It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) Song by Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
Writer(s)
Duke Ellington Irving Mills
"It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) " is a 1931 composition by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills, now accepted as a jazz standard. The music was written and arranged by Ellington in August 1931 during intermissions at Chicago's Lincoln Tavern and was first recorded by Ellington and his orchestra for Brunswick Records (Br 6265) on February 2, 1932.
Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett covered the song for their jazz collaborative album, Cheek to Cheek . The studio video premiered on November 25 , 2014 .
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Lyrics
NOTE: Only Gaga sing "Tony, Gaga".
[Tony Bennett]
It don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing
Doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah
Doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah
[Lady Gaga]
It don't mean a thing
All you got to do is sing
Doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah
Doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah
Makes no difference if it's sweet or it's hot
[Tony Bennett]
Give it all that rhythm that you got
[Both]
Oh, it don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing
Doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah
Doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah/Tony, doo-wah/Gaga
[Lady Gaga]
Whoo
[Tony Bennett]
It makes no difference if it's sweet or hot
[Lady Gaga]
Just give that rhythm, everything you got
[Both]
Oh, it don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing
[Tony Bennett]
Doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah
Doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah
[Lady Gaga]
Doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah
Doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah daah
[Both]
Doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah
Doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wah
[Tony Bennett]
Puh-puh-ruh puh tooh ruh
[Lady Gaga]
Oh oh oh
[Tony Bennett]
Puh-ruh puh puh
[Lady Gaga]
Whoo
Studio Video
Release
Though not released as a single, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) was included with Cheek to Cheek on a 7" vinyl in the Cheek to Cheek box set. The song was also featured in H&M 's Magical Holiday campaign.
Credits
Writer and composer
Duke Ellington and Irving Mills
Piano
Tom Ranier
Tenor sax solo
George Rabbai
Tenor sax solo
Joe Lovano
Brass
Brass arranged and conducted
Marion Evans
Alto Sax
Lawrence Feldman and Lou Marini
Tenor Sax
Dave Mann & Andy Snitzer
Baritone Sax
Ronald Janelli
Trumpets
Tony Kadleck, Bob Millikan, John Owens and Budd Burridge
Tenor Trombone
Mike Davis, Larry Farrell and Keith O'Quinn
Bass Trombone
George Flynn
Publishing
Sony/ATV Harmony (ASCAP) and EMI Mills Music Inc. (ASCAP)