"Save Tonight" is a song written and performed by Swedish rock musician Eagle-Eye Cherry, released on 7 October 1997 as the lead single from his debut album, Desireless (1997). It is the album's opening track and gained substantial radio success, reaching number three in Ireland, number five in the United States, number six in the United Kingdom, and number two in Cherry's native Sweden. "Save Tonight" was awarded the Rockbjörnen award in the "Swedish song of the year 1997" category.
Critical reception Larry Flick of Billboard wrote, "With a voice mildly reminiscent of Seal, the lad gives "Save Tonight" a richly soulful edge that cuts through the track's shiny arrangement of strumming acoustic guitars and prickly electric licks. Beyond the single's well-crafted surface are vivid, storyteller lyrics that are smarter than what you'll typically find on radio. An excellent, commercially sound way of introducing the artist's sterling full-length debut, Desireless, this cut demands immediate modern and mainstream rock radio play—and perhaps even triple-A and eventually top 40 stations." Scottish newspaper Daily Record felt that with the song, "late jazz legend Don's son and Neneh's brother is living up to his musical heritage.""Chart Slot". Daily Record. 31 July 1998.
Music video The monochrome music video was directed by Johan Camitz. It was filmed at Skånegatan 92-94 in Stockholm's Södermalm district from 9–10 September 1997, and features Cherry playing different characters and seeing the story from different perspectives. Cherry prepares for a date by buying roses and a bottle of wine at a deli; he waves goodbye to the butcher, who proves to be another Cherry. A robber wearing tights over his head as a disguise (purchased in a nearby shop at the start of the video) enters the deli and takes money from the cash register; when he runs out, he is hit by a pickup truck. Both he and the driver are additional duplicates of Cherry, and two others appear as a man playing guitar and a homeless person sleeping on the sidewalk. The Cherry who entered the deli walks past and tosses some change to the latter before departing for his date. The video is edited to make it appear as a single continuous take.
Track listings Swedish and European CD single; UK cassette single "Save Tonight" – 3:55 "Conversation" – 4:55
UK CD single "Save Tonight" "Save Tonight" (Bacon & Quarmby remix) "Conversation" "Save Tonight" (video)
Australasian CD single "Save Tonight" "Save Tonight" (Bacon & Quarmby remix) "Conversation"
Personnel Personnel are lifted from the Desireless album booklet. Eagle-Eye Cherry – music, lyrics, vocals, background vocals, co-production Mattias Torell – acoustic guitar, electric guitar Klas Åhlund – electric guitar Elias Modig – bass Magnus Persson – drums Adam Kviman – production, mixing, engineering
Charts
Weekly charts +Chart (1997–1999)PeakpositionEurope (Eurochart Hot 100)8Europe Border Breakers (Music & Media)1European Radio Top 50 (Music & Media)5France Airplay (Music & Media)1Greece (IFPI)7Hungary (Mahasz)7Hungary Airplay (Music & Media)3Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)8Italy Airplay (Music & Media)4Mexico International (Notitas Musicales)3Poland (Music & Media)17Scandinavia Airplay (Music & Media)2Spain Airplay (Music & Media)3UK Airplay (Music Week)1
+Chart (2013–2026)Peakposition Norway Airplay (IFPI Norge) 37Slovenia Airplay (SloTop50) 25
Year-end charts +Chart (1997)PositionSweden (Topplistan)8
+Chart (1998)PositionBelgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)69Canada Top Singles (RPM)90Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)40Europe Airplay (Music & Media)4Europe Border Breakers (Music & Media)1France (SNEP)51Germany (Media Control)56Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)58Netherlands (Single Top 100)72Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)40UK Singles (OCC)39US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)36US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)57US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)33US Triple-A (Billboard)7
+Chart (1999)PositionCanada Top Singles (RPM)49US Billboard Hot 10022US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)5US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)11US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)91US Triple-A (Billboard)25
Certifications
Release history +RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Sweden7 October 1997CDSuperstudio BlåUnited Kingdom15 June 1998PolydorUnited States22 June 1998Modern rock radioWork14 July 1998Contemporary hit radio
E.M.D. version
In 2010, Swedish boy band E.M.D. released a cover version of "Save Tonight" as the first single from their second studio album, Rewind (2010). It was released digitally in 2010.
Charts +Chart (2010)Peakposition
References
External links