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.
Let's Face the Music and Dance
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But while there's moonlight and music and love and romance
Let's face the music and dance
Before the fiddlers have fled
Before they ask us to pay the bill
And while we still have the chance
Let's face the music and dance
Soon, we'll be without the moon
Humming a different tune
And then, there may be tear drops to shed
So while there's moonlight and music and love and romance
Let's face the music and dance
Soon, we'll be without the moon
Humming a different tune
And then, and then, there may be tear drops to shed
So while there's moonlight and music and love and romance
Let's face the music and dance, dance
Let's face the music and dance
The lyrics of Tony Bennett's song, Let's Face The Music And Dance, embrace the idea of embracing life, even with the knowledge that trouble may lay ahead. The singer seems to advocate for enjoying the present moment and all that it entails, including moonlight, music, love, and romance. He urges the listener to "face the music and dance" while they still can, emphasizing the transient nature of life and the importance of making the most of it while one can.
As the lyrics continue, the singer notes the fleeting nature of life, suggesting that soon the moon may be gone and a different tune may be humming. Although he cautions that there may be tear drops to shed in the future, he emphasizes the importance of seizing the moment and enjoying life while it lasts. In essence, the song is a call to live in the present and enjoy all of the beauty and joy that life has to offer, even with the awareness that difficult times may lie ahead.
Overall, Let's Face The Music And Dance is a song about embracing life and living in the moment. It encourages listeners to engage with their experiences fully and to enjoy all the beauty and joy that the world has to offer, even in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
There may be trouble ahead,
Although there could be problems in the future,
But while there's moonlight and music and love and romance,
But if there's still a chance to enjoy the atmosphere of moonlight, music, love, and romance,
Let's face the music and dance.
Then we should just accept the situation and enjoy ourselves by dancing.
Before the fiddlers have fled,
Before the musicians leave and stop playing their instruments,
Before they ask us to pay the bill,
Before we're asked to pay for the music and entertainment,
And while we still have the chance,
So while we still have the opportunity,
Let's face the music and dance.
We should enjoy ourselves by dancing.
Soon, we'll be without the moon,
Eventually, there won't be any moonlight to enjoy,
Humming a different tune,
Things will be different and we'll have to adjust ourselves accordingly,
And then, there may be tear drops to shed.
There could be sadness or regret in the future.
So while there's moonlight and music and love and romance,
Therefore, if there's still a chance to experience these happy moments,
Let's face the music and dance, dance
We shouldn't hesitate to enjoy ourselves by dancing.
Let's face the music and dance.
We should just accept the situation and enjoy ourselves by dancing.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind