"I Just Called to Say I Love You" is a ballad written, produced, and performed by American R&B singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder. It was a major international hit, and remains Wonder's best-selling single to date, reaching number one in 28 countries worldwide.
The song was the lead single from the 1984 soundtrack album The Woman in Red, along with two other songs by Wonder, and scored number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks from October 13 to 27, 1984. It also became his tenth number-one on the R&B chart, and his fourth on the adult contemporary chart; it spent three weeks at the top of both charts, and for the same weeks as on the Hot 100."I Just Called to Say I Love You" topped the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, and R&B charts simultaneously from October 13 to 27, 1984: The song also became Wonder's only solo UK number-one success, staying at the top for six weeks, in the process also becoming Motown Records' biggest-selling single in the UK, a distinction it still held . In addition, the song won both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song also received three nominations at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Composition The song's lyrics have Wonder surprising someone in his life with an unexpected telephone call. Throughout the song, Wonder lists various events in a yearly calendar that might prompt someone to call a loved one. Yet he explains no special annual event such as New Year's Day or Halloween spurred the call. He simply wants to say that he loves her from the bottom of his heart. Cash Box described the song as "a tender and romantic love letter which captures the ever-present and Wonderous feeling of love and optimism."
There was a dispute among Wonder, his former writing partner Lee Garrett, and Lloyd Chiate as to who actually wrote the song. Chiate claimed in a lawsuit that he and Garrett wrote the song years before its 1984 release. However, a jury ultimately sided with Wonder.
Personnel
Stevie Wonder – lead and backing vocals, synthesizers, programming, Roland VP-330, Linn 9000, and Oberheim DMX Ralph Rupper – audio engineer Gary Olazabal – producer / composer and audio engineer Peter Joiko – audio engineer
Music video A music video of the song has Wonder, during a concert, singing into a telephone receiver while seated at a piano. By the end of the song, he and the audience are standing and swaying to the music. The video features concert footage recorded in Rotterdam Ahoy, in the Netherlands, on August 10, 1984.NPO Radio 5: Clip van 'I Just Called To Say I Love You'
Cover versions The song was covered by John Prine, among many others.
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for "I Just Called to Say I Love You"Chart (1984–1985)PeakpositionArgentina (CAPIF) 2Australia (Kent Music Report)1 Brazil (ABPD)1 Chile (UPI) 1 Costa Rica (UPI) 2Denmark (Hitlisten)1 El Salvador (UPI) 4Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)1Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)1France (IFOP)1Greece (Pop & Rock)1 Guatemala (UPI) 2Iceland (RÚV)2Israel (IBA)2Italy (FIMI)1Japan (Oricon)35 Nicaragua (UPI) 1 Panama (UPI) 1 Peru (UPI) 1Portugal (AFP)1 Puerto Rico (UPI) 1South Africa (Springbok)1Spain (AFYVE) 1Uruguay (UPI) 1 US Cash Box Top 1001 Venezuela (UPI) 3Zimbabwe (ZIMA)1 +Weekly chart performance for "I Just Called to Say I Love You" Chart (2016) Peakposition South Korea International (Circle) 26 +2019–20 chart performance for "I Just Called to Say I Love You"Chart (2019–20)PeakpositionSlovenia (SloTop50)43
Year-end charts +1984 year-end chart performance for "I Just Called to Say I Love You" Chart (1984) PositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)6Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)9Belgium (Ultratop)1Brazil (ABPD)3Chile (UPI)3Italy (FIMI)1Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)1Netherlands (Single Top 100)4New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)2Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)11UK Singles (OCC)2US Billboard Hot 10025 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 23West Germany (Official German Charts)6 +1985 year-end chart performance for "I Just Called to Say I Love You" Chart (1985) PositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)63 +2024 year-end chart performance for "I Just Called to Say I Love You" Chart (2024) Position Estonia Airplay (TopHit) 198 +2025 year-end chart performance for "I Just Called to Say I Love You" Chart (2025) Position Estonia Airplay (TopHit) 155
Decade-end charts +Decade-end chart performance for "I Just Called to Say I Love You"Chart (1980–1989)Position Australian Singles Chart5 UK Singles Chart3 US Billboard Hot 10073
All-time charts +All-time chart performance for "I Just Called to Say I Love You"ChartPositionUK Singles (OCC)13US Billboard Hot 100 (1958-2018)370
Sales and certifications
See also
List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1980s List of RPM number-one singles of 1984 List of European number-one hits of 1984 List of number-one hits of 1984 (France) List of number-one hits of 1984 (Germany) List of number-one singles of 1984 (Ireland) List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1984 List of number-one singles in 1984 (New Zealand) List of number-one hits in Norway List of number-one hits (Sweden) List of number-one hits of 1984 (Switzerland) List of number-one singles from the 1980s (UK) List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1984 (U.S.) List of number-one R&B singles of 1984 (U.S.) List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1984 (U.S.)
Notes
References