Save the Best for Last

Last updated

"Save the Best for Last"
Vanessa Williams - Save The Best For Last.JPG
Single by Vanessa Williams
from the album The Comfort Zone
B-side "Freedom Dance"
ReleasedJanuary 14, 1992 (1992-01-14)
Genre
Length3:40
Label
Composers
Lyricists
Producer 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

"Save the Best for Last" is a song by American singer and actress Vanessa Williams from her second studio album, The Comfort Zone (1991). Written by Phil Galdston, Jon Lind, and Wendy Waldman, and produced by Keith Thomas, Wing and Mercury Records released it as the album's third single on January 14, 1992. The song was rejected by several female singers until Williams' record label secured it on her behalf.

Contents

A pop ballad, the song is performed by a woman whose love interest overlooks her in favor of pursuing several unsuccessful relationships before ultimately realizing his feelings for her. Galdston originally conceived the song as an ironic reference about romantic partners who conceal their worst traits until a relationship is ending, but Waldman suggested rewriting it into a more uplifting message. Some commentators have interpreted the song’s themes of timing and patience as mirroring Williams’ music career, which gained momentum in the 1990s following the 1984 nude photo scandal that forced her to resign as Miss America.

Music critics praised the song’s production, radio-friendliness, and Williams’ vocal performance. "Save the Best for Last" was a major commercial success, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks and becoming Williams’ first number-one single on the chart. It was also successful internationally, reaching number-one in Australia and Canada, and entering the top-ten in five other countries. In 1993, it received three Grammy Award nominations: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Two music videos were produced to promote the single; the original version was directed by Ralph Ziman. Williams has performed the song live on several occasions throughout her career, notably at the 35th Grammy Awards while she was visibly pregnant.

"Save the Best for Last" is considered to be Williams' signature song. Although Williams had achieved moderate success on the pop charts prior to the song’s release, “Save the Best for Last” is widely credited with facilitating her crossover from urban to pop radio, establishing a signature sound for her musical output, helping rehabilitate her career following the Miss America scandal, and solidifying her status as a viable entertainer.

Background

In 1983, Vanessa Williams was crowned the first Black winner of the Miss America pageant. [1] The win proved controversial, and Williams received racist backlash and death threats from those who opposed her selection. [2] [3] Less than a year into her reign, the contest's organizers forced her to relinquish the title after Penthouse magazine announced plans to publish nude photographs she had posed for prior to participating in the pageant, [4] [5] without Williams' consent. [6]

Following her resignation, Williams distanced herself from the public eye and focused on reinventing herself as an entertainer, pivoting towards a music career. [1] [7] After securing a record deal with Wing Records general manager Ed Eckstine, [8] [9] she released her debut album, The Right Stuff , in 1988. [7] The album and its up-tempo title track were moderately successful, [9] [10] but the ballad “Dreamin’” ultimately became its breakthrough single. [11] Although her team was pleased with the album’s performance within the dance and R&B communities, Williams’ follow-up album was positioned to further expand her reach into the mainstream pop market. [9] [12]

Writing and recording

“Save the Best for Last” was written by Phil Galdston, Jon Lind, and Wendy Waldman. [13] [14] Galdston and Lind began working on the song during a March 1989 writing session in New York. [14] Lind began singing over a motif Galdston had been playing on the keyboard, which became its melody. [14] Galdston suggested the title “Save the Best for Last”, [14] a phrase he had rediscovered in his notebook, and they incorporated it into the song's melody. [8] The title guided the song’s evolution without a predetermined chorus or structure. [15] At the time, Galdston envisioned the title ironically, intending it to reflect someone hurt by their partner leaving at the end of their relationship. [16] He later described the early concept as rooted in a pessimistic view of relationships, in which people reserve their worst efforts for the final moments, often when the relationship is already failing. [17] While working on a different song that ultimately remained unfinished, [8] the pair wrote most of the music for “Save the Best for Last” in approximately 30 minutes during a single sitting in. [18] Galdston described the writing process as “organic”, emphasizing heart-felt ideas over formula. [15]

Singer Barbra Streisand (pictured in 1993) is one of the artists believed to have turned down "Save the Best for Last". Barbra Streisand (2077798117) (cropped).jpg
Singer Barbra Streisand (pictured in 1993) is one of the artists believed to have turned down “Save the Best for Last”.

Once the melody was finalized, Lind encouraged Galdston to collaborate with Waldman on its lyrics. [8] Nearly a month later, Galdston traveled to Nashville to work with Waldman. [14] The tape he played for Waldman featured Lind singing "dummy lyrics". [15] Although she liked the melody, Waldman felt the song’s bitter, cynical premise did not compliment its uplifting melody, despite Galdston's explanations. [14] [18] She suggested reworking it into a hopeful song about a relationship's surprising turn of events. [14] [17] As the lyrics evolved, lines such as “Sometimes the sun goes ’round the moon” and “Sometimes the sun goes down in June” emerged, [8] although Galdston initially protested that this line makes little sense. [18] Once the lyrics were completed, Galdston and Waldman sent their writing tape to Lind. [14] The following month, the three reunited in Los Angeles to record a demo. [14] Lind and Galdston deliberately kept the demo’s production simple and underproduced, [8] omitting a drum machine in favor of electric piano, bass, synthesizer, synthesized strings, shaker, and Waldman’s vocals. [8] [19]

