Lady Gaga is “forever grateful” to Tony Bennett after the duo performed a pair of farewell concerts in New York earlier this year.
The pop superstar reunited with Tony seven years after their debut album ‘Cheek to Cheek’ for ‘Love for Fale’, which sees the singers tackle the Cole Porter songbook.
A pair of concerts at New York’s Radio City Music Hall were booked to celebrate the icon’s 95th birthday, just before his family announced he was retiring due to his Alzheimer’s battle.
Speaking to USA Today, Gaga opened up about the final performances, admitting: “My favourite moment was right after I was done singing when Tony went on stage and the curtain lifted up to reveal him.
“I planned that reveal for hours and hours and hours. And when he opened his mouth to sing The Best Is Yet to Come with that spotlight on him, I just burst into tears with joy.
“For me, that was an absolute privilege to be a part of. I just wanted everything to be perfect for him during his last moments on stage.”
Gaga continued: “It was absolute magic. I was so moved. I had to work a lot on breathing because I wanted to cry almost all the time, watching him just snap right into the moment.
“We also recorded some songs together while his Alzheimer’s was beginning to change his nature, and it was remarkable that he (remembered every lyric). It’s a testament to music being in Tony’s blood… My time with Tony has changed me forever.
“Frank Sinatra said he was the best singer in the world and I don’t think Frank lied.”
And the shows were particularly moving, as they marked the first time Tony had called Gaga by her name in many months.
“I witnessed something in that man that let me know that he knew [me],” she recalled. “He called me ‘sweetheart’ during rehearsals, but on our last night together, he said, ‘It’s Lady Gaga’.
“That was the first time he had said my name in a long time. And he gave that gift to me. I know he dug deep to give me that gift and I’m really forever grateful.”
‘Love for Sale’ is available across CD, vinyl and cassette formats.
