| "You Will Know" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Stevie Wonder | ||||
| from the album Characters | ||||
| B-side | "Instrumental" | |||
| Released | 1987 | |||
| Studio | Wonderland Recording Studios, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | R&B, soul | |||
| Length | 5:00 | |||
| Label | Tamla | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Stevie Wonder | |||
| Producer(s) | Stevie Wonder | |||
| Stevie Wonder singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Number One |   |
"You Will Know" is a song written and recorded by American R&B singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder, taken from his 1987 Characters album. It is the opening track on the album, and is the second single from the album as well. This is Stevie Wonder's 20th and final number-one R&B hit single. Wonder performed the song along with R&B quartet Jodeci and Mary J. Blige on an episode of The Arsenio Hall Show in late 1992.
Chart performance
In March 1988, the song reached number 77 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 1 on the R&B chart, "You Will Know" also peaked at number 16 on the Adult Contemporary charts.
Critical reception
Karen Swayne from Number One wrote, "This isn't one of the best tracks, but there's a warmth and humanity to it that means all but the hardest hearted will forgive him (for) crooning trite platitudes like 'problems have solutions/trust and I will show.' Some people might even believe him. And why not."
Ed Hogan of Allmusic took note that "Originally starting out as a romantic love song, "You Will Know" evolved into a song about the greatest love of all, the love of God. The song's main character has lost his way in life,lost his hope and is comforted by: "You will know/Troubled heart you'll know/Problems have solutions/Trust and I will show."
Jon Pareles of the New York Times described You Will Know as "a typically lush Wonder ballad with verses about a drug user and a struggling single parent; the chorus, presumably a voice from heaven, says, Trust and I will show. . .Every life has reason/ for I made it so."
Charts
| Chart (1988) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 77 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 16 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles | 1 |
References
- ^ Swayne, Karen (23 January 1988). "Singles". Number One. p. 42. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
- According to classic-motown.com, this song was Wonder's most recent #1 R&B chart-topper.
- "Jodeci, Mary J. Blige & Stevie Wonder - "You Will Know" Live (1992)". YouTube. 11 October 2015.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 636.
- Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 263.
- Hogan, Ed, You Will Know - Stevie Wonder, Allmusic, retrieved 2024-12-16
- Pareles, Jon (November 22, 1987). "RECORDINGS; A Pair of Pop Albums Hit a Political Groove". The New York Times.
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