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 Ideal
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe she's a dream, and yet she might be
Just around the corner waiting for me.
Will I recognize the light in her eyes, that no other eyes reveal
Or will I pass her by and never even know that she is my ideal?
In Tony Bennett's song "My Ideal," he sings about searching for the perfect woman who he considers his ideal. Throughout the song, he wonders if she's just a dream or if she's truly out there waiting for him. He questions whether he'll be able to recognize her when he sees her, or if he'll accidentally pass her by without even realizing she was the one he's been searching for. The lyrics convey a feeling of hopeful yearning, as though the singer believes that his ideal woman is out there somewhere and he just needs to find her.
The song paints a picture of a man searching for love and companionship, but it also explores deeper themes of self-discovery and the search for meaning in life. The lyrics suggest that finding one's ideal partner can bring a sense of completeness and fulfillment, but they also acknowledge the possibility that this ideal may only exist in the mind and not in reality. As such, the song represents a universal human desire for connection and companionship, but also a recognition of the fragility and uncertainty of this pursuit.
Line by Line Meaning
Will I ever find the girl on my mind, the one who is my ideal?
I am searching for the perfect girl who I have been envisioning in my mind.
Maybe she's a dream, and yet she might be
Although it seems as though the girl may not be real, she could still exist out there somewhere.
Just around the corner waiting for me.
Perhaps the girl of my dreams is nearby and patiently waiting for me to find her.
Will I recognize the light in her eyes, that no other eyes reveal
When I finally do come across this girl, will I be able to see the unique qualities in her that set her apart from others?
Or will I pass her by and never even know that she is my ideal?
It's possible that I could miss my chance with this girl and never realize that she was the one I had been searching for all along.
Contributed by Landon I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.