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.
The Very Thought of You
Tony Bennett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
I'm living in a kind of daydream
I'm happy as the king
And foolish though it may seem
To me, that's everything
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes, in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love
You'll never know how slow the moments go 'til I'm near to you
I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you
The very thought of you, my love
In Tony Bennett's "The Very Thought Of You," the singer speaks about the powerful impact that the mere thought of someone can have on him. He describes how he becomes so enamored with thoughts of his lover that he forgets all about the ordinary things in life that everyone should do. The singer is in a daydream state, happy as a king, simply because of the idea of being with this person. While these feelings might seem foolish to others, to the singer, they are everything.
The lyrics go on to describe how slow time moves when the singer is away from his lover. He sees reminders of them in everything around him, particularly in flowers and stars. The very thought of being with this person fills the singer with joy and happiness, and that is enough to sustain him, at least for a time.
Overall, the song is a beautiful love ballad that speaks to the way that love can take over our thoughts and emotions, even when we are physically apart from the person we love. The power of love to inspire and sustain us is a universal theme, and "The Very Thought Of You" captures it with simple elegance.
Line by Line Meaning
The very thought of you and I forget to do
Thinking about you makes me forget even the most basic things that I should be doing
The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
These basic things that I forget to do are the everyday tasks that we all should be doing
I'm living in a kind of daydream
Thoughts of you take me to a world of imagination and fantasy
I'm happy as a king
These daydreams bring me immense happiness and satisfaction
And foolish though it may seem
Others may see my daydreaming as silly or impractical
To me that's everything
However, to me, these dreams are all I need to feel complete and happy
The mere idea of you, the longing here for you
Just the thought of you is enough to make me long for your presence by my side
You'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you
The anticipation of being with you makes time feel slower than usual
I see your face in every flower
Your beauty and presence are everywhere I look
Your eyes in stars above
Even the stars remind me of your captivating eyes
It's just the thought of you
All of these beautiful things are simply because I am thinking about you
The very thought of you, my love
Overall, the very thought of you brings me infinite joy and love
Lyrics © CONSALAD CO., Ltd., Kanjian Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ray Noble
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeffkahn8039
Tony is gone, he will never be forgotten, may his memory be a blessing.
@jazmeen8886
I have watched all videos of Tony Bennett duets. This here is the one with the most chemistry. He clearly has a crush on her, and her to him. The body language, expressions beyond the song is so pronounced. The good old days, Tony we will miss you.
@29472739
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@onearmy942
She looks like she is absolutely having the time of her life singing along side of Mr. Bennett, what a wonderful duet! Bravo!
@judybargenquast7669
She sure does. He is just so classy handsome.
@zeusincoming282
I'm feel fortunate that he lived long enough for me to experience his talent.
@lotus0818
Beautiful Duet....Rest In Peace Mr. Bennett! Always remembered on my life's journey! <3
@jamesdokoupil5710
Her voice, her smile......Wow! His voice, his style......OMG! Together they are heavenly.
@alondragonzalezgonzales4482
Has dicho la definición perfecta Inolvidables .Bennet y Ana,Carolina son un dueto armónico en voces ,la belleza y encanto de ella ,la elegancia de él .
Me fascinan y con nadie hizo mejor Dúeto.Adorables que dama tan bella,con un carisma precioso. ❤❤
@mingyinglin7284
I also like her smile and mellow voice