Overjoyed (Stevie Wonder song)
Encyclopedia
"Overjoyed" is a 1985 hit single released by American and Motown music legend Stevie Wonder
on the Tamla (Motown) label. The single peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in early 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.
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 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".
recorded a cover
for his 1986 album Hideaway. It was later covered by Diana Ross
for her 1994 Christmas
album, A Very Special Season
, and by Mary J. Blige
as a rare track on her Ballads collection released only in Japan. Jane Monheit
included a cover of the song in her 2007 album Surrender.
Bass virtuoso Victor Wooten
included an instrumental cover of the song on his album A Show of Hands
. Filipina singer/actress Sharon Cuneta
did an acoustic rehash of the song on her 2001 album Nothing I Want More. In 2002, guitarist Blake Aaron
covered the song on his album With Every Touch.
In 2005, Canadian singer Corneille
performed the song on his live concert DVD.
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
on the Tamla (Motown) label. The single peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in early 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.
The song was written first for the 1979 album Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants
Journey through the Secret Life of Plants
Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants" is an album by Stevie Wonder, originally released on the Tamla Motown label on October 30, 1979...
, but was left off the album, and re-recorded for the album In Square Circle
In Square Circle
In Square Circle is a 1985 album released by Grammy Award-winning American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder...
. 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".
Cover versions
Bassist Stanley ClarkeStanley Clarke
Stanley Clarke is an American jazz musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on double bass and electric bass guitar as well as for his numerous film and television scores...
recorded a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
for his 1986 album Hideaway. It was later covered by Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
for her 1994 Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
album, A Very Special Season
A Very Special Season
A Very Special Season is a holiday album released by American soul singer Diana Ross in 1994....
, and by Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
as a rare track on her Ballads collection released only in Japan. Jane Monheit
Jane Monheit
Jane Monheit is a jazz and adult contemporary vocalist for Concord Records. She has collaborated with artists such as Michael Bublé, Ivan Lins, Terence Blanchard and Tom Harrell, and has received Grammy nominations for two of her recordings.-Early life:Jane Monheit was raised in Oakdale, New York...
included a cover of the song in her 2007 album Surrender.
Bass virtuoso Victor Wooten
Victor Wooten
Victor Lemonte Wooten is an American bass player, composer, author, and producer, and has been the recipient of five Grammy Awards....
included an instrumental cover of the song on his album A Show of Hands
A Show of Hands (Victor Wooten)
A Show of Hands is the first album released by bass virtuoso Victor Wooten. The album features bass guitar with only the accompaniment of vocals...
. Filipina singer/actress Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, better known as Sharon Cuneta, is a popular and multi-awarded Filipino singer, actress and TV host dubbed as Megastar of Philippine Entertainment, fondly called Mega by fans and people from the entertainment industry....
did an acoustic rehash of the song on her 2001 album Nothing I Want More. In 2002, guitarist Blake Aaron
Blake Aaron
Blake Aaron is a guitarist, composer, recording artist and radio show host.-Collaborations:Aaron has recorded and/ or performed with such artists, composers, and musicians as Philip Bailey , Bobby Womack and Carlos Santana , The Gap Band, Lakeside, Dynasty, The Drifters, The Coasters, Little...
covered the song on his album With Every Touch.
In 2005, Canadian singer Corneille
Corneille (singer)
Cornelius Nyungura is a singer who performs under the name Corneille. He was born in Germany to Rwandan parents, though he currently holds a Canadian passport and sings in French and English...
performed the song on his live concert DVD.