After finishing the demo, the songwriters pitched "Save the Best for Last" to at least three high-profile female singers, all of whom rejected it. [14] [17] Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler are believed to have been among them. [20] [21] [22] Around the same time, Williams had been sourcing material for her second studio album, The Comfort Zone (1991), and explicitly told Eckstine she was not interested in ballads about pining after men. [20] Windswept Pacific Music publishing executive John Anderson played the demo for Eckstine, now President of Mercury Records, who sent it to Williams. [14] Williams thoroughly enjoyed and felt confident about delivering "Save the Best for Last", [14] [23] although she claims its songwriters doubted her despite having previously recorded and released successful ballads. [21] Williams described its melody as an earworm, [23] and recorded the track in one take. [22] Eckstine doubted producer David Foster would have been interested in producing it at the time; [24] he enlisted Keith Thomas, [14] whose production style he considered similar. [24]

Wing Records and Mercury Records released "Save the Best for Last" as the third single from The Comfort Zone, [16] on January 14, 1992. [25] In the United Kingdom, it was distributed by Polydor Records. [26] Although she considered "Save the Best for Last" her favorite of the album's 14 tracks, [18] Williams said that by the time the song was released as a single, she had essentially forgotten about it. [27]

Music and lyrics

"Save the Best for Last" has been characterized as a pop and pop-soul ballad. [28] [29] Although some critics have described it as R&B, [30] [31] Tom Breihan of Stereogum argued that the song "doesn't sound all that R&B". [8] It is performed in the key of E♭ major with a tempo of 96 beats per minute in common time. Williams's vocals span from F3 to C5 in the song. [32] [33] Peter Piatkowski of PopMatters described it as a "lush, orchestrated ballad", [34] while Eric Snider of the Tampa Bay Times classified it as middle-of-the-road. [35] As a ballad, the song was a notable stylistic shift from the album's first two up-tempo singles and most of The Comfort Zone's tracks. [8] [16] Williams sings with a combination of innocence and wonder, [36] and uses nuanced, rueful phrasing on some of the song's lyrics, such as "Isn’t this world a crazy place?". [37] Instrumentation includes strings, [29] piano, and acoustic guitars. [8]

"Save the Best for Last" addresses themes of unrequited love and the idea that patience can lead to eventual fulfillment. [38] The song narrates two friends finally entering a romantic relationship that one of them had long considered destiny. [30] Lyrically, the singer observes a platonic partner pursue a series of ill-fated relationships before he finally falls in love with her, [39] ultimately realizing he has been overlooking what had been in front of him. [16] [40] According to Songfacts, the song's overall message "is that life is full of unexpected events that often lead to what's ultimately for the best". [41] The lyrics "Sometimes the snow comes down in June / sometimes the sun goes ’round the moon" have drawn particular attention. [36] [40] [42] [43] Journalist Drew Magary said the lyrics make sense, [44] and ShortList 's Dave Fawbert ranked them among the "worst rhyming couplets in songs". [45] Galdston himself joked about getting away with rhyming the word "June" with "moon", [15] and explained that they are intended to invoke surprise. [18] Morgan Enos of Grammy.com said the singer equates such images of cosmological reversals to "capricious love", continuing, "I see the passion in your eyes / Sometimes it's all a big surprise". [46] Singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson admitted that while the lyric originally confused him, he eventually learned to interpret it to mean longing, patience, and "holding out hope for true love until the last possible second, against all odds, and without a promise of the future". [36]

Some music writers have described the song as topical and poignant within the context of Williams’ career, particularly following the Miss America scandal that prompted her pivot into music and acting. [8] [16] [41] Beviglia felt that "the song’s message of happiness after a long period of trials and tribulations dovetailed with her story". [16] According to the writer, some of the lines directly "speak to the vagaries of fate and how it takes a special kind of perseverance to withstand them", making it easy to find parallels to the song's own career trajectory. [16]

Reception

Critical response

Upon release, "Save the Best for Last" received positive reviews from music critics, [38] [47] who described it as an ideal combination of sexuality, softness and sophistication for Williams. [47] The Orlando Sentinel called it "A sophisticated ballad", [48] while Lynn Norment of Jet called it "wonderful". [49] Larry Flick of Billboard said its production and orchestration "Proves that [Williams] is possibly best suited to such soothing fare, as her crystalline voice is caressed by soft and wafting strings". [29] Mike Joyce of The Washington Post named it the album's most radio-friendly track, [50] and Arion Berger of Entertainment Weekly declared it a show-stopper. [51] Dave Sholin of the Gavin Report opined, "while Vanessa is by now accustomed to chart success, this effort takes her to a whole new level" and "deserves to become her biggest hit to-date". [52] For the same publication, John Martinucci felt that the singer "Gives this beautiful ballad a simple and delicate presentation that'll lift any romantic spirit". [53]

Other reviewers focused on Williams' vocal performance. While deeming "Save the Best for Last" the album's centerpiece, R. LaMont Jones Jr. from The Pittsburgh Press called it a song Streisand would envy but "hard to imagine anyone doing it better" than Williams. [54] Steve Pick from St. Louis Post-Dispatch described Williams' phrasing and dynamics as on par with experienced jazz singers. [55] Randy Clark and Bryan DeVaney of Cashbox said the ballad is "Beautifully sung by Williams and tastefully produced and arranged by Keith Thomas". [56] AllMusic’s Michael Gallucci wrote that “Save the Best for Last” corrected the early decision to mask Williams’s perceived vocal limitations with heavy production on The Right Stuff, demonstrating that, when given suitable material, she was capable of delivering a confident and effective vocal performance. [31] Chris Rizik of SoulTracks said her "slight but tonally beautiful voice was perfect for the song, and her standout performance made 'Save the Best' one of the year’s best and biggest singles". [57] Some critics suggested that the song contributed to Williams’ recovery from her Miss America abdication. [27] [58] In December 1992, Entertainment Weekly named Williams one of its “Entertainers of the Year”, with writer Mark Harris noting that the success of “Save the Best for Last” helped render the Miss America controversy irrelevant. [27] Jonathan Bernstein of Spin declared Williams the "Most triumphant of all the year's late bloomers", and said "Save the Best for Last" continues to bring him to tears. [59]

