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.
Stella By Starlight
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through years of endless springs
The murmur of a brook at eventide
That ripples through a nook where two lovers hide
That great symphonic theme
That's Stella by starlight
And not a dream
She's everything on this earth to me
That great symphonic theme
That's Stella by starlight
And not a dream
My heart and I agree
She's everything on this earth to me
In the song "Stella By Starlight" by Tony Bennett, the lyrics describe the beauty and magic of a particular woman named Stella. The song starts by comparing Stella's voice to that of a robin singing during endless springs. This suggests that Stella's voice is something that brings joy and happiness like the arrival of springtime. The second line mentions the murmur of a brook at evening tides, which can be interpreted as a romantic setting where two lovers can hide and be alone.
The chorus of the song refers to Stella as a great symphonic theme. This means that her presence brings about a positive and uplifting feeling, similar to the sound of a symphony orchestra. The line "And not a dream" reinforces that Stella's existence is not just a figment of imagination, but a real person that the singer has fallen in love with. The last line, "She's everything on this earth to me" shows that the importance of Stella in the singer's life cannot be overstated, further reinforcing the love and admiration that he has for her.
Line by Line Meaning
The song a robin sings
The melody that a robin sings
Through years of endless springs
Throughout many seasons of rebirth and new beginnings
The murmur of a brook at evening tides
The soft sound of water flowing in the evening
That ripples through a nook where two lovers hide
Causing waves in a small secluded area where two people are hidden away
That great symphonic theme
The majestic musical composition
That's Stella by starlight
That is named Stella because it is inspired by the stars
And not a dream
It is not a figment of my imagination
My heart and I agree
Both my emotions and I concur
She's everything on this earth to me
She is everything that matters to me in this world
That great symphonic theme
The wondrous musical composition
That's Stella by starlight
Which is named Stella because it is inspired by the stars
And not a dream
It is not a figment of my imagination
My heart and I agree
Both my emotions and I concur
She's everything on this earth to me
She is everything that matters to me in this world
Lyrics © Editora e Importadora Musical Fermata do Brasil Ltda., Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Ned Washington, Victor Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind