“You Are” is a song by American singer-songwriter Lionel Richie, released as a single in 1983 from his self-titled debut solo album.
Written by Richie and his then-wife Brenda Harvey Richie, the track followed his number-one hit “Truly” and reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100, spending two weeks at that position in early 1983. It peaked at number two on the R&B chart — held from the top by Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” — and spent six weeks at number one on the adult contemporary chart. In the United Kingdom it reached number 43. The song is a romantic piece with a more upbeat arrangement than many of Richie’s slower ballads, featuring a horn section and what Billboard described as inventive vocal arrangement with deft harmonies and resonant bass rumbles. Richard Marx, before achieving his own fame, sang backing vocals on the track. Richie later re-worked “You Are” as a duet with country singer Blake Shelton for his 2012 album Tuskegee.
