Overjoyed (Stevie Wonder song)

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"Overjoyed"
File:Stevie Wonder - Overjoyed.jpg
Single by Stevie Wonder
from the album In Square Circle
B-side"Instrumental"
Released1985[1]
Recorded1985
Genre
Length3:41
LabelTamla
Songwriter(s)Stevie Wonder
Producer(s)Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder singles chronology
"Part-Time Lover"
(1985)
"Overjoyed"
(1985)
"Land of La La"
(1986)

"Overjoyed" is a hit single written and performed by American R&B singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder on the Tamla (Motown) label from his 1985 album In Square Circle. The single peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1986, remaining in the Top 40 for six weeks. In addition, "Overjoyed" was a No. 1 hit on the adult contemporary chart, the eighth (and, to date, last) of his career.[3] An alternate single release featured an instrumental version on the B-side.[4]

The song was written first for the 1979 album Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants, but was left off the album, and re-recorded for the 1985 album In Square Circle. In the liner notes for the song, "crickets, nightingale & additional bird sounds, ocean, pebbles in pond, stone dropped, crushing leaves" are listed under "environmental percussion". The song was first performed live on the May 7, 1983, episode of Saturday Night Live, where Wonder was the host and musical guest.

Billboard said that it "dresses Wonder's usual wordplay in unusual audio effects."[5]

Personnel

  • Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, acoustic piano, environmental percussion (incl.: crickets, bird sounds, ocean, pebbles in pond, stone dropped, crushing leaves), Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer
  • Earl Klugh – guitar
  • Paul Riser – string arrangement

Cover versions

Chart positions

Chart (1986) Peak
position
Belgium Music chart 33
Canada (RPM) 55
Ireland music Chart 10
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) 17
US Billboard Hot 100 24
US Billboard Adult Contemporary 1
US Billboard R&B Singles 8

See also

References

  1. ^ "Readers' Poll: The 10 Greatest Stevie Wonder Songs". Rollingstone.com. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  2. ^ Harvey, Eric (May 19, 2012). "The Quiet Storm". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 263.
  4. ^ "Discogs: Stevie Wonder – Overjoyed". Discogs.com/. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Reviews". Billboard. February 15, 1986. p. 71. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  6. ^ "Hideaway overview". Allmusic.com.
  7. ^ "With Every Touch overview". Allmusic.com.
  8. ^ "AllMusic: Viktor Lazlo - Amour(s)". AllMusic.com/. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  9. ^ Baram, Marcus (February 25, 2009). "Obamas Honor Stevie Wonder During White House Concert (SLIDESHOW)". Huffington Post.
  10. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-07-28. Retrieved 2013-08-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ^ Caramanica, Jon; Chinen, Nate (November 4, 2013). "CDs From Celine Dion and Midlake". The New York Times.
  12. ^ "Loved Me Back to Life - Céline Dion | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 April 2021.