Lionel Richie’s “Say You, Say Me” marked a high point in his career, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping charts internationally, including in Spain, in March 1986. The song also secured the Academy Award for Best Original Song, featured in the film White Nights.
Richie, already known for co-writing the charity anthem “We Are the World” alongside Michael Jackson, was approached by White Nights director Taylor Hackford to contribute to the film’s soundtrack. Hackford sought a song echoing the success of tracks like “Up Where We Belong” from An Officer and a Gentleman and Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds.”
However, the path to the Oscar-winning song wasn’t straightforward. Richie initially struggled to find inspiration tied to the film’s title. He ultimately presented a pre-existing composition, “Say You, Say Me,” a song centered on the value of friendship – a theme resonating with the film’s plot about a Soviet defector finding solace in an American, overcoming differences to plan an escape.
Interestingly, despite being part of the White Nights soundtrack, “Say You, Say Me” wasn’t included on the film’s album. Motown Records, newly signed to Richie, preferred the single’s release not be associated with another label handling the album, ultimately including it on his 1986 album Dancing on the Ceiling.
Music critics have noted the song’s “rarezas,” or quirks, particularly its unexpected bridge, which breaks from the traditional ballad structure. Entertainment Weekly’s Whitney Pastorek described the bridge as “enough to make it a classic” in a 2007 retrospective. Billboard also recognized the song’s enduring appeal, listing it among the greatest songs of all time in 2008, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Hot 100 chart.
Beyond its musical structure, “Say You, Say Me” carries a subtle homage to The Beatles. Richie drew inspiration from Paul McCartney’s approach in “Hey Jude,” focusing on the theme of “camaraderie” while incorporating the signature sounds of the 1980s with fluid synthesizers. The song was also recorded with musicians who had previously worked on Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIbw0OkC9po
In 1986, Richie reflected on the global reach of his music, noting that much of his audience was “in crisis,” as reported by The New York Times. This sentiment underscored a sense of social awareness amidst his commercial success, placing him alongside contemporaries like Jackson, Madonna, and Prince in the evolving landscape of MTV.