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Artist News Releases
Tony Bennett discusses Gaga collaboration, Rob Halford wants one
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 2 July 2014
Tony Bennett has discussed the jazz album he has recorded with Lady Gaga. Titled ‘Cheek To Cheek’, the record has been delayed several times and is currently expected in September. It follows their 2011 cover of ‘The Lady Is A Tramp’ from Bennett’s ‘Duets II’ album.
Enthusing about the record, Bennett told La Presse: “I do not understand why she makes contemporary music! When she sings great standards, she does it with such emotion … She will surprise people with the quality of her voice when she makes quality songs. We sing together again on the album, but also separately. There are also some original songs, including one she wrote called ‘Paradise’. With this album, I think she will become bigger than Elvis Presley!”
I translated that from the French report, so it’s possible what he said originally didn’t come across quite so insulting in places. Still, I think the thing we should all take from this is that Tony Bennett thinks that Lady Gaga is a good jazz singer. That’s nice of him to say. Even if he does think everything else she does is shit.
Bennett’s collaboration is in the bag though, so it doesn’t really matter what he says now. He might as well stand in the street shouting, “Artpop? Bollocks more like!” But it’s a trickier situation for Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford, who’s still trying to wangle a duet out of the pop lady.
“I’ve been a huge fan of Gaga since she first burst on the scene. I just love everything that lady represents”, he told The Huffington Post. “First and foremost, her voice is extraordinary. I love her voice. She’s an accomplished musician, she plays piano really well, she’s just a great songwriter. And she’s a beacon of hope for a lot of people in the world”.
Alright, Rob. Don’t overdo it. That said, it does appear that the admiration is mutual. Halford described the moment that Gaga realised he was watching her from the side of the stage at a show in San Diego earlier this month thus: “She saw me … and she started screaming!”
Screaming in a good way. They later had a bit of a chat and discussed working together at some point, Halford went on.
“It was a real moment come true”, he said. “We didn’t really have much time to talk. She’s busy. I’m busy. But we’ve agreed to get together at some point and just hang out and maybe do something. I don’t know if that will ever happen, but I love her to death”.
Yeah, we’ll see what you say once it’s actually in the can. Anyway, here’s ‘The Lady Is A Tramp’:
