July 3, 2025 • 35 mins
Dive into the musical journey of a true American legend as Matt and Sam explore the extraordinary career of Stevie Wonder. From his groundbreaking beginnings as "Little Stevie Wonder" at Motown Records to his status as one of music's most influential figures, this episode celebrates the artist who transformed popular music across six decades.
The hosts trace Wonder's remarkable evolution through twelve essential tracks, highlighting how a blind child prodigy who signed with Motown at age 11 went on to become the youngest artist ever to top the Billboard charts at just 13 years old. Through early hits like "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" and "I Was Made to Love Her," listeners experience the joyful exuberance that first captivated audiences in the 1960s.
The conversation shifts to Wonder's revolutionary 1970s period when he achieved the unprecedented feat of winning three consecutive Grammy Awards for Album of the Year. Matt and Sam analyze how songs like "Superstition" and "Boogie On Reggae Woman" showcased his innovative fusion of funk, soul, and synthesizer technologies that somehow never sound dated despite their era.
The hosts don't shy away from Wonder's 1980s commercial peak, discussing how tracks like "I Just Called to Say I Love You" brought him Oscar gold and global recognition, while "Happy Birthday" actually helped establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday. Throughout the episode, Matt and Sam highlight Wonder's extraordinary musical versatility, his philanthropic impact, and the timeless quality that makes his music resonate across generations.
Whether you're a longtime fan or discovering Stevie Wonder for the first time, this episode offers a perfect introduction to an artist whose 26 studio albums and numerous accolades (including the Presidential Medal of Freedom) only begin to tell the story of his profound influence on American music and culture.
Check out our videos on YouTube and follow us on Instagram and Threads @SuperAwesomeMix for more musical deep dives!
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/sam-intro-to-stevie-wonder/pl.u-y0pmTbq4xE
1. Uptight (Everything's Alright)
2. I Was Made To Love Her
3. Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday
4. For Once in My Life
5. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)
6. Superstition
7. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
8. Boogie On Reggae Woman
9. I Wish
10. Happy Birthday
11. I Just Called To Say I Love You
12. Overjoyed
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome back to another Super Awesome Mix.
My name is Matt Siddholm,alongside my co-host and
co-founder of Super Awesome Mix,sam Abusalbi.
Sam, how are we doing this week?
Doing real well.
How are you Doing great?
Doing great.
This week we've got another oneof our intro mixes when we just
kind of focus on one artist andwe are going to focus on Stevie
(00:31):
Wonder and this is my intro mix.
So I'm going to intro all, oryou're going to intro all the
songs and I'm going to talkabout each one.
But let me give you a littlebit of a bio.
Stevie Wonder that's not hisGod-given name, it is Stevlin
Hardaway Judkins and he was bornin saginaw, michigan, in 1950,
still alive today, age of 75 and, in spite of the internet
(00:52):
rumors, he is and has alwaysbeen blind.
Okay, there is if you, youcould do a deep dive on stevie
wonder not being blind, but heis actually blind Signed to
Motown at age 11.
Barry Gordy, the famous Motownproducer, calling him Little
Stevie Wonder and later the wordlittle was dropped from that
(01:15):
and he just became known asStevie Wonder.
He topped the Billboard 100 in1963 at just age 13, which is
still the record for theyoungest to achieve that mark.
He won Grammy Album of the Yearwith three straight album
releases in the 1970s, so that'sthe only artist to ever do that
.
So that's not three consecutiveyears, it's just every time he
(01:36):
released an album like threestraight times they won Grammy
Album of the.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Year which is incredible.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
His biggest commercial hits probably
occurred in the 1980s, um, Imean, I've only got 12 songs
here, which was really hardbecause he has 26 studio albums,
um, and and a bunch of themcome out in like the 60s and 70s
.
So this was really hard to getdown to 12 songs because, trust
me, if you do a deep dive intostevie wonder, you'll find you
(02:04):
know, you know a ton of hismusic.
But, sam, how familiar were youprior to getting this mix?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
I.
I would say I was like 75familiar with with this mix.
It was really good.
I think you did also anexcellent job with the shift in
sound which we'll get to um,because that's something that
actually never occurred to me.
I was telling my wife aboutthat, that I think I was more
familiar with the front half ofthis mix, the A side, if you
will, and then less familiarfunny enough with his stuff in
the 80s.
(02:31):
I had heard it, but I guess Inever connected the dot that I
was listening to Stevie Wonder,because it just sounds different
.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Oh, that's interesting.
Yeah, it's definitely got avery different tone to it, both
in subject and sound, I think.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Yeah, yeah, no, but it's an excellent mix.
I really enjoyed it.
It's also, if you are worriedabout time, only 46 minutes long
Like this is great.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Short songs.
Short songs so short, it'sincredible.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
I think music did like a full thing right, like
they started short, they gotreally freaking long and now
they're like here's a 57 secondsong and you're like okay, like
well, what's the minimum onspotify?
Speaker 1 (03:11):
isn't it 30 seconds to like kind of have a song that
?
I would think so on spotifyyeah, I think that's the
shortest possible song you couldsort of upload yourself.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Yeah we're gonna get there.
It's just the tiktokification,I think, is what's happening.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
It is, yeah, you're just not listening to the whole
thing.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Yeah, all right with that, though let's get into this
mix and I'm going to kick offevery song.
As Matt mentioned, I'm notgoing to repeat his name, so
you'll just have to follow alongthat Stevie Wonder each time,
and we're going to start offwith Uptight parentheses.
Everything's All Right.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
All right, this one is from 1966.
You can do the math.
He was just 16 years old.
The album was called Uptight.
People know this song.
I mean it hit the top five atthe time.
But I feel like it's been usedin so many movies and TV shows
that just even if you didn'tknow stevie wonder, I feel like
you would recognize the songwhen it came out.
(04:08):
Um, this, I think, is justindicative of just his whole
catalog and that his sound justmakes you feel good, right, like
it's just such a, there's suchjoy in his music and that's, I
think, what I probably love themost about it.
And he sings about love and inthis way, like he sings about it
, you know, in this way and thisis kind of a recurring theme
(04:30):
that he's kind of like notworthy of whoever.
This partner is right, which iskind of cool, kind of different
.
You know he's not necessarilylike a supplicant to it it, but
it's also just like he's he'sdefinitely sort of thankful that
this person is in his life.
It's really interesting.
(04:51):
Um, but you know, like lyricallypoor man's son from across the
railroad tracks only shirt I ownis painted on my back, and so
there was also this sort of richpoor thing that he gets into a
lot in in a number of his songs.
Now he's been married threetimes so there's probably a few
people that'll tell you that hegets into a lot in in a number
of his songs.
Now he's been married threetimes so there's probably a few
people that'll tell you that hedoesn't carry this, this great
love, over into his personallife.
But he certainly sings about itin an amazing way right?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
no, I think.
Um, I I agree with everythingyou're saying in terms of like
it's just uh, it's a happy song,it's very joyful, it's timeless
.
In that regard, one thing thatmade me laugh is the lyrics here
of I got empty pockets.
I'm a poor man's son, can'tgive her the things that money
can buy, but I'll never, nevermake my baby cry, which I think
(05:41):
is very different from a lot ofmodern rap and hip-hop songs.
You know, that's the message.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
They kind of reversed it complete opposite.
Yes, kind of reversed it.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Nowadays where it's like you should be thankful to
be with me, okay and I I'mloaded, I got everything like,
so I really appreciate that thisis all about love.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
It's very nice yeah, stevie is kind of the anti-rap
musician, isn't he?
Because I got nothing, just Icould just be here for you, you
know, I can just be here, yeah,exactly it's really nice.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
It's very kind, all right, um.
On that note, a great segue umtrack number two is I was made
to love her all right, this oneis from 1967 and at this point
this is his seventh studio album.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Okay, he's 17 years old.
It's insane now.
Albums back then, let me justnote were like 10 songs.
