Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett Drop First Single from Upcoming Album
American music stars Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett have announced that they are to release their Cole Porter tribute album Love for Sale on Oct 1st. On Bennett’s 95th birthday i.e. 3rd August the pair released their first single from the album, I Get a Kick Out of You.
This album is a follow-up to the duo’s Billboard 200-topping album in 2014- Cheek to Cheek which won the Grammy for the best traditional pop vocal album. While the 2014 album featured American standards penned by various artists, Love for Sale will exclusively feature tunes by Cole Porter. In addition to their duets, Gaga and Bennett will each be singing a couple of solos.
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Image Courtesy: Variety
Along with Gaga and Bennett, the album cover includes a sketch of Gaga being held up By Bennett. This was done in honor of his artistic talents.
Having made its debut in Porter’s Anything Goes musical in 1934, I Get a Kick Out of You has been covered by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Ella Fitzgerald to Dolly Parton. Even though the original lyrics have often been substituted over the years, Gaga and Bennett have chosen to keep the original lyrics. Following the song’s debut on Anything Goes, it was once again sung in the 1936 film version of the same. In 1996, a cover of the song from 1995 won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocals.
Over the years there have been multiple alterations that have been made in the lyrics. Frank Sinatra recorded both versions (with and without the cocaine reference.) The first version was recorded in 1953 and the second one in 1962.
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There have also been multiple adaptations of the song, like in the children’s TV show Sesame Street, the 1974 film Blazing Saddles to name a few.
Rolling Stone describes Gaga and Bennett’s version of the song as, “Delightfully classic, starting with a tender piano intro before launching into a swinging, brassy groove. The two vocalists exude plenty of chemistry as they trade lines and harmonize on the chorus.”
Gaga and Bennett started making Love for Sale in 2018 at Electric Lady in New York City and wrapped it up in 2020.
Earlier this year, Bennett’s family revealed that the singer has been battling Alzheimer’s since 2016. In an interview with AARP the family said that music was a key part of the singer’s health regimen. Even though he practiced regularly with his longtime pianist Lee Musiker during the COVID-19 lockdown, performing regularly before the pandemic hit seemed to keep him sharp.
Since Bennett has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the album’s recording is believed to be his final studio recording.
Listen to the latest version of I Get a Kick Out of You below:
