Lionel Richie "Say You Say Me" maxi 12"
(Motown) 1985 made in Spain
cat. num. SPTO-60230
#soul #r&b #pop
A | Say You, Say Me | 4:30 |
B | Can't Slow Down |
Director Taylor Hackford asked Lionel Richie to write a title theme for his movie White Nights starring Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov. After viewing the film, Richie couldn't come up with anything using the title and instead submitted a demo of the ballad "Say You Say Me." Hackford loved it and the complete song was included in the movie, though it didn't appear on the movie's soundtrack album released on Atlantic Records. Motown wouldn't grant permission for "Say You Say Me" to be included on the soundtrack album, but issued a single version to coincide with the movie's release date. Produced by Richie and James Anthony Carmichael, the million-selling "Say You Say Me" stayed at number one R&B for two weeks, number one pop for four weeks, and number one adult contemporary for five weeks in early 1986. It earned Richie an Oscar for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe, an American Music Award, and a People's Choice Award. Richie's multi-platinum Dancin' on the Ceiling album also yielded the title track single, "Love Will Conquer All," "Ballerina Girl," and "Se La."