How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?

"How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?"
Single by Prince
from the album The Hits/The B-Sides
A-side
  • "1999" (USA, UK 7")
    Re-release: "1999"
  • "D.M.S.R." (UK 12")
Released September 24, 1982 (original)[1]
November 3, 1998 (re-release)
Format
Recorded Sunset Sound, April 26, 1982
Genre
Length 3:50
Label Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Prince
Producer(s) Prince
The Hits/The B-Sides track listing
"17 Days"
(15)		 "How Come U Don' Call Me Anymore?"
(16)		 "Another Lonely Christmas"
(17)

"How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" is a song by Prince. It is a ballad of romantic longing with some gospel elements. On his original recording of the song, which was released as the non-album B-side to his 1982 single "1999", Prince performs most of the song in his falsetto range, with his own bluesy piano playing providing the only instrumental accompaniment. The song's first album appearance was on his 1993 compilation The Hits/The B-Sides. It was later included on the soundtrack to the 1996 film Girl 6. Prince also performs the song on his 2002 live album One Nite Alone... Live!.

Artists who have covered the song include Stephanie Mills (1983), Joshua Redman (1998), and Alicia Keys (2001). Roger Cicero recorded the song with Soulounge for the 2004 album Home; a live version by Cicero is included on his 2008 single "Alle Möbel verrückt". American Idol season 11 finalist Jessica Sanchez performed the song on the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2012.

Alicia Keys version

"How Come You Don't Call Me"
Single by Alicia Keys
from the album Songs in A Minor
Released June 4, 2002
Format Digital download, CD single, 12" maxi single
Recorded 1998; KrucialKeys Studios
(New York City, New York)
Genre R&B, soul
Length 3:57 (album version)
3:31 (radio edit)
Label J
Writer(s) Prince
Producer(s) Alicia Keys, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers
Alicia Keys singles chronology
"A Woman's Worth"
(2002)		 "How Come You Don't Call Me"
(2002)		 "Gangsta Lovin'"
(2002)

Keys recorded a cover of the song—retitled "How Come You Don't Call Me"—for her debut album, Songs in A Minor (2001). It was released as the album's third and final U.S. single and became a moderate chart success, reaching the top thirty in Australia, the United Kingdom, and on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. She told Billboard Magazine,[2] "I had never heard [the original] before. They gave me a copy of the song on tape. I played it every day for three weeks. It is so raw and so truthful – I was just feeling it. It really came out well."

An official remix of the song, produced by The Neptunes, was included on the Remixed & Unplugged in A minor reissue, released in 2002. It features vocals from Justin Timberlake towards the end of the track.

Keys' cover of "How Come You Don't Call Me" was inspired by a long-term relationship with a partner.[3]

Music video

The song's music video, directed by Little X. It contains references to Japanese popular culture such as San-X's Buru Buru Dog and Cardcaptor Sakura's Kero-chan, besides Korean character Mashimaro. It starts with Keys waking up in the morning, and following her daily routine throughout the video, ending with a performance on stage. The video ends with a phone call from her supposed "boyfriend" making an excuse about why he hasn't called her, and she hangs up on him, laughing. The 'boyfriend' is played by actor-comedian Mike Epps.

Critical reception

Mark Anthony Neal of PopMatters felt that the song was credible, but fell short from the original or Stephanie Mills's 1983 cover.[4]

Track listings and formats

  1. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Original Radio Version) – 3:57
  2. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Neptunes Remix) – 4:23
  3. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Live Version) – 5:18
  4. "Butterflyz" (Roger's Release Mix) – 9:11
  5. "How Come You Don't Call Me" — Video
  1. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
  2. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Instrumental) – 3:59
  3. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Call Out Hook) – 0:10

Charts

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 29
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] 9
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[12] 3
Germany (Media Control Charts)[13] 80
Hungary (Mahasz)[14] 4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] 73
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[16] 97
Switzerland (Swiss Music Charts)[10] 60
U.K (UK Singles Chart)[17] 26
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[18] 59
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[18] 30
U.S. Billboard Pop Songs[19] 34

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ Nilsen & Mattheij 2004, p. 37
  2. ↑ "Billboard June 2, 2001 - Google Pages". Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  3. ↑ "The Maestro". Vibe. Vibe Media Group. 9 (10). October 2001. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
  4. ↑ Neal, Mark Anthony. "Alicia Keys: Songs in A Minor". PopMatters. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Alicia Keys – How Come You Don't Call Me (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2002-07-08. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  6. ↑ "Alicia Keys – How You Don't Call Me (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  7. ↑ "Alicia Keys – How Come You Don't Call Me (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  8. ↑ "Alicia Keys – How Come You Don't Call Me (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  9. ↑ "Alicia Keys – How Come You Don't Call Me (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  10. 1 2 "Alicia Keys – How Come You Don't Call Me – swisscharts.com". SwissCharts.com. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
  11. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – How Come You Don't Call Me". Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – How Come You Don't Call Me" (in French). Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Musicline.de – Alicia Keys – How Come You Don't Call Me". Musicline.de (in German). Retrieved 2008-07-21.
  14. ↑ "Single (track) Top 10 lista – 2002. 27. hét". Mahasz (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2008-04-09.
  15. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Alicia Keys – How Come You Don't Call Me" (in Dutch). Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  16. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20050216164505/http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10038.html
  17. ↑ "Chart Stats – Alicia Keys – How Come You Don't Call Me". Chart Stats. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
  18. 1 2 "Songs in A Minor > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
  19. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/278600/alicia+keys/chart?f=381
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