Some critics offered more lukewarm assessments, describing the song as serviceable but largely generic. In 2021, Peter Piatkowski of PopMatters said the song's "overproduced yet still perfect" production is balanced by Williams' vocals. [37] Chris Randle of Hazlitt wrote that while Williams’s voice is relatively indistinct, it ultimately suits the song’s material. [60] Stephen Holden called it "mostly generic" despite being well-made. [61] For AllMusic, Tim Sendra called it a "smooth and somewhat saccharine" ballad. [62] Scott Shetler of Total Music Awards called it "a fairly plain song with a decently warm melody and one of the better performances of Vanessa Williams’ career". [63]

Accolades

ASCAP named it as its Song of the Year, meaning it was performed more than any other song in 1992. [41] It was nominated for three Grammy Awards at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in 1993: Grammy Award for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female. [64] [65] That same year, at the Soul Train Music Awards, the song was nominated for Best R&B Song of the Year and Best R&B/Soul Single – Female. [66] [67] For recording "Save the Best for Last", Williams won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist at the 25th NAACP Image Awards in 1993. [68] [69]

Insider featured "Save the Best for Last" in their list of the "Best Songs from the '90s" in 2019, declaring it as "a gorgeous ballad", that "has stood the test of time." [70] Elle ranked it among "the Best Love Songs of All Time". [71]

Commercial performance

During its run on the Billboard Hot 100, "Save the Best for Last" prevented Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" from reaching number one, but later lost two Grammy Awards to Clapton's song. Eric-Clapton 1975.jpg
During its run on the Billboard Hot 100, “Save the Best for Last” prevented Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven” from reaching number one, but later lost two Grammy Awards to Clapton’s song.

The single was Williams's third number-one on the R&B singles chart and topped both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the US Cash Box Top 100. [72] [73] [74] It climbed from 20th to 11th the week of February 29th, 1992, and was predicted to become her first top-five hit on the Hot 100, surpassing 1989's "Dreamin'" which had peaked at number eight. [75] It reached the pole position on March 21, 1992, [18] unseating "To Be With You" by Mr. Big. [76] The song remained at number one on the Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks, [58] [77] tying Paula Abdul's "Rush Rush" (1991) as the longest-running number-one by a female artist of the previous seven years. [78] It prevented "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton from reaching number-one for several weeks, [79] [80] although it eventually lost two shared Grammy nominations to Clapton's song. [79]

On March 28, it replaced "Diamonds and Pearls" by Prince & the New Power Generation at the top of the Hot R&B Singles chart. [81] The song also went to number one on the US Adult Contemporary chart. The ballad became the first single to simultaneously top the Billboard Hot 100, Hot R&B Singles and Adult Contemporary charts since Whitney Houston's "All the Man That I Need". [82] Its simultaneous Billboard run lasted three weeks from March 28 through April 11, falling short of the record set by Ray Charles, whose hit "I Can't Stop Loving You" spent four weeks simultaneously on all three charts in June 1962, and tying with Diana Ross and Lionel Richie's "Endless Love". Williams' three week simultaneous run was, however, a record set by a female artist at the time. Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" would eventually break both Williams' record as well as the all-time record by Charles in January 1993.

Internationally, the single reached number one in Australia and Canada, [83] number two in Ireland, and number three in the United Kingdom [83] and the Netherlands. The strong performance of the single helped The Comfort Zone climb to the top-20 of the Billboard 200 , [20] by which month the album had already been 10-months old. [58] It remains the biggest hit of Williams' career, [14] [75] [39] and her only Hot 100 number-one to-date. [16]

Music videos

There were two versions of the music video produced to promote the single. The original version of the music video, which primarily aired on MTV, was directed by Ralph Ziman, [84] [85] and features Williams singing in a winter setting, intercut with closeups projected onto a screen in front of an orchestra. [75] It 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, which primarily aired on VH1, predominantly zooming on the orchestra scenes and the blue-tinted footage of Williams as well as showcasing footage from the making of the video. Drew Magary said the video cemented Williams as one of the most attractive women of the 1990s. [44] At the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, the video was nominated for Best Female Video. [86] [87]

Live performances

Williams performed “Save the Best for Last” at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in 1993, [88] where the song had been nominated for three Grammy Awards. At the time, Williams was eight months pregnant, [89] with her third child. [90] Williams said that, during the performance, she experienced visions of going into labor and was worried she would struggle to maintain breath support. [90] She wore a loose-fitting black dress and performed while seated, with the broadcast relying largely on close-up shots of her face to minimize attention to her pregnancy. [89] In retrospect, both journalists and Williams herself have noted how society has since become more accepting of visible pregnancies at award shows and performances, as seen with artists like Beyoncé and Cardi B. [91] [92] [93] She sang it on the May 16, 1992 episode of Saturday Night Live , where she had been the episode's musical guest. [94] [95]

Since the 1990s, Williams has performed "Save the Best for Last" live on several occasions. [96] In 2014, Williams sang "Save the Best for Last" during a Valentine's Day concert at the Caesars Hotel and Casino, [97] which received a standing ovation. [98] In 2016, she included the song in her setlist for the Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series. [61] In 2016, she sang it at the VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night Christmas special, for which she was introduced by her daughter, Jillian Hervey. [99] In 2017, she received positive reviews for performing it for Seth Rudetsky's interview-concert series Broadway Up Close at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. [100] [101] In December 2020, Williams concluded her segment of the livestream concert series Live from the West Side: Women of Broadway with a performance of “Save the Best for Last”. [102] The concert was presented remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was held to benefit participating theaters. [103]

