Let's Get Serious (song)

"Let's Get Serious" is a song written by Lee Garrett and Stevie Wonder and the title track to Jermaine Jackson's 1980 Motown album Let's Get Serious. Released as a single, it became Jackson's first number-one R&B hit and second top-ten pop hit.^[4] It also reached the top ten in the UK. The recording was produced by Stevie Wonder, who also provided vocals for the track.

"Let's Get Serious"
Single by Jermaine Jackson
from the album Let's Get Serious
B-side	"Je Vous Aime Beaucoup (I Love You)"
Released	March 7, 1980[1]
Recorded	1979
Genre	Post disco funk[2] R&B[3]
Length	8:05 (album version) 3:33 (single version)
Label	Motown
Songwriter(s)	Lee Garrett Stevie Wonder
Producer(s)	Stevie Wonder
Jermaine Jackson singles chronology
"Castles of Sand" (1978) "Let's Get Serious" (1980) "You're Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me" (1980)

It was ranked number one on the Billboard soul chart for the year in 1980, edging out brother Michael's Platinum-certified mega-hit "Rock with You", which ranked at number two.

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Let's Get Serious"

Chart (1980–1981)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5]	24
US Billboard Hot 100[6]	9
US Billboard Hot Black Singles[7]	1
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[8]	2

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Let's Get Serious"

Chart (1980)	Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[9]	30

References

1. "Jermaine Jackson singles".
2. Breihan, Tom (January 4, 2019). "The Number Ones: The Jackson 5's "The Love You Save"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 16, 2023. He had two songs that peaked at #9...the nasty 1980 disco-funk workout "Let's Get Serious,"
3. Matos, Michaelangelo (8 December 2020). "Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri: July 6, 1984". Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year. Hachette Books. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-306-90337-3.
4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 283.
5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 151. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
6. "Jermaine Jackson Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
7. "Jermaine Jackson Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
8. "Jermaine Jackson Chart History: Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
9. "1980 Talent in Action – Year End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 51. December 20, 1980. p. TIA-10. Retrieved 5 April 2020.