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"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.

Performances

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

It_Don't_Mean_A_Thing_(Studio_Video)
Premiere date November 25, 2014
Director(s) Nicole Ehrlich and Harvey White
Fashion director Brandon Maxwell
Choreographer N/A
Director of photography

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.

Lady_Gaga_&_Tony_Bennett_-_H&M_Magical_Holidays
Premiere date November 24, 2014
Director(s) John Renck
Fashion director Brandon Maxwell
Choreographer N/A
Director of photography Soraya Zaman

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)
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