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 Had To Be You
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could be, should be making me glad
But why am I blue?
It's up to you to explain
I'm thinking maybe, baby, I'll go away
Someday, some way, you'll come and say
It's you that I need
It had to be you, it had to be you
I wandered around and finally found
The somebody who could make me be blue
Could make me be true and even be glad
Just to be sad, thinking of you
Some others I've seen, oh, might never be mean
Might never be cross or try to be boss
But they wouldn't do
For nobody else gave me a thrill
With all your faults, I love you still
It had to be you
Wonderful you, it had to be you
The lyrics of Tony Bennett's "It Had to Be You" describe the singer's longing for someone who can make him feel truly happy. He acknowledges that he has had many dreams that should have made him happy but for some reason he still feels blue. He believes it's up to the person he is singing to, to explain why he is feeling this way. The singer then goes on to say that he is considering going away, but he hopes that the person he is singing to will come after him and tell him that they need him because he feels they are the only one who can make him truly happy.
The second part of the lyrics describes the various other people the singer has met who might never be mean or bossy but they wouldn't do because they didn't give him the same thrill that the person he is singing to does. Despite the person's flaws, he still loves them deeply and believes that he had to end up with this particular person because they are "wonderful" and "it had to be" them.
The lyrics of the song echo the idea that sometimes it is difficult to explain why we love certain people, but we just know that they are the right person for us. The song is often played at weddings, and it has become a classic love song that still resonates with people today.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems like dreams I've always have
The singer has had recurring dreams that he feels should make him happy.
Could be, should be making me glad
The singer thinks that his dreams should be bringing him happiness.
But why am I blue?
Despite the singer's dreams, he is still feeling sad and he does not know why.
It's up to you to explain
The singer is asking someone to help him understand why he's feeling blue despite his happy dreams.
I'm thinking maybe, baby, I'll go away
The singer is contemplating leaving, maybe to try to find happiness elsewhere.
Someday, someway you'll come and say
The singer believes that he will be approached by someone who will change his life for the better.
It's you that I need
The singer believes that the person who approaches him will be the one he needs to bring him happiness.
Maybe you'll be pleading in vain
The singer is unsure if the person who approaches him will be the one he needs to make him happy.
It had to be you, it had to be you
The singer believes that this person who approached him was meant to be in his life.
I wandered around and finally found
The singer took his time to find the right person to make him happy.
The somebody who could make me be blue
The singer found someone who could make him feel happy and sad at the same time.
Could make me be true or even be glad
This person could bring out the best in the singer and make him truly happy.
Just to be sad, thinking of you
Even when the singer is feeling sad, he finds comfort in thinking about this person he found.
Some others I've seen, might never be mean
The singer has met others, but they were not the right person for him.
Might never be cross or try to be boss
Other people the singer met do not have any bad qualities, but also do not have the ability to bring him happiness.
But they wouldn't do
The singer knows that these people are not the right ones for him.
For nobody else gave me a thrill
The singer never felt the excitement and happiness that he feels with this person he found.
With all your faults I love you still
The singer acknowledges that the person he found is not perfect, but he still loves them regardless of their flaws.
It had to be you,
The singer reiterates his belief that this person was meant to be in his life.
Wonderful you, it had to be you
The singer expresses his admiration and gratitude for the person he found.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Isham Jones, Gus Kahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@amanteamada1
MAGNÍFICO TEMA!!! TENÍAS QUE SER TÚ interpretado IMPECABLEMENTE
Me recuerda a Meg Ryan en "Cuando Harry conoció a Sally"
MGracias x compartir.
Why do I do just as you say
Why must I just give you your way
Why do I sigh, why don't I try to forget
It must have been that something lovers call fate
Kept me saying I have to wait
I saw them all, just couldn't fall till we met
It had to be you, it had to be you
I wandered around and finally found the somebody who
Could make me be true and could make me be blue
And even be glad just to be sad thinking of you
Some others I've seen might never be mean
Might never be cross or try to be boss
But they wouldn't do
For nobody else gave me a thrill
With all your faults, I love you still
It had to be you, wonderful you, it had to be you
For nobody else gave me a thrill
With all your faults, I love you still
It had to be you, wonderful you, it had to be you.
@tiagomartinsdossantos5467
Its seems like dreams like I've always had
Could be, should be, makin' me glad
Why am I blue?
Its up to you to explain
I'm thinking maybe baby I'll go away
Someday, some way, you'll come and say,
"Its you that I need"
Maybe you'll be pleading in vain
It had to be you, it had to be you
I wandered around, and finally found the somebody who
Could make me be blue, could make me be true
And even be glad, just to be sad - thinking of you
Some others I've seen, might never be mean
Might never be cross, or try to be boss
But they wouldn't do
For nobody else, gave me a thrill - with all your faults, I love you still
It had to be you, wonderful you
It had to be you
@alifputrautama3379
Let’s sing a song
Its seems like dreams like I've always had
Could be, should be, makin' me glad
Why am I blue?
Its up to you to explain
I'm thinking maybe baby I'll go away
Someday, some way, you'll come and say,
"Its you that I need"
Maybe you'll be pleading in vain
It had to be you, it had to be you
I wandered around, and finally found the somebody who
Could make me be blue, could make me be true
And even be glad, just to be sad - thinking of you
Some others I've seen, might never be mean
Might never be cross, or try to be boss
But they wouldn't do
For nobody else, gave me a thrill - with all your faults, I love you still
It had to be you, wonderful you
It had to be you
@dkellyv8293
RIP to a legend!!! You’ll be missed Tony. What a great duet!
@bonnielogan6895
Tony's phrasing is impeccable! What a musician he is! Carrie did a nice job, considering she's not a jazz singer. Lovely duet!
@KentuckyJet
I have a facebook page for Tony- The Amazing Tony Bennett- please join
@nickriggio8807
discontinued
@hawkrider88
Well said. bonnielogan
@JellieCarpio-ut4qp
❤😂❤ beautiful songs yeah yeah happyeye gorgeous big smile jelliegant yeyeman Jesus Christ give us healing and forgiveness ninagiradosittijellieyeye
@angelalonso473
A classic melody with their voices is angelical and is a message of love.
@sonreglopes
I love this song, especially with Tony Bennett and Carrie Underwood, simply wonderful.
@carolinashaw3859
Love Carrie Underwood. You really get to feel and hear her voice. The power behind it. Love this Duo!
@curtislimbaugh5035
She's intoxicating: melodic, clear and smooth. Kudos! Carrie Underwood.