A number of them we've talkedabout this before from like
older artists were cover songs,because you were trying to put
out an entire album and sothey'd have a handful you know
five, six original songs.
Then they just kind of put somecovers on there.
(06:46):
So if you go back and listen tohis early albums, a lot of them
are things that other artistshave done that he's just
re-recording.
But this is his seventh album.
So he's 17 years old, and Imentioned that because I think
this idea of I was made to loveher is kind of a youthful idea
you know if he's 35 years old.
and singing about this, like Ifeel like it's a little bit more
(07:08):
disingenuous than when you putit in the perspective of being a
teenager, and even lyrically, Iwas knee high to a chicken when
that love bug bit me.
I had the fever with eachpassing year, like he's just
love is new to him and it's justlike this was what I was made
for, like this amazing feeling.
So, uh, I don't know.
I've always loved this song andand and again.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
there's just joy in it, the way he sings it and it's
, it's just a great love songyeah, I, I also was going to
highlight that line um, the kneehigh tune chicken when that
love bug bit me.
Um, because it's true, I thinkthat's like a great kind of
description of love at that age,because it does kind of feel
like an infection in some ways.
(07:50):
It just takes you over.
You know like you're in anotherworld.
When it's happening, it's likenew and exciting and, yeah,
you're just imagining yourself.
I very much remember, I think,my first high school.
If you could even call her mygirlfriend, I don't think I
would looking back, but I waslike, oh, I got, got a
girlfriend and I was alreadyplanning what house we were
gonna buy when we were older.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
You know like it lasted three weeks matt if you
had a cell phone at the time,you would have been sending her
like zillow listings and stufflike this.
One's gonna be a good schooldistrict, okay, this.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
The kids are going to love this pool in the backyard.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Just text back.
We need to talk.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Oh no, what.
So I can relate real hard tothis song, but yeah, it's a
really nice one.
This is one of the ones that Idon't think I had heard before,
but it's a really really lovelyone.
All right, let's go to tracknumber three, one of my
favorites, actually, on this mix.
(08:52):
I just really like this one,and it is Yester Me, yester you,
yester Day.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Okay, this is from 1969.
And it's a my Cherie Amouralbum.
My Cherie Amour is another kindof bigger hit for him.
I like including this onebecause it kind of bigger hit
for him.
Um, I like including this onebecause it kind of like
indicates a jump in maturityfrom from like a song output
standpoint, because it's almostlike rueful right and just sort
of like wishing things were theway they used to be and I mean,
(09:22):
I don't know, I've always lovedthis one.
I think the lyrics are veryclever and even just the title
you could see that like usingthat yester part, you know to
kind of think about yester me,yester you and and it's just a
little bit lower energy thankind of what you're used to at
this point.
Now this is album number 11 forhim, okay, and it's again he's
19 years old.
He puts out 26 albums, so he'snot even he's not even 20 years
(09:46):
old and we're about halfwaythrough his catalog and so it's
incredible.
But you think about how longhe's been in the music business
at that point and he probablyhas done quite a bit of growing
up and he's probablysignificantly more mature for a
19-year-old than most peoplewould be.
But it does start to representa little bit of a transition in
(10:07):
kind of the songs he's puttingout there.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Yes, yeah, that's insane to think about how
prolific he was at such a youngage Like that's.
I can't even wrap my headaround that.
But I really, really loved the,the lyrics of this one, and I
think it's again, especially nowas the world continues to feel
like it's just off its traintracks.
I know a lot of millennialsaround my age are looking back
(10:32):
to the 90s and probably couldrevert recite you know what
happened to the world.
We knew when we would dream andscheme while the time away,
while the time away.
So, yes, I think that that rightthere I instantly connected
with because the 90s, you know,when we were kids you just felt
like everything was like just soeasy and it made sense.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
And now we're all like take us back but everything
I I do think not to get off ona tangent, but things seem more
chaotic.
I feel like as an adult, whenyou are more in tune with, like
the news and the world aroundyou Cause, like my kids, right
now they have no concept ofanything being bad or messed up
(11:13):
Like, so they'll probablysomeday be like man.
The 2020s were so easy.
Right Like that was such agreat time, but any adults from
that era would be like it wasinsane.
Are you kidding?
Speaker 2 (11:22):
me it was awful.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I can't believe that you're notserving breakfast with, like
nprorg or politicocom.
Come on, come on.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
I do love those posts where it's just like how am I
supposed to talk to my childrenabout this?
And I'm like why are youtalking to your children about
this?
Speaker 2 (11:41):
About Senate voting yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Look when my son looks at me and asks me why our
representative voted this way.
It's like wait, your son'sasking you about this.
I don't even know who myrepresentative is now Like well
into my 40s, right?
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Oh my gosh, that's great.
Well, little Timmy, let me talkto you about riders on bills
and the Senate parliamentarian.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Yeah, the schoolhouse rock is just like you know what
I'm talking about short songsbecoming longer.
Right, it's a seven and a halfminute version of I'm just a
bill.
Yeah, I'm just an executiveorder.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
All right, let's go on to just a forever classic,
and this one is For Once in myLife.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Yeah, this one I feel like it's great because it is
both kind of a blues song and ajoyful song all at once.
So he's talking about how kindof difficult his life is, but
now for once, for once thisthing has happened to him and
again it's sort of thiselevation of the idea of being
in love and how much better itmakes your life.
(12:57):
And I just think it's amazinghow he kind of does both here,
because if you're sort of youdon't have to be in this like
amazing position in life to havelove sort of lift you up.
And I think that's sort of therunning thing with Stevie Wonder
.
It's like I said it earlier,he's like kind of the anti-rap
person.
It's not I can do all thesethings for you, it's just at a
(13:18):
very basic level.
I can love you, right, and it'slike that's what's so cool
about this.
And in this case he's receivinglove and how uplifting that is
for him versus you know, nothaving that and sort of this,
this picture of his lifeotherwise, that that maybe isn't
this glamorous life.
So I don't know, it's justamazing.
(13:39):
But I do think it's veryindicative of kind of his music
overall.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Yeah, well said.
No, I think that's great.
This one is just.
It's really, really sweet.
I love the lines here.
For once, unafraid, I can gowhere life leads me.
Somehow I know I'll be strongand you know, again, just
singing to that quality of like,what love can make you feel
like you can do anything, andthat's that's awesome.
So I love this one and itfeatures a harmonica solo and if
you've been a longtime listenerof the show, you know that I'm
(14:05):
all about harmonicas.
They're great.
So I'm always here for that sogreat song.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Yeah, and Stevie first became known as just a
harmonica player and then later,you know the piano.
So he is, you know, not just asinger.
I mean, even though he's blind,he can play the piano.
And, yeah, he's got an amazingear.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Yeah, unbelievably so .
All right track number five Afunny one because it sounds one
way, but it's actually like thelyrics are something a little
different.
I believe we've talked aboutthis before on the show.
In that regard, and this issigned, sealed, delivered
parentheses I'm yours.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah.
So I think these next few songskind of get into this stretch
where it's like the first fewnotes.
You next few songs like kind ofget into this stretch where
it's like the first few notes,you kind of recognize that it's
a stevie wonder song, right, atleast for me it's just right
away, I don't even need to hearhis voice, um, but yeah, this
one it's.
It's kind of a love song, right, but it's, but it's not like.
(15:02):
It's definitely kind of likeI'm an idiot, like I screwed up,
right, definitely did not.
It does, by title, just kind ofbe like hey, here I am, I'm
yours.
But it's like he's clearly goneoff track here with this
relationship and he's trying towin her back.
Um, seeing a lot of things inthis old world when I touch them
they mean nothing, girl, yeah,but stevie, you are touching
(15:24):
something, right, like.
So you're not totally innocenthere, okay, so it's a fun song,
it's a joyful song, but you knowit does, you're right, kind of
serve that dual purpose becausehe has screwed up and he's
trying to win her back.
