Stevie Wonder-- C or D?

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I think he's over-rated and given too much praise.

Dud

― jj, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 22:03 (9 years ago) Permalink

I think you should be blind too.

― Al (sitcom), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 22:05 (9 years ago) Permalink

You are John Cusack and I claim my five pounds.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 22:07 (9 years ago) Permalink

Yeah, fuck Stevie, with his classic songs and his genius arrangements.

You some sort of Counting Crows fan, jj ?

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 22:35 (9 years ago) Permalink

Classic.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 22:36 (9 years ago) Permalink

You're behind the times jj! ILM did the "hating SW for the shock value" thing a long time ago.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 22:39 (9 years ago) Permalink

classic, but not as much as people would have you believe.

― dieblucasdie (dieblucasdie), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 22:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

Seriously though, is Stevie's rep a bit a bit lower these days than it used to be? I dunno, I get the feeling he's suffered from revisionism.

Anyway classic. I only know the mid 70s work, people on the other SW threads were praising the 60s stuff, which I imagine to be great in a fun motown way.

― de, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 22:48 (9 years ago) Permalink

Master Blaster + Sir Duke + Superstition = Classic

Woman in Red onward = Dud

― Autumn Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 22:51 (9 years ago) Permalink

Few songs make me feel better than "Uptight" and "I Was Made To Love Her." If only for these deathless gems, SW is Classic. And he had the good sense to work with Tonto's Expanding Head Band in the studio.

― Dave Segal (Da ve Segal), Tuesday, 11 May 2004 23:13 (9 years ago) Permalink

and he's all over Minnie Riperton's Perfect Angel

― angel duster, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 23:28 (9 years ago) Permalink

classic by a mile,
even just for the outro
on "sweet little girl"

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 00:16 (9 years ago) Permalink

i can see why you might think "dud" if all you had heard were "i just called to say i love you," "that's what friends are for" and is guest spots on 98 degrees and nsync records, which i suppose is possible if all you ever listened to was classic adult contemporary radio, assuming there is such a thing.

but he made some of the most joyously swinging soul singles of the '60s, and then made these absolutely perfect albums all in a row in the '70s:

music of my mind
talking book
innervisions
fulfillingness' first finale
songs in the key of life

and then went on to make a couple of good if not great albums afterward before finally burning out and turning into a very hit-or-miss '80s soul dude.

an amazing singer, a great songwriter, an inventive arranger, and if he needed to play all the instruments himself, he could do that too, a la prince. that latter talent wouldn't really matter if the songs weren't there, but they were, and he had range, from smooth balladry to jittery funk to protest music with strings. and he could rock the clavinet like nobody.

if his rep is a bit lower than he used to be, which i'm not sure it's true, that sure as hell ain't stevie's fault.

dud. not.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 03:02 (9 years ago) Permalink

You're totally right about the radio thing, I never thought about it like that before. He's being victimized by radio formats. Only his sucky songs get play on adult contemp. / easy listening stations, and his good stuff doesn't sound "oldies" enough to be played on those stations either, so the good stuff, even though it's not like it wasn't tremendously popular in the appropriate time period, never gets air play at all. That sucks.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 03:20 (9 years ago) Permalink

since i brought it up, i should add that there are certainly oldies stations where you CAN hear good stevie, from "uptight" to "you are the sunshine of my life" to "superstition," but there are lots of other stations where you can't. depends on where you live and how often you change the dial, i guess. it took me a long long time to realize that bob dylan had more to offer than "like a rolling stone," a song i still don't like very much.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 03:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

Amazing instrumentalist/producer, excellent composer/arranger, fine singer and fair-to-lousy (but so what) lyricist. (Also had some of the ugliest LP covers of the '70s but you can't blame him for that. Unless he designed 'em himself!) Obviously classic...at least until the 1980s rolled around and Prince kinda rendered him obsolete. Hey, it happens.

And, hey - just because something's overrated doesn't neccesarily mean it's not great. It can be both!

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 08:04 (9 years ago) Permalink

...oh, and this: Before Stevie, did ANYONE make records that were equally suited for the dance floor OR headphones? (Not to mention radio - AM and FM?) I think not!

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 08:20 (9 years ago) Permalink

classic. if you have to ask why...

