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.
It's Magic
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are all really true
When in my heart I know
The magic is my love for you
You sign the song begins
You speak and I hear violins, it's magic
The stars, desert the skies
Without a golden wand or mystic charms
Fantastic things begin when I am in your arms
When we walk hand in hand
The world becomes a wonderland, it's magic
How else can I explain those rainbows
When there ain't no rain, it's magic
Why do I tell me myself
These things that happen are all really true
When in my heart
I know the magic is my love for you
Magic, magic, magic, magic
In Tony Bennett's "It's Magic," the singer explores the power of love and how it can feel like pure magic when two people are together. The opening lines indicate a certain level of disbelief in the events happening, but the singer's heart tells them that the magic is real, stemming from their love. From the moment that his lover speaks or sings, he hears violins which he describes as magic, and the world around them seems to transform. The stars in the sky seem to come alive, nearly abandoning their posts to move closer to his lover's eyes. This act of his lover's presence making everything else fade away symbolizes how infatuated the singer is with them. He goes on to describe how this magic happens when they are holding hands, and a wondrous rainbow appears in the sky without any indication of rain, which he describes as pure magic.
The lyrics to Tony Bennett's "It's Magic" paint a beautiful picture of love's power and all of the beautiful things that it can make possible. The singer's love and admiration are so strong that they feel like everything around them is transformed. The song speaks to how magical and transformative love can be, making us feel things beyond what we perceive or understand.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do I tell myself these things that happen
Are all really true
When in my heart I know
The magic is my love for you
I sometimes deceive myself to believe that certain events are real when in fact, I know deep down that the true magic lies in my affection for you.
You sign the song begins
You speak and I hear violins, it's magic
The stars, desert the skies
And rush to nestle in your eyes, it's magic
The enchantment takes over me each time I see or hear you. The stars seem to abandon the sky to reside in your eyes, and your voice sounds like the heavens are playing a melody.
Without a golden wand or mystic charms
Fantastic things begin when I am in your arms
I do not need any magical apparatus to experience extraordinary sensations when I am holding you.
When we walk hand in hand
The world becomes a wonderland, it's magic
How else can I explain those rainbows
When there ain't no rain, it's magic
Every step we take together feels like we are entering a new and captivating world. How else could we see rainbows when there isn't any rain? It's nothing but pure magic.
Why do I tell me myself
These things that happen are all really true
When in my heart
I know the magic is my love for you
I often convince myself that realistic occurrences possess some mystical significance, but I am aware that the only true magic in my life is my deep passion for you.
Magic, magic, magic, magic
The magic of our love is so strong and everlasting that it bears repeating four times over.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JULE STYNE, SAMMY CAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stav 🦄
Why do I tell myself these things that happen
Are all really true
When in my heart I know
The magic is my love for you
You sign the song begins
You speak and I hear violins, it's magic
The stars, desert the skies
And rush to nestle in your eyes, it's magic
Without a golden wand or mystic charms
Fantastic things begin when I am in your arms
When we walk hand in hand
The world becomes a wonderland, it's magic
How else can I explain those rainbows
When there ain't no rain, it's magic
Why do I tell me myself
These things that happen are all really true
When in my heart
I know the magic is my love for you
Magic, magic, magic, magic
elvira holguin reyes
I didn´t know Bennett sang this masterpiece, Thanks a lot for this magical moment!
KentuckyJet
A beautiful song sung by the master! Tony has been so superb for so many years that I can not remember a time when he wasn't singing gems like this song!
KentuckyJet
It is tragic that a gem like It's Magic is not played by any DJ's in the USA. Tony has recorded so many great songs and yet all we ever hear are the better known songs he has recorded. His catalogue is vast and mostly unheard. What a pity.
1billwill
I agree
1billwill
What a talent Tony has been , brilliant for many many years ,and such a beautiful song sung by the Master, thank you for the posting.
Nick Riggio
Nick Riggio
11 months ago (edited)
Listen to Tony on Facebook at : Friends of Tony Bennett
James Darling Jr
The great and timeless Tony Bennett. My idol and inspiration. I am in rehearsal with this very song. His phrasing and ability to master the art of storytelling is masterful. And...His voice...(project 52)
Nick Riggio
Nick Riggio
11 months ago (edited)
Listen to Tony on Facebook at : Friends of Tony Bennett
Nick Riggio
Nick Riggio
11 months ago (edited)
Listen to Tony on Facebook at : Friends of Tony Bennett
Rosario Escueta
TRULY TONY IS A GREAT GREAT SINGER, I LOVE ALL OF HIS SONG, REALLY IT’S MAGIC