Why Didn't You Call Me

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

"Why Didn't You Call Me"
Single by Macy Gray
from the album On How Life Is
B-side	"I've Committed Murder" (remix) "I Can't Wait to Meetchu" (live)
Released	July 24, 2000 (2000-07-24)
Studio	Paramount, Sunset Sound, A&M (Hollywood, California)
Length	3:14
Label	Epic, Clean Slate
Composer(s)	Jeremy Ruzumna
Lyricist(s)	Macy Gray
Producer(s)	Andrew Slater
Macy Gray singles chronology
"Still" (2000) "Why Didn't You Call Me" (2000) "Sweet Baby" (2001)
Music video
"Why Didn't You Call Me" on YouTube

Release

"Why Didn't You Call Me" became Gray's third consecutive top-40 entry on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 38. In the United States, the single reached number 25 on the Adult Top 40 chart and number 29 on the Top 40 Mainstream 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.^[1] The video entered the top 10 on VH1's most-played video chart.^[1]

Track listings

UK CD1[2] "Why Didn't You Call Me" – 3:14 "I've Committed Murder" (Gang Starr remix featuring Mos Def—clean radio mix) – 4:38 "Why Didn't You Call Me" (88-Keys remix) – 3:26 UK CD2[3] "Why Didn't You Call Me" – 3:14 "I Can't Wait to Meetchu" (live at Brixton Academy, 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[4] "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, London, April 5, 2000) – 3:35 European CD1[5] "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[6] "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[7] "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.^[8]

Studios

• Recorded and mixed at Paramount Studios, Sunset Sound, and A&M Studios (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 – guitars
• Matt Chamberlain – drums, percussion
• Darryl Swann – drum programming
• Lenny Castro – percussion
• Andrew Slater – production
• Dave Way – recording, mixing

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2000) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[9] 146 Europe (European Radio Top 50)[10] 40 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[11] 18 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 35 Scotland (OCC)[13] 39 UK Singles (OCC)[14] 38 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[15] 9 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[16] 7 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[17] 25 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[18] 29

Year-end charts Chart (2000) Position US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[19] 77

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United States	June 26, 2000	Hot adult contemporary modern adult contemporary radio	Epic	[20]
	June 27, 2000	Urban adult contemporary contemporary hit radio		[20][21]
	July 11, 2000	Adult contemporary urban radio		[22]
United Kingdom	July 24, 2000	CD cassette		[23]

References

1. "Video Monitor". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 32. August 5, 2000. p. 97. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
2. Why Didn't You Call Me (UK CD1 liner notes). Macy Gray. Epic Records, Clean Slate. 2000. 669668 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
3. Why Didn't You Call Me (UK CD2 liner notes). Macy Gray. Epic Records, Clean Slate. 2000. 669668 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
4. Why Didn't You Call Me (UK cassette single sleeve). Macy Gray. Epic Records, Clean Slate. 2000. 669668 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. Why Didn't You Call Me (European CD1 liner notes). Macy Gray. Epic Records, Clean Slate. 2000. EPC 669519 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. Why Didn't You Call Me (European CD2 liner notes). Macy Gray. Epic Records, Clean Slate. 2000. EPC 669519 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. Why Didn't You Call Me (Australian CD single liner notes). Macy Gray. Epic Records, Clean Slate. 2000. 669470 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. On How Life Is (US CD album booklet). Macy Gray. Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. EK 69490.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. "Chartifacts!" (PDF). The ARIA Report (572): 1. February 12, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-02-22. Retrieved December 6, 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
10. "European Radio Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 32. August 5, 2000. p. 16. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
11. "Íslenski Listinn (2.9–9.9 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). September 1, 2000. p. 10. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
12. "Macy Gray – Why Didn't You Call Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
13. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
14. "Macy Gray: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
15. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
16. "Macy Gray Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
17. "Macy Gray Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
18. "Macy Gray Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
19. "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2000". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 48.
20. "Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2309. June 16, 2000. pp. 10, 34.
21. "Urban AC: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1356. June 23, 2000. p. 72. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
22. "AddVance Notice / Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1358. July 7, 2000. pp. 54, 66. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
23. "New Releases – For Week Starting July 24, 2000: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. July 22, 2000. p. 25. Retrieved August 3, 2021.