When Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga released their first album together in 2014, some may have found them an unlikely pair. But the singers had gotten close and continued to create music as a duo, with Gaga even crediting Bennett, who died on Friday at age 96, with “saving” her.
“Six months ago I didn’t even want to sing anymore,” Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, told Parade Magazine in 2014 during an interview with Bennett as they promoted their album “Cheek to Cheek.”
“Do you know what Duke Ellington said? He said, ‘Number one, don’t quit. Number two, listen to number one,'” Bennett quipped. “Right! The other day, Tony said, ‘I’ve never once in my career not wanted to do this.’ It stung.
Six months ago I didn’t feel that way. I tell Tony every day that he saved my life,” Gaga replied. It appears the pressure of the music industry had gotten to Gaga, who released her album “Art Pop” the previous year.
“I’m not going to say any names, but people get irrational when it comes to money—with how they treat you, with what they expect from you,” she told Parade. “But if you help an artist, it doesn’t give you the right, once the artist is big, to take advantage of them.”
“I was so sad. I couldn’t sleep. I felt dead,” she said. “And then I spent a lot of time with Tony. He wanted nothing but my friendship and my voice.” Bennett held Gaga’s hand and replied: “I understand.”