Covers and usage in media

Waldman has performed the song live, both solo and as a member of the folk rock trio The Refugees. [104] In 1996, Pam Sheyne recorded a dance cover version under the alias "Laura Blake" produced by Almighty Records. [105] Alexandra Shipp covered the song in the television film Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B (2014), a biographical film about the singer Aaliyah, whom Shipp portrays. [106] Aaliyah never recorded the song; her family declined to license most of her music for the film, requiring the production to rely largely on cover versions of songs by other artists. [8] [107] In the film, Aaliyah performs the song to audition for R. Kelly (Clé Bennett). [8] In a 2021 episode of her talk show, singer Kelly Clarkson covered “Save the Best for Last” during the “Kellyoke” segment. [30] Clarkson had previously performed the song in 2002 while competing on the first season of the reality singing competition American Idol , [8] [108] which she ultimately won. [30]

The song was used in the United Kingdom in a series of television advertisements for Bisto Best gravy granules during the 1990s. [109] The commercials featured slow motion footage of gravy being poured over a roast dinner while the song played in the background. [110] [111] Williams has confirmed that, despite her entertainment career, she is best known in the United Kingdom as the performer of the song used in the advertisements. [110] An October 1992 episode of the sketch comedy series In Living Color , titled “Black People Awards”, [112] [113] featured a parody of the song in which Williams, portrayed by Kim Wayans, confronts those who did not support her during the Miss America scandal while flaunting her successful music career. [114] The track is used during the closing credits of the film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), showing a drag queen lip synching to Williams' recording. [115] It is also included on the film's original soundtrack album. [116] [117]

Legacy

"Save the Best for Last" is considered to be Williams' signature song. [17] [37] [61] [118] The ballad is regarded as an "adult contemporary staple", becoming a popular selection for weddings, [98] [119] graduations and proms, [39] [119] has frequently appeared on romance-themed compilation albums, and is widely performed at karaoke. [47] In 2011, Billboard ranked "Save the Best for Last" the 58th most impactful song on their US Adult Contemporary chart, out of 100. [120] Singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson named "Save the Best for Last" the song he most closely associates with school dances, especially during fall 1992 when "Williams reigned supreme". [36] The song’s success drew the attention of songwriters eager to have their own work featured on Williams’ follow-up album. [27] Piatkowski believes its popularity established a trademark sound for Williams, which would inform the musical direction of her most successful songs throughout the rest of the decade, namely the Hot 100 hits “Love Is” (1993), “The Sweetest Days” (1994), and “Colors of the Wind” (1995). [37] In addition to pivoting away from the dance and urban-pop singer she had been marketed as for her debut album, [34] Piatkowski said the track also defined her career, establishing her as both a superstar and a pop icon. [121]

Music critics have noted that the success of "Save the Best for Last" finalized Williams' transition from former Miss America to established pop star, with the song's popularity often overshadowing her earlier pageant career. Vanessa Williams, former Miss America 1984, cropped.jpg
Music critics have noted that the success of "Save the Best for Last" finalized Williams' transition from former Miss America to established pop star, with the song's popularity often overshadowing her earlier pageant career.

“Save the Best for Last” became one of the most commercially successful singles of the early 1990s. [47] [57] Prior to its release, Williams had achieved some crossover success on pop radio, although much of her airplay remained concentrated on urban contemporary stations. [47] While Black radio stations supported Williams’ music, [3] other formats appeared hesitant to grant her consistent airplay, even as contemporaries with similar-sounding records found success. [47] [58] Amit Vaidya of Rolling Stone India credits “Save the Best for Last” with completing Williams’ crossover into mainstream pop and adult contemporary music, describing it as “a ballad too strong for any radio programmer to not play”. [47] In 2021, Williams selected “Save the Best for Last” as the defining song of her music career, stating that its success demonstrated to critics that she could be taken seriously as a recording artist. [122] While reviewing her first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits: The First Ten Years (1998), Michael Gallucci ranked it among the strongest songs in her discography and credited it with helping "certify Williams is more than just a pretty face". [31] For the same publication, Tim Sendra said that while "big ballads" are a specialty of Williams, few similar ballads in her career have experienced the same success or longevity. [62]

Journalists have suggested that the song aided Williams in reforming her public image following the Miss America controversy. [8] [58] Vaidya summarized "Save the Best for Last" as the culmination of Williams’ prolonged effort to regain public acceptance, writing, “1983 may have been the year she first wore the crown, 1992 is the year she truly reigned supreme”. [47] Entertainment Weekly's Marl Harris reported that, by 1992, much of Williams' newer fans were already unaware that she had ever been Miss America. [27] Tom Breihan of Stereogum said the song essentially relegated the pageant to "a career footnote". [8] In April 1993, following the song’s Grammy nomination and a decade after Williams won Miss America, Penthouse published an article claiming that the release of the unauthorized photographs had been the key catalyst for her international fame. [123] The author referenced the song’s title, writing, “given her talent and determination, we’ve yet to hear the best or the last of this extraordinary woman”. [123]