But I do think you're right, alot of times it is served up as
just a straight sort of romantickind of love song.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Yeah, I can't remember if we put it on our Do
Not Play At my Wedding mix, butif we didn't, it would go on
there.
I would say, because it doesagain off-title, you're like, oh
, that's so cute.
And he's like I'm yours, I'mhere.
But literally, as you're saying, it's because he's been
cheating and running around theworld with other people and then
he realizes what a mistake itwas and now he's here.
So maybe not the vibe you wantat your wedding after after your
(16:08):
vows have occurred.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
So I think ups or the us postal service also paid him
a ton of money at one time touse it in commercials that's
appropriate, though you knowyour package has been all around
.
Yeah, that's right, that'sright.
I'm surprised jeff bezos hasn'tpaid that to.
You know, promote prime days,or something right, right, all
(16:31):
right.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Here is where that shift occurs in sound.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Uh, this is track number six and it is
superstition yeah, I, I kind ofwent back and forth on including
this one because I feel likeI've heard it so many times and
it's been covered by so manydifferent artists.
But then I was like, well,that's why I should include it,
because it's kind of like one ofhis more famous songs.
It's been covered by so manydifferent artists.
But then I was like, well,that's why I should include it,
because it's kind of like one ofhis more famous songs.
It's considered like one of thegreatest songs of all time.
When you, if you read you knowany number of lists uh, it's
(16:56):
from the album talking book in1972, which also included you
are the sunshine of my life.
Um, but superstition, I butSuperstition, I mean it's such a
cool combination ofsynthesizers and horns and I
mean it's 1972, so it's kind ofa unique sound for the time
(17:17):
right, very much ahead of it.
But it also doesn't soundoverly dated.
You know it's not synthesizersfrom like the 80s where you
could kind of pluck out allright, this song came out in
1984.
Really it creates this reallykind of timeless sound.
Um, it's been covered, like Isaid, a number of times.
I know stevie ray vaughan did apretty somewhat famous cover of
(17:38):
it, but there's been a number ofartists who have who have done
it and it's been used in.
Uh, you know, similar to a lotof his music's been used in in
various movies stuff.
So you've heard it.
But it's really prettystraightforward.
It's just about superstitionand he kind of lays that out in
the lyrics.
But this is one of those andhe's got a number of them where
(17:58):
you could just drop the lyricsand listen to the music and it's
just amazing on its own.
And then his voice just kind ofadds to that.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
I agree.
Yeah, this is a great song.
Um starts to be a little bitmore funky, if you will, and uh,
it just.
Yeah, I agree with the synththing.
It's funny that you say that,because 80s synth music not not
all of it, but most of it didnot age well um and you hear it.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Yeah, yeah, you can immediately tell like.
I said, like you know the yearand the era and some people hate
that stuff.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Yeah, I don't know if you're listening or watching us
on video, but I'm raising myhand Dislike.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
I was trying to cover for you and just say, yeah,
some people, okay, some people,some people.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
They might even be on this recording right now and
just say, yeah, some people,okay, some people, some people,
they might even be on thisrecording right now.
They might yeah.
But no great song and lyricsthat I think also stand the test
of time.
Right, when you believe inthings you don't understand,
then you suffer, and I thinkthat that is a really good
summation of what's happeningall the time, all the time.
That's a universal thing, allright, all the time.
That's a universal thing, allright.
(19:09):
Track number seven this isDon't you Worry About a Thing?
Speaker 1 (19:12):
All right.
So if you're a fan of the movieSing, you would know this one.
I mean, that's an animatedmovie with a lot of music in it,
but there's an elephant in itnamed Mina.
It's voiced by Tori Kelly, whois a pop star in her own right,
and she quite literally bringsdown the house at the end of the
movie with this song and doesan amazing version of it, and I
(19:36):
think a lot of people havecovered this one as well.
But I love this song just sortof vocally.
And he's got and I'll mentionthis earlier or later with
another one of his songs, butthe cadence at which he sings is
so unique and I think thisindicates that and there's
another song later that I wantto point that out in.
But I think it's so cool andjust makes it so unique.
(20:00):
But I love the theme in thisone.
This one's a morestraightforward kind of love
song, like just don't you worryabout a thing.
It's from the album InnerVisions, which is another pretty
famous album.
The song Higher Ground comesfrom that as well, which was
famously covered by the Red HotChili Peppers as well as Living
(20:20):
for the City, and that was asong that was sampled by many
others, and that's another thing.
If you get into Stevie Wonder'ssongbook you're going to be
like have I heard this songbefore?
And I guarantee you have,because so many of his songs
have been sampled by rap artistsand other artists.
It's incredible.
But anyway, going back to thisone, I don't know.
(20:42):
I've just always loved thissong, just sort of vocally, the
way he sings it and justlyrically.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
I agree.
Yeah, this one is such a strongone.
I love the opening notes and Ithink that's something that is
really he does very well, islike and maybe it's just because
we've heard these songs overand over, but I find that these
opening notes always on allthese tracks just immediately
pull you in, whether it'snostalgia, because you've heard
it a lot, or I think they'rejust really strong hooks
basically, and I think he's he'salways done that very well.
(21:11):
So I love this song.
I love kind of the latin beathere and I love the lyrics.
All right.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Track number eight this is boogie on reggae woman
okay, this is from the albumfulfillingness's first finale,
which is quite the tonguetwister, uh, but that that was
one of his three grammy winningalbums in the 1970s.
I don't love reggae music Ithink I'm on record saying that
but this is, I mean, such a coolfusion of reggae and funk, and
(21:43):
again, this one, just sort offrom a musical standpoint.
I can listen to this all day.
I just love it and I don't knowwhat it is about the hook that
just sucks me in in.
You know, there's nothing toonotable, I think, about the
lyrics, but I mean, again, likeI said, I just love listening to
this one over and over againand it's kind of a this one's
(22:05):
kind of cool because it does goon for a little bit we talked
about some of his shorter songsearlier, but this one, I think
in recognition of just how coolit sounds, just kind of keeps
going yeah, this one isdefinitely much more like r&b
and funk, I would say, insteadof like reggae, and it sounds so
cool.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
I, I loved this.
I totally agree with you.
Um, it almost reminded me oflike a flight of the concords
track.
I feel like they.
Those guys definitely love I'msure that they love and
appreciate stevie wonder.
They love and appreciate a lotof like musical influences.
But a couple of their songscome to mind when I listen to
this one where they kind ofprobably took inspiration and
wrote it so great, great track.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
I don't think I would have thought that one of the
artists inspired by StevieWonder that you would name would
be Flight of the Conchords, butI love it, stevie wonder, that
you would name would be flightof the concords, but I love it.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
They're one of the shows like their, their hbo show
is one of the ones that I willjust watch on repeat especially
when I need like a pick me upbecause it's just so fun, it's
so fun, I want to live in theirworld, all right.
Track number nine this one wasso crazy to me because you
mentioned about the sampling andI was like, oh my god, I know
this song, um, from the samplethat or the song that sampled it
(23:17):
, but it is, I wish, and I'msure you will mention which song
famously sampled it yes, I will.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
This is from the album.
First I'll mention the famousalbum.
It's from songs in the key oflife, um, which again another
grammy winner, and it'sconsidered like one of the
greatest albums of all time andincludes the songs uh, not just
I wish, but also sir duke, isn'tshe lovely?
And uh, pastime paradise.
Now that's another uh, one thatgets sampled.
(23:44):
Um, pastime paradise is sampledin coolio's gangsta's paradise.
I wish is sampled in the willSmith song, wild Wild West,
which was the theme song to avery forgettable music which got
forgettable movie, I should say, which got me thinking that
great song, bad movie might be agood mix to put together.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
It's from a rose.
It would be on there from Sealfrom the Batman film.
Yeah, batman, well, batman,foreverman forever.
