“Blue Skies” A Reason To Smile Dan Rather and Team Steady Jan 26 Credit: Getty Images When we started Steady four years ago this week, on the heels of the January 6 insurrection and attack on the U.S. Capitol, it was to help us all make sense of the chaos and distinguish what was a threat from what was noise. But we didn’t want it all to be dire news and analysis. So we introduced A Reason to Smile. This week’s reason is one of my all-time favorites and a favorite of the song’s composer, Irving Berlin. It is hard to do anything but smile when listening to the song “Blue Skies.” Berlin originally wrote it for the unsuccessful Broadway musical “Betsy,” which ran for a mere 39 shows. But its short run didn’t hurt the song’s popularity. The following year it was repurposed for the first talking movie, “The Jazz Singer.” And then a who’s who of American singers and musicians recorded the song, including Bing Crosby, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, and Ella Fitzgerald. Take a listen to Ella’s version, which offers a master class in vocal improvisation. Even some country crooners got in on it. Willie Nelson’s rendition appeared on his sterling album of standards, “Stardust.” He and Kenny Rogers, on the upright bass, sang it as a duet during a tribute to Dolly Parton. Besides loving the song and needing a serious infusion of positivity, I chose “Blue Skies” this week because of Berlin. He was an immigrant. He and his family came to the United States in 1893 to escape the Russian pogroms. And he was an invaluable addition to the great American melting pot. In celebration of Berlin’s 100th birthday, my former colleague Walter Cronkite said of the composer: He “helped write the story of this country, capturing the best of who we are and the dreams that shape our lives.” Speaking of blue skies — I mentioned last week that I had joined the social media platform Bluesky. If you are so inclined, feel free to follow me there. If you are able to, please support my team, who make pieces like this possible. No matter how you subscribe, I thank you for reading and listening. Stay Steady, Dan

 

Blue Skies

A Reason to Smile

DAN RATHER AND ELLIOT KIRSCHNER APR 9

Few sights in life provide more of a reason for hope — and a smile — than a bright, blue sky. Whether storm clouds have recently parted or the sun rises on a beautiful day, a blue sky often provides a feeling of rejuvenation and a sense that a better future is possible. 

So it is not surprising that an anthem to this natural phenomenon — written nearly a century ago by the prolific and celebrated songwriter Irving Berlin — has become an enduring favorite covered by many famous singers. 

Berlin wrote “Blue Skies” in 1926 as a last-minute addition to the Rodgers and Hart musical “Betsy.” The production closed after a month, and the musical is so forgettable it doesn’t even have its own Wikipedia page. But obscurity would not be the fate of Berlin’s masterpiece. 

It was an immediate hit. 

A year later, the song became part of cinematic history when Al Jolson sang it in "The Jazz Singer," which was the first feature-length “talkie” film ever made. (You can watch the performance here.)

Thirty years after that, Ella Fitzgerald brought her brilliance to a scat jazz version of the song. It’s simply magical. (Listen to it here.)

And then 20 years after that, Willie Nelson gave it his unique take. “Blue Skies” became a number 1 country hit (more on that below).

That’s staying power. 

Today, as many of us are gathering with family and friends for Easter, and others for Passover and Ramadan, we are thinking of these spring holidays and their sense of renewal. No matter your faith, or if you do not consider yourself religious, we all can find a reason to smile with the rebirth of the season, especially when we see “blue skies smiling at me.”

We wanted to share a performance of “Blue Skies” that we found particularly joyful. It is courtesy of Willie Nelson and his longtime friend, the late Kenny Rogers. We like that it is a duet with a bit of unusual instrumentation (watching Rogers play the bass is enough of a reason to smile). At a time when there is so much darkness, we should remember the power that comes from being together, blending our voices, and singing to hope, love, and the brilliant light of a blue sky.

We know there are many other favorite versions of this song. If you have one you particularly like, please share it in the comments.