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Say You, Say Me

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Wikipedia article




{{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 = Dancing on the Ceiling

| B-side = Can't Slow Down

| released = October 1985

| recorded = 1985

| studio =

| genre =

| length = 4:03

| label = Motown

| writer = Lionel Richie

| producer = * Lionel Richie

* James Anthony Carmichael

| prev_title = Penny Lover

| prev_year = 1984

| next_title = Dancing on the Ceiling

| next_year = 1986

| misc =

}}

"'Say You, Say Me'" is a song written and recorded by American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie for the film 'White Nights'. The single hit number one in the US and on the R&B singles chart in December 1985. It became Richie's ninth number-one on the 'Billboard' Adult Contemporary chart. 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 of 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. In 'White Nights', "Say You, Say Me" was introduced over the closing credits.

Music video



A music video, also directed by Hackford, was made for the song. It featured inserted clips from 'White Nights'.

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." However, in a mixed review of 'Dancing on the Ceiling', Mike Joyce of 'The Washington Post' called the song "silly and horrendously overexposed."

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."

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.

Commercial performance



In the US, the "Say You, Say Me" single sold a million copies and was no. 1 on for two weeks the 'Billboard' R&B 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 and remaining thereon for a total of 30 weeks. It eventually became the No. 1 single of 1986 on that country's year-end Springbok charts.

Awards



The track won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song from the film 'White Nights'.

Usage in media



The 30 August 1993 premiere episode of Late Show with David Letterman, the song was used to showcase the highlights of before, during and after the 'first' renovation of Ed Sullivan Theater for the show with several comedy skits from construction workers., Don Giller

The song appears in the movie 'Rio' in the scene where Blu (played by Jesse Eisenberg) tries to kiss Jewel (played by Anne Hathaway). And in Baywatch When Mitch (Dwayne Johnson) is fired and they put Matt Brody (Zac Efron) as the new lifeguard

Track listing



# "Say You Say Me" 3:59

# "Can't Slow Down" 4:40

Personnel



* Lionel Richie vocals, keyboards

* Greg Phillinganes keyboards, Minimoog bass

* Michael Boddicker Yamaha DX7 tub. bells

* 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

* James Anthony Carmichael string arrangements

Charts



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



All-time charts



Certifications



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

* pop

| 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 =

}}

In 2012, Lionel Richie re-recorded the song with Danish pop singer-songwriter Rasmus Seebach. 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



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




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