"The Best Things in Life Are Free" | ||||
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Single by Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson | ||||
from the album Mo' Money soundtrack and Design of a Decade: 1986–1996 (1995 re-release) | ||||
B-side |
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Released | May 12, 1992 | |||
Recorded | February –March 1992 | |||
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Genre | ||||
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Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis | |||
Luther Vandross singles chronology | ||||
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Janet Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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Bell Biv DeVoe singles chronology | ||||
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Ralph Tresvant singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"The Best Things in Life Are Free" on YouTube |
"The Best Things in Life Are Free" is a duet between American singers Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson,recorded for the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis produced soundtrack to the 1992 American film Mo' Money ,starring Damon Wayans. The song was composed by Jam,Lewis,Michael Bivins,Ronnie DeVoe,Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch. The song was released as the soundtrack's lead single on May 12,1992,by Perspective Records and A&M Records. Additionally,the song was remixed by David Morales,Frankie Knuckles,and CJ Mackintosh. The duet became a major hit in several countries,peaking at number two in Australia and the United Kingdom,number six in Ireland and New Zealand,number eight in Canada and Germany,and number 10 in the United States. Its music video was directed by Paris Barclay,but didn't feature Vandross and Jackson. The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
The song was later included on Vandross' compilations One Night with You:The Best of Love,Volume 2 and Lovesongs ,as well as Jackson's own compilations Design of a Decade:1986–1996 and Number Ones respectively. In 1995,the song was re-released as the second single from Jackson's aforementioned Design of a Decade 1986–1996 compilation album,included new remixes by Roger Sanchez,K-Klass and MK,exclusively in European countries. A further re-release followed as a limited-edition single in 1996. Jackson included the song on her 2011 tour,Number Ones,Up Close and Personal,and her 2015–2016 Unbreakable World Tour. It is also included in her 2019 Las Vegas Residency Janet Jackson:Metamorphosis.
In March 1991,Jackson signed an unprecedented $32 million contract with Virgin Records,the largest record deal at the time,although it was quickly exceeded by her brother Michael and his label,Epic Records. [1] Prior to her first release with Virgin,Jackson was asked by Jam and Lewis to record a song for the soundtrack to the feature film Mo' Money ,released in 1992 by their label Perspective Records. Jon Bream of the Star Tribune reported:"For most movie soundtracks,producers negotiate with record companies,managers and lawyers for the services of big-name singers. Like the Hollywood outsiders that they are,Edina-based Jam and Lewis went directly to such stars as Janet Jackson and Luther Vandross." [2] It was the first all-new song Jackson recorded at the new location of Flyte Tyme Studios in Edina,Minnesota,which was completed 2 months after wrapping up recording on her fourth studio album Rhythm Nation 1814 in May 1989 at the original Minneapolis studio. [3] She had done re-recordings and remixes there from 1989 to 1991.
"The Best Things in Life Are Free" is an R&B,dance-pop and house song with a "steady beat". [4] It is written in the key of F♯m and their vocal ranges span from the low-note of F♯3 to C♯6. [4] The song is set in the signature of common time and has a moderate tempo of 120 pulsations per minute. [4] It follows the basic chord progression of B7m—C♯7m—F♯7. [4]
Larry Flick from Billboard wrote,"First peek into the hotly anticipated soundtrack to the film Mo' Money is a glittery,star-studded pop/jack affair. Vandross and Jackson vocally swerve and weave around each other like they've been singing together for years. Added flavor comes from guest raps by Bell Biv DeVoe and Tresvant. The true kudos,however,go to the masterful Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis,who have crafted a slammin' track that would work no matter what." [5] Amy Linden from Entertainment Weekly commented,"While the combo of Janet Jackson and Luther Vandross may be a marketing dream,artistically it blows. The trademark busy groove that defines Janet buries Luther,who doesn’t need a crutch and who,when free of misguided arrangements,eats singers like Janet for lunch." [6]
John Martinucci from the Gavin Report said the duo "sound great together working over this high energy song". [7] Also Alan Jones from Music Week agreed that "it's appeal is in the super-smooth vocal combination of Janet and Luther",and named the single Pick of the Week. [8] Another Music Week editor,Andy Beevers,felt the track is "very catchy and funky". [9] Iestyn George from NME noted its "sweet soul tread" that "carry an equally refreshing air of simplicity." [10] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits described it as "a smooth club number with a dreamy soul feel and a rap from the "special guests" in the middle." [11]
In the United States,"The Best Things in Life Are Free" debuted at number 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the week of May 30,1992. [12] Three weeks later,the song peaked at number 10 for three consecutive weeks and ended at number 41 on the year-end chart. [13] [14] [15] [16] The song also peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. [15] [17]
In the United Kingdom the song was released in August 1992 and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart,spending 13 weeks in the chart. [18] It became Jackson's first top-ten hit in the UK since "Let's Wait Awhile" reached number three in 1987. [19] The song was remixed in 1995 and re-released,reaching number seven. [20] It was the remixed version that was included on international releases of Janet's compilation album Design of a Decade:1986–1996 . In Australia the single spent five consecutive weeks at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart, [21] spending 18 weeks on the chart,and was ranked at number six on the year-end chart. [22]
A music video was made for "The Best Things in Life Are Free",directed by American television director,producer,and writer Paris Barclay, [23] although neither Vandross nor Jackson appear in it. Instead,the video features Mo' Money's stars Damon Wayans and Stacey Dash,at a carnival,lip-synching to the song;Damon's brother Marlon Wayans,who also appears in Mo' Money,has a cameo appearance in the video.
