Monday, September 21, 2009

Groovin' on The Street: Stevie Wonder, where you don't expect to find him

Here's a fun flash from 1973, featuring one of the sweetest, smoothest, nimblest male voices ever in rock or a half-dozen other musical genres. (I don't think Stevie's ever done CW or opera...and that's about it.)

The older (and younger) fogies will find the end repetitious, and it is: but there's a fun little variation starting at around 6:00 that's worth a listen.

Enjoy.



19 comments:

Al said...

I hate the trolls who simply point out what is missing from blogger's posts.

al sends

Kim from Hiraeth said...

I love Stevie Wonder! (I'll come back later for the link. . .)

Kay said...

Can't get it to play on this machine, but am in total agreement about his voice. Fabulous

Mike Westfall said...

That was pretty good. Nice rockin' little number.

But whaddya think of the lyrics:
> When you believe in things that
> you don't understand,
> Then you suffer.
> Superstition ain't the way.

DJP said...

I don't know everything he'd have meant by them. In the context of the song, I agree. He's talking about (hel-lo?) superstition, naming things like numbers and omens and portents.

If Wonder thinks Biblical Christianity is "superstition," then I'd say he's talking about something he "doesn't understand." And I wouldn't believe in him.

Rachael Starke said...

I am going to really date myself and say that even though my husband owns almost every Steve album out there, I didn't really get interested in his music until TPTB started butchering...er...featuring it on American Idol. Now I absolutely love him. I can't think of another musician who can make music like that and sing like that, all at the same time.

SandMan said...

I just called, to say, I love Se-eh-eh-eh-eh-samee Street! Or, er, uh-- my kids do. Stevie Wonder is pretty cool, too.

Solameanie said...

I got burned out on Wonder when "Songs in the Key of Life" came out.

DJP said...

Oh, dude - are you serious? That's a great album! So... eclectic!

Contusion, Sir Duke, I Wish, Knocks Me Off My Feet, Ordinary PainNgiculela - Es Una Historia/I Am..., If It's Magic, As —

That's a great album!

::cough::FOGEY::cough::

Jon said...

"I LOVE YOU BARACK OBAMA!!!"

-Stevie Wonder


Incredible musical talent. So sad.

DJP said...

Aw, there you had to go ruin my happy.

Well, I'll replace the harsher comment I had typed (on all entertainers) with this:

There's a reason Mrs. Phillips asks me not to tell her anything about any of the entertainers she enjoys.

Jon said...

There's a reason Mrs. Phillips asks me not to tell her anything about any of the entertainers she enjoys.

Oh, you mean like Michael Jordan?

Solameanie said...

In my defense, Chicago radio station WLS (an A.M. clear channel back in the days when A.M. still played music) played "Sir Duke" over and over and over and over again. It's like they doubled what would be normal rotation for a hit.

Wonder is very talented, and I liked "Superstition," but the 24x7 playing of stuff from "Key" for weeks on end really got to me. Although I have to confess if they had played Genesis or Pink Floyd around the clock, I wouldn't have complained. Just like you prolly wouldn't have minded if they played a lot of Terry Kath-era Chicago.

And yes, I am a curmudgeon. I'm putting Mentholatum Deep Heat on my joints as I type this.

Gilbert said...

What th...what's that smell? (Looks up) Hey! Sola! Close the Blogger entrance before slappin' that nasty stuff on! (cough cough) (waves hands) Man...

OK, well until the air clears here,
groove to this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi9yANYCqwM&feature=related

Stevie Wonder in France!

Susan said...

My favorite Stevie Wonder song is "Overjoyed". Actually, I have another favorite: "I Just Called to Say I Love You". I like the former's melody and musical arrangement and the latter's lyrics. He really is very talented.

Susan said...

And speaking of musical guests on the Street...well, here's another one of my favorites. All the better because Elmo is singing, too!! :D

Solameanie said...

Gilbert,

I should have mentioned that I am also a Francophobe.

~Mark said...

I remember that appearance!

Associate-to-the-Pastor said...

Actually, I always liked the Christmas song he did when he was younger. Probably because I generally hate Christmas songs (BA! Humbug.) and his song was very different.