Why Stevie??...he appears 2 have affected many of us here on the .org. So, why not search ourselves and list a tribute of some sort 2 his writings..and how it moved u. Why only one??? 'Cuz there'e truly so many...it'd b so hard 2 get deep on all of them. Go ahead, pick one and spill ur soul on y it hit u so hard...b it happy or sad, political or not...u decide, and tell us.

Here's mine:

"Love's In Need Of Love Today"

I was very young when this came out, it was released in 1976 in the "Songs In The Key Of Life" album, when I was only 11 years old! Still, when I did "find" Stevie, I was enthralled with this song. As it pleads 2 everyone 2 choose love over hatred, it stirred my soul. I used 2 perform it live when I was doin' that kinda thing...and it always moved the audience. I always told myself, if I ever got the chance 2 sing a duet with Stevie (sometimes he pulls peeps out of the audience at his concerts 2 do just that), I would choose this one.

If u listen 2 it now, the sincere meaning of the words r as prevalent 2day as it was in '76...maybe more so.

"The force of evil plans
To make you it's possession
And it will if we let it
Destroy everybody
We all must take
Precautionary measures
If love and peace you treasure
Then you'll hear me when I say
Oh that Love's In Need Of Love Today..."

'nuff said.
[This message was edited Wed Mar 13 15:31:08 PST 2002 by June7]

Fulfillingness' First Finale

I really love the entire album as a whole.

Bird of Beauty gets me behind the drum set everytime.

Simon says that now your mind desires a vacation,
Free to join in fun and plenty recreation.
There awaits you a ticket
At Please Have A Good Time Station,
'Cause what is, is gonna stay,
Til ole Father Time decides to change.

Simon says that your mind is requesting furliugh,
Let it find the answers to things
That you've always wanted to know.
There's a tour of many places
That you've always wanted to go,
And to me that sure sounds best
'Cause it means happiness for you.

There is so much in life for you to feel
Unfound in white, red, or yellow pills.
A mind excursion can be such a trill,
You please satisfy,
Take a chance and ride
The bird of beauty of the sky.

Tudo bem você deve descannar a sua mente,
Não faz mal o qu vai acontecer daqui pra fente.
Vai cantar alegria.....
Voce coracao assim tao feliz ja vai cantar carnaval.

There is so much in life for you to feel
Unfound in white, red, or yellow pills.
A mind excursion can be such a trill,
You please satisfy,
Take a chance and ride
The bird of beauty of the sky.

If you like most of Prince's music, you should own this album as well.

Makes you feel good!

http://www.stevie-wonder.com/

Also, Heaven is 10 Zillion Light Years Away
If you dug the Rainbow Children, you'll dig this one too.


Lyrics


They say that heaven is 10 zillion light years away
And just the pure at heart will walk her righteous streets someday
They say that heaven is 10 zillion light years away
But if there is a God, we need Him now
"Where is your God"
That's what my friends ask me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come...

Tell me people
Why can't they say that hate is 10 zillion light years away
Why can't the light of good shine God's love in every soul
Why must my color black make me a lesser man
I thought this world was made for every man
He loves us all, that's what my God tells me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come...

But in my heart I can feel it, yeah,
Feel His spirit wow oh woo...
Feel it, yeah, feel His spirit...

I... can't say that heaven is 10 zillion light years away
But if so let all be pure at heart
Just to walk her righteous streets I pray
Let God's love shine within to save our evil souls
For those who don't believe will never see the light
"Where is my God" - He lives inside of me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come...
No people, "where is your God?"
Inside please let Him be
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come...

But if you open your heart you can feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit, yeah
Feel it, feel His spirit, wow oh wow...
Feel it, you can feel His spirit
I opened my heart one morning and
I sho nuff could feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit


Oh, just go out and buy it.

Sir Duke. When I was in the second grade, our teacher had us bring our favorite record to school, and thats the one I brought.

It changes, so I guess there'd be no explanation.

Right now, I'd have to say 'Rocket Love'.

Just a pretty, pretty song.

Trip U ask this after I was getting deep last weekend with Songs In The Key of Life, as well as Intervisions, Talking Books, Music of my mind etc...A true craftsman/genius, a man of great depth & vision. His music was so beautifuly made that as I was diggin on all the lyrics music & how they were arranged & composed....With a voice that was the very heart beat that over flowed from within. I was thinking wow they just don't make music like this anymore. (Classic)
This is music from the heart/soul & beyond at its best, that really touches me on the deepest of levels. Timeless music that challanges today as it did when it was created. Props must go 2 India.Arie 4 taking the time 2 show respect & love in a song on her debut CD that uplifts with great joy the many wonders Of Mr.Stevie Wonder....4ever deserving, gotta love him~

I couldn't pick a favorite, more like top 10 favs and even then it would be difficult..lol...

But if I DID pick, right now, I'd probably say "Higher Ground"...that shit is funky as hell...

yamomma said:

Ah I was going to mention this one...
"Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away" is my favorite Stevie Wonder track, together with "Joy Inside My Tears" and "Jesus Children Of America"...

wellbeyond said:

Hey!! "Higher Ground" is my choice too:) But,it is impossible to pick just once.He has SO MANY great songs,it's ridiculous.

My favorite Stevie Wonder songs.....


***"SuperWoman(Where Were You When I Needed You)"(1972)---A haunting,emotional song that just GRABS you and never lets go!

***"Maybe Your Baby"(1972)---Even Prince has performed this funky jam at his own shows.

***"You've Got It Bad Girl"(1972)---That moog synthesizer that Stevie plays is sooooo intoxicating!!

***"I Believe(When I fall In Love It Will Be Forever)(1972)---This is gorgeous!!!

***"Too High"(1973)---Listen to Stevie playing the drums on this infectious number.

***"Golden Lady"(1973)---I get chills when I play this song...it is just incredible!!

***"Higher Ground"(1973)---A timeless masterpiece!!

***"Creepin"(1974)---Lawd,this song is just amazing....hypnotic and moody,it's just mindblowing!!

***"Smile Please"(1974)---You gotta love a guy who opens his album with a positive song like this.

***"Summer Soft"(1976)---I play this song all the time,it's just beautiful...the arrangement,that melody,those lyrics!!

***"Another Star"(1976)---Carlos Santana regularly performs this song during his concerts and it's easy to see why.It's a fiery,Latin-flavored jam that is just heavenly.

***"Saturn"(1976)---Gotta love the lyrics on this one!

***"Knocks Me Off My Feet"(1976)---The type of song that Paul McCartney would have killed for!

***"All Day Sucker"(1976)---One question...why wasn't this funky jam released as a single????

***"Send One Your Love"(1978)---A dreamy love song that just kills me.

***"Rocket Love"(1980)


Of course,this is just a partial list...lol...it would take too long to list ALL my favorites by him:)

June 7 great thread. The first album I ever owned was "Songs In The Key Of Life" back in 1977. My parents bought this album for me after bugging her on several trips to the record store. When I first saw the album cover I remember saying..." I got to have this album. I remember going into a store called the RECORD BAR. Anybody remember this music store chain in the 70's???? Anyway, they had the promo poster of "Songs In The Key Of Life" hanging up in the store. It was hung right besides a poster of Louis And George Johnson(I have a sharp memory--sorry to be so detailed). Anyway, I would pick up the album and just look at the front cover. Stevie was in the zone then. You couldn't get away from his songs being played all on the radio(pop/R&B and rock station played songs off this album--96rock WQKI-AM would play "Contusion" regularly) from one of the most anticipated album EVER!!!! I remember one time my mom told me that she wasn't going to buy the album for me. I went out to the car and started shedding tears...I wanted that album that bad!!!!! Well just as fate would have it. My grades came out for the school semester and I had pretty good grades. My parents were very happy for me. Well we went out to Richway(a Walmart type of store chain in the 70's) later that week and FINALLY my mom told me to go the record department and put the Stevie Wonder album in my bascart as a reward for my good grades. People you should have seen how happy I was. My whole trip home was so joyous!!!!! I took the wrapping off the album and started reading the lyrics from the lyric booklet. I was so ecstatic!!!

When I got home, I immediately put the album on and listen to it. My mom was in the kitchen cooking a meal. She just closed the kitchen door to the entertainment room...so that I wouldn't have any outside distraction. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN....this is the day I fell in love truly with music. Up to that point, I've heard all those great 70's songs on my medium-sized AM/FM radio, but I never had an album to just listen to besides listening to my parents stuff. When I first heard "Love's In Need Of Love Today"(this song came to mind immediately after the Sept. 11th tragedy) I cried...I can't even front about that. "Village Ghetto Land" blew me away too. "Contusion" was so awesome. Well I'm not going to ramble on about the greatness of this record. But the day I first heard this record was the day I fell in love with music. Later on my parents let me stay up(even though I had to go to school the next day) to watch Stevie rack up at the Grammy Awards for this album.( I saw him in concert in Nov of 1988(at the Fox Theater here in Atlanta) for the first time....a major highlight of my life, you can be sure of that.

I say that... to day this.... I have nothing but love and respect for Stevie and his music. His music have touched the inner depth of my soul in ways immeasureable. It' so hard to pick one song by him that I love. A few of you have touched on quite a few and I'm feeling all your choices. I'll try to come up with a song..later, if I can!!!!Again great thread!!!!

* Brother 9/15 aka CR3

This question is like asking which year in the 70s your mom made the best lasagna dish - when she made it spectacular EVERY YEAR IN THE 70s!

I know it sounds like I asked 4 u 2 choose btween which child u love most...that's not what I'm asking.

There's always that ONE song that u love, that hit u in the soul...that's what I'm referring 2.

So, when someone asks, How's your son, Nate?....I'm s'posed 2 say, "Hmph, y didn't u ask about President and Sir???" It's ridiculous.

I was just hoping 2 stir up some convo on Stevie, and what song hit u with heart...Some of us have more than one, I Know I DO...so post 'em all, what do I care... I just love hearing the views...

The "Summer Soft" views in this "Village Ghetto Land" make me think "You Haven't Done Nothing" in thought, regarding the thread. "I Wish" we'd take these comments and like a "Ribbon In The Sky", try and reach "Higher Ground" and "As" if u had "Ebony Eyes", like mine, u could see that REALLY, "I Just Called To Say I Love You", and hope it won't b 2 "Supersticious" of u 2 answer...

Whatever that means...lol

much love-

Ok. I'll get back to ya.

..i can't possibly choose one...but um..at this moment innervisions, all in love is fair, jesus children of america, i never dreamed you'd leave in summer...those will do for now...

Ooohh, DavidEye...
Knocks Me Off My Feet wins hands-down! I still find myself humming that one.

right then ..."Superstition" "Higher Ground" "I Wish"
"Sir Duke" "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" "Maybe Your Baby"

I honestly can't answer this one. I liek everything hi did during his creative period.

Well except one. We used to say "STEVIE could come out and sing nursey rhymes and it'll be a hit" LO an behold. He does "I Just Called to Say I Love You".


Aside to Supernova. Bet u $5 David comes in supporting this song as a classic
[This message was edited Fri Mar 15 17:04:10 PST 2002 by PFunkjazz]

PFunkjazz said:

Or possibly Ebony & Ivory.

OK, there are many Stevie songs from his most fertile period in the 70s I love, but "Living For The City" - STILL to this day affects me GREATLY. For a variety of reasons it makes me melancholy AND proud at the same time.

Her brother's smart
He's got more sense than many
His patience long
But soon he won't have any
To find a job is like a haystack needle
'Cause where he lives
They don't use color people...

I hope you hear inside my voice of sorrow
And that it motivates you to make a better tomorrow
The place is cruel
Nowhere could be much colder
If we don't change the world will soon be over
Living just enough, just enough for the city...

I get chills listening to this, almost 30 years after I first heard it. You know those songs by certain artists where you think NOBODY could ever do it better - or as well, not even in the hands of other legends? This is one of those songs. Nobody but Stevie can do this one justice. I saw the great Ray Charles sing this on tv once years ago, and as much as I love Ray and what he means to music in general, "Living For The City" is a song he can't enhance the way that is unique to Stevie's talent.

It captures the spirit of the blues, it captures the spirit of soul music, it captures the human spirit of many poor Blacks in America (and in other countries) - back then and now.

This song is one for the ages. Go and listen to it. It's a thing of beauty.

I like the stuff off TALKING BOOK "Maybe Your Baby" is a total funk work. "Tuesday Heartbreak" is tight and bouncy. "Looking For Another Pure Love" has that great Jeff Beck solo. "You are the Sunshine Of My Life" is a pop classic (gotta get the single version cuz it has horns). "I Believe When I Fall In Love" is nice too! You know I dig "Big Brother" too! I love the whole album. It plays like one track ( hmmm that sounds familiar).Ohhh and how about "Youv'e Got IT Bad, Girl"

I actually like INNERVISIONS more, but TB is special cuz I fully seduced my wife (to be) with that album.

PFunkjazz said:

Talking Book is essential for any Stevie Wonder fan. I rediscover Stevie's albums all the time after not playing them for a long time. You ever notice how "Tuesday Heartbreak" and "Maybe Your Baby" are the same synth riff, but just different tempos? And that harp playing he does on "Big Brother", you always know Stevie's harmonica playing even when it's not on his own song (like Chaka's cover of "I Feel For You").

Supernova said:

Naw, To be honest I hadn't figured that out. Those tunes blend so well together. MAybe that's why....

That Girl....it gives me chills everytime, and it has a melancholy mood that I love.

Sunshine of My Life
Higher Ground
Uptight
Maybe Your baby

oh i was talking with my friends about Stevie yesterday...although he's a multi-instrumentalist, anyone ever see him play antyhing but keys and harmonica? Im not doubting him, but i wonder if he ever played guitar on stage...that'd be a trip


Bob

NewPowerNorth said:

I don't think Stevie plays bass or guitar. He's not credited as playing them on his albums. But he does play drums on some of his own songs. A lot of the time Stevie will play his basslines with the synthesizer.

Supernova said:

That's it exactly. Keys drums and harmonica. Live he always has another guy on keys (used to be Greg Philanganes (sp?) so he can do piano and other choice parts.

He plays drums 2

My all-time favourite song is a tie between:

Send One Your Love (from Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants [1979])

Isn't She Lovely (from Songs in the Key of Life [1976])

I love Stevie Wonder, he's truly a genius like Prince

"Mr know it all"...Not a popular cut but..So darn soulful....
check it out if you have never heard it.