Tonight, I Celebrate My Love

"Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" is a romantic ballad written by lyricist Gerry Goffin with Michael Masser and recorded by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack for their 1983 album of duets, Born to Love, issued as the lead single. The track—produced by Masser—became a million-selling international hit.

"Tonight, I Celebrate My Love"
Single by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack
from the album Born to Love
B-side	"Born to Love"
Released	1983
Recorded	1982
Genre	R&B soul soft rock^[1]
Length	3:30
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Gerry Goffin Michael Masser
Producer(s)	Michael Masser
Peabo Bryson singles chronology
"Remember When (So Much Love)" (1983) "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" (1983) "Heaven Above Me" (1983)
Roberta Flack singles chronology
"Remember When (So Much Love)" (1983) "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" (1983) "Maybe" (1983)

Overview

"Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" was one of two Michael Masser/ Gerry Goffin co-writes produced by Masser for the Born to Love album. Although the Born to Love sessions marked the first time either Peabo Bryson or Roberta Flack had been produced by Masser, Flack had previously recorded two Masser/Goffin co-writes: "Independent Man" (1978 album Roberta Flack) and "Stay With Me" (1980 album Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway): also Masser's Ron Miller co-write "After You" was featured on Flack's 1977 album Blue Lights in the Basement. Flack's first recording of a Gerry Goffin composition had been a remake of his earliest evocation of nocturnal intimacy, Flack's version of the Shirelles' classic—co-written with Carole King—"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"—featured on the 1971 album Quiet Fire—in fact becoming Flack's first solo single to appear on the Hot 100 in Billboard magazine also serving as Flack's solo debut on Billboard's R&B chart (Flack had previously reached both the Hot 100 and R&B charts with two duet singles with Donny Hathaway).

Despite Flack having recorded three of Masser's compositions, the singer would recall that when Masser previewed "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" for her, it was with the advisement that he hoped to place the song, rejected by RCA for Diana Ross, with Barbra Streisand:(Roberta Flack quote:)"[But] I told him I think I can sing that."^[2] Flack brought Bryson over to Masser's house for the composer to preview "Tonight, I Celebrate..." for Bryson who would recall (Peabo Bryson quote:) "Even though it's a great song, I [then] didn't [appreciate] it was" since "Michael's not the greatest singer in the world...I only [agreed] to do it because Roberta really wanted to[, but] after the first take in the studio I got [the song's appeal] too."^[3] The second Masser/ Goffin co-write on Born to Love: "Comin' Alive", described by Masser as "an uptempo synthesized song", was considered by Masser for single release rather than "Tonight, I Celebrate...": (Michael Masser quote:) "but I just felt that there are people out there who want to be touched by a romantic acoustic ballad...Each year, through whatever else is the particular fashion or mode, there are always great ballads that break through."^[4]

Bryson and Flack had previously appeared on the R&B chart in Billboard with two duet singles: "Make the World Stand Still" and "Love is a Waiting Game", both from their collaborative 1980 Live & More double album. However, "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" would be the first Bryson/Flack duet single to rank on the Billboard Hot 100: with a Hot 100 peak of #16 in November 1983: "Tonight, I Celebrate..." would also rank on the Billboard R&B chart (#5)^[5] and on the magazine's Adult Contemporary chart (#4).^[6] In the UK, "Tonight, I Celebrate..." would peak at #2 in September 1983, affording both Bryson and Flack their alltime best UK chart showing. "Tonight, I Celebrate..." was afforded further international success charting in Australia (#10), Canada (#4), Finland (#13), Flemish Belgium (#8), Ireland (#5), the Netherlands (#16), New Zealand (#11), Norway (#8), and South Africa (#4).

A promotional video—Flack's video debut—was prepped for "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love". Directed by Martin Pitts, the video was a straightforward performance video showing Flack and Bryson singing the song—she playing the piano and he seated on a stool at her side—while session musicians may be seen in the background: the clip was taped at the Capitol Studios in Hollywood, the Born to Love album being recorded for Capitol Records—Bryson's home label—with Flack on loan from Atlantic Records (the track "Tonight, I Celebrate..." was in fact recorded at A&M Studios with Randy Kerber on piano: Flack did not play piano on any tracks on Born to Love).

"Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" would be the only top 40 hit duet for Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack as the only subsequent single from Born to Love to chart on the Hot 100: "You're Looking Like Love to Me", peaked at #58. "Tonight, I Celebrate..." would also be the only major hit duet for Bryson and Flack in the UK where "Heaven Above Me" was issued as the follow-up single to chart no higher than #84. Bryson's only solo hit single after "Tonight, I Celebrate..." would be the Michael Masser co-write "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" which peaked at #10, his only solo top 40 hit. Bryson would however score two more top 10 hit duets in 1991 and 1992, with "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Whole New World" respectively; the latter a number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Personnel

• Roberta Flack – vocals
• Peabo Bryson – vocals
• Randy Kerber – keyboards
• Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar
• Nathan East – bass
• Carlos Vega – drums
• Michael Masser – rhythm arrangements
• Gene Page – orchestration, rhythm arrangements

Critical reception

The Telegraph listed the song as one of the "50 best love songs of the 1980s", writing "Mmm! Dig those tinkly Eighties keyboards. Almost tasteful, considering its schlockbusting potential."^[7] The song is, according to The Telegraph, Roberta Flack's favourite song from her 1980s repertoire.^[8] The Monthly describes it as a "big romantic ballad."^[9]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1983) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)^[10] 10 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[11] 8 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[12] 4 Ireland (IRMA)^[13] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[14] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[15] 16 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[16] 11 Norway (VG-lista)^[17] 8 South Africa (Springbok)^[18] 4 UK Singles (OCC)^[19] 2 US Billboard Hot 100^[20] 16 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[21] 4 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[22] 5

Year-end charts Chart (1983) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)^[23] 70 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[24] 79 US Billboard Hot 100^[25] 96 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[26] 30

In popular culture

During the 1980s, the song was the love theme for Days of Our Lives supercouple, Bo Brady and Hope Williams.^[27]

In 2005, it was used in a commercial for the M-Azing candy bar.^[28]

References

1. "VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs". Stereogum. SpinMedia. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
2. . Jazzblues.org. Tennessee Jazz & Blues Society. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
3. Palm Springs Desert Sun 10 March 2002 "Masser Writes the Songs" by Bruce Fessier pp.E1, E5
4. Billboard Vol 95 #48 (3 December 1983) "'Celebrate My Love' producer Masser: 'Ballads are always in'" by Paul Grein p. 62
5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 90.
6. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 41.
7. "50 best love songs of the 1980s". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
8. "Roberta Flack: 'Now's a good time to love music'". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
9. "Strangers in the night". Themonthly.com.au. March 1, 2009. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives: Australian Chart Book. p. 247. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
11. "Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack – Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4426." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Peabo Bryson". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 42, 1983" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
15. "Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack – Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
16. "Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack – Tonight, I Celebrate My Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
17. "Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack – Tonight, I Celebrate My Love". VG-lista. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
18. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Rock.co.za. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
19. "Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
20. "Peabo Bryson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
21. "Peabo Bryson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
22. "Peabo Bryson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
23. "Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 22, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
24. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1983". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
25. "Talent Almanac 1984: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 52. December 24, 1983. p. TA-18.
26. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1983". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
27. Greppi, Michele (June 29, 1986). "Sticking to our guns, day job and peanut butter". Contra Costa County Library NewsBank - Access World News. The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution. p. T/50.
28. "M'azing - Cabin (2005, USA)". YouTube.