The Right Stuff (Vanessa Williams song)

"The Right Stuff" is a song by American singer and actress Vanessa Williams, released as the first single from her 1988 debut studio album of the same name. The crossover single was very successful and became a top-five hit on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, as well as making the Billboard Hot 100. "The Right Stuff" also went to number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart for one week.[1] It peaked at number 71[2] on the UK Singles Chart and re-entered the charts in 1989, this time peaking at number 62[3] with a remixed version. At the 31st Grammy Awards in 1989, the song received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, but lost to Anita Baker’s “Giving You The Best That I Got”.

"The Right Stuff"
Single by Vanessa Williams
from the album The Right Stuff
ReleasedJanuary 27, 1988
Recorded1987
Studio
Genre
Length4:18
LabelWing
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rex Salas
Vanessa Williams singles chronology
"The Right Stuff"
(1988)		 "(He's Got) The Look"
(1988)
Music video
"The Right Stuff" on YouTube

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine Music & Media picked "The Right Stuff" as Single of the Week. They wrote, "Excellent funk/house/disco mixture from this hot new artist, or Miss America in 1983. The groove has a definite Jam/Lewis much, but with the dry synthesized percussion and the effective use of vocals and sampling, the overall atmosphere is irresistible and bound for the clubs."[4]

Music video

The accompanying video for "The Right Stuff" was filmed in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Track listing and formats
  • CD single
  1. "The Right Stuff" (Extended Version) – 5:37
  2. "The Right Stuff" (Radio Version) – 4:15
  3. "The Right Stuff" (Dub-A-Delic) – 5:43
  • 12" vinyl maxi
A1. "The Right Stuff" (Radio Version) – 4:15
A2. "The Right Stuff" (Extended Version) – 5:37
B1. "The Right Stuff" (Edited Version) – 3:51
B2. "The Right Stuff" (Dub-A-Delic) – 5:43

Usage in media

The song was featured in the premiere of the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race, being performed by contestants Venus D-Lite and Shangela in a "lipsync for your life".

Charts

Notes
  1. Basic tracks and overdubs
  2. Overdubs

References
  1. "The Right Stuff - Vanessa Williams". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  2. "Vanessa Williams chart positions". OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  3. "Vanessa Williams chart positions". OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  4. "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. August 13, 1988. p. 13. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  5. "Vanessa Williams – The Right Stuff" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  6. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 35, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  7. "Vanessa Williams – The Right Stuff" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  9. "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  10. "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  11. "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  12. "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  13. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending August 27, 1988". Cash Box. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  14. "Cash Box Top Black Contemporary Singles – Week ending July 16, 1988". Cash Box. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  16. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  17. "1988 The Year in Music & Video – Top Dance Club Play Singles / Top Dance Sales 12-Inch Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. December 24, 1988. p. Y-25. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  18. "1988 The Year in Music & Video – Top Black Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. December 24, 1988. p. Y-23. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 7, 2022 – via World Radio History.
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