Luther Vandross, Here and Now | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 77th edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Here and Now” by Luther Vandross.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 77th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Here and Now”, performed by 🎙 Luther Vandross.

via GIPHY

“Here in my heart / I believe / Your love is all I ever need.” Oh, the feels, the feels, the feels.  It is a bit hard to believe that 🎵 “Here and Now”, one of the biggest hits from the late, great 🎙 Luther Vandross, did NOT appear on one of his studio albums 🤯. Instead, this silky-smooth ballad, penned by 🎼 ✍ Terry Steele and David Elliott, appeared on Vandross’ 1989 compilation album, 💿 The Best of Luther Vandross… The Best of Love. “Here and Now” peaked at no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990.  Vandross produced this adult contemporary R&B alongside 🎛 Marcus Miller (an amazing musician in his own right).     

What makes “Here and Now” so awesome, first and foremost, are the incredible sophisticated vocals by Luther.  Few could concoct such buttery smooth performances like Vandross, who never sounded like he broke a sweat (he did sweat, of course).  The way that Vandross executes the melodies, as well as the ad-libs – the nuances and the runs – is stunning.  Of course, the theme of love never grows old.  “I look in your eyes / And there I see / What happiness really means…” Aww 🥰, its lyrics like that that make you appreciate the beauty and power of love.  Of course, the crème de la crème – the crowning achievement – is the chorus: “Here and now / I promise to love faithfully / You’re all I need / Here and now / I vow to be one with thee / Your love is all I need.” The perfect wedding song more than three decades later, Luther Vandross delivered something truly special with 🎵 “Here and Now”.  It should come as no surprise he won the 🏆 Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male 💪.   

🎙 Luther Vandross • 💿 The Essential Luther Vandross • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 2015  

Luther Vandross, “Here and Now”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 77 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]