According to Williams, following the success of “Save the Best for Last”, figures within the music industry questioned why they had not previously received or heard the song, with few acknowledging that they had initially failed to recognize its potential. [20] "Save the Best for Last" also influenced the songwriters' careers. They frequently received requests for similar songs, but those they submitted were often regarded as lacking the memorable hooks of the original, even though Galdston has said the song itself succeeded without relying heavily on a hook. [15] “Save the Best for Last” proved particularly significant in Waldman’s career, becoming her most successful song as a songwriter following her transition from a solo recording artist in the 1980s, after previously achieving most of her songwriting success within the country music genre. [124] A year later, Galdston, Waldman, and Lind reunited to write another song for Williams, "The Sweetest Days", which became the title track and lead single from the singer's 1994 follow-up album of the same name. [19] [125]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [146] Platinum70,000^
United States (RIAA) [163] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesJanuary 14, 1992
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[ citation needed ]
JapanFebruary 26, 1992Mini-CD Polydor [164]
United KingdomMarch 9, 1992
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [165]
AustraliaMarch 16, 1992
  • CD
  • cassette
 [166]

Other-language versions

The tune is the basis of the German-language song "Märchenland Gefühl" (literal translation: fairy tale-land feeling) and the Dutch-language song "Lets Heeft je Zachtjes Aangeraakt" (literal translation: something touched you softly), both by Belgian artist Dana Winner. Hong Kong cantopop singer Shirley Kwan also has a Cantonese cover version entitled "Why Us." (為何是我們). [167] [168]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Vanessa Williams becomes first Black Miss America". History.com. November 13, 2009. Archived from the original on January 16, 2026. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Breaking the Color Line". American Experience . Archived from the original on November 21, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Vanessa Williams Reflects On Backlash She Received From The Black Community After Winning Miss America Pageant". BET. February 19, 2021. Archived from the original on December 6, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  4. ↑ Toscano, Louis (July 20, 1984). "Vanessa Williams, the first black Miss America, was asked..." United Press International. Archived from the original on December 31, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  5. ↑ Latson, Jennifer (July 23, 2015). "The Scandal That Cost a Miss America Her Crown". Time . Archived from the original on February 15, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  6. ↑ Johnson, Angel (September 5, 2025). "Story on How Vanessa Williams, the First Black Woman to Win Miss America, Lost Her Crown to Scandal But Reemerged a Queen". The Root . Archived from the original on January 19, 2026. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  7. 1 2 Flowers, Garin (September 17, 2023). "Vanessa Williams became the 1st Black Miss America on this day 40 years ago". Yahoo! Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 19, 2026. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Breihan, Tom (January 10, 2022). "The Number Ones: Vanessa Williams' "Save The Best For Last"". Stereogum . Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 Grein, Paul (July 23, 1988). "Anatomy of a Hit". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2025. Williams' first single, "The Right Stuff," has cracked the Top 5 on both the dance and black music charts, and is moving up the pop charts. Her debut album, also titled "The Right Stuff," is also off to a good start.
  10. ↑ Angel, Jennifer (March 2, 2010). "Pisces – Rise to Fame: Vanessa Williams". New York Daily News . Archived from the original on January 19, 2026. Retrieved January 15, 2026. Her record album reached gold status and earned her three Grammy Award nominations
  11. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Vanessa Williams Biography by Steve Huey". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  12. ↑ Brathwaite, Lester Fabian (July 23, 2024). "How Vanessa Williams lost the Miss America crown but won over Hollywood". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on January 26, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Save the Best for Last – ISWC: T0701687935 – Work ID: 490695193". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers . Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Kawashima, Dale. "Phil Galdston, Wendy Waldman & Jon Lind: Writing The Classic Hit Song "Save The Best For Last" For Vanessa Williams". Songwriter Universe. According to Lind, he and Galdston composed the music, while Galdston and Waldman wrote the lyrics. Archived from the original on April 21, 2025. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Bessman, Jim (April 1, 1995). "Phil Galdston Applies No-Rule Rule". Billboard . p. 42. Retrieved January 13, 2026– via Google Books.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Beviglia, Jim (June 3, 2025). "How Vanessa Williams' Biggest Hit Mirrored Her Career Trajectory". American Songwriter . Archived from the original on August 13, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Trust, Gary (January 25, 2017). "Chart Beat Podcast: Phil Galdston, NYU Director of Songwriting & Faculty Songwriter-in-Residence". Billboard . Archived from the original on January 21, 2026. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book Of Number One Hits . Billboard Books. p. 806. ISBN   978-0823076772 – via Internet Archive.
  19. 1 2 Kawashima, Dale. "Jon Lind Talks About His Great Career, Writing Classic Hit Songs and Heading A&R for Hollywood Records". Songwriter Universe. Archived from the original on October 10, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 4 Williams, Vanessa; Williams, Helen (2012). You Have No Idea. United Kingdom: Penguin Publishing Group. ISBN   9781101569160 – via Google Books.
  21. 1 2 Garcia, Sergio (January 21, 2022). "Vanessa Williams reflects on her multifaceted, decade-spanning career ahead of McCallum Theatre show". The Desert Sun . Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  22. 1 2 Fraley, Jason (July 2, 2019). "Q&A: Vanessa Williams looks back on career, looks forward to 'Capitol Fourth'". WTOP-FM. Archived from the original on August 10, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  23. 1 2 Handler, Rick (December 1, 2020). "Vanessa Williams: Always Giving Her Best". Entertainment Central Pittsburgh. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  24. 1 2 Questlove (February 21, 2024). "Ed Eckstine". Questlove Supreme (Podcast). iHeartMedia. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  25. ↑ Save the Best for Last (CD single liner notes). Vanessa Williams. United States: Wing / Mercury Records. 1992. 866 523-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ↑ "Save the Best for Last by Vanessa Williams". Official Charts Company . Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 Harris, Mark (December 25, 1992). "9. Vanessa Williams". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  28. ↑ Cane, Clay (January 12, 2009). "The Real Queen: Vanessa Williams". The Advocate . Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  29. 1 2 3 Flick, Larry (January 18, 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . p. 77. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  30. 1 2 3 4 Vivinetto, Gina (October 6, 2021). "Kelly Clarkson saves the best for last in stunning Vanessa Williams cover". Today . Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2026. timeless R&B ballad
