My Cherie Amour

The harmony of 'My Cherie Amour' is a masterclass in Motown's jazz-pop fusion. The chromatic Cmaj7→Dbmaj7 approach is one of the most recognizable harmonic signatures in popular music. The consistent use of major 7th, 9th, and 6th voicings gives the song a warmth and sophistication that elevates it above standard pop fare, while the minor v chord (Abm7) in place of an expected major dominant creates a gentle melancholy that perfectly suits the song's theme of admiring someone from afar. The I7 functioning as a secondary dominant to IV is a blues-rooted technique seamlessly integrated into the lush Motown arrangement.

The kernel of the song was written in one hour in 1966 under the title 'Oh, My Marsha' (or Marcia), inspired by a girlfriend of Wonder's at the Michigan School for the Blind. Tamla Records founder Berry Gordy heard the early version and felt it needed further development. Motown songwriters Henry Cosby and Sylvia Moy then collaborated with Wonder to reshape the song. Moy devised the bilingual title 'My Cherie Amour,' blending English and French in a manner reminiscent of the Beatles' 'Michelle,' which had been a massive hit in 1966.

Originally written in 1966 under the title 'Oh, My Marsha,' 'My Cherie Amour' blossomed into one of Stevie Wonder's most enduring hits after Motown songwriters Henry Cosby and Sylvia Moy helped refine it. Its sophisticated chord voicings, bilingual title, and irresistible 'la la la' refrain made it a crossover smash that peaked at number 4 on both the Billboard pop and R&B charts in 1969.