenging it can be to find love in a world where many people "play at love" but do not stay in love. Bennett is grateful that he has found someone who he can love for the long term, and he is delighted to share his life with this person.
Overall, "I'm Glad There Is You" is a tender love song that acknowledges the difficulties of finding real love in a world that can be difficult to navigate. Tony Bennett's vocals are warm and expressive, lending a depth of emotion to the lyrics. The song serves as a timeless reminder of the power of true love and the joy that it can bring to one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
In this world of ordinary people,
In a world where everyone seems to blend in and be the same,
extraordinary people,
there are still unique and special individuals out there,
I'm glad there is you.
and it makes me happy that I have you in my life.
In this world of overrated pleasures,
In a world where people value superficial and temporary things too highly,
of underrated treasures,
there are still important things and people that are underappreciated,
I'm glad there is you.
and I cherish and value you even more because of it.
I'll live to love,
My purpose in life is to show and give love,
I'll love to live with you beside me,
and my happiness and fulfillment comes from having you by my side,
This role so new
Even though this is a new and unfamiliar experience for me,
I'll muddle through with you to guide me.
I am confident that with your support and guidance, I can navigate through it successfully.
In this world where many, many play at love,
In a world where people treat love as a game or a fleeting emotion,
And hardly stay in love,
and don't truly commit to it in the long-term,
I'm glad there is you, more than ever, I'm glad there is you.
I am grateful that you are someone who takes love seriously and is dedicated to our relationship, now more than ever.
Contributed by Jayce W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.