How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? Explained

How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?
Type:song
Artist:Prince
Recorded:April 28, 1982
Studio:Sunset Sound (Los Angeles, California)
Label:Warner Bros.
Producer:Prince

"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) whose version reached No. 12 on the Billboard R&B chart,[1] Joshua Redman (1998), and Alicia Keys (2001). Bilal recorded the song which appears on his 2001 single "Fast Lane". 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
Cover:Alicia Keys - How Come single cover.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Alicia Keys
Album:Songs in A Minor
B-Side:Butterflyz
Studio:KrucialKeys (New York City)
Label:J
Prev Title:A Woman's Worth
Prev Year:2001
Next Title:Gangsta Lovin'
Next Year:2002

Recording and production

Alicia Keys recorded a cover of the song—retitled "How Come You Don't Call Me"—for her debut studio album Songs in A Minor (2001). She later told Billboard: "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."[2]

Keys' cover of "How Come You Don't Call Me" was inspired by a long-term relationship with a partner,[3] and was produced by Keys alongside Kerry Brothers, Jr. An official remix of the song, produced by the Neptunes, was included on the Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor reissue of Songs in A Minor in 2002. It features vocals from Justin Timberlake towards the end of the track.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "How Come You Don't Call Me" was directed by Little X. It contains references to Japanese popular culture, such as San-X's Buru Buru Dog and Cardcaptor Sakuras Kero-chan, besides Korean character Mashimaro. The video 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" (portrayed by Mike Epps) making an excuse about why he hasn't called her, and she hangs up on him, laughing.

Critical reception

Mark Anthony Neal of PopMatters felt that the song was credible, but fell short from the original or Stephanie Mills' 1983 cover.[4] Keys has said that Prince told her he loved her cover of the song.[5]

Track listings and formats

  1. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Original Radio Version) – 3:31
  2. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Neptunes Remix) – 4:23
  1. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Original Radio Version) – 3:31
  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" (Original Radio Version) – 3:31
  2. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Neptunes Remix) – 4:23
  3. "Butterflyz" (Roger's Release Mix) – 9:11
  4. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Video)
  1. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Neptunes Remix) – 4:23
  2. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Original Radio Version) – 3:31
  3. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Album Version) – 3:57
  4. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Video)
  1. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Remix) – 4:23
  2. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Radio Edit) – 3:31
  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
  1. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Radio Edit) – 4:23
  2. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Instrumental) – 4:33
  3. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Call Out Hook) – 0:10

A. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Neptunes Remix – Main) – 4:21

B. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Neptunes Remix – Instrumental) – 4:21

A1. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Original Album Version) – 3:57

A2. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Neptunes Remix) – 4:23

B1. "Butterflyz" (Roger's Release Mix) – 9:11

A1. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Neptunes Remix) – 4:23

A2. "Troubles" (Jay-J & Chris Lum Moulton Mix) – 8:59

B1. "Butterflyz" (Roger Sanchez Club Mix) – 9:11

B2. "How Come You Don't Call Me" (Live Version) – 3:10

Credits and personnel

Charts

Chart (2002)Peak
position
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[16] 62
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[17] 18
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[18] 97

Release history

Region!scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesMarch 12, 2002J
AustraliaJuly 1, 2002Maxi CDBMG
United KingdomJuly 8, 2002RCA
FranceJuly 9, 2002Maxi CDBMG

External links

Notes and References

  1. US Charts > Stephanie Mills. Billboard.
  2. Web site: Billboard June 2, 2001 – Google Pages. June 2, 2001. November 27, 2016.
  3. October 2001. The Maestro. Vibe. Vibe Media Group. 9. 10. 1070-4701. July 9, 2011.
  4. Web site: Alicia Keys: Songs in A Minor. Neal. Mark Anthony. PopMatters. May 2, 2009.
  5. Web site: Hitting major Keys. https://web.archive.org/web/20020111224844/http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicArtistsK/keys_alicia.html. dead. January 11, 2002. Nazareth. Errol. May 25, 2020.
  6. How Come You Don't Call Me. Alicia Keys. 2002. UK / Irish CD & European promotional CD single liner notes. J Records. 74321 94288 2 / 74321 94219 2.
  7. How Come You Don't Call Me. Alicia Keys. 2002. UK / Irish Enhanced CD single liner notes. J Records. 74321 94289 2.
  8. How Come You Don't Call Me. Alicia Keys. 2002. European Enhanced CD single liner notes. J Records, BMG. 74321 94312 2.
  9. How Come You Don't Call Me. Alicia Keys. 2002. Australian / New Zealander Enhanced CD single liner notes. J Records. 74321951752.
  10. How Come You Don't Call Me. Alicia Keys. 2002. Spanish promotional CD single liner notes. J Records. 74321 943552.
  11. How Come You Don't Call Me. Alicia Keys. 2002. US promotional CD single liner notes. J Records. J1DJ-21160-2.
  12. How Come You Don't Call Me. Alicia Keys. 2002. US promotional CD single (Neptunes Remix) liner notes. J Records. J1DJ-21180-2.
  13. How Come You Don't Call Me. Alicia Keys. 2002. US 12-inch single vinyl disc. J Records. J1PV-21180-1.
  14. How Come You Don't Call Me. Alicia Keys. 2002. UK 12-inch single vinyl disc. BMG. 74321 94312 1.
  15. How Come You Don't Call Me. Alicia Keys. 2002. UK 12-inch single vinyl disc. J Records. 74321 94219 1.
  16. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 20. 31. 7. July 27, 2002. September 15, 2020.
  17. Web site: week 48 (13 juli 2002). Dutch. top40.nl.
  18. Web site: Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 37, saptamina 17.09–23.09, 2002. Romanian Top 100. ro. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050216164505/http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10038.html. February 16, 2005. September 15, 2020.

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