I think that.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
I think so it's something like that yeah, no,
exactly, yeah.
So there's a lot of like greatsoundtrack song, bad movie um,
which this definitely falls into.
We're gonna do that one I I'mcoming up with so many.
That's a good one no, trust methat that got in my head when I
thought of this one and Iimmediately thought of this one
and I immediately thought of afew others too.
That was like God, that'sanother one.
God, terrible movie, greatsoundtrack.
(24:42):
But yeah, this one is.
I mean, I love it because he'ssinging so specifically about
things from his childhood and insuch a way that, you know, even
though in some cases he'sgetting in trouble, it's still
in such a fun way and just kindof brings joy and will probably,
you know, evoke childhoodmemories of your own while
(25:03):
listening to this.
So I've always loved this one,but it was tough to just pick
one from songs in the key oflife and and you know, I don't
know I wanted to pick more thanone, but I also it when I was
down to pick one.
That was hard to pick out.
But anyway that that's a greatalbum and definitely, if you're
going to get into any one album,that's probably the one I would
(25:23):
point to you yeah, this one is,is so good.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Uh, the line that I loved that made me laugh was
looking back on when I was anappy, a little nappy headed boy
.
Then my only worry was forChristmas, what would be my toy?
And I laughed because I'm 40.
And I still that's likeactually my only worry at
Christmas time.
I want to know what I'm getting.
Really, it's really importantthat people get me what I want.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Yeah, gift receiving is your love language.
Not giving, but gift receiving.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
I put together a gift guide.
It's got sections and headersand clickable links.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Now is this stuff we're gonna, you're gonna buy us
or no?
No, okay stuff for you.
Got it.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Okay, sam yeah yeah, it's all for me.
Um, speaking of receivingpresents, uh, birthday is
another great time to do that,and this next song, track number
10, is Happy Birthday.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
That is a heck of a segue.
Thank, you.
It's from 1980's Hotter ThanJuly.
So this is kind of a shift forStevie Wonder, because this is
kind of a political song as heis advocating for making Martin
Luther King's birthday anational holiday, and this song
was written in support of thatcampaign.
(26:37):
There's a spoken word part atthe end that really illuminates
that message.
So you know a lot of people andI think I even brought this one
onto the show before is justlike isn't this just a better
version than the standard happybirthday song, even if you know,
get away from the?
You know, whatever thepolitical message is, it's like
just listen to this, you'regoing to be on a better mood on
your birthday.
(26:57):
And it was a successfulcampaign because the third
Monday of every January here inthe US is Martin Luther King Day
, unlike your failed campaign tomake Ralph Nader's birthday a
national holiday.
I don't know why you stuck tothat, for so long.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I was only one million signatures, short, matt,
all right, we were so close.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
We were so close no, I'm surprised you got the 11
that you did um, I mean evenralph nader gave you a hard pass
on that one he did.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Yeah, he was, was not interested.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
His people passed on it, not him himself Couldn't get
Nader.
But anyway, yeah, I mean thisone.
I just love this song just howit sounds, but also really cool
that you know I love it that,like in 1980, it was like, hey,
we need to get people behindthis, and Stevie Wonder's like I
got it, I'll record this songand it'll be super famous and we
(27:54):
will, you know, get this doneand and he did so.
So this is.
This is kind of awesome.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
That is really cool.
That could be another mix we doone day, like songs that that
created change in the world.
That would be reallyinteresting.
So this would be on that listfor sure.
But I agree with you about thehappy birthday song.
This is infinitely better andwe should just adopt this one
all right.
Track number 11, final stretchhere um, this one is is just a
(28:21):
great one, classic, and it is Ijust called to say I love you
okay, so this is both a grammywinner and an oscar winner for
stevie wonder.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
We talked about great soundtrack, bad movie earlier.
It is from the soundtrack.
He did the entire soundtrack toa terrible movie called the
woman in red.
And I know, sam, sometimes Icome on here with 80s movies and
I'm like, no, but you shouldsee this right, like don't, do
not actively avoid this moviegot it.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
It's so bad I can only imagine.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
But the yeah, like for me to just be like no, no,
no, don't even waste your timeseeing it.
Like.
That's how bad this movie is.
Um, but the soundtrack'sexcellent.
You get this one.
Um, it's a monster hit.
It still gets played.
Today he showed up on anepisode of the cosby show.
Um, doing this one.
Uh, the premise of was likehe'd gotten into a fender bender
(29:15):
with one of the Cosby kids andthen just becomes friends with
the family Cause.
Like, of course, that's howyou're going to write Stevie
wonder into a sitcom.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
If you, he did it on carpool karaoke with James
Corden.
Stevie wonder was not driving,in case anyone was wondering
about that.
But if you watch the movie highfidelityidelity, jack Black's
character is not a fan of thissong.
So some people who are hardcoreStevie Wonder fans will be like
, look, this is just commercialand schlock and the really good
(29:50):
stuff is back in the 70s.
But it is undoubtedly hisbiggest hit and probably the
thing he's most known for, and Ithink it's a pretty good song.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Yeah, I agree.
I think it's a staple song andwe have to give him credit for
it.
And this is also one of thesongs that I think my parents
had on one of their Forevermixes.
It's been a minute since we'vetalked about those, but this is
definitely on that mix becausethat was instant time capsule
when I hit play I remember.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
Yeah, I'm glad we got another puzzle piece in that
mix.
I think it has been a whilesince we referenced it um, it
really has, yeah now steviewonder.
This was not his only soundtrackthat he contributed to, um,
later on he did the entiresoundtrack to the spike lee
movie jungle fever and, uh, thetitle track that one is is
really um, I mean, I think itsounds great, um, and that's a
(30:41):
pretty, pretty unique soundtrack, pretty unique movie by spike
lee.
So, uh, definitely somethingelse to check out there.
Uh, a few years, a few yearsafter this one, that one's in
the early 90s nice, all right.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Track, number 12, last one on the mix and it is
Overjoyed.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Okay, so this is from the 1985 album In Square Circle
, which is album number 20 forhim.
So he would come out with sixmore albums after this, and that
was between 1985 and I think2005 was the last release we got
from him.
But this album also includedthe song part-time lover, which
(31:18):
I think was kind of a moderatehit for him as well.
I just love how timeless thisone sounds.
I mean, it's squarely in themid eighties.
But you know, and you couldprobably correct me if I'm wrong
, but I don't think it soundslike an eighties song, right, it
just sounds like almost like anAmerican standard, if you will.
Right With the piano and justthe way his voice sounds.
(31:39):
And again, I mentioned thisearlier, with the way he sings,
don't you Worry About a Thing?
But here he's just got thisunique cadence to how he sings.
So if you're trying to singalong to his music in the car,
it's probably going to take sometime to get used to it, because
it's just a little bit.
He speeds up at times and heslows down, but it doesn't bump
you in any way.
(32:00):
Like you can, you're totallyinto it.
And again, this is just kind ofa beautiful song.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Yeah, no, it's, it's incredible.
I think it's it's interestingand again kind of comes back to
that original message, becausein this case it's like
unrequited love, um of just likehe's, he's putting his love out
there but you know, he's maybenot getting in return, so still
singing about that, in this caselike 20 years after his first,
roughly 20 years after his firsttrack, so.
But this is a really beautifulsong and uses a lot of really
(32:28):
pretty imagery as well yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
So, like I said, I mean hasn't come out with a new
album since 2005.
Every now and then we getteases about, you know, him
coming out with something new.
You know, in a similar vein, wehad the random single from
billy joel, I think, last year,which was his first original
song quite a long time as well,so maybe we'll get something
like that popping up, but hestill makes appearances.
He received the presidentialmedal of freedom in 2014 and
(32:55):
Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute,which is their you know music
school, if you will, gave himthe George Peabody medal for
outstanding contributions tomusic and dance in America in
2024.
So still still out there, stillreceiving honors as he should.
