The Best

"The Best"
Single by Tina Turner
from the album Foreign Affair
A-side	1. The Best
B-side	2. Undercover Agent For The Blues 3. Bold And Reckless
Released	September 2, 1989
Format	7" single 12" single CD single
Genre	Pop, Rock
Length	4:09
Label	Capitol Records
Writer(s)	Mike Chapman, Holly Knight
Producer	Tina Turner, Dan Hartman
Tina Turner singles chronology
"634-5789 (Live)" (1988) "The Best" (1989) "I Don't Wanna Lose You" (1989)

"(Simply) The Best"
Single by Tina Turner & Jimmy Barnes
Released	1992
Format	CD single
Genre	Pop, Rock
Length	4:11
Label	Mushroom Records
Writer(s)	Mike Chapman, Holly Knight
Producer	Dan Hartman Chris Lord-Alge
Tina Turner singles chronology "I Want You Near Me" (1992) "[Simply) The Best" (1992) "I Don't Wanna Fight" (1993)

"The Best" is a song written by Mike Chapman and Holly Knight, originally included on Bonnie Tyler's 1988 release Hide Your Heart. The song was then recorded and released as a highly successful single by Tina Turner in 1989 on her hit album Foreign Affair. The saxophone solo on Turner's version is played by Edgar Winter.

"The Best" is one of Turner's most successful and popular singles worldwide. It peaked at number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and made it to the top five in the UK, peaking at number 5 and Germany, reaching number 4. Certain editions of Turner's single also included the non-album track "Bold and Reckless", produced by Rupert Hine.

A version recorded in 1992 as a duet with Jimmy Barnes, titled "Simply the Best", was a Top 40 hit single in Australia, where it was used in a campaign for the New South Wales Rugby League.

In popular culture

"The Best" became even more popular in the UK than in the US, becoming the theme song of the legendary British world champion boxer Chris Eubank. It also became the theme song for the also legendary Brazilian Formula One racer Ayrton Senna. Turner's version of this song appears on SingStar 80's on the PS2, and it was also used during the ceremonies the Pittsburgh Penguins held as they retired, un-retired, and re-retired number 66 for Mario Lemieux, and it's also ironic that Lemieux's surname means "the best" in French.

The song was played over the PA system at Madison Square Garden when Mark Messier was presented with the Stanley Cup after the New York Rangers' victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. The Rangers listened to it before the game.

Tyler's version of the song was used in a tribute video for WWE wrestler Edge that aired on the July 20, 2007 edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown.

Turner's version was used by NESN (New England Sports Network) on September 1, 2007, as a tribute when Boston Red Sox Rookie pitcher Clay Buchholz threw a No-Hitter at Fenway Park against the Baltimore Orioles in his second Major League start. This consisted of a 2-hour replay of the game, showing all 27 outs recorded for the night, as well as the 4 minute musical montage, entitled "Rookie Magic".

Additionally, Senator Joe Biden used Turner's recording as the theme song for his 2008 campaign for the presidency, and it was an unofficial anthem for the pharmaceutical company SmithKline Beecham.

Celine Dion has performed the song live in concert.

Japanese pro-wrestler Osamu Nishimura currently uses the song as an entrance theme.

The song is the unofficial club anthem of the Scottish football club Rangers FC, however on occasions additional lyrics of a sectarian nature can be heard.

The song is played after all Buffalo Bisons home wins beginning with the Chorus.

Versions and remixes (Tina Turner version)

• 7" Edit - 4:11
• Album Version a.k.a. Extended 12" Mix - 5:28
• Extended Mighty Mix - 6:35
• Single Muscle Mix - 4:16
• Extended Muscle Mix - 5:28
• "(Simply) The Best" (With Jimmy Barnes, 1992) - 4:11
• "(Simply) The Best" (Extended Mix) (With Jimmy Barnes, 1992) - 5:29

Chart Performance

Bonnie Tyler

Tina Turner version

Tina Turner & Jimmy Barnes version

References