Gladys Knight, “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 100^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” by Gladys Knight & The Pips. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 100^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”, performed by 🎙 Gladys Knight & The Pips. 

Theme & Lyrics ✍

“If anyone should ever write my life story / For whatever reason, there might be…” Those iconic lines hail from the chorus of the beloved 🎙 Gladys Knight & The Pips classic, 🎵 “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”.  How beloved is “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”? Well, it earned success on the pop charts, peaking impressively at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Gospel icon 🎙 James Cleveland transformed the 🎼✍ Jim Weatherly-penned joint into a gospel classic: 🎵 “Jesus is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”.  It’s worth noting, that the reverend gives Gladys her props.  The utterly sublime chorus continues, “Ooh, you’ll be there between each line of pain and glory / ‘Cause you’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Clearly, 🎙 Gladys Knight, who handles the lead, backed up by 🎙 The Pips, sings about a legitimate love – one that’s everlasting.  Not Jesus like Rev. James Cleveland, but, speaks to a committed, loving relationship. In the first verse, Knight is thankful to have his companionship: “I guess you could say that I’ve been lucky / Well, I guess you could say it’s all because of you.” Aww! Taken out of context, you could argue that Knight could possibly be speaking about a higher power, but the second verse debunks this: “‘Cause for every moment that I’ve spent hurting / There was a moment that I spent, just loving you.”  This is an incredibly positive and thoughtful song.

Final Thoughts 💭

Surprisingly, this lushly produced, marvelously penned gem isn’t the crowning achievement of 💿 Imagination – that honors belong to the no. 1, 🏆 Grammy-winning hit, “Midnight Train to Georgia” (also penned by Weatherly). Regardless,  🎵 “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” is one of the top soul classics of all time – truly stunning. Celebrating the 100^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 requires a truly remarkable gem. “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” easily qualifies!

🎙 Gladys Knight & The Pips • 💿 Imagination • 🏷 RCA • 🗓 1973

Gladys Knight & The Pips, “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 100 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype, RCA]