Say You, Say Me
{{short description|1985 single by Lionel Richie}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Say You, Say Me
| cover = Say You Say Me by Lionel Richie one of artwork variants.png
| alt =
| caption = Standard picture sleeve
| type = single
| artist = Lionel Richie
| album = White Nights: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Dancing on the Ceiling
| B-side = Can't Slow Down
| recorded = 1985
| studio =
| genre = Pop
| length = 4:03
| label = Motown
| writer = Lionel Richie
| producer = * Lionel Richie
| prev_title = Penny Lover
| prev_year = 1984
| next_title = Dancing on the Ceiling
| next_year = 1986
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|9OfoTaLXrUo|"Say You, Say Me"}}
| type = single
| header = Audio
}}
}}
"Say You, Say Me" is a song written and recorded by American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie for the film White Nights.{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 136}} The single hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and on the Hot Black Singles chart in December 1985. It also became Richie's ninth number-one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=204}} The track is not available on the film's soundtrack album, as Motown did not want Richie's first single following the massive success of his 1983 album Can't Slow Down to appear on another label. It was included by Motown on Richie's 1986 release Dancing on the Ceiling.
Development and production
For the 1985 film White Nights, a ballet drama starring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines, director Taylor Hackford asked Richie to write a title theme. Unable to compose a song with "White Nights" in the title, Richie submitted a demo of the ballad "Say You, Say Me". Eventually, Hackford approved the song and included the completed version in White Nights. Produced by Richie and James Anthony Carmichael, the song was primarily recorded in Richie's living room.{{cite web|last=Hogan|first=Ed|title=Say You, Say Me|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/say-you-say-me-mt0030399082|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=February 16, 2021}}{{cite web|last=Holden|first=Stephen|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/20/arts/the-pop-life-lionel-richie-s-latest-songs-have-a-new-slant.html|title=Lionel Richie's latest songs have a new slant|work=The New York Times|date=August 20, 1986|accessdate=February 16, 2021}} "Say You, Say Me" made its official radio debut in Chicago, Illinois, on then-Top 40 radio station WLS-FM on October 15, in connection of the White Nights world premiere at the 1985 Chicago International Film Festival. In the movie itself, "Say You, Say Me" was introduced over the closing credits.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-10-ca-1407-story.html|title=Commentary: The trouble with Oscar|work=Los Angeles Times|last=Mathews|first=Jack|date=April 10, 1988|accessdate=February 17, 2021}}
Music video
A music video, also directed by Hackford, was made for the song. It featured inserted clips from White Nights.{{cite magazine|last=Kirby|first=Kip|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jCQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Lionel+richie%22+%22Say+you+say+me%22+%22Taylor+Hackford+%22&pg=PT58|title=Hollywood finally flashes that proud soundtrack smile|magazine=Billboard|volume=97|issue=47|pages=VM-6, VM-15|date=November 23, 1985|accessdate=February 16, 2021|via=Google Books}}
Critical reception
For The New York Times in 1986, Stephen Holden called the song "a powerful mid-80's echo of the Beatles' late-60's chant-like ballads." In a mixed review of Dancing on the Ceiling, Mike Joyce of The Washington Post called the song "silly and horrendously overexposed."{{cite news|last=Joyce|first=Mike|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1986/08/17/recordings/450a0963-1fb2-44ba-bcdb-fe7196ac2262/|title=Recordings|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 17, 1986|accessdate=February 17, 2021}}
In a 2007 retrospective of the January 11, 1986 Billboard Hot 100 chart, Whitney Pastorek of Entertainment Weekly graded "Say You, Say Me" with an A-minus, calling it "an enduring love song" and commenting "the cranked-up electric bridge alone should be enough to make it a classic."{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2007/01/09/this-week-86-rating-top-10-hits/|last=Pastorek|first=Whitney|title=This week in '86: Rating the top 10 hits|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=January 9, 2007|accessdate=February 17, 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070114010352/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20007619,00.html|archivedate=January 14, 2007|url-status=live}}
In 2008, the song was ranked at number 74 of the top songs of all time on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, commemorating the first 50 years of the chart.{{cite magazine|title=Billboard Hot 100 Chart 50th Anniversary - All-Time Top Songs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101133040/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/top100-titles-80.shtml|archive-date=November 1, 2008|url-status=dead|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/list/2155531/the-hot-100-all-time-top-songs?list_page=1|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 26, 2015|url-access=subscription}}
Commercial performance
In the US, the "Say You, Say Me" single sold a million copies and was no. 1 for two weeks on the Billboard "Hot Black" chart and for four weeks on the Hot 100.
The single was hugely successful in South Africa, attaining the No. 1 spot on the weekly charts for a total of 30 weeks. It was the No. 1 single of 1986 on the year-end Springbok chart.
