"Why Didn't You Call Me" is a song by American singer

Macy Gray Natalie Renée McIntyre (born September 6, 1967), known by her stage name Macy Gray, is an American R&B and soul singer and actress. She is known for her distinctive raspy voice and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday. Gray ha ...

from her debut studio album, '' On How Life Is'' (1999). It was released on July 24, 2000, as the album's fourth and final single.

Release

"Why Didn't You Call Me" became Gray's third consecutive top-40 entry on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

, peaking at number 38. In the United States, the single reached number 25 on the

Adult Top 40 The Adult Pop Airplay (formerly known as Adult Pop Songs and Adult Top 40) chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and ranks "the most popular adult top 40 as based on radio airplay detections measured by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems ...

chart and number 29 on the

Top 40 Mainstream Pop Airplay (also called Mainstream Top 40, Pop Songs, and Top 40/ CHR) is a 40-song music chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' Magazine that ranks the most popular songs of pop music being played on a panel of Top 40 radio stations in the Un ...

chart. However, the song missed the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, instead peaking at number seven on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. "Why Didn't You Call Me" was released on two CD formats in the UK. The CD single contained remixes of "Why Didn't You Call Me" and "I've Committed Murder", along with a live recording of "I Can't Wait to Meetchu".

Music video

The music video, which depicts Gray performing in a dimly-lit room and shows close-ups of dancers, received significant play on BET, MTV, and VH1. The video entered the top 10 on VH1's most-played video chart.

Track listings

* UK CD1 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" – 3:14 # "I've Committed Murder" (

Gang Starr Gang Starr was an American hip hop duo, consisting of Texas record producer DJ Premier and Massachusetts rapper Guru. For the entirety of their association, they were based out of Brooklyn, New York. Gang Starr was at its height from 1989 to 2 ...

remix featuring

Mos Def Yasiin Bey (; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), previously and more commonly known by his stage name Mos Def (), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. His hip hop career began in 1994, alongside his siblings in the s ...

—clean radio mix) – 4:38 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" (

88-Keys Charles Misodi Njapa (born March 5, 1976), better known by his stage name 88-Keys, is an American record producer and rapper from New York City. Biography Born in New York City to West African parents from Cameroon, he was raised in the Eastches ...

remix) – 3:26 * UK CD2 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" – 3:14 # "I Can't Wait to Meetchu" (live at

Brixton Academy Brixton Academy (originally known as the Astoria Variety Cinema, previously known as Carling Academy Brixton, currently named O2 Academy Brixton as part of a sponsorship deal with the O2 brand) is a mid-sized concert venue located in South Wes ...

, London, April 6, 2000) – 8:07 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" ( Black Eyed Peas remix) – 2:56 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" (video) * UK cassette single # "Why Didn't You Call Me" – 3:14 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" (Gang Starr remix—clean radio mix) – 3:56 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" (live at

Wembley Arena Wembley Arena (originally the Empire Pool, now known as OVO Arena Wembley for sponsorship reasons) is an indoor arena next to Wembley Stadium in Wembley, London, England, used for music, comedy, family entertainment and sport. The 12,500-s ...

, London, April 5, 2000) – 3:35 * European CD1 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" – 3:14 # "I've Committed Murder" (Gang Starr remix featuring Mos Def—Main Street mix) – 4:37 * European CD2 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" – 3:14 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" (Black Eyed Peas remix) – 2:56 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" (88-Keys remix) – 3:26 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" (live at Wembley Arena, London, April 5, 2000) – 3:35 # "I Can't Wait to Meetchu" (live at Brixton Academy, London, April 6, 2000) – 8:07 * Australian CD single # "Why Didn't You Call Me" – 3:14 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" (Black Eyed Peas remix) – 2:56 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" (live at Wembley Arena, London, April 5, 2000) – 3:35 # "I Can't Wait to Meetchu" (live at Brixton Academy, London, April 6, 2000) – 8:07 # "I've Committed Murder" (Gang Starr remix featuring Mos Def—Main Street mix) – 4:37 # "Why Didn't You Call Me" (video)

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the '' On How Life Is'' album booklet. Studios * Recorded and mixed at Paramount Studios,

Sunset Sound Sunset, also known as sundown, is the daily disappearance of the Sun below the horizon due to Earth's rotation. As viewed from everywhere on Earth (except the North and South poles), the equinox Sun sets due west at the moment of both the sprin ...

, and

A&M Studios The Jim Henson Company Lot, formerly A&M Studios, is a studio property located just south of the southeast corner of North La Brea Avenue and Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Originally established by film star Charlie Chaplin, the property serv ...

(Hollywood, California) Personnel * Macy Gray – lyrics, back-up vocals * Jeremy Ruzumna – music, back-up vocals, piano, organ * Dawn Beckman – back-up vocals * Musiic Galloway – back-up vocals * David Wilder – back-up vocals, bass * Jinsoo Lim – guitars *

Arik Marshall Arik Ben Marshall (born February 13, 1967) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, poet, and author, best known as a one-time member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Early life Arik Ben Marshall is the third of five children born to an Afr ...

– guitars *

Matt Chamberlain Matthew Chamberlain (born April 17, 1967) is an American session musician, drummer, producer and songwriter. Biography Life and career Chamberlain was born in San Pedro, California on April 17, 1967. He began learning how to play the drums ...

– drums, percussion * Darryl Swann – drum programming * Lenny Castro – percussion * Andrew Slater – production * Dave Way – recording, mixing

Charts

Release history

References

{{Authority control 1999 songs 2000 singles Epic Records singles Macy Gray songs Music videos directed by Hype Williams Songs written by Jeremy Ruzumna Songs written by Macy Gray