― stevie (stevie), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 09:07 (9 years ago) Permalink

stevies work from the late 60s to 1976 was all brilliant. hotter than july is probably his last decent album. he still has the chops, the songwriting ability, and his voice, but his ear for sounds and production has gone down the 'i must keep up with new technology at any cost' dumper.

― thesplooge (thesplooge), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 09:13 (9 years ago) Permalink

Those albums he released as Jamiroquai are okay, tho.

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 09:18 (9 years ago) Permalink

he should speak to his wardrobe consultant about those hats though.

― thesplooge (thesplooge), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 10:04 (9 years ago) Permalink

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 11:17 (9 years ago) Permalink

Classic for some great songs, but also kind of wearying - he has a few duds here and there and somehow, his appeal/songs aren't as timeless as they could be. Nevertheless, seeing the big man play live here in April and meeting him afterwards was a good moment.

Deserves a dud for his 80s output tho'.

― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 11:23 (9 years ago) Permalink

I should also clarify that his post-80s dudness has carried through to his live performances in that he plays to the crowd WAY too much and exhibits the behaviour of an ADD-addled teen between songs. His band were great though and no one plays the keyboard quite like him.

― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 11:27 (9 years ago) Permalink

Classic for Innervisions - as perfect an album as you could wish for.

Dud for inventing the interminable "thanks to..." credit list, on Songs In The Key Of Life.

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 12:17 (9 years ago) Permalink

People who don't like Stevie Wonder are cheats and arsonists who go to prison

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 16:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

steve wonder = classic
ray charles = dud

― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:00 (9 years ago) Permalink

Dear Lord.

― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:02 (9 years ago) Permalink

i have two dislikes that put me in most peoples' bad books: i don't like stevie wonder and i don't like ella fitzgerald. with stevie, especially, i've tried. oh god, how i've tried. i just don't have the love.

― lauren (laurenp), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:05 (9 years ago) Permalink

*adding entry to bad book*

― Jay Smooth (jsmooth995), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:30 (9 years ago) Permalink

i traded in my bad book for a shit list

― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:33 (9 years ago) Permalink

Lauren, I disown you.

― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:34 (9 years ago) Permalink

i traded in my bad book for a shit list

AND SHE'S ON IT!

― Adrock (Barima), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:35 (9 years ago) Permalink

'ray charles = dud'

life has no more surpries for me now

― de, Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:35 (9 years ago) Permalink

i give up.

― lauren (laurenp), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

Laur, I was kidding. Though while I don't remeber Ella all that well, I can't think of her as a dud.

― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:44 (9 years ago) Permalink

her voice drives me crazy! aieeeee!

― lauren (laurenp), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:49 (9 years ago) Permalink

She really screams like that? I better get me some Ella CDs.

― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 17:51 (9 years ago) Permalink

4 years pass...

http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/06062008/423854/stevie_wonder_european_tour

― titchyschneiderMk2, Saturday, 7 June 2008 13:57 (4 years ago) Permalink

7 months pass...

Man, is this guy a great drummer. I'm listening to "Bird of Beauty" and "Have a Talk With God."

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:17 (4 years ago) Permalink

"Higher Ground"! He's got a cupla good backbeats on the last album.

He's like Ringo -- he gets a great SOUND from his instrument. You can distinguish him from other players.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:22 (4 years ago) Permalink

He's hanging off the back of the beat even more than Charlie Watts = CLASSIC

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:26 (4 years ago) Permalink

A couple really distinctive things I've noticed about his drumming are that a) he tends to bust out with triplets on the cymbal against an otherwise straight-8th base and b) his tendency to use the ride cymbal in the function of the hi-hat, which makes those tricky cymbal rhythms sound clearer than they would played on the hat.

― my life is ronan! (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:30 (4 years ago) Permalink

"What'd I Say" = #1 influence on Stevie as a drummer imo

― my life is ronan! (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:32 (4 years ago) Permalink

Yeah, that makes sense -- that kind of busyness. He plays fills that I don't think anybody else could get away with on "Bird of Beauty."

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:33 (4 years ago) Permalink

Btw, who was the drummer on "What'd I Say"? That mf is my hero.

― my life is ronan! (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:46 (4 years ago) Permalink

Also, the hats/ride tend to be mixed LOUD on Stevie's records. Cymbals, cymbals, cymbals.

