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.
My Baby Just Cares For Me
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My baby don't care for clothes
My baby just cares for me
My baby don't care for cars and races
My baby don't care for high tone places
Elizabeth Taylor is not his style
Is something he can't see
My baby don't care who knows it
My baby just cares for me
I wonder what's wrong with baby
My baby just cares for
He just says his prayers for
My baby just cares
For me
In Tony Bennett's "My Baby Just Cares for Me," he describes a love that exists beyond material possessions and surface-level beauty. The "baby" in question isn't impressed by fancy shows, expensive clothes, or high society events. Instead, he or she is content to simply love the singer, without worrying about what anyone else thinks.
The second stanza continues to highlight the baby's lack of interest in material things. Cars, races, and high tone places simply don't matter to this person. Even celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Ricky Martin fail to impress the baby. The singer seems a bit bewildered by this, wondering what could possibly be wrong with someone who doesn't care for all these things that society deems important. But ultimately, he's just grateful that the baby cares for him.
This song speaks to the value of true love and the importance of finding someone who loves us just for who we are, rather than what we have or the image we present to the world. It's a reminder to focus on the things that truly matter in our relationships, rather than getting caught up in superficialities.
Line by Line Meaning
My baby don't care for shows
My significant other is uninterested in attending events or performances as a form of entertainment
My baby don't care for clothes
My significant other is not particularly concerned with fashion or the material possessions associated with it
My baby just cares for me
However, my significant other values and prioritizes our relationship above all else
My baby don't care for cars and races
My significant other has minimal interest in automobiles and competitive sporting events
My baby don't care for high tone places
My significant other is not drawn to pretentious or upscale settings
Elizabeth Taylor is not his style
Celebrity culture and Hollywood icons do not appeal to my significant other's tastes
And even Ricky Martin's smile
My significant other is not swayed by attractive or charming public figures
Is something he can't see
These external qualities hold no value or importance for my significant other
My baby don't care who knows it
My significant other is unashamed and proud of the fact that their affection is solely for me
I wonder what's wrong with baby
Despite these differences in interests and preferences, I cannot help but feel grateful and curious about my significant other's love
He just says his prayers for
My significant other expresses their devotion through prayer and gratitude
My baby just cares
Ultimately, my significant other's love is simple, genuine, and focused solely on me
For me
And that is all that truly matters to both of us
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind