In a rather eclectic choice, ‘MTV Unplugged’ featured legendary jazz singer Tony Bennett. The beloved big band singer performed his most famous song ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco.’
‘Unplugged’ was typically a show where rockers would dial it back and play acoustic jams of their famous hits. However, this episode featured Tony Benett, a man with decades of success.
Tony charms the crowd by delivering the chorus lyrics, “I left my heart in San Francisco. High on a hill, it calls to me. To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars. The morning fog may chill the air. I don’t care.”
Tony wears a classy blue suit that pairs perfectly with his gray hair. He is backed by a grand piano, upright bass, and drums. Tony holds out notes with power and emotion, and the crowd loves it.
The live album from this performance was released in 1994. Tony agreed to appear to showcase ‘The Great American Songbook.’ The album went platinum and won Grammy Awards in 1995 for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance and Album of the Year.
‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ was written in Brooklyn in 1953 by George Coy and Douglass Cross. In 1962, Tony released his version, which peaked at number 19 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
The song has become the official anthem for the city of San Francisco. This unplugged rendition is extraordinary because Tony captivates an audience of all new fans from a younger generation.