Thursday, March 27, 2008

What is your favorite Stevie Wonder song?



Do you know what the mark of a truly great artist is? When you routinely find yourself changing your mind when it comes to pinpointing what exactly your favorite song by that artist is - its an indecisiveness in my life usually reserved for the types of deviant pornography I finally decide to "rub one out" to before starting my day. When I stumbled upon this 1975 grammy performance where he delivers a rather infectious "You haven't done nothing" - it automatically moved "As" out of my top spot, even though the hook on "Too High" is a force to be reckoned with, thus making it a rather formidable opponent in the weeks to come. Stevie Wonder is hands down my favorite artist of all time, and despite his 40 years worth of blessing all of us with ear-pleasing melodious mission statements of Love and Hope - his musical brilliance is to blame for my intolerance of subpar artistry. Being a fan of a man whose work ethic and perfectionism is second to none, who has a "go big or go home" aspect to creating songs - every time I hear an MC give a less than spirited 16 bars, I sincerely want he/she to euthanize themselves with an extremely dull butter-knife. Every time I hear Missy Elliot come out the same fucking song year after year, it makes me ashamed that I hail from the same state that she does - and that's saying a lot, with Pat Robertson being my neighbor and all. Even though black men are an endangered species, when my ear openings are breached by these minstrel show rappers that only appeal to black folks who I would immediately give up if I was ever captured in a race war - I want all of those motherfuckers to miraculously disappear, Jimmy Hoffa style. Stevie, YOU did this to me!!!

I was wondering, what is your favorite Stevie Wonder song?

28 comments:

Shimada Boyce said...

My favorite song of the moment is "Master Blaster (Jammin'). My mother had "Hotter Than July" and I'm sure I burned new grooves in it.

Peace.

Jonzee said...

One?

How 'bout three--in no particular order:

1) Boogie on Reggae Woman
2) Superwoman
3) Get it (just cause its on heavy rotation in my latest 70/80's fusion funk mid-tempo mix)

FuriousStyles said...

I loved Stevie since childhood. I can't give one. Here's five-in no particular order
-Creepin'
-Another Star
-As If You Read My Mind
-Ordinary Pain
-Too High

Norman said...

Very hard question, come on Mr. H. F. Critic, you know NOBODY can really answer this with ONE song.

I'd have to say...

* Summer Soft
* Golden Lady
* Ordinary Pain
* You are the sunshine of my life

In that order.

Norman said...

That's a really great video, btw too. Have you seen the video of him singing at Luther Vandross' funeral? Pretty amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dpkGnkvmgI

He's aged now and lost some of his range, but his voice is as moving as it ever was.

I definitely think of Stevie Wonder as an artist up there with any of the American greats. In many other countries in the world his face would already be on their currency.

Anonymous said...

I can't pick just one. My favorites are "Golden Lady" and "Every beat of my heart"( I think that is the title).

Please stop referring to black men as a endangered species. You all are far from it. Targeted yes. Endangered no.

The Jaded NYer said...

just one?? I can't, I just can't...

"some" of my favorites, off the top of my head:

I Was Made to Love Her
Yester-me Yester-you Yesterday
Living for the City
Lately (damn...that's my JAM!)
With Each Beat of My Heart

okay...I think five is enough for now LOL

Anonymous said...

You take the thoughts right out of my own head whenever you post something like this. Nice to know my music snobbery is shared by others. How about:

Village Ghetto Land
Do I do
Never dreamed you leave in Summer
Hey Love

Few Redeeming Qualities.... said...

in no particular order, honestly too many to change......

Golden Lady
My Cherie Amor
Pastime Paradise
Isn't She Lovely

Ty said...

It's hard to choose, but I'm going to stick with "Living For The City." The skit in the middle is classic and innovative, and it predates the dime-a-dozen skits that are now in music.

bfnh. said...

Rocket Love.

"you dropped my black ass down to this cold, cold world"

"i wouldn't do that to a dog."

i love it.

fuckgoogle said...

Do you know what the mark of a truly great artist is? When you routinely find yourself changing your mind when it comes to pinpointing what exactly your favorite song by that artist is - its an indecisiveness in my life usually reserved for the types of deviant pornography I finally decide to "rub one out" to before starting my day.


I agree and pwahahahahahahahaa!

Anonymous said...

three way-tie: Don't you worry 'bout at thing ~ Overjoyed ~ All I Do

BLESSD1 said...

Dang...I've felt the EXACT SAME WAY, however, years ago, I figured out which Stevie song was my favorite of his...of ALL songs I've heard, and it's Do I Do. It is an infectious song that I absolutely can not feel bad whenever I'm listening to it. My favorite song ever.

Beana said...

Too many to name...

Isn't she loveley
Overjoyed
Ribbon in the sky
Do I do
Paradise

What a good idea to reflect on some Stevie. I love him!

melette said...

I have too many. I love Stevie.

melette said...

I have too many. I love Stevie.

Gemini Girl aka GG said...

"ALL I DO" {is think about you}

Nas Dawud said...

I guess if I had to narrow it down to one it would be "Always" but catc me on a nother day and I would probably give you a diffrent answer..

Anonymous said...

Look, the man said give 'im ONE, and so make it one! The whole point of his post is that if asked tomorrow it would be different, but if you give more than one, you're defeating the whole purpose of being forced to choose!

Superwoman. (Today.)

Dynamite Soul said...

That Girl
All I Do
Do I Do

Pop Culture said...

"All Day Sucker"

"Superwoman"

"Boogie on Reggae Woman"

Anonymous said...

Summer Soft
chronwell08

B said...

"As" and "Living for the City"

He simple does not get enough credit as a songwriter. The man is a genius.

Lola Gets said...

Theres too many!

"As"
"Another Star" (I think thats what its called)
"Golden Lady"
"Higher Ground"
"Never Dreamed Youd Leave in Summer"

and the "Woman in Red" soundtrack wasnt all bad either.

L

Anonymous said...

Es Un Historia

i can not listen to that song and be upset.

Eb the Celeb said...

Never dreamed you'd leave in summer
My cherie amour
Ribbon in the sky

Unknown said...

Hey Love, I used it as the song to my bride at our wedding.