  31. 1 2 3 Gallucci, Michael. "Vanessa Williams - Greatest Hits: The First Ten Years". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2020. ("Save the Best for Last," "Love Is," and "Colors of the Wind") are smoldering slices of R&B
  32. ↑ Galdston, Phil; Lind, Jon; Waldman, Wendy (March 17, 2008). "Vanessa Williams "Save the Best for Last" Sheet Music in Eb Major". Musicnotes. EMI Music Publishing . Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Key & BPM for Save the Best for Last by Vanessa Williams". Tunebat. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  34. 1 2 Piatkowski, Peter (August 27, 2024). "Vanessa Williams Returns with the Excellent 'Survivor' After a Lengthy Break". PopMatters . Archived from the original on August 3, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  35. ↑ Snider, Eric (February 24, 1993). "Slowhand on fast track for Grammy Awards". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  36. 1 2 3 4 Hutchinson, Eric (October 16, 2017). "The Power of Music & Memory: An Ode to Middle School Dances, Vanessa Williams & Face-to-Face Music Listening". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Archived from the original on December 2, 2025. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  37. 1 2 3 4 Piatkowski, Peter (August 19, 2021). "30 Years Ago 'The Comfort Zone' Completed Vanessa Williams' Comeback". PopMatters . Archived from the original on October 16, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  38. 1 2 "Vanessa Williams: Top 5 Moments". Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved January 13, 2025. This song received critical acclaim
  39. 1 2 3 Chappelle, Mark (August 15, 2021). "Vanessa Williams' 'The Comfort Zone' Turns 30 — Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  40. 1 2 Kocan, Liz (September 13, 2025). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'The Groomsmen: Second Chances' on Hallmark Channel, The Second Charming Installment In A Romance Trilogy About Three Best Friends Finding Love". Decider . Archived from the original on December 10, 2025. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  41. 1 2 3 "Save The Best For Last by Vanessa Williams". Songfacts. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  42. ↑ Tewksbury, Drew (January 21, 2011). "Top 10 Unmissable Bands Inexplicably Hidden on the Coachella 2011 Poster". LA Weekly . Archived from the original on August 22, 2025. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  43. ↑ Watson, Graeme (February 16, 2024). "Review | Anna Piper Scott: None Of That Queer Stuff". OutInPerth . Archived from the original on December 9, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  44. 1 2 Magary, Drew (October 23, 2008). "The World Series Can Eat A Bag Of D—ks. Jamboroo, Week 8". Deadspin . Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  45. ↑ Fawbert, Dave (January 28, 2018). "The 50 absolute worst rhyming couplets in songs". ShortList . Archived from the original on May 23, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  46. ↑ Enos, Morgan (March 28, 2023). "ReImagined: Watch Maeta Perform A Ravishing Rendition Of Vanessa Williams' "Save The Best For Last"". Grammy.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  47. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Vaidya, Amit (January 20, 2022). "#RSFlashback – 30 Years Ago, The Number One Ballad 'Save The Best For Last' Gave Vanessa Williams Back Her Crown". Rolling Stone India . Archived from the original on December 31, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025. given the extremely high marks it got from critics
  48. ↑ "Williams Wins Chart Tiara." The Orlando Sentinel . March 20, 1992.
  49. ↑ Norment, Lynn (November 1991). "Sound Off: The Best in Recorded Music". Ebony . Johnson Publishing Company. ISSN   0012-9011 . Retrieved January 23, 2026– via Google Books.
  50. ↑ Joyce, Mike (September 21, 1991). "Joyce, Mike (September 22, 1991). "The Second Time Around: Carey, Williams and White". The Washington Post. p. G02". The Washington Post . Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  51. ↑ Berger, Arion (September 6, 1991). "The Comfort Zone". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  52. ↑ Sholin, Dave (January 24, 1992). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report . No. 1889. p. 56. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 28, 2025. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  53. ↑ Martinucci, John (January 10, 1992). "Urban: New Releases" (PDF). Gavin Report . p. 21. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  54. ↑ Jones Jr., R. LaMont (September 26, 1991). "Recordings: "The Comfort Zone" Vanessa Williams". The Pittsburgh Press . p. 12. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  55. ↑ Pick, Steve. (December 10, 1993). "An Update On The MTV Singles Scene". St. Louis Post-Dispatch .
  56. ↑ Clark, Randy; DeVaney, Bryan (February 8, 1992). "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox . p. 5. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  57. 1 2 Rizik, Chris (2024). "Vanessa Williams". SoulTracks . Archived from the original on October 14, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  58. 1 2 3 4 5 Harris, Mark (April 24, 1992). "Vanessa Williams talks about her success". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on April 27, 2025. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  59. ↑ Bernstein, Jonathan (December 1992). "The Year In Pop". Spin . SPIN Media LLC. p. 42. ISSN   0886-3032 . Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  60. ↑ Randle, Chris (February 28, 2014). "Oscar's Best Songs vs. Billboard's Number Ones". Hazlitt . Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  61. 1 2 3 Holden, Stephen (January 21, 2016). "Review: Vanessa Williams, Strong and Steady, Without Taking Chances". The New York Times . Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  62. 1 2 Sendra, Tim. "20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Vanessa Williams Review". AllMusic . Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  63. ↑ Shetler, Scott. "Rewriting History: Who Should Have Won the Record of the Year Grammy, 1959-2026?". Total Music Awards. Archived from the original on August 22, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  64. ↑ "1992 Grammy Winners". Grammy.com . Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  65. ↑ "Vanessa Williams". GRAMMY.com. March 17, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  66. ↑ "Arresting nominees take Soul Train". Variety . February 2, 1993. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  67. ↑ Martinez, M.R. (February 13, 1993). "Soul Train Music Awards Get Arrested" (PDF). Cashbox . p. 12. Retrieved January 30, 2026– via WorldRadioHistory.
