Overjoyed (Stevie Wonder song)

Last updated
"Overjoyed"
Stevie Wonder - Overjoyed.jpg
Single by Stevie Wonder
from the album In Square Circle
B-side "Instrumental"
Released1985 [1]
Recorded1985
Genre
Length3:41
Label Tamla
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 April 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]

Contents

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

Chart positions

Chart (1986)Peak
position
Belgium Music chart 33
Canada (RPM)55
Ireland music Chart 10
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) [6] 17
US Billboard Hot 10024
US Billboard Adult Contemporary1
US Billboard R&B Singles8

Cover versions

See also

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References

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  5. "Reviews". Billboard. February 15, 1986. p. 71. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
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  14. Caramanica, Jon; Chinen, Nate (November 4, 2013). "CDs From Celine Dion and Midlake". The New York Times.
  15. "Loved Me Back to Life - Céline Dion | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 25 April 2021.