| "You Will Know" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byStevie Wonder | ||||
| from the albumCharacters | ||||
| B-side | "Instrumental" | |||
| Released | 1987 | |||
| Studio | Wonderland Recording Studios, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | R&B,soul | |||
| Length | 5:00 | |||
| Label | Tamla | |||
| Songwriter | Stevie Wonder | |||
| Producers |
| |||
| Stevie Wonder singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Number One |   [1] |
"You Will Know" is a song written and recorded by AmericanR&B singer-songwriterStevie Wonder, taken from his 1987Characters album. It is theopening track on the album, and is the second single from the album as well. This is Stevie Wonder's 20th and final number-oneR&B hit single.[2] Wonder performed the song along withR&B quartetJodeci andMary J. Blige on an episode ofThe Arsenio Hall Show in late 1992.[3]
In March 1988, the song reached number 77 on the USBillboard Hot 100, number 1 on theR&B chart,[4] "You Will Know" also peaked at number 16 on theAdult Contemporary charts.[5]
Karen Swayne fromNumber 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."[1]
Ed Hogan ofAllmusic 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."[6]
Jon Pareles of theNew 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."[7]
| Chart (1988) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| USAdult Contemporary (Billboard)[8] | 16 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[9] | 77 |
| USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[10] | 1 |