― my life is ronan! (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:48 (4 years ago) Permalink

But yeah, basically Stevie is a monster on the trap.

― my life is ronan! (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:49 (4 years ago) Permalink

also he does a lot of overdubbing & multitracking (ie playing just the cymbals, then just the snare, and/or multiple hi-hat parts like on 'i wish')

― Tracy Michael Jordan Catalano (Jordan), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:54 (4 years ago) Permalink

Listening to "Bird of Beauty", the most amazing thing about the drumming is how ably he inserts all his oddball fills right into the middle of the groove, instead of breaking from the groove to fill. He just inserts all these other drums around the maintained pattern.

xp: I feel like you just told me Santa Claus doesn't exist.

― my life is ronan! (The Reverend), Tuesday, 13 January 2009 22:57 (4 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 29 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

wow, i never noticed that superstition had synth bass before. and it sounds so sloppy by itself (but is obv. super funky in the track). thanks for posting that.

― Tracy Michael Jordan Catalano (Jordan), Wednesday, 14 January 2009 20:55 (4 years ago) Permalink

I Just Called to Say I Love You is much maligned but it's an incredibly good song.

― miss precious perfect (musically), Wednesday, 14 January 2009 21:59 (4 years ago) Permalink

A very good singer and songwriter. I was always amazed he could play music on the piano being blind. He started out as a singles artist and then became such a great albums artists too.

― Dan Landings, Wednesday, 14 January 2009 23:17 (4 years ago) Permalink

And he is still only 58 years old which is also amazing.

― Dan Landings, Wednesday, 14 January 2009 23:18 (4 years ago) Permalink

Don't get me wrong, he's a genius. Or he was, at least...

― Whitey on the Moon, Thursday, 15 January 2009 09:56 (4 years ago) Permalink

I mean,

― Whitey on the Moon, Thursday, 15 January 2009 09:58 (4 years ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

"If You Really Love Me" is one of his best songs but doesn't always get the "Top Stevie Songs" nod, which is a shame.

― Cunga, Sunday, 29 March 2009 04:39 (4 years ago) Permalink

haha, I have Where I'm Coming From on right now, and was just thinking that "If You Really Love Me" is a bit clunky in execution, and that if he'd written it a few years later, he would have structured it a lot better.

― uncle otm (The Reverend), Sunday, 29 March 2009 04:45 (4 years ago) Permalink

It's a little maladroit in its slow-fast dialectic, but it's all worth it for the key change.

― Nurse Detrius (Eric H.), Sunday, 29 March 2009 05:01 (4 years ago) Permalink

well said, geir

― knive k (k3vin k.), Sunday, 29 March 2009 05:20 (4 years ago) Permalink

It probably would've been better executed had it made just a few years later, but, at the same time, I like it a lot for its messiness. It's not unlike something that would've been on Rundgren's Something/Anything and it has that same breezy "We're just having fun in the studio writing songs. Are we even being recorded? Who cares - btw, somebody tell the engineer to order pizza," tone.

― Cunga, Sunday, 29 March 2009 05:45 (4 years ago) Permalink

xpost I deserve that

― Nurse Detrius (Eric H.), Sunday, 29 March 2009 06:12 (4 years ago) Permalink

love love love that whole album.

― tahw dna (stevie), Sunday, 29 March 2009 08:42 (4 years ago) Permalink

From Talking Book to Songs in the Key of Life Stevie was the man. I can't think of too many musicians that had a better run than he did from 1972 to 76. Even the weaker stuff, like Music of My Mind, would be a career highpoint for most. I don't see how anyone could say dud.

― leavethecapital, Sunday, 29 March 2009 12:51 (4 years ago) Permalink

6 months pass...

i always feel guilty that i don't like stevie wonder that much.

