Save the Best for Last

"Save the Best for Last" is a 1992 song performed by Vanessa Williams and written by Phil Galdston, Wendy Waldman, and Jon Lind in March 1989. It is considered Williams' signature song and was released as the third single from her second studio album The Comfort Zone.

"Save the Best for Last"
Single by Vanessa Williams
from the album The Comfort Zone
B-side	"Freedom Dance" (U.S.), "2 of a Kind" (Europe)
Released	January 14, 1992
Recorded	1990
Genre	R&B adult contemporary soul
Length	3:40
Label	Wing Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Phil Galdston Wendy Waldman Jon Lind
Producer(s)	Keith Thomas
Vanessa Williams singles chronology
"The Comfort Zone" (1991) "Save the Best for Last" (1992) "Just for Tonight" (1992)
Music video
"Save the Best for Last" on YouTube

The song is a ballad about a young female admirer of a single man who stands by and watches as the object of her desires goes through years of dating, before he finally unexpectedly decides to initiate a relationship with the singer. The lyrics' redemptive themes resonated with Williams' story, as she had put together a successful music career following her earlier Miss America resignation scandal.[1]

The song was a commercial and critical success. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five weeks,[2] and was ranked fourth on Billboard's Top 100 hits of 1992 list, becoming the biggest success of Williams' music career. ASCAP named it Song of the Year in 1992; it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and Record of the Year in 1993.[3]

Composition

The song is performed in the key of E♭ major with a tempo of 96 beats per minute in common time. Williams' vocals span from F₃ to C₅ in the song.[4][5]

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Michael Gallucci called the song a "glorious ballad" and added that when she is "handed torch songs that emphasized her natural slow burn", Williams is a "genuinely sexy and capable performer."[6] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "nicely orchestrated pop/soul ballad", noting that it "proves that she is possibly best suited to such soothing fare, as her crystalline voice is caressed by soft and wafting strings. A beautiful offering from the excellent Comfort Zone collection."[7] Arion Berger from Entertainment Weekly wrote that Williams "closes Act One with the show-stopping happy tears of "Best for Last"".[8] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report noted that "every artist needs that "career record", and while Vanessa is by now accustomed to chart success, this effort takes her to a whole new level. It deserves to become her biggest hit to-date and it's well on the way with Top Ten status..."[9] Insider described the song as "a gorgeous ballad" and stated that "this song has stood the test of time."[10] The Orlando Sentinel described it as a "a sophisticated ballad".[11] R. LaMont Jones Jr. from The Pittsburgh Press picked the song as the album's "centerpiece", calling it "a real-life, down-to-earth song" that Barbra Streisand "will no doubt wish she had been given. But with Williams' soulful delivery, it's hard to imagine anyone doing it better."[12] Steve Pick from St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted that "the first thing to notice is that Williams can really sing. I'm talking phrasing and dynamics that could stand up to fine jazz singers. Then, we realize that this is a nice little tune".[13]

The song was immortalised in the UK in a series of 1990s adverts for Bisto Best gravy granules. The adverts featured slow motion shots of gravy being poured over a roast dinner while the song played in the background.

Commercial performance

The single was Williams's third number one on the Soul singles chart and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks in 1992.[2] "Save the Best for Last" was ranked fourth in the Billboard Top 100 hits of 1992, becoming the biggest success of Williams's music career. The song also went to number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary and R&B charts; it remained atop these charts for three weeks apiece. Internationally, the single reached number one in Australia and Canada, number two in Ireland, and number three in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

ASCAP named it as its Song of the Year, meaning it was performed more than any other song in 1992; it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and Record of the Year in 1993, losing to Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" in both categories.[3]

Music videos

Vanessa Williams in a winter landscape, watching the snow coming down in the music video of "Save the Best for Last".

There are two versions of the music video for this single. The original version of the music video begins with Williams walking around in a winter landscape for the first few seconds, then intercuts between black-and-white footage of Williams singing in front of a dark curtain, an orchestra playing along to the blue-tinted footage as it is being projected on a screen, and Williams singing in a living room with candles, a fireplace and a sofa. A "behind the scenes" cut was also later made of the video, predominantly zooming on the orchestra scenes and the blue-tinted footage of Williams as well as showcasing footage from the making of the video. The original version of the music video was released on VEVO and YouTube.

