Save The Best For Last: E-Z Play Today

This ballad has staying power that transcends its original release date. The arrangement sits comfortably for pianists at various levels while preserving the song's emotional arc, making it ideal for students learning to shape a vocal line and manage dynamic control across a full three minutes.

Reflective and tender. The song unfolds like a quiet confession, with restrained moments of vulnerability that occasionally swell into quiet intensity. The harmonic language is warm and jazz-influenced, inviting interpretive freedom.

Piano students who are ready to move beyond simple lead sheets and into ballad interpretation. Accompanists prepping for vocal students who want to perform a beloved standard with emotional authenticity.

• Shape the opening phrases with restraint. The power of this ballad lives in what you don't play early on, so let the melody breathe and build gradually toward the second verse.
• Pay attention to the harmonic movement under held notes. Small voice leading adjustments in the accompaniment can deepen the emotional impact without rushing the tempo.
• Find your own balance between the recorded version and the printed arrangement. Some pianists thicken the left hand in the final chorus; others strip it back to highlight the vocal melody.

Feature this in a pop or contemporary music recital alongside other favorites from the 1980s and 1990s. It pairs naturally with other vocal standards for a mixed-genre evening or serves as a compelling solo performance piece for pianists with strong lyrical instincts.

• Shaping long melodic lines with intentional phrasing
• Balancing accompaniment texture to support (not overshadow) a vocal line
• Controlling dynamics across sustained passages
• Interpreting jazz-influenced chord progressions with voice leading awareness