Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga surprised over 700 high school students at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in New York City on the last day of school by making an appearance on site Monday morning. Founded by Bennett in his hometown of Astoria, the school normally hosts the singer for graduation, but this year, due to his tour schedule, he is unable to join. Instead, he decided to do something special for the last day of classes, so he asked his good friend and collaborator Lady Gaga to join him for a master class in the school’s Tony Bennett Concert Hall.
The two talked about jazz music, The Great American Songbook, creativity and also fielded questions from the students. Then Tony Bennett performed the classic “The Very Thought of You” followed by Lady Gaga’s beautiful version of “Every Time We Say Goodbye.” In a spontaneous and playful moment, the two began to serenade each other with the standard “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.” Gaga then added in a cheek to cheek slow dance.
“When I first heard Gaga sing my reaction was that she is going to be bigger than Elvis. She is so bright and intelligent and she has it. In jazz you either got it, the syncopation, the rhythm or you don’t, and when I heard Gaga I said she’s got it!”
Gaga talked about the wonderful experience she always has when she sings with Tony, saying, “When I am with Tony I feel like I am 15 years old at home listening to Ella and Coltrane records. The way he sings is effortless and so prolific. It’s so liberating to be able to sing jazz, especially at this point in my career!” In response to Tony’s comment “these songs are so timeless,” Gaga joked: “Like a good black dress, they never go out of style.”The event ended with student choirs performing a rendition of Tony Bennett’s “Smile” and Lady Gaga’s “Applause.”
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