Also included on the track is Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe of Bell Biv DeVoe. Ralph Tresvant also has a very brief spoken line. He appears solo on the song "Money Can't Buy You Love" from the soundtrack.
"A Little Bit of Mo' Money The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" consists of three snippets:"Money Can't Buy You Love" by Ralph Tresvant,"Let's Just Run Away" by Johnny Gill,and "Let's Get Together (So Groovy Now)" by Krush.
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"Megamix" consists of seven songs by Janet Jackson: "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "When I Think of You", "Escapade", "Miss You Much", "Alright", "The Pleasure Principle", and "Runaway".
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Weekly charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA) [22] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [67] | Silver | 200,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Version | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United States | Original | May 12, 1992 |
| [ citation needed ] | |
United Kingdom | August 3, 1992 | [68] | |||
1995 remixes | December 4, 1995 |
| A&M | [69] | |
December 18, 1995 | 12-inch vinyl double pack | [70] |
Bell Biv DeVoe, also known as BBD, is an American music group from Boston, Massachusetts, formed from members of New Edition, consisting of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe.
"What Have You Done for Me Lately" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson from her third studio album, Control (1986). Jackson co-wrote the song with its producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It was released on January 13, 1986, by A&M Records as the album's lead single. After two unsuccessful albums and a management change, the singer began developing a new album. "What Have You Done for Me Lately" was penned for one of Jam and Lewis's own records, but the lyrics were rewritten to convey Jackson's feelings about her recent separation from James DeBarge in January 1985. It revolves around a woman's frustration with her partner in a relationship.
"All for You" is a song by American singer-songwriter Janet Jackson, from her seventh studio album of the same name (2001). Written and produced by Jackson along with her collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the song is a dance-pop and R&B track with influences of neo-disco and funk that heavily samples "The Glow of Love" by Change. Lyrically, it is about flirting with someone on the dance floor, being a reflection of the singer's state of mind at the time. It was released to radio stations as the lead single from the record in the United States on March 6, 2001, by Virgin Records, becoming the first single to be added to every pop, rhythmic, and urban radio format within its first week of release.
"Someone to Call My Lover" is a song by American singer-songwriter Janet Jackson from her seventh studio album, All for You (2001). Written and produced by Jackson and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the song was released as the album's second single on June 12, 2001, by Virgin Records. Using a guitar riff from America's "Ventura Highway" and the melody from Erik Satie's "Gymnopédie No. 1", "Someone to Call My Lover" talks about being determined to find a perfect match.
"Together Again" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson from her sixth studio album, The Velvet Rope (1997). It was written and produced by Jackson and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with additional writing by Jackson's then-husband René Elizondo Jr. It was released as the second single from the album in December 1997 by Virgin Records. Originally written as a ballad, the track was rearranged as an uptempo dance song. Jackson was inspired to write the song by her own private discovery of losing a friend to AIDS, as well as by a piece of fan mail she received from a young boy in England who had lost his father.
"Let Me Hold You" is a song by American rapper Bow Wow. It was the first single off his fourth album, Wanted (2005). Released on March 11, 2005, the song features American R&B singer Omarion. It was co-written and co-produced by frequent producer Jermaine Dupri and No I.D. and uses a sample of Luther Vandross' 1985 version of Brenda Russell's "If Only for One Night".
This is the singles discography of American singer Janet Jackson. Janet has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Billboard ranked her as well as the third greatest female artist of all time on Billboard Hot 100 history.
"Go Deep" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson from her sixth studio album, The Velvet Rope (1997). It was written and produced by Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with Jackson's husband René Elizondo Jr collaborating on the lyrics. The song was released as the fourth single from the album on June 15, 1998, by Virgin Records. A pop song, "Go Deep" talks about Jackson having a night out clubbing with her friends, and wanting to meet a man to have sex with him. Official remixes for the song were released, featuring Missy Elliott, Teddy Riley and Timbaland.
"Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)" is a song by American singer-songwriter Janet Jackson with Carly Simon from Jackson's seventh studio album, All for You (2001). It was written and produced by Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with additional lyrics by Simon. The R&B and hip hop song is built around a sample of 1972's "You're So Vain" by Simon, who also added some new spoken parts into the song; it talks about an unidentified man who attempted to extort money from Jackson. A remix featuring Missy Elliott was released as the third and final single from the album on November 6, 2001, by Virgin Records.
