Save the Best for Last

Single infobox
Name = Save The Best for Last


Artist = Vanessa Williams
from Album = The Comfort Zone
B-side = "Freedom Dance" (U.S.), "2 Of A Kind" (Europe)
Released = January 14, 1992
Recorded = April 1991
Format = cassette single, 7" single, CD maxi-single
Genre = R&B
Length = 3:40
Writer = Phil Galdston, Wendy Waldman, Jon Lind
Producer = Keith Thomas
Last single = "The Comfort Zone" (1991)
This single = "Save the Best for Last" (1992)
Next single = "Just for Tonight" (1992)

"Save the Best for Last" is a 1992 song written by Phil Galdston, Wendy Waldman and Jon Lind. It is considered Vanessa Williams' signature song. The lyrics' redemptive themes resonated with Williams' story, as she had put together a successful recording career following her earlier Miss America resignation scandal.

The song is sometimes played in conjunction with R. Kelly's 1996 hit "I Believe I Can Fly" at high school graduations, proms, and other special events, such as sports championships: for example, the Toronto Blue Jays played the song following their 1992 World Series triumph; the Atlanta Braves followed suit three years later; and the San Antonio Spurs played it while celebrating their first-ever NBA title.

The song is played over the closing credits of the 1994 Australian movie, "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert", as a silhouetted drag queen lip-syncs along to it.

This song was covered by the Punk rock band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on their 2003 album "Take a Break.".

The song was played as the last dance for winners Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy in the final of the 4th series of "Strictly Come Dancing".

The song was used in a post-credits scene in the 2008 film, What Happens in Vegas where the ex-boyfriend of Cameron Diaz's character gets kicked in the groin by her best friend for revenge after dumping her earlier in the movie.

Chart performance

The single topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks in 1992 and was ranked fourth in the Billboard Top 100 hits of 1992, becoming the biggest success of Williams' music career. The song also went to #1 on the U.S. adult contemporary and R&B charts; it remained atop these charts for three weeks apiece. Internationally, the single shot to number one in Australia, the Netherlands, and Canada, and to the top five in the United Kingdom and Japan. ASCAP named it as its Song of the Year, meaning it was performed more than any other song in 1992, and it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and Record of the Year in 1993.

Music videos

There are two versions of the music video for this single. Along with the original version, the song was reworked and re-released as a Christmas single in 1993. It recharted for several years as a holiday favorite, with a new snowy videoclip version played on MTV.

External links

* [http://www.singeruniverse.com/save.htm SingerUniverse Magazine account of the song's writing]