― headroom (max) (M@tt He1ges0n), Friday, 16 October 2009 20:57 (3 years ago) Permalink

u should. sorry. :(

― Ømår Littel (Jordan), Friday, 16 October 2009 20:59 (3 years ago) Permalink

i don't like stevie wonder i LOVE HIM

― it's like a Shark-Cage but for "Your Junk" AKA Your Penis & Balls (stevie), Saturday, 17 October 2009 11:25 (3 years ago) Permalink

yeah i know i don't know what's wrong w/me.

i have like talking book and innervisions and songs in the key of life, too, so it's not like i haven't heard "the right albums"

― headroom (max) (M@tt He1ges0n), Saturday, 17 October 2009 16:23 (3 years ago) Permalink

i wouldn't sweat it too hard matt, you seem like a rockin dude otherwise

― it's like a Shark-Cage but for "Your Junk" AKA Your Penis & Balls (stevie), Saturday, 17 October 2009 17:32 (3 years ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

Could we have a Stevie Wonder albums poll? Please!

― krakow, Friday, 15 January 2010 00:15 (3 years ago) Permalink

what's stopping you

― shake hands with Gongo? (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 15 January 2010 00:16 (3 years ago) Permalink

A combination of tiredness right now and a feeling that people don't necessarily like polls as much as me, making me cautious about starting them. I'll do it tomorrow night if it's not shot down or appeared at someone else's hands (feel free, if the urge strikes you, anyone) by then. I'd be very interested to see how the big player albums stack up against each other.

― krakow, Friday, 15 January 2010 00:28 (3 years ago) Permalink

loads of Stevie fans here and he's had a pretty weird career (who, oh who will rep for 80s Stevie?) I'm sure it'll go over well

― shake hands with Gongo? (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 15 January 2010 00:33 (3 years ago) Permalink

i would love to vote in a stevie wonder poll, do it!

― shartyman (stevie), Friday, 15 January 2010 08:14 (3 years ago) Permalink

Would anyone want any of the compilations on the list, or would the wikipedia Live & Studio albums selection be OK?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Wonder_discography

― krakow, Friday, 15 January 2010 08:25 (3 years ago) Permalink

I recommend stickin with studio LPs

― shake hands with Gongo? (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 15 January 2010 16:45 (3 years ago) Permalink

I'd honestly break it into decades ... '60s, '70s, and then '80s on.

And include the Syreeta albums.

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Friday, 15 January 2010 16:51 (3 years ago) Permalink

def break it into decades. including the syreeta albums will make the 70s much harder to choose from!

― come one dude (stevie), Friday, 15 January 2010 16:53 (3 years ago) Permalink

huh I've never heard any of those, how many are there?

― shake hands with Gongo? (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 15 January 2010 16:55 (3 years ago) Permalink

she did two in the early 70s, stevie produced/wrote at least one of them, and they're both excellent.

― come one dude (stevie), Friday, 15 January 2010 17:05 (3 years ago) Permalink

Thanks to Eric H we now have: 1970s Stevie Wonder Album Poll

― krakow, Sunday, 24 January 2010 19:36 (3 years ago) Permalink

Stevie Wonder could release an album a month for the rest of his life, each of which consisted of only 70 solid minutes of him farting, and his status as Total Classic wouldn't be at all challenged in my book.

Come to think of it, it might actually be strengthened, given that scenario.

― SNEEZED GOING DOWN STEPS, PAIN WHEN PUTTING SOCKS ON (Deric W. Haircare), Monday, 25 January 2010 01:21 (3 years ago) Permalink

I want Farts In The Key Of Ass volumes right now.

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Monday, 25 January 2010 01:22 (3 years ago) Permalink

Sounded good (although not amazing) on the Haiti telethon the other night

― curmudgeon, Monday, 25 January 2010 18:01 (3 years ago) Permalink

3 months pass...

Sixty years old today!

― rim this, fuck that (Eric H.), Thursday, 13 May 2010 13:45 (3 years ago) Permalink

Happy birthday Stevie Wonder! One time a long time ago I listened to Signed, Sealed, Delivered on the Motown box set and it was just the right day for me to really understand how great it was & I proceeded to listen to it for four straight hours, every listen revealing new things about the groove & your rad vocal performance & it was one of the best times I've ever had listening to music! You rule forever and when people hate on you for I Just Called or whatever you tell em underrated aerosmith albums wonders how many songs these haters have written that people use to build bridges between themselves & the people they love! Also, your pioneering use of the recording studio as a creative space is fuckin rad, and your taste in microphones is peerless! Have a kickass birthday! your fan, underrated aerosmith albums I have loved

― in which we apologize for sobering up (underrated aerosmith albums I have loved), Thursday, 13 May 2010 14:16 (3 years ago) Permalink

Fucking hilarious that somebody (the guy who started this thread) would think Stevie Wonder is overrated.

