Wonder's single "Fingertips" was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963, at the age of 13, making him the youngest artist ever to top the chart. Wonder's critical success was at its peak in the 1970s. His "classic period" began in 1972 with the releases of Music of My Mind and Talking Book, the latter featuring "Superstition", which is one of the most distinctive and famous examples of the sound of the Hohner Clavinet keyboard. His works Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974) and Songs in the Key of Life (1976) all won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, making him the tied-record holder for the most Album of the Year wins, with three. He is also the only artist to have won the award with three consecutive album releases. Wonder began his "commercial period" in the 1980s; he achieved his biggest hits and highest level of fame, had increased album sales, charity participation, high-profile collaborations (including Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson), political impact, and television appearances. Wonder has continued to remain active in music and political causes.
Wonder is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with sales of over 100 million records worldwide. He has won 25 Grammy Awards (the most by a solo artist) and one Academy Award (Best Original Song, for the 1984 film The Woman in Red). Wonder has been inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is also noted for his work as an activist for political causes, including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a federal holiday in the U.S. In 2009, he was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace, and in 2014, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, on May 13, 1950, the third of five children born to Lula Mae Hardaway, and the second of Hardaway's two children with Calvin Judkins. He was born six weeks premature which, along with the oxygen-rich atmosphere in the hospital incubator, resulted in retinopathy of prematurity, a condition in which the growth of the eyes is aborted and causes the retinas to detach, so he became blind.
Be Cool Be Calm
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
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Girl I've been cryin' ever since you left
My mama told me get a hold of yourself
And be cool, calm and keep yourself together
She said be cool, calm and keep yourself together, ha ha ha, ha
Sugar plum you're really gold
So I wiped my tears away the other day
And strung my handkerchief up to dry
Then I changed my style puttin' on a smile
And went out to face the world
The smile I wear see, ha, I don't care that I just lost my girl
But I still get that old yearnin'
Can't be cool when my heart is burnin'
I still get that old feelin'
Can't be calm when my head is reelin'
I say mother dear see here, see here
Tell me now what shall I do
Can't have that girl and I love her true
She said when things give up be manly
Now to be cool, calm, and keep yourself together
That's what my mama said
Be cool, calm, and keep yourself together, ha ha
Sugar pie you said goodbye
And I cried myself to sleep
That's when my mother said don't lose your head son
It just don't help to