Accolades
Track listing
- "Say You Say Me" – 3:59
- "Can't Slow Down" – 4:40
Personnel
- Lionel Richie – vocals, keyboards, rhythm and vocal arrangement
- Greg Phillinganes – keyboards, Minimoog bass
- Michael Boddicker – Yamaha DX7
- Carlos Rios – acoustic guitar
- Steve Lukather – guitar
- Tim May – guitar
- Abraham Laboriel – electric bass guitar
- John Robinson – drums
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion
- Paul Leim – Oberheim DMX and Linn LM-1
- James Anthony Carmichael – rhythm and string arrangement
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!style="width: 200pt;"|Chart (1986) !style="width: 40pt;"|Peak |
| {{single chart|Austria|6|artist=Lionel Richie|song=Say You, Say Me|access-date=11 November 2016|refname=}} |
| {{single chart|France|4|artist=Lionel Richie|song=Say You, Say Me|access-date=11 November 2016|refname=}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|8|artist=Lionel Richie|song=Say You, Say Me|access-date=11 November 2016|refname=}} |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio){{cite web|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(R).html|title=South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Acts R|website=The South African Rock Encyclopedia|access-date=11 November 2016}}
|align="center"|1 |
| {{single chart|Sweden|1|artist=Lionel Richie|song=Say You, Say Me|access-date=11 November 2016|refname=}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|1|artist=Lionel Richie|song=Say You, Say Me|access-date=11 November 2016|refname=}} |
| {{single chart|West Germany|12|artist=Lionel Richie|song=Say You, Say Me|songid=1358|access-date=11 November 2016|refname=}} |
| class="wikitable sortable"
!style="width: 200pt;"|Chart (2009) !style="width: 40pt;"|Peak |
| Japan (Japan Hot 100){{cite web | url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2009&month=11&day=16 | title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 - Charts | publisher=Billboard Japan | quote=2009/12/02 公開 - 順位 - 25 - タイトル - セイ・ユー,セイ・ミー - アーティスト名 - ライオネル・リッチー | access-date=2023-12-10}}
|align="center"|25 |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!style="width: 200pt;"|Chart (1985) !style="width: 40pt;"|Position |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1985|title=Ultratop Jaaroverzichten 1985|website=Ultratop 50|language=nl|access-date=11 November 2016}}
|align="center"|84 |
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|42|chartid=0619|access-date=11 November 2016|refname=CA_YE1985|artist=|song=}} |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=http://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1985|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985|website=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=11 November 2016}}
|align="center"|82 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1985&cat=s|title=Dutch Charts Jaaroverzichten Single 1985|website=Single Top 100|language=nl|access-date=11 November 2016}}
|align="center"|39 |
=All-time charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (1958–2018)
! Position |
|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=10 December 2018}}
| style="text-align:center;"|94 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=single|title=Say You, Say Me|artist=Lionel Richie|award=Gold|relyear=1983|certyear=1987|salesamount=100,000|salesref=|certref={{cite web|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/80s/1986/M&M-1986-12-27.pdf|title=European Gold & Platinum Awards 1986|publisher=Music & Media|page=34|date=December 27, 1986|access-date=August 21, 2021}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Lionel Richie|title=Say You, Say Me|award=Platinum|type=single|relmonth=10|relyear=1985|certyear=1986}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=Lionel Richie|title=Say You, Say Me|award=Gold|type=single|certyear=1985|relyear=1985|access-date=July 5, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=Spain|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=2024|artist=Lionel Richie|title=Say You, Say Me|accessdate=February 14, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Lionel Richie|title=Say You, Say Me|award=Silver|type=single|certyear=2023|relyear=2004|id=19330-1171-1|access-date=September 29, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|title=Say You, Say Me|artist=Lionel Richie|award=Gold|relyear=1985|certyear=1986|refname="RIAA"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
Lionel Richie and Rasmus Seebach version
{{Infobox song
| name = Say You, Say Me
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Lionel Richie and Rasmus Seebach
| album = Tuskegee
| released = February 24, 2012
| recorded = 2012
| studio =
| genre = * Country
| length = 5:09
| label = Mercury
| writer = Lionel Richie
| producer = * Dann Huff
- Lionel Richie
| chronology = Lionel Richie
| prev_title = Endless Love
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Rasmus Seebach
| type = single
| prev_title = Millionær
| prev_year = 2011
| title = Say You, Say Me
| year = 2012
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
{{external music video|type=single|header=Music video|1={{YouTube|pz9loUhksrU|"Say You, Say Me"}}}}
}}
In 2012, Lionel Richie re-recorded the song with Danish pop singer-songwriter Rasmus Seebach.{{cite web|first=Sine|last=Lundbech|url=http://gaffa.dk/nyhed/57899|title=Lionel Richie og Seebach-duet udkommer verden over|date=23 February 2012|work=Gaffa|access-date=2 March 2012|language=da|archive-date=9 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009114458/https://gaffa.dk/nyhed/57899|url-status=dead}} The duet is featured on Richie's album Tuskegee, for which Richie has picked a host of best-selling singers from around the world in collaborations. The album version features American country singer Jason Aldean.[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/earshot/lionel-richie-duet-rasmus-seebach-say-you-say-me-293960 Hollywood Reporter: Lionel Richie Teams With Danish Sensation Rasmus Seebach to Breathe New Life Into a Classic (Video)]
=Track listing=
- "Say You, Say Me" – 5:09
=Charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col" | Chart (2012) ! scope="col" | Peak |
| {{single chart|Denmark|3|artist=Lionel Richie feat. Rasmus Seebach|song=Say You, Say Me|access-date=November 12, 2016}} |
See also
- List of number-one singles and albums in Sweden
- List of number-one singles of the 1980s (Switzerland)
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1985 (U.S.)
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1986 (U.S.)
- List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1985
- List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1986
- List of number-one R&B singles of 1986 (U.S.)
- List of number-one singles of 1985 (Canada)
- List of number-one singles of 1986 (Canada)
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|type=Single|125710|name=Say You Say Me}}
{{Lionel Richie}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for "Say You, Say Me"
|titlestyle = background: lightblue
|list1 =
{{AcademyAwardBestOriginalSong 1981–1990}}
{{Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Best Original Song Academy Award–winning songs
Category:Best Original Song Golden Globe–winning songs
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in Finland
Category:Number-one singles in Norway
Category:Number-one singles in Sweden
Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland
Category:Songs written by Lionel Richie
Category:Songs written for films
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in South Africa
Category:Contemporary R&B ballads
Category:Song recordings produced by James Anthony Carmichael