‘Save it for Later’ The Bear: Eddie Vedder’s Cover Of The English Beat Classic Features Prominently In ‘The Bear’ Season 3 Episode 2

All 10 episodes of The Bear Season 3 dropped last night, and fans and critics alike are already buzzing about it. While some of the early reaction has seen viewers bewildered by the largely dialogue-free first episode, the surprise music cue that begins the the second episode drew fans back into the show that they know and love: Eddie Vedder‘s brand new cover of The English Beat’s 1982 new wave staple, “Save it for Later.”

How is “Save it for Later” used in The Bear?

The song was featured in The Bear in episode two of season three. It is used in an opening montage that takes viewers all across the show’s setting of Chicago, with credits appearing over it. The scene shows various early morning routines taking place across the Windy City, including The Chicago Tribune being printed, bakers preparing various baked goods, a Zamboni clearing up an ice skating rink, flowers being arranged, people kayaking in the Chicago River, and more. Some of the workers even smile at the camera. In some ways, this song is used as a a love letter to the essential workers of Chicago, many of whom have been hard at work for hours while the rest of teeming masses are still dozing peacefully in their bedrooms.

Who Originally Sang “Save it For Later”?

“Save it For Later” was originally sung by The Beat, who were known in the United States as The English Beat. The Beat was a British band that formed in 1978, with a style described as blending elements of ska, new-wave, and punk rock. Besides “Save it For Later,” the band’s other hits include “Mirror in the Bathroom,” “I Confess,” and “Too Nice to Talk To.”

“Save it for Later” originally came out in 1982. It was a single from The Beat’s album Special Beat Service, which was their third and final studio album. It was written by founding member Dave Wakeling before The Beat even became a band. He has claimed that the song is about what it is like to go from being a teenager to being an adult. While it only made it to number 47 on the UK Singles Chart and never charted in the States, it remains one of the band’s most recognizable songs and continues to earn airplay on alternative music stations four decades after being released. Other than The Bear, the song has been featured in other pieces of media, such as Big Daddy, Hot Tub Time Machine, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and more. However, its usage in The Bear is the first time the song has been on screen as an Eddie Vedder cover.

What is Eddie Vedder Known For?

Eddie Vedder rose to fame as the lead singer for the grunge band Pearl Jam. The band’s 1991 debut album, Ten, went 13X platinum, starting them on the path to becoming one of the best-selling bands of all-time. Pearl Jam’s greatest hits include “Even Flow” and “Jeremy,” and they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. It’s worth noting that Pearl Jam has previously performed “Save it for Later” as part of a medley with their song “Better Man” in concerts. At the moment, the group is in the thick of a world tour.

The Bear creator and showrunner Christopher Storer has used Pearl Jam songs to score important moments in previous seasons, too, including “Animal” and “Come Back” in Season 2, as well as Vedder’s duet with Crowded House lead singer Neil Finn on their cover version of the Australian band Hunters & Gatherers’ “Throw Your Arms Around Me.”

The Bear Season 3 is currently streaming on Hulu.