― Bill Magill, Thursday, 13 May 2010 14:19 (3 years ago) Permalink

One of his more underrated singles:

― cool and remote like dancing girls (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 13 May 2010 14:31 (3 years ago) Permalink

Somebody e-mailed me this morning that he is doing a free show at the Verizon Center in Washington DC on May 26th as part of a tribute.

Promotion code is DCPS

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/150044A3B87C8CA1?artistid=1445022&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=52

Having sold the Washington Wizards and Verizon Center to Ted Leonsis last week, the Pollin family is ready to celebrate its lengthy connection to this area. Irene Pollin, the widow of the franchise patriarch, and her sons, Robert and Jim, will host a free, private concert featuring legendary musician Stevie Wonder on May 26.

The Pollins plan to honor employees of Washington Sports and Entertainment and those of several civic and public service organizations, such as the D.C. Fire Department and police department, public school teachers and hospital workers from George Washington Hospital and Sibley Hospital, where Abe Pollin was treated before his passing last November. They are fittingly dubbing the event, "Living for the city," for Wonder's classic hit single.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/2010/05/pollins-living-for-the-city-wi.html

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 13 May 2010 14:46 (3 years ago) Permalink

7 months pass...

What is the most embarrassingly sentimental Stevie Wonder song? He has a ton, but which one is the worst?

Inspired by hearing this today:

You almost want to blame Stevie for inspiring that unique Michael Jackson-style of kitsch in pop that's so heavy-handed.

― Cunga, Friday, 24 December 2010 00:34 (2 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

I saw Stevie Wonder for the first time on Sunday night, and man I was not prepared for how overwhelming it would be to see him perform right in front of me. Just, wow. I bawled like a baby. That music's been such a huge part of my life for so long, all woven around my family, as well as my friends...it hit me hard. In a good way! Like I dunno, being at some kind of weird outdoor church. Dancing in the middle of that huge crowd, tears streaming down my face. I had no idea it would be like that.

LA weekly has a great review + setlist: http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2012/08/stevie_wonder_outside_lands_august_12_2012.php

(I read another review in a local rag that said Stevie was 'meandering' and 'indulgent' ... u_u )

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 14 August 2012 17:15 (9 months ago) Permalink

2 weeks pass...

http://www.towleroad.com/2012/08/stevie-wonder-some-people-who-think-theyre-gay-are-confused.html

The actual quote isn't really very declarative. Chalking this one up to "from a different generation," but it's still disheartening, even though I've been well aware that Stevie's ideas about the nuts and bolts of relationships have always been pretty reactionary. Doesn't take much effort for me to picture him being bewildered by the dynamics of male-male or female-female relationships.

― Eric H., Friday, 31 August 2012 15:06 (8 months ago) Permalink

yeah this is the guy who wrote "Superwoman."

― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 31 August 2012 15:07 (8 months ago) Permalink

Hah, that's almost exactly what I posted on FB.

― Eric H., Friday, 31 August 2012 15:08 (8 months ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

man oh man

― collardio gelatinous, Sunday, 11 November 2012 05:49 (6 months ago) Permalink

was just listening to the 70s-era live boot that opens with a 17 minute contusion this morning... wish stevie would put out some of his valt of unreleased 70s stuff at some point.

― Ryan's taint is definitely unavoidable. (stevie), Sunday, 11 November 2012 10:50 (6 months ago) Permalink

Supposedly there's a clause in his contract stating that his unreleased material is to be destroyed when he dies. But that might only be studio stuff (which, if there's unreleased 70s material, arrg).

― 5-Hour Enmity (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Sunday, 11 November 2012 15:53 (6 months ago) Permalink

yeah, i'd heard that, and it is a cold comfort!

― Ryan's taint is definitely unavoidable. (stevie), Sunday, 11 November 2012 16:48 (6 months ago) Permalink

They say that Stevie Wonder's unreleased songs are 10 zillion light years away.

― Bobby Ken Doll (Eric H.), Sunday, 11 November 2012 19:42 (6 months ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

You've got to I've got to they've got to
We've got to They've got to We've got to

― Cunga, Tuesday, 22 January 2013 10:14 (4 months ago) Permalink

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