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.
Taking a Chance On Love
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear those trumpets blow again
All aglow again
Taking a chance on love
Here I slide again
About to take that ride again
Oh, starry eyed again
Now I thought that cards were a frame-up
And I never would try
But now, I'm taking the game up
And the ace of hearts is high
Things are mending now
I see a rainbow blending now
We'll have a happy ending now
Taking a chance
I hear those trumpets blow again
And well, taking a chance
About to take that ride again
Taking a chance
Now I walk around with a horseshoe
In clover I lie
Mr. rabbit, Mr. rabbit of course
You better kiss that foot good-bye
Oh, I'm on the ball again
Riding for a fall again
I'm gonna give my all again
Taking a chance
I'm taking a chance
Taking a chance on love
Tony Bennett's song Taking a Chance on Love is a classic love song that paints a picture of a person taking a leap of faith in pursuit of love. The lyrics "Here I go again, I hear those trumpets blow again, All aglow again, Taking a chance on love" suggest that the person is excited and optimistic about the possibility of finding love. The imagery of trumpets signals the sense of excitement and anticipation that comes with new beginnings. The line "About to take that ride again, Oh, starry eyed again, Taking a chance on love" implies that the person has been through this experience before, but they have not been discouraged by their past experiences and are ready to try again.
The lyrics also describe a change in attitude towards love. The person previously thought that "cards were a frame-up," suggesting that they did not believe in the possibility of finding true love. However, they have now "taken the game up" and are willing to take a chance. The line "And the ace of hearts is high" implies that they believe that this time, they have a high probability of finding true love.
The lyrics also include references to good luck charms with the mention of a horseshoe and Mr. Rabbit. This is suggestive of the person wanting to win the affections of their love interest and hinting at the importance of symbols and superstitions in romance.
In summary, Tony Bennett's Taking a Chance on Love is a song about taking a leap of faith in love, leaving behind past experiences, and embracing new beginnings.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I go again
I'm embarking on a new adventure
I hear those trumpets blow again
I sense that opportunity is knocking
All aglow again
I feel enthusiastic and optimistic
Taking a chance on love
I'm willing to take a risk in pursuit of happiness
Here I slide again
I'm slipping into the familiar routine of taking risks
About to take that ride again
I'm about to embark on an unpredictable journey
Oh, starry eyed again
I'm feeling dreamy and optimistic, willing to take a chance
Taking a chance on love
I'm risking my heart in pursuit of love
Now I thought that cards were a frame-up
I used to believe that everything in life was rigged against me
And I never would try
So I avoided taking chances and risks
But now, I'm taking the game up
But now I'm game for a challenge
And the ace of hearts is high
And I'm feeling good about my chances for success
Things are mending now
Things are starting to look up
I see a rainbow blending now
I see a bright and optimistic future ahead of me
We'll have a happy ending now
I'm optimistic that everything will work out in the end
Taking a chance
I'm willing to take a risk
I hear those trumpets blow again
I sense opportunity knocking again
And well, taking a chance
So, I'm going for it
About to take that ride again
About to embark on another unpredictable journey
Taking a chance
Taking a risk
Now I walk around with a horseshoe
Now I feel lucky
In clover I lie
Now I'm enjoying prosperity
Mr. rabbit, Mr. rabbit of course
Mr. Rabbit, a traditional symbol of good luck
You better kiss that foot good-bye
You better let go of your doubts and embrace your luck
Oh, I'm on the ball again
I'm back in my groove
Riding for a fall again
I'm taking a risk, but it could result in failure
I'm gonna give my all again
I'm going to put everything into it
Taking a chance
Taking a risk
I'm taking a chance
I'm taking a risk
Taking a chance on love
I'm risking my heart in pursuit of love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Latouche, Ted Fetter, Vernon Duke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind