Wat up Ya'll I'm Sandino. Since the earliest I could remember up until I was maybe 17 I was immersed in rap music(Being Born in the Boogie Down can do that ya) but eventually yearned for more than that. Eventually i came to love the old school music that before when I was a kid couldn't understand. I'm 19 now and it seems my appreciation for Funk, Soul and Hard Rock is easily dwarfing my once fanatic passion for NY/old school rap/wu-tang etc. My only problem is I feel I peaked to Early. And I blame it all on Stevie Wonder.

Ya see when I began to get into classic R&B etc. I combed through youtube and whatever I liekd I added to my favorites. One day I heard a Stevie song from SITKOL. It was like an epiphany, it all came to me, and what's more, It seemed like every damn song he had was great on every damn album! When I was a kid to me Stevie wonder was that Cheesy guy that made "I just called to say I love you" and "ribbon n the Sky" and while I still see Just called... as cheesy I'm amazed at the sheer genius of Stevie Wonder! His exceptional melodic and harmonic mind, his sincerity, the way his discography seems to have encompassed many subjects and crucial moments in one's lifetime, and to do all that while being incredibly funk, soulful and positive! no one does it better.

Which is the problem. NO ONE DOES IT BETTER!!! Because I heard stevie so quickly, he pretty much set the bar to the point now that even though I can appreciate and love many a marvin gaye, or Isaac hayes or curtis etc song, I still get that voice in the back of my mind that says "Stevie would Funk this up, Stevie would make this pop gold, Stevie is better than this, etc."

Is it just me or does nearly no artist compare to Stevie wonder?

Well, everytime I think it couldn't get better I think of the FACT his music sucked bigtime from the mid 80s zu mid 00s.

Also I think what the Beatles did was masterly as well, I don't idolize SW to death.

Sandino said:

You're right. No one can compare to Stevie

graecophilos said:

True, but then again Your comparing four minds(Five if you count George Martin's contributions) combined to Stevie Wonder

Does that mean Lennon + McCartney + Starr + Harrison=Wonder?

bboy87 said:

Personally I think that's true for a certain lifetime of SW. But in all honesty, in the 80s and 90s his music became uninspiring, and although I think Time 2 Love is his best album since 1976, he released so little music in this decade that it's tough to judge him!

You know, I started as a Beatles fan... the difference is, they were four and Stevie was on his one and managed to create equal masterpieces!

But unlike P McCartney, who constantly comes up with something interesting even today, SW seems to sit on his unreleased stuff and rarely releases something new.

Unlike Macca, SW doesn't have a Tug Of War, Flaming Pie or Chaos and Disorder In The Backyard.

Sandino said:

yeah, read my post above

graecophilos said:

Yeah I agree with you, I haven't had a sit down and listened fully to his post Musiquarium I work but from what I have heard it wasn't nearly as great as his 70's work. I once had a discussion about this with one of my friends and he said something to the effects of every artist reaches their peak and then slowly declines, the beatles were very fortunate to have disbanded before they could become dull and monotonous caricatures of themselves Aala every artist that's ever lived.

Well, Sandino, it's funny you start such a thread with only rare knowledge of SW's later work!

graecophilos said:

But I love Stevie's work in the 80s

bboy87 said:

Yep, there's a lot of great stuff in there. 1 great album, 1 very good one, and a bunch of great songs.

Sandino said:[quote]

graecophilos said:

Stevie destroys the Beatles

For me, I love Stevie's 70's material. I have been a member of the Org for years now, and you all know how I feel about SKOL. This is the one album that should be taught in EVERY music appreciation class as well every college sociology class. His 80's material has in my opinion has always lack substance and sounded way too commercial for my taste. This had caused me to look elsewhere for awhile for my musical fix. With Stevie setting the standard of what I think good music should sound like, I was introduced to Prince who, was influenced by Stevie as well. So, when you asked the question, "Is there music after Stevie"?, I would have to say yes, there is. You just have to be willing to have an opened mind about other artists and their sound.

There was also a mention of the Beatles...To that I say, Stevie was obviously influenced by them. When I hear songs like "Frontline", it reminds me of "Come Together". Stevie has written some great love songs, like "My Cherie Amor", which to me is equaled to the Beatles, "Michele". I have read where he has mentioned the Beatles as one of his influences.
[Edited 4/10/09 9:30am]

To me, Stevie doesn't compare to anyone. Neither does James Brown, George Clinton, Prince, MJ, Jackie Wilson, Ray Charles, etc. These guys are true founding fathers of r&b. Sure it can be argued that Stevie does it better than anyone, just like you could say about James. So, there is no comparison.

shorttrini said:

Stevie is always saying how that is his favorite Beatles song. He says it all of the time on his show.

shorttrini said:

That's correct. i'm sure he loves them. Well, he jammed with John and Paul in 1974 and was foregroup of john lennon in 1972!

There are some of his 60s compositions like Hold Me and My Cherrie Amour which are quite McCartney-esque.

Jay, it's okay for me that you like SW's 80s stuff. Personally I think the quality of his music declined. Hotter Than July and Musiquarium have great songs, so does The Lady In Red.
I like Part Time Lover, but the 87 album doesn't do it for me, neither Upset Stomach. The productions were cheesy.

It's just my point of view.

U kno, one of the main reasons why i got heavy into the beatles is because i noticed paul and stevie had similiar voices. yeah, paul tended to sound like stevie...maybe even before stevie sounded like stevie.


listen to WHEN IM 64 its almost scary

I really liked Belladonna and Rock-a-little.

I would say check out Jungle Fever as an album...in really flows well. And as for your question....have you listened to Joni Mitchell....she is pretty awesome...

I too "discovered" Stevie last year with SITKOL. It is now in my top 5 of all time and I am still listening to it all the time. For me this album represents all that was before and after Stevie in his carreer.

While I know that one is amazing and the ones that are right before and after are considered classic, I do know he went commercial with songs like I just called to Say and Part time Lover. These were actually his bigger hits, if you can imagine. Also other songs like That's WHat Friends are For and Ribbon in the Sky.

I do think that there is music after Stevie...there was music before him as well. He just made some very well produced albums that have and still do stand the test of time.

Sandino said:

Apples and Oranges. But the Beatles music should NOT be discounted. They did things with Music Stevie would never have done. They also come from different backgrounds.

Aslo, since we are on a Prince site, there is him to contend with as well.

Sandino said:

Stevie is truly amazing, I saw him like that for years too. Same with mj. When I was a kid, it was like 'oh the singer with the shiny outfits and his skin got light' though I knew his popular songs, but once I really got into his music and knew more, I had similar feelings as well and I think being drawn to a successful and talent, soulful celebrity really sparked my interest in music as well.

Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life are brilliant masterpieces. Talking Book too. He's probably my favourite male vocalist along with mj and it's fun to sing his stuff, though also very hard!
[Edited 4/10/09 11:49am]

Nvncible1 said:

Mmmh... don't think so. On 64 Paul's vocals were sped up.

But Paul's "Red Rose Speedway" is dedicated to SW, and I always thought paul's single My Love/ Little Woman Love

is Stevie-esque. I perfectly can imagine SW singing them both. Especially My Love.

wah? paul pulled a camille? awesome!


how could u not hear the stevie similarities in that song? especially when he sings "when im 64"

I'm listening to all day sucker while reading this, and all of a sudden, it makes me think of the beatles gayest song, yellow submarine!

Sandino said:

Oddly I say the same about Marvin, go figure! But Stevie's cool.

alphastreet said:

It makes me think of, "When I'm 64". In both songs a guy just wants to be loved by his girl...

Although I like stevie better than marvin, I've been in a Marvin mood this week

alphastreet said:

alphastreet said:

Me too. April is always my Marvin month.

hmmm that could be why

I've been listening to stevie all afternoon though, especially music from songs in the key of life