He's an American legend and,honestly, like, I think you're
really going to enjoy just anyone of his albums.
(33:18):
I think you could just put iton beginning to end.
It's going to put you in a goodmood and it was really hard to
just get down to 12.
So, trust me, you're going tolisten to a bunch and probably
reach out and say you missedthis one or that one.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Yep, no, it was a great mix.
He's an amazing artist and Ithink we could be talking about
him in another hundred yearsLike I think he's just one of
these artists that has thatstaying power, even outside of
the volume that he's produced.
I think they're just amazingsongs that just continue to get
played generation aftergeneration.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
All right.
Well, there you have it.
Another super awesome mix foryour collection.
Check us out on social media atsuper awesome mix, on Instagram
and threads and YouTube, and soyou can watch the video of this
, as well as other videos thatwe're posting on there.
So like and subscribe to that,because that helps other people
(34:13):
find us.
You can also leave us a reviewon our podcast page.
Anyway, sam and I have plentyof other mixes to get to, so
we'll get to work on that.
So for Sam, this is Matt.
We'll see you next time.
Welcome back to another Super Awesome Mix.
My name is Matt Siddholm,alongside my co-host and
co-founder of Super Awesome Mix,sam Abusalbi.
Sam, how are we doing this week?
Doing real well.
How are you Doing great?
Doing great.
This week we've got another oneof our intro mixes when we just
kind of focus on one artist andwe are going to focus on Stevie
(00:31):
Wonder and this is my intro mix.
So I'm going to intro all, oryou're going to intro all the
songs and I'm going to talkabout each one.
But let me give you a littlebit of a bio.
Stevie Wonder that's not hisGod-given name, it is Stevlin
Hardaway Judkins and he was bornin saginaw, michigan, in 1950,
still alive today, age of 75 and, in spite of the internet
(00:52):
rumors, he is and has alwaysbeen blind.
Okay, there is if you, youcould do a deep dive on stevie
wonder not being blind, but heis actually blind Signed to
Motown at age 11.
Barry Gordy, the famous Motownproducer, calling him Little
Stevie Wonder and later the wordlittle was dropped from that
(01:15):
and he just became known asStevie Wonder.
He topped the Billboard 100 in1963 at just age 13, which is
still the record for theyoungest to achieve that mark.
He won Grammy Album of the Yearwith three straight album
releases in the 1970s, so that'sthe only artist to ever do that
.
So that's not three consecutiveyears, it's just every time he
(01:36):
released an album like threestraight times they won Grammy
Album of the.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Year which is incredible.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
His biggest commercial hits probably
occurred in the 1980s, um, Imean, I've only got 12 songs
here, which was really hardbecause he has 26 studio albums,
um, and and a bunch of themcome out in like the 60s and 70s
.
So this was really hard to getdown to 12 songs because, trust
me, if you do a deep dive intostevie wonder, you'll find you
(02:04):
know, you know a ton of hismusic.
But, sam, how familiar were youprior to getting this mix?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
I.
I would say I was like 75familiar with with this mix.
It was really good.
I think you did also anexcellent job with the shift in
sound which we'll get to um,because that's something that
actually never occurred to me.
I was telling my wife aboutthat, that I think I was more
familiar with the front half ofthis mix, the A side, if you
will, and then less familiarfunny enough with his stuff in
the 80s.
(02:31):
I had heard it, but I guess Inever connected the dot that I
was listening to Stevie Wonder,because it just sounds different
.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Oh, that's interesting.
Yeah, it's definitely got avery different tone to it, both
in subject and sound, I think.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Yeah, yeah, no, but it's an excellent mix.
I really enjoyed it.
It's also, if you are worriedabout time, only 46 minutes long
Like this is great.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Short songs.
Short songs so short, it'sincredible.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
I think music did like a full thing right, like
they started short, they gotreally freaking long and now
they're like here's a 57 secondsong and you're like okay, like
well, what's the minimum onspotify?
Speaker 1 (03:11):
isn't it 30 seconds to like kind of have a song that
?
I would think so on spotifyyeah, I think that's the
shortest possible song you couldsort of upload yourself.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Yeah we're gonna get there.
It's just the tiktokification,I think, is what's happening.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
It is, yeah, you're just not listening to the whole
thing.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Yeah, all right with that, though let's get into this
mix and I'm going to kick offevery song.
As Matt mentioned, I'm notgoing to repeat his name, so
you'll just have to follow alongthat Stevie Wonder each time,
and we're going to start offwith Uptight parentheses.
Everything's All Right.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
All right, this one is from 1966.
You can do the math.
He was just 16 years old.
The album was called Uptight.
People know this song.
I mean it hit the top five atthe time.
But I feel like it's been usedin so many movies and TV shows
that just even if you didn'tknow stevie wonder, I feel like
you would recognize the songwhen it came out.
(04:08):
Um, this, I think, is justindicative of just his whole
catalog and that his sound justmakes you feel good, right, like
it's just such a, there's suchjoy in his music and that's, I
think, what I probably love themost about it.
And he sings about love and inthis way, like he sings about it
, you know, in this way and thisis kind of a recurring theme
(04:30):
that he's kind of like notworthy of whoever.
This partner is right, which iskind of cool, kind of different
.
You know he's not necessarilylike a supplicant to it it, but
it's also just like he's he'sdefinitely sort of thankful that
this person is in his life.
It's really interesting.
(04:51):
Um, but you know, like lyricallypoor man's son from across the
railroad tracks only shirt I ownis painted on my back, and so
there was also this sort of richpoor thing that he gets into a
lot in in a number of his songs.
Now he's been married threetimes so there's probably a few
people that'll tell you that hegets into a lot in in a number
of his songs.
Now he's been married threetimes so there's probably a few
people that'll tell you that hedoesn't carry this, this great
love, over into his personallife.
But he certainly sings about itin an amazing way right?
Speaker 2 (05:16):
no, I think.
Um, I I agree with everythingyou're saying in terms of like
it's just uh, it's a happy song,it's very joyful, it's timeless
.
In that regard, one thing thatmade me laugh is the lyrics here
of I got empty pockets.
I'm a poor man's son, can'tgive her the things that money
can buy, but I'll never, nevermake my baby cry, which I think
(05:41):
is very different from a lot ofmodern rap and hip-hop songs.
You know, that's the message.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
They kind of reversed it complete opposite.
Yes, kind of reversed it.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Nowadays where it's like you should be thankful to
be with me, okay and I I'mloaded, I got everything like,
so I really appreciate that thisis all about love.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
It's very nice yeah, stevie is kind of the anti-rap
musician, isn't he?
Because I got nothing, just Icould just be here for you, you
know, I can just be here, yeah,exactly it's really nice.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
It's very kind, all right, um.
On that note, a great segue umtrack number two is I was made
to love her all right, this oneis from 1967 and at this point
this is his seventh studio album.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Okay, he's 17 years old.
It's insane now.
Albums back then, let me justnote were like 10 songs.
A number of them we've talkedabout this before from like
older artists were cover songs,because you were trying to put
out an entire album and sothey'd have a handful you know
five, six original songs.
Then they just kind of put somecovers on there.
(06:46):
So if you go back and listen tohis early albums, a lot of them
are things that other artistshave done that he's just
re-recording.
But this is his seventh album.
So he's 17 years old, and Imentioned that because I think
this idea of I was made to loveher is kind of a youthful idea
you know if he's 35 years old.
and singing about this, like Ifeel like it's a little bit more
(07:08):
disingenuous than when you putit in the perspective of being a
teenager, and even lyrically, Iwas knee high to a chicken when
that love bug bit me.
I had the fever with eachpassing year, like he's just
love is new to him and it's justlike this was what I was made
for, like this amazing feeling.
So, uh, I don't know.
I've always loved this song andand and again.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
there's just joy in it, the way he sings it and it's
, it's just a great love songyeah, I, I also was going to
highlight that line um, the kneehigh tune chicken when that
love bug bit me.
Um, because it's true, I thinkthat's like a great kind of
description of love at that age,because it does kind of feel
like an infection in some ways.
(07:50):
It just takes you over.
You know like you're in anotherworld.
When it's happening, it's likenew and exciting and, yeah,
you're just imagining yourself.
I very much remember, I think,my first high school.
If you could even call her mygirlfriend, I don't think I
would looking back, but I waslike, oh, I got, got a
girlfriend and I was alreadyplanning what house we were
gonna buy when we were older.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
You know like it lasted three weeks matt if you
had a cell phone at the time,you would have been sending her
like zillow listings and stufflike this.
One's gonna be a good schooldistrict, okay, this.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
The kids are going to love this pool in the backyard.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Just text back.
We need to talk.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Oh no, what.
So I can relate real hard tothis song, but yeah, it's a
really nice one.
This is one of the ones that Idon't think I had heard before,
but it's a really really lovelyone.
All right, let's go to tracknumber three, one of my
favorites, actually, on this mix.
(08:52):
I just really like this one,and it is Yester Me, yester you,
yester Day.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Okay, this is from 1969.
And it's a my Cherie Amouralbum.
My Cherie Amour is another kindof bigger hit for him.
I like including this onebecause it kind of bigger hit
for him.
Um, I like including this onebecause it kind of like
indicates a jump in maturityfrom from like a song output
standpoint, because it's almostlike rueful right and just sort
of like wishing things were theway they used to be and I mean,
(09:22):
I don't know, I've always lovedthis one.
I think the lyrics are veryclever and even just the title
you could see that like usingthat yester part, you know to
kind of think about yester me,yester you and and it's just a
little bit lower energy thankind of what you're used to at
this point.
Now this is album number 11 forhim, okay, and it's again he's
19 years old.
He puts out 26 albums, so he'snot even he's not even 20 years
(09:46):
old and we're about halfwaythrough his catalog and so it's
incredible.
But you think about how longhe's been in the music business
at that point and he probablyhas done quite a bit of growing
up and he's probablysignificantly more mature for a
19-year-old than most peoplewould be.
But it does start to representa little bit of a transition in
(10:07):
kind of the songs he's puttingout there.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Yes, yeah, that's insane to think about how
prolific he was at such a youngage Like that's.
I can't even wrap my headaround that.
But I really, really loved the,the lyrics of this one, and I
think it's again, especially nowas the world continues to feel
like it's just off its traintracks.
I know a lot of millennialsaround my age are looking back
(10:32):
to the 90s and probably couldrevert recite you know what
happened to the world.
We knew when we would dream andscheme while the time away,
while the time away.
So, yes, I think that that rightthere I instantly connected
with because the 90s, you know,when we were kids you just felt
like everything was like just soeasy and it made sense.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
And now we're all like take us back but everything
I I do think not to get off ona tangent, but things seem more
chaotic.
I feel like as an adult, whenyou are more in tune with, like
the news and the world aroundyou Cause, like my kids, right
now they have no concept ofanything being bad or messed up
(11:13):
Like, so they'll probablysomeday be like man.
The 2020s were so easy.
Right Like that was such agreat time, but any adults from
that era would be like it wasinsane.
Are you kidding?
Speaker 2 (11:22):
me it was awful.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I can't believe that you're notserving breakfast with, like
nprorg or politicocom.
Come on, come on.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
I do love those posts where it's just like how am I
supposed to talk to my childrenabout this?
And I'm like why are youtalking to your children about
this?
Speaker 2 (11:41):
About Senate voting yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Look when my son looks at me and asks me why our
representative voted this way.
It's like wait, your son'sasking you about this.
I don't even know who myrepresentative is now Like well
into my 40s, right?
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Oh my gosh, that's great.
Well, little Timmy, let me talkto you about riders on bills
and the Senate parliamentarian.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Yeah, the schoolhouse rock is just like you know what
I'm talking about short songsbecoming longer.
Right, it's a seven and a halfminute version of I'm just a
bill.
Yeah, I'm just an executiveorder.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
All right, let's go on to just a forever classic,
and this one is For Once in myLife.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Yeah, this one I feel like it's great because it is
both kind of a blues song and ajoyful song all at once.
So he's talking about how kindof difficult his life is, but
now for once, for once thisthing has happened to him and
again it's sort of thiselevation of the idea of being
in love and how much better itmakes your life.
(12:57):
And I just think it's amazinghow he kind of does both here,
because if you're sort of youdon't have to be in this like
amazing position in life to havelove sort of lift you up.
And I think that's sort of therunning thing with Stevie Wonder
.
It's like I said it earlier,he's like kind of the anti-rap
person.
It's not I can do all thesethings for you, it's just at a
(13:18):
very basic level.
I can love you, right, and it'slike that's what's so cool
about this.
And in this case he's receivinglove and how uplifting that is
for him versus you know, nothaving that and sort of this,
this picture of his lifeotherwise, that that maybe isn't
this glamorous life.
So I don't know, it's justamazing.
(13:39):
But I do think it's veryindicative of kind of his music
overall.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Yeah, well said.
No, I think that's great.
This one is just.
It's really, really sweet.
I love the lines here.
For once, unafraid, I can gowhere life leads me.
Somehow I know I'll be strongand you know, again, just
singing to that quality of like,what love can make you feel
like you can do anything, andthat's that's awesome.
So I love this one and itfeatures a harmonica solo and if
you've been a longtime listenerof the show, you know that I'm
(14:05):
all about harmonicas.
They're great.
So I'm always here for that sogreat song.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Yeah, and Stevie first became known as just a
harmonica player and then later,you know the piano.
So he is, you know, not just asinger.
I mean, even though he's blind,he can play the piano.
And, yeah, he's got an amazingear.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Yeah, unbelievably so .
All right track number five Afunny one because it sounds one
way, but it's actually like thelyrics are something a little
different.
I believe we've talked aboutthis before on the show.
In that regard, and this issigned, sealed, delivered
parentheses I'm yours.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah.
So I think these next few songskind of get into this stretch
where it's like the first fewnotes.
You next few songs like kind ofget into this stretch where
it's like the first few notes,you kind of recognize that it's
a stevie wonder song, right, atleast for me it's just right
away, I don't even need to hearhis voice, um, but yeah, this
one it's.
It's kind of a love song, right, but it's, but it's not like.
(15:02):
It's definitely kind of likeI'm an idiot, like I screwed up,
right, definitely did not.
It does, by title, just kind ofbe like hey, here I am, I'm
yours.
But it's like he's clearly goneoff track here with this
relationship and he's trying towin her back.
Um, seeing a lot of things inthis old world when I touch them
they mean nothing, girl, yeah,but stevie, you are touching
(15:24):
something, right, like.
So you're not totally innocenthere, okay, so it's a fun song,
it's a joyful song, but you knowit does, you're right, kind of
serve that dual purpose becausehe has screwed up and he's
trying to win her back.
But I do think you're right, alot of times it is served up as
just a straight sort of romantickind of love song.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Yeah, I can't remember if we put it on our Do
Not Play At my Wedding mix, butif we didn't, it would go on
there.
I would say, because it doesagain off-title, you're like, oh
, that's so cute.
And he's like I'm yours, I'mhere.
But literally, as you're saying, it's because he's been
cheating and running around theworld with other people and then
he realizes what a mistake itwas and now he's here.
So maybe not the vibe you wantat your wedding after after your
(16:08):
vows have occurred.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
So I think ups or the us postal service also paid him
a ton of money at one time touse it in commercials that's
appropriate, though you knowyour package has been all around
.
Yeah, that's right, that'sright.
I'm surprised jeff bezos hasn'tpaid that to.
You know, promote prime days,or something right, right, all
(16:31):
right.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Here is where that shift occurs in sound.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Uh, this is track number six and it is
superstition yeah, I, I kind ofwent back and forth on including
this one because I feel likeI've heard it so many times and
it's been covered by so manydifferent artists.
But then I was like, well,that's why I should include it,
because it's kind of like one ofhis more famous songs.
It's been covered by so manydifferent artists.
But then I was like, well,that's why I should include it,
because it's kind of like one ofhis more famous songs.
It's considered like one of thegreatest songs of all time.
When you, if you read you knowany number of lists uh, it's
(16:56):
from the album talking book in1972, which also included you
are the sunshine of my life.
Um, but superstition, I butSuperstition, I mean it's such a
cool combination ofsynthesizers and horns and I
mean it's 1972, so it's kind ofa unique sound for the time
(17:17):
right, very much ahead of it.
But it also doesn't soundoverly dated.
You know it's not synthesizersfrom like the 80s where you
could kind of pluck out allright, this song came out in
1984.
Really it creates this reallykind of timeless sound.
Um, it's been covered, like Isaid, a number of times.
I know stevie ray vaughan did apretty somewhat famous cover of
(17:38):
it, but there's been a number ofartists who have who have done
it and it's been used in.
Uh, you know, similar to a lotof his music's been used in in
various movies stuff.
So you've heard it.
But it's really prettystraightforward.
It's just about superstitionand he kind of lays that out in
the lyrics.
But this is one of those andhe's got a number of them where
(17:58):
you could just drop the lyricsand listen to the music and it's
just amazing on its own.
And then his voice just kind ofadds to that.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
I agree.
Yeah, this is a great song.
Um starts to be a little bitmore funky, if you will, and uh,
it just.
Yeah, I agree with the synththing.
It's funny that you say that,because 80s synth music not not
all of it, but most of it didnot age well um and you hear it.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Yeah, yeah, you can immediately tell like.
I said, like you know the yearand the era and some people hate
that stuff.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Yeah, I don't know if you're listening or watching us
on video, but I'm raising myhand Dislike.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
I was trying to cover for you and just say, yeah,
some people, okay, some people,some people.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
They might even be on this recording right now and
just say, yeah, some people,okay, some people, some people,
they might even be on thisrecording right now.
They might yeah.
But no great song and lyricsthat I think also stand the test
of time.
Right, when you believe inthings you don't understand,
then you suffer, and I thinkthat that is a really good
summation of what's happeningall the time, all the time.
That's a universal thing, allright, all the time.
That's a universal thing, allright.
(19:09):
Track number seven this isDon't you Worry About a Thing?
Speaker 1 (19:12):
All right.
So if you're a fan of the movieSing, you would know this one.
I mean, that's an animatedmovie with a lot of music in it,
but there's an elephant in itnamed Mina.
It's voiced by Tori Kelly, whois a pop star in her own right,
and she quite literally bringsdown the house at the end of the
movie with this song and doesan amazing version of it, and I
(19:36):
think a lot of people havecovered this one as well.
But I love this song just sortof vocally.
And he's got and I'll mentionthis earlier or later with
another one of his songs, butthe cadence at which he sings is
so unique and I think thisindicates that and there's
another song later that I wantto point that out in.
But I think it's so cool andjust makes it so unique.
(20:00):
But I love the theme in thisone.
This one's a morestraightforward kind of love
song, like just don't you worryabout a thing.
It's from the album InnerVisions, which is another pretty
famous album.
The song Higher Ground comesfrom that as well, which was
famously covered by the Red HotChili Peppers as well as Living
(20:20):
for the City, and that was asong that was sampled by many
others, and that's another thing.
If you get into Stevie Wonder'ssongbook you're going to be
like have I heard this songbefore?
And I guarantee you have,because so many of his songs
have been sampled by rap artistsand other artists.
It's incredible.
But anyway, going back to thisone, I don't know.
(20:42):
I've just always loved thissong, just sort of vocally, the
way he sings it and justlyrically.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
I agree.
Yeah, this one is such a strongone.
I love the opening notes and Ithink that's something that is
really he does very well, islike and maybe it's just because
we've heard these songs overand over, but I find that these
opening notes always on allthese tracks just immediately
pull you in, whether it'snostalgia, because you've heard
it a lot, or I think they'rejust really strong hooks
basically, and I think he's he'salways done that very well.
(21:11):
So I love this song.
I love kind of the latin beathere and I love the lyrics.
All right.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
Track number eight this is boogie on reggae woman
okay, this is from the albumfulfillingness's first finale,
which is quite the tonguetwister, uh, but that that was
one of his three grammy winningalbums in the 1970s.
I don't love reggae music Ithink I'm on record saying that
but this is, I mean, such a coolfusion of reggae and funk, and
(21:43):
again, this one, just sort offrom a musical standpoint.
I can listen to this all day.
I just love it and I don't knowwhat it is about the hook that
just sucks me in in.
You know, there's nothing toonotable, I think, about the
lyrics, but I mean, again, likeI said, I just love listening to
this one over and over againand it's kind of a this one's
(22:05):
kind of cool because it does goon for a little bit we talked
about some of his shorter songsearlier, but this one, I think
in recognition of just how coolit sounds, just kind of keeps
going yeah, this one isdefinitely much more like r&b
and funk, I would say, insteadof like reggae, and it sounds so
cool.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
I, I loved this.
I totally agree with you.
Um, it almost reminded me oflike a flight of the concords
track.
I feel like they.
Those guys definitely love I'msure that they love and
appreciate stevie wonder.
They love and appreciate a lotof like musical influences.
But a couple of their songscome to mind when I listen to
this one where they kind ofprobably took inspiration and
wrote it so great, great track.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
I don't think I would have thought that one of the
artists inspired by StevieWonder that you would name would
be Flight of the Conchords, butI love it, stevie wonder, that
you would name would be flightof the concords, but I love it.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
They're one of the shows like their, their hbo show
is one of the ones that I willjust watch on repeat especially
when I need like a pick me upbecause it's just so fun, it's
so fun, I want to live in theirworld, all right.
Track number nine this one wasso crazy to me because you
mentioned about the sampling andI was like, oh my god, I know
this song, um, from the samplethat or the song that sampled it
(23:17):
, but it is, I wish, and I'msure you will mention which song
famously sampled it yes, I will.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
This is from the album.
First I'll mention the famousalbum.
It's from songs in the key oflife, um, which again another
grammy winner, and it'sconsidered like one of the
greatest albums of all time andincludes the songs uh, not just
I wish, but also sir duke, isn'tshe lovely?
And uh, pastime paradise.
Now that's another uh, one thatgets sampled.
(23:44):
Um, pastime paradise is sampledin coolio's gangsta's paradise.
I wish is sampled in the willSmith song, wild Wild West,
which was the theme song to avery forgettable music which got
forgettable movie, I should say, which got me thinking that
great song, bad movie might be agood mix to put together.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
It's from a rose.
It would be on there from Sealfrom the Batman film.
Yeah, batman, well, batman,foreverman forever.
I think that.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
I think so it's something like that yeah, no,
exactly, yeah.
So there's a lot of like greatsoundtrack song, bad movie um,
which this definitely falls into.
We're gonna do that one I I'mcoming up with so many.
That's a good one no, trust methat that got in my head when I
thought of this one and Iimmediately thought of this one
and I immediately thought of afew others too.
That was like God, that'sanother one.
God, terrible movie, greatsoundtrack.
(24:42):
But yeah, this one is.
I mean, I love it because he'ssinging so specifically about
things from his childhood and insuch a way that, you know, even
though in some cases he'sgetting in trouble, it's still
in such a fun way and just kindof brings joy and will probably,
you know, evoke childhoodmemories of your own while
(25:03):
listening to this.
So I've always loved this one,but it was tough to just pick
one from songs in the key oflife and and you know, I don't
know I wanted to pick more thanone, but I also it when I was
down to pick one.
That was hard to pick out.
But anyway that that's a greatalbum and definitely, if you're
going to get into any one album,that's probably the one I would
(25:23):
point to you yeah, this one is,is so good.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Uh, the line that I loved that made me laugh was
looking back on when I was anappy, a little nappy headed boy
.
