I Just Called To Say I Love You - Classic or Dud?

I used to like it at 13 though. :)

"Part Time Lover" was still way worse though.

Not one of his greatest songs, but still great.

It's funny, Stevie Wonder was one of the first people to really use synths and vocoder's well in a pop song, and yet with this song he manages to use them in the most clichèd and cheesy ways, like he's never used them before.

I have no idea what Stevie Wonder is thinking with this kind of thing - I mean, the depth of his power from "Fingertips" right on through Hotter Than July, he seemed to have total magic at his command - corny lyrics weren't exactly anathema to him, but he could put them across in a rather cooler way. "I Just Called" is just so dull - all the character and energy that I associate with Stevie Wonder is missing, and the keyboards are yawnsome too. I blame the guy who wrote the lyrics to "Power Flower" on Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants, I think he infected SW with his new age powers.

whitney's version, yes
dolly's version, fuck no, it's awesome

Banishing everything Whitney Houston has ever recorded, other than "Saving All My Love For You" and "How Will I Know" (both of which were great pop singles), is the only thing that would have been sufficient.

Same about everything Mariah Carey has ever recorded. Particularly her most recent material.

I like this song but "Overjoyed" thoroughly kicks its ass. Also, Whitney Houston has done some terrific songs but she herself is a horrorshow.

again, i am puzzled by the hate that this song engenders. i think that it's a pleasant, lightweight song -- and THAT'S IT. nothing to get excited about either way, and certainly not deserving of its "OMIGOD THIS IS THE WORST DRECK IMAGINABLE!" reputation that it's gotten in some circles.

actually most of the Gary Numan stuff that got hated on so hard has aged very well, except for maybe Metal Rhythm

I don't actually like Hotter Than July that much. I almost never listen to anything other than "Rocket Love" "Master Blaster Jammin'" and "Lately". As much as I appreciate the sentiments, "Happy Birthday" is dire.

And re: of Electric Cafe, I've never heard the album, but "Musique Non-Stop" and its video are awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments&v=ck24WTjlQg8&fromurl=/watch%3Fv%3Dck24WTjlQg8

this is so much more synthetic than i remember
i guess at the time synths were so common it didn't strike me as such

it's kind a weird space station MOR feel, like almost wendy carlos vibes

Never liked this. I was surprised by how good his 70s work was when I first heard it.

I don't dislike this song. It's pure sap, but the verses are pretty. Also, I believe that it was Oscar nominated for the forgotten Gene Wilder comedy The Woman in Red.

"Part Time Lover" absolutely sucks, though.

It WON the Oscar, and against some crazy popular competition.

"Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)," Phil Collins
"Footloose," Kenny Loggins & Dean Pitchford
"Ghostbusters," Ray Parker Jr.
"I Just Called to Say I Love You," Stevie Wonder
"Let's Hear It for the Boy," Tom Snow & Pitchford

Yes, "I Just Called To Say I Love You" may be the worst song in that lineup, and any single one of Purple Rain's songs should've been there in its place. But I'm still happy to think of Stevie as an Oscar winner. Just wish it could've been for something from Jungle Fever.

"Part Time Lover" absolutely sucks, though.

― incel elgort (cryptosicko

what the

the Vandross scatting on "Part Time Lover" alone...

...is annoying.

Song bangs

Sorry haters

This song and Part Time Lover are both dope af idgaf

preach

Part Time Lover is great, I Just Called is pants.

it's kind a weird space station MOR feel, like almost wendy carlos vibes

Listened this morning, and totally agree!

Also listened to "Love Light in Flight" for the first time in a few decades, which might be the best of the Woman in Red singles, balancing the synth synths with such strong vocals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij46sqHkwfQ

I'm now fully immersed in the synth bubblebath of this-era Stevie.

Classic

I love that "Love Light in Flight" has the word "autopilot" in its lyrics, while using the presets that (I can't remember which but) either Margouleff or Cecil derided him for relying on.

It's a pretty crap song, but "Love Light" and "Part Time Lover" are great. All worse than "Do I Do."

Few songs aren't.

Actually, I take it back, it's an OK sentimental song. I used to think Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney were both relatively unique for having written many of the best songs of all time as well as many of the worst, but Paul is sooooo much worse on this front.

Speaking of those two: 'What's That You're Doing' off of McCartney's 'Tug Of War' album (which also features the execrable 'Ebony & Ivory') is an absolute barnstormer and would have made a much better single

my grandparents had the Woman In Red soundtrack and 'Love Light In Flight' is giving me serious summer holiday nostalgia. Quite a big fan of the title track and 'Don't Drive Drunk'

using the presets that (I can't remember which but) either Margouleff or Cecil derided him for relying on

If that's true, it's pretty mean-spirited. The dude is blind. How's he supposed to program a DX7?

John Prine cover:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jylCc-fD-wo

fantastic