  68. ↑ "NAACP names Michael Jackson entertainer of the year". United Press International. January 17, 1993. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  69. ↑ "'Sister Act' Gets Top Image Prize : Awards: TV's 'I'll Fly Away' wins three NAACP trophies, despite being put on hiatus by NBC". Los Angeles Times . January 18, 1993. Archived from the original on December 31, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  70. ↑ "Best songs from the '90s". Insider . Retrieved March 21, 2020.[ permanent dead link ]
  71. ↑ "These Are the Best Love Songs of All Time". Elle . April 30, 2020. In the sliding gallery, scroll to the 32nd slide. Retrieved January 23, 2026– via Yahoo! Life.
  72. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 627.
  73. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955-2010. Record Research.
  74. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits: 1952-1996. Record Research.
  75. 1 2 3 Grein, Paul (February 29, 1992). "Billboard-1992-02-29" (PDF). Billboard . Retrieved January 13, 2025– via WorldRadioHistory.
  76. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 (week of March 21, 1992)". Billboard . March 21, 1992. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  77. ↑ Clanton, Nancy (February 10, 2020). "The style and grace of Vanessa Williams, the first Black Miss America". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Archived from the original on December 14, 2025. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  78. ↑ "Newsmakers". Billboard . July 18, 1992. p. 73. Retrieved January 12, 2025– via Google Books.
  79. 1 2 Hilburn, Robert (February 25, 1993). "Clapton's 6 Grammys Top Emotional Tribute : Music: He wins best song. 'Beauty and Beast' figures in five awards. Arrested Development is best new artist". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  80. ↑ Coffman, Larry (2024). All The Hits All The Time More Distinctive Rock Memories from the Coffman Collection. United States: Newman Springs Publishing. ISBN   9798890616531 – via Google Books.
  81. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (week of March 28, 1992)". Billboard . March 28, 1992. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  82. ↑ Paul Grein (March 28, 1992). "Chart Beat: Fans Hail Queen; Vanessa's Victory" (PDF). Billboard . p. 78. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  83. 1 2 James, Alastair (December 2025). "Who is gay icon Vanessa Williams from age to Miss America photo scandal". PinkNews . Retrieved January 15, 2026– via MSN.
  84. ↑ "Vanessa Williams: Save the Best For Last". IMDb . Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  85. ↑ "Running Back To You by Vanessa Williams". Songfacts . Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  86. ↑ Worner, Elka (September 10, 1992). "Peppers, Clapton, Metallica winners at MTV Awards". United Press International . Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  87. ↑ Macdonald, Patrick (September 8, 1992). "`Mtv Video Awards': Playing's The Thing". The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on January 11, 2026. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  88. ↑ Haring, Bruce (February 24, 1993). "Clapton creams competition". Variety . Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  89. 1 2 Atkinson, Katie (February 12, 2017). "Vanessa Williams Tweets About Her Hidden Pregnant Belly at 1993 Grammys After Beyonce Performance". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  90. 1 2 Hochman, Steve; Siegmund; Heidi (February 25, 2025). "The 35th Annual Grammy Awards: Clapton Gets His Due, New Bloods Too: Backstage: The Antics, Escapades and Pop-arazzi: What the Winners Had to Say". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on August 20, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  91. ↑ McDonald, Soraya Nadia (June 23, 2017). "Explaining Beyoncé's public performance of pregnancy and motherhood". Andscape . Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  92. ↑ Atkinson, Katie (June 29, 2021). "Cardi B, Beyonce & The Evolution of Pop-Music Pregnancy Reveals". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 22, 2025. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  93. ↑ Mettler, Katie (February 13, 2017). "The African, Hindu and Roman goddesses who inspired Beyoncé's stunning Grammy performance". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  94. ↑ Cader, Michael; Baskin, Edie, eds. (1994). Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin. p. 127. ISBN   978-0395708958 – via Internet Archive.
  95. ↑ "Episodes | 05.16.1992". The SNL Archives. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  96. ↑ Vulpo, Mike (December 15, 2022). "How Vanessa Williams Keeps Shining Bright After 25 Years on the Road". E!. Archived from the original on July 25, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  97. ↑ Cane, Clay (February 3, 2014). "Spend Valentine's Day With Vanessa Williams". BET . Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  98. 1 2 Cane, Clay (February 3, 2014). "Spend Valentine's Day With Vanessa Williams". BET. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  99. ↑ Platon, Adelle (December 5, 2016). "7 Festive Moments From 'VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night' Special". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 22, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  100. ↑ Smullens, SaraKay (January 23, 2017). "Broadway Up Close: Vanessa Williams, hosted by Seth Rudetsky". Broad Street Review. Archived from the original on October 11, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  101. ↑ Diehl, Megan (January 24, 2017). "Review: 'Broadway Up Close: Vanessa Williams' at the Kimmel Center". DC Theater Arts. Archived from the original on June 16, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  102. ↑ Clawson, Kerry (December 10, 2020). "Star Vanessa Williams brings viewers on personal journey in livestreamed concert". Akron Beacon Journal . Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  103. ↑ "Vanessa Williams to star in virtual concert benefitting Shea's". WKBW-TV. November 23, 2020. Archived from the original on April 21, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  104. ↑ "The Refugees On Mountain Stage". NPR. February 4, 2010. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  105. ↑ "Laura Blake - Save the Best for Last". Discogs . 1996.
  106. ↑ Ayers, Mike (October 16, 2014). "Meet Alexandra Shipp, Lifetime's 'Aaliyah'". The Wall Street Journal . Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  107. ↑ Levine, Nick (November 18, 2014). "5 Reasons Why Lifetime's Rubbish Biopic Failed to do Aaliyah Justice". NME . Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  108. ↑ Nguyen, Stacey (November 9, 2019). "We're Throwin' It Back — Every Single 1 of Kelly Clarkson's Flawless American Idol Performances". PopSugar . Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  109. ↑ Pelley, Rich (November 20, 2023). "'I would have ice-skating parties to UK garage': Leona Lewis's honest playlist". The Guardian . Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  110. 1 2 Copson, Josie (November 6, 2025). "Life on this side of the pond is different gravy, says Williams". Metro . Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  111. ↑ Ngcobo, Ndumiso (June 28, 2020). "Save the best for first, that's my motto". Sunday Times . South Africa. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  112. ↑ "In Living Color – Season 4, Episode 4 Black People Awards". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on August 25, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  113. ↑ "In Living Color season 4 Black People Awards reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on July 19, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  114. ↑ Wayans, Keenen Ivory (October 18, 1992). "Black People Awards". In Living Color. Season 4. Episode 4. Fox Broadcasting Company.
  115. ↑ Nathan Smith (October 10, 2014). "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Why It Still Survives". Out . Archived from the original on October 12, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  116. ↑ Millikan, Matt (2023). "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert". ACMI. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  117. ↑ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (July 7, 2019). "The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert vinyl review". Entertainment Focus. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  118. ↑ Fitzharris, Dustin (May 22, 2009). "The Real Thing". Out . Archived from the original on June 20, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  119. 1 2 Watkin, Hannah (April 9, 2025). "Vanessa Williams reveals Elton John's advice for The Devil Wears Prada". Smooth Radio. Archived from the original on October 13, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  120. ↑ Trust, Gary (September 15, 2011). "Billboard's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Songs Ever: Elton John, Lionel Richie, Celine Dion & More". Billboard . Archived from the original on November 12, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  121. ↑ Piatkowski, Peter. "Here She Is, Miss Vanessa Williams". The Daily Vault Music Reviews. Archived from the original on May 18, 2025. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  122. ↑ Jones-Cooper, Brittany (March 30, 2021). "Game changers: Vanessa Williams on overcoming stereotypes in Hollywood". Yahoo! Entertainment . Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  123. 1 2 "Vanessa Williams". Penthouse . April 1993. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  124. ↑ Milward, John (July 18, 1993). "POP MUSIC; With Country, It Often Pays To Just Shut Up and Write". The New York Times . Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  125. ↑ "Vanessa Williams". Jet . Johnson Publishing Company. January 16, 1995. ISSN   0021-5996 . Retrieved January 13, 2026– via Google Books.
  126. ↑ "Vanessa Williams – Save the Best for Last". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  127. ↑ "Vanessa Williams – Save the Best for Last" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  128. ↑ "Hits of the World: Canada". Billboard . Vol. 104, no. 19. May 9, 1992. p. 43.
  129. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2116". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  130. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2097". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  131. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 9, no. 19. May 9, 1992. p. 33. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  132. ↑ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media . May 23, 1992. p. 40. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  133. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  134. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Save the Best for Last". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  135. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 19, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  136. ↑ "Vanessa Williams – Save the Best for Last" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  137. ↑ "Vanessa Williams – Save the Best for Last". Top 40 Singles.
  138. ↑ "Vanessa Williams – Save the Best for Last". Singles Top 100.
  139. ↑ "Vanessa Williams – Save the Best for Last". Swiss Singles Chart.
  140. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 18/4/1992 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  141. ↑ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week . May 2, 1992. p. 20. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  142. ↑ "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard . Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  143. ↑ "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard . Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  144. ↑ "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  145. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits: 1952-1996. Record Research.
  146. 1 2 "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1992". ARIA . Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  147. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1992" (in Dutch). Ultratop . Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  148. ↑ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992" (PDF). RPM . Vol. 56, no. 25. December 19, 1992. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  149. ↑ "The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary tracks of 1992". RPM . Retrieved April 14, 2019– via Library and Archives Canada.
  150. ↑ "1992 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 9, no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 17. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  151. ↑ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  152. ↑ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1992". Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  153. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1992" (in Dutch). MegaCharts . Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  154. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1992" (in German). Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  155. ↑ "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week . January 16, 1993. p. 8.
  156. ↑ "1992 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week . January 9, 1993. p. 8. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  157. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1992". Archived from the original on July 8, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  158. ↑ "The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 52. December 26, 1992. p. YE-38. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  159. ↑ "The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 52. December 26, 1992. p. YE-28. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  160. ↑ "Top 50 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVI, no. 18. December 26, 1992. p. 8.
  161. ↑ Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 Singles of the 1990s". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  162. ↑ "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 . Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-20. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  163. ↑ "American single certifications – Vanessa Williams – Save the Best for Last". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  164. ↑ "セイブ・ザ・ベスト・フォー・ラスト | ヴァネッサ・ウィリアムス" [Save the Best for Last | Vanessa Williams] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  165. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . March 7, 1992. p. 17.
  166. ↑ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 16/03/92: Singles". The ARIA Report . No. 111. March 15, 1992. p. 19.
  167. ↑ "關淑怡 - 戀一世的愛 - Love Is Forever - Releases". Discogs . 1991. Retrieved November 18, 2023. Year - 1991 - 為何是我們 - 3:36
  168. ↑ 為何是我們 (in Cantonese (Traditional Han script)). Universal Music Group. 1991. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.