"Just a Little While" is a song by American singer-songwriter Janet Jackson, from her eighth studio album, Damita Jo (2004). Written by Jackson and Dallas Austin and produced by the latter, the track is a reflection of Jackson's new-found happiness during the album's recording. It was released to radio stations as the lead single from Damita Jo in the United States on February 2, 2004, by Virgin Records, following a leak ahead of its scheduled release which caused Jackson's record company to rush with a music video and promotion. "Just a Little While" is a pop rock, dance, and new wave song which lyrically showcases Jackson's "signature fashion" of writing sexual lyrics which are "innocent on the surface", expressing the singer's desire to have sexual intercourse with a lover.
"All Nite (Don't Stop)" is a song recorded by American singer Janet Jackson for her eighth studio album, Damita Jo (2004). It was written and produced by Jackson and Swedish duo Bag & Arnthor (consisting of Anders Bagge and Arnthor Birgisson), with additional writing from Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and Tony "Prof T" Tolbert. Virgin Records released the song to contemporary hit radio in the United States on May 17, 2004, as the album's third and final single. A So So Def remix featuring Elephant Man was also issued. "All Nite (Don't Stop)" is an electro-funk and house song that contains elements of samba, Latin, dance-pop, and dancehall. Jackson sings the song in a breathy falsetto, while lyrically it discusses being addicted to dancing in a club setting.
"Got 'til It's Gone" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson, featuring American rapper Q-Tip and Canadian singer Joni Mitchell, from her sixth studio album, The Velvet Rope (1997). It was written by Jackson, Jam and Lewis, with additional writing by René Elizondo Jr., Mitchell, and Kamaal Ibn Fareed. The song was produced by Jackson, Jam and Lewis. It was released as the lead single from The Velvet Rope in 1997, by Virgin Records. The song was recorded at Flyte Tyme Studios in Edina, Minnesota. For "Got 'til It's Gone", Jackson opted for a less polished sound which resulted in an authentic blend of R&B, pop, and hip hop with traces of reggae influences.
"Real Love" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige from her debut studio album, What's the 411? (1992). Based on real life experiences, it was written and produced by Cory Rooney and Mark Morales, and samples Audio Two's 1987 song "Top Billin'". The song was issued as the album's second single on July 28, 1992 by Uptown and MCA. It became Blige's first top-10 hit, peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic charts and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 4, 1992. Marcus Raboy directed the song's music video. Rolling Stone included "Real Love" in their list of "500 Best Songs of All Time" in 2021 at number 327.
"Real Love" is a song by American singer Jody Watley from her second studio album, Larger Than Life (1989). The single reached the number-one spot on the US Billboard Hot Black Singles and Dance Club Play charts. On the US Billboard Hot 100, "Real Love" peaked at number two for two weeks in May 1989. The song was also nominated for a Soul Train Music Award for Best Female Single.
"Feel It Boy" is a song by Jamaican dancehall musician Beenie Man featuring American singer Janet Jackson from Beenie Man's 15th studio album, Tropical Storm (2002). The song was written by Beenie Man, Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, and Clancy Eccles and was produced by the Neptunes. Virgin Records released the song on 15 July 2002 as the lead single from the album. "Feel It Boy" peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart and became a top-40 hit in eight other countries, including the United States, where it peaked at number 28.
"Shine" is a song by American singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, the first single from his greatest hits package The Ultimate Luther Vandross. The track samples Chic's song "My Forbidden Lover". "Shine" became a top-20 urban radio hit, and the club mixes of the song became popular on dance radio stations and clubs in the United States. The single was a top-50 hit in the United Kingdom but failed to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 despite reaching number 31 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. In 2007, British dance music duo Booty Luv released a cover version that reached the top 20 in several European countries.
"When Smokey Sings" is a song by English pop band ABC, released as the first single from their fourth studio album Alphabet City (1987). The lyrics and title of the song are a tribute to R&B and soul singer Smokey Robinson. In the United States, Robinson's single "One Heartbeat" and ABC's "When Smokey Sings" were ranked in the Billboard 100 pop chart simultaneously for several weeks, including the week ending 3 October 1987, in which both songs ranked in the top 10.
"So Amazing" is a 1983 song by Dionne Warwick. It was written by Luther Vandross and Marcus Miller and produced by the former for her studio album How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye (1983). Three years later, Vandross himself covered the song for his fifth studio album Give Me the Reason (1986). Released as a single, it entered the top 40 on the UK Singles Chart and earned a Soul Train Music Award nomination in 1988.
"Keep Coming Back" is a song by American singer-songwriter Richard Marx. It appears on his third solo album, Rush Street, and was both written and produced by Marx. The lyrics to the song detail a man's unrequited love for a woman. Working with musicians such as Luther Vandross and keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, Marx sought to explore different musical territory with this single, stating that "I wanted to write an old-fashioned R&B song."
"I'd Rather" is a song by American singer Luther Vandross. It written and produced by Shep Crawford and recorded by Vandross for his eponymous album (2001). The song was released as the album's third and final single. "I'd Rather" became a top twenty hit on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart and reached the top forty on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. It also topped the US Adult R&B Songs chart, the second single from Luther Vandross to do so.
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