Then my only worry was forChristmas, what would be my toy?
And I laughed because I'm 40.
And I still that's likeactually my only worry at
Christmas time.
I want to know what I'm getting.
Really, it's really importantthat people get me what I want.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Yeah, gift receiving is your love language.
Not giving, but gift receiving.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
I put together a gift guide.
It's got sections and headersand clickable links.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Now is this stuff we're gonna, you're gonna buy us
or no?
No, okay stuff for you.
Got it.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Okay, sam yeah yeah, it's all for me.
Um, speaking of receivingpresents, uh, birthday is
another great time to do that,and this next song, track number
10, is Happy Birthday.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
That is a heck of a segue.
Thank, you.
It's from 1980's Hotter ThanJuly.
So this is kind of a shift forStevie Wonder, because this is
kind of a political song as heis advocating for making Martin
Luther King's birthday anational holiday, and this song
was written in support of thatcampaign.
(26:37):
There's a spoken word part atthe end that really illuminates
that message.
So you know a lot of people andI think I even brought this one
onto the show before is justlike isn't this just a better
version than the standard happybirthday song, even if you know,
get away from the?
You know, whatever thepolitical message is, it's like
just listen to this, you'regoing to be on a better mood on
your birthday.
(26:57):
And it was a successfulcampaign because the third
Monday of every January here inthe US is Martin Luther King Day
, unlike your failed campaign tomake Ralph Nader's birthday a
national holiday.
I don't know why you stuck tothat, for so long.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I was only one million signatures, short, matt,
all right, we were so close.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
We were so close no, I'm surprised you got the 11
that you did um, I mean evenralph nader gave you a hard pass
on that one he did.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Yeah, he was, was not interested.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
His people passed on it, not him himself Couldn't get
Nader.
But anyway, yeah, I mean thisone.
I just love this song just howit sounds, but also really cool
that you know I love it that,like in 1980, it was like, hey,
we need to get people behindthis, and Stevie Wonder's like I
got it, I'll record this songand it'll be super famous and we
(27:54):
will, you know, get this doneand and he did so.
So this is.
This is kind of awesome.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
That is really cool.
That could be another mix we doone day, like songs that that
created change in the world.
That would be reallyinteresting.
So this would be on that listfor sure.
But I agree with you about thehappy birthday song.
This is infinitely better andwe should just adopt this one
all right.
Track number 11, final stretchhere um, this one is is just a
(28:21):
great one, classic, and it is Ijust called to say I love you
okay, so this is both a grammywinner and an oscar winner for
stevie wonder.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
We talked about great soundtrack, bad movie earlier.
It is from the soundtrack.
He did the entire soundtrack toa terrible movie called the
woman in red.
And I know, sam, sometimes Icome on here with 80s movies and
I'm like, no, but you shouldsee this right, like don't, do
not actively avoid this moviegot it.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
It's so bad I can only imagine.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
But the yeah, like for me to just be like no, no,
no, don't even waste your timeseeing it.
Like.
That's how bad this movie is.
Um, but the soundtrack'sexcellent.
You get this one.
Um, it's a monster hit.
It still gets played.
Today he showed up on anepisode of the cosby show.
Um, doing this one.
Uh, the premise of was likehe'd gotten into a fender bender
(29:15):
with one of the Cosby kids andthen just becomes friends with
the family Cause.
Like, of course, that's howyou're going to write Stevie
wonder into a sitcom.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
If you, he did it on carpool karaoke with James
Corden.
Stevie wonder was not driving,in case anyone was wondering
about that.
But if you watch the movie highfidelityidelity, jack Black's
character is not a fan of thissong.
So some people who are hardcoreStevie Wonder fans will be like
, look, this is just commercialand schlock and the really good
(29:50):
stuff is back in the 70s.
But it is undoubtedly hisbiggest hit and probably the
thing he's most known for, and Ithink it's a pretty good song.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Yeah, I agree.
I think it's a staple song andwe have to give him credit for
it.
And this is also one of thesongs that I think my parents
had on one of their Forevermixes.
It's been a minute since we'vetalked about those, but this is
definitely on that mix becausethat was instant time capsule
when I hit play I remember.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
Yeah, I'm glad we got another puzzle piece in that
mix.
I think it has been a whilesince we referenced it um, it
really has, yeah now steviewonder.
This was not his only soundtrackthat he contributed to, um,
later on he did the entiresoundtrack to the spike lee
movie jungle fever and, uh, thetitle track that one is is
really um, I mean, I think itsounds great, um, and that's a
(30:41):
pretty, pretty unique soundtrack, pretty unique movie by spike
lee.
So, uh, definitely somethingelse to check out there.
Uh, a few years, a few yearsafter this one, that one's in
the early 90s nice, all right.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
Track, number 12, last one on the mix and it is
Overjoyed.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
Okay, so this is from the 1985 album In Square Circle
, which is album number 20 forhim.
So he would come out with sixmore albums after this, and that
was between 1985 and I think2005 was the last release we got
from him.
But this album also includedthe song part-time lover, which
(31:18):
I think was kind of a moderatehit for him as well.
I just love how timeless thisone sounds.
I mean, it's squarely in themid eighties.
But you know, and you couldprobably correct me if I'm wrong
, but I don't think it soundslike an eighties song, right, it
just sounds like almost like anAmerican standard, if you will.
Right With the piano and justthe way his voice sounds.
(31:39):
And again, I mentioned thisearlier, with the way he sings,
don't you Worry About a Thing?
But here he's just got thisunique cadence to how he sings.
So if you're trying to singalong to his music in the car,
it's probably going to take sometime to get used to it, because
it's just a little bit.
He speeds up at times and heslows down, but it doesn't bump
you in any way.
(32:00):
Like you can, you're totallyinto it.
And again, this is just kind ofa beautiful song.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Yeah, no, it's, it's incredible.
I think it's it's interestingand again kind of comes back to
that original message, becausein this case it's like
unrequited love, um of just likehe's, he's putting his love out
there but you know, he's maybenot getting in return, so still
singing about that, in this caselike 20 years after his first,
roughly 20 years after his firsttrack, so.
But this is a really beautifulsong and uses a lot of really
(32:28):
pretty imagery as well yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
So, like I said, I mean hasn't come out with a new
album since 2005.
Every now and then we getteases about, you know, him
coming out with something new.
You know, in a similar vein, wehad the random single from
billy joel, I think, last year,which was his first original
song quite a long time as well,so maybe we'll get something
like that popping up, but hestill makes appearances.
He received the presidentialmedal of freedom in 2014 and
(32:55):
Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute,which is their you know music
school, if you will, gave himthe George Peabody medal for
outstanding contributions tomusic and dance in America in
2024.
So still still out there, stillreceiving honors as he should.
He's an American legend and,honestly, like, I think you're
really going to enjoy just anyone of his albums.
(33:18):
I think you could just put iton beginning to end.
It's going to put you in a goodmood and it was really hard to
just get down to 12.
So, trust me, you're going tolisten to a bunch and probably
reach out and say you missedthis one or that one.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Yep, no, it was a great mix.
He's an amazing artist and Ithink we could be talking about
him in another hundred yearsLike I think he's just one of
these artists that has thatstaying power, even outside of
the volume that he's produced.
I think they're just amazingsongs that just continue to get
played generation aftergeneration.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
All right.
Well, there you have it.
Another super awesome mix foryour collection.
Check us out on social media atsuper awesome mix, on Instagram
and threads and YouTube, and soyou can watch the video of this
, as well as other videos thatwe're posting on there.
So like and subscribe to that,because that helps other people
(34:13):
find us.
You can also leave us a reviewon our podcast page.
Anyway, sam and I have plentyof other mixes to get to, so
we'll get to work on that.
So for Sam, this is Matt.
We'll see you next time.
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