Official versions

1. "Save the Best for Last" (Album Version) - 3:38

Track listings

Europe single

1. "Save the Best for Last" 3:39
2. "2 of a Kind" 5:15
3. "Dreamin'" 5:25

US Maxi-CD

1. "Save the Best for Last" 3:39
2. "Freedom Dance (Get Free!)" (LP Version) 4:13
3. "Freedom Dance (Get Free!)" (Free Your Body Club Mix) 6:59
4. "Freedom Dance (Get Free!)" (Vanessa's Sweat Mix) 5:21
5. "The Right Stuff" (UK Mix) 6:18

UK vinyl, 7"

• A "Save the Best for Last" 3:39
• B "2 of a Kind" 5:15

Netherlands 12", promo

• A "Save the Best for Last" 3:39
• B1 "2 of a Kind" 5:15
• B2 "Dreamin'" 5:25

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1992) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[14] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[15] 7 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16] 1 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[17] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[18] 6 Germany (Official German Charts)[19] 19 Ireland (IRMA)[20] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 15 Poland (LP3)[24] 16 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 26 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 6 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[27] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[28] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[29] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[30] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1992) Position Australia (ARIA)[31] 11 Belgium (Ultratop)[32] 65 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[33] 26 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[34] 12 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[35] 69 Germany (Official German Charts)[36] 96 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[37] 30 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[38] 42 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 36 US Billboard Hot 100[40] 4 Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999) Position US Billboard Hot 100[41] 47

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[31]	Platinum	70,000^^
United States (RIAA)[42]	Gold	500,000^^
^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Covers

• In 1994, saxophonist Marion Meadows covered the song for his album Forbidden Fruit,[43] Filipino singer Kuh Ledesma recorded a version with jazz violinist Noel Pointer on her album The Voice and the Violin, jazz singer Ethel Ennis included a version on her self-titled album.
• In 1995, then new-age/new adult contemporary pianist Brian Culbertson covered the song for his album Modern Life.
• In 1996, the song was covered by Japanese singer Seiko Matsuda in both English and Japanese for the mini album Guardian Angel.
• In 2003, the song was released by Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy on the 2003 album When the Spirit Returns but was recorded Oct. 1997, and by the band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on the album Take a Break.
• In 2014, Alexandra Shipp sang the song in the Lifetime television film Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B, a biopic about R&B star Aaliyah, whom Shipp portrays in the film,[44] though Aaliyah never covered the song herself.

Other-language versions

The tune is the basis of Märchenland Gefühl (German: Fairy Tale Feeling) and Iets Heeft je Zachtjes Aangeraakt (Flemish/Dutch: Something you softly touched), both by Belgian artiste Dana Winner. Hong Kong cantopop singer Shirley Kwan also has a Cantonese cover version entitled "Why Us" (為何是我們).

See also

• List of number-one R&B singles of 1992 (U.S.)
• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1992 (U.S.)
• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1992 (U.S.)

References

1. Editors, History com. "Vanessa Williams becomes first black Miss America". HISTORY. Retrieved 2018-12-18.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 627.
3. "Vanessa Williams". GRAMMY.com. 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2018-12-18.
4. Galdston, Phil; Lind, Jon; Waldman, Wendy. "Vanessa Williams "Save the Best for Last" Sheet Music in Eb Major". Musicnotes. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
5. "Key & BPM for Save The Best For Last by Vanessa Williams". Tunebat. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
6. "Vanessa Williams - Greatest Hits: The First Ten Years". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
7. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 18 January 1992. p. 77. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
8. "The Comfort Zone". Entertainment Weekly. 6 September 1991. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
9. Sholin, Dave (24 January 1992). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 1889. p. 56. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
10. "Best songs from the '90s". Insider. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
11. "WILLIAMS WINS CHART TIARA". The Orlando Sentinel. 20 March 1992. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
12. "RECORDINGS: "The Comfort Zone" Vanessa Williams". The Pittsburgh Press. 26 September 1991. p. 12. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
13. Pick, Steve. (10 December 1993). "AN UPDATE ON THE MTV SINGLES SCENE". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
14. "Australian-charts.com – Vanessa Williams – Save The Best For Last". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
15. "Ultratop.be – Vanessa Williams – Save The Best For Last" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
16. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2116." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
17. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2097." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
18. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 19. May 9, 1992. p. 33. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Vanessa Williams – Save The Best For Last". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
20. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Save The Best For Last". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 19, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 14, 2019.
22. "Dutchcharts.nl – Vanessa Williams – Save The Best For Last" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
23. "Charts.nz – Vanessa Williams – Save The Best For Last". Top 40 Singles.
24. "Notowanie nr545" (in Polish). LP3. July 31, 1992. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
25. "Swedishcharts.com – Vanessa Williams – Save The Best For Last". Singles Top 100.
26. "Swisscharts.com – Vanessa Williams – Save The Best For Last". Swiss Singles Chart.
27. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
28. "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
29. "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
30. "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
31. "1992 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
32. "Jaaroverzichten 1992" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
33. "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 56 no. 25. December 19, 1992. p. 8. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
34. "The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary tracks of 1992". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
35. "1992 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 17. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
36. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
37. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1992". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
38. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1992" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
39. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1992" (in German). Retrieved April 14, 2019.
40. "Billboard Top 100 – 1992". Retrieved September 15, 2009.
41. Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
42. "American single certifications – Vanessa Williams – Save the Best for Last". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 14, 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
43. "Forbidden Fruit overview". Allmusic.com.
44. https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/5-reasons-why-lifetimes-rubbish-biopic-failed-to-do-aaliyah-justice-18717

External links

• SingerUniverse Magazine account of the song's writing
• Save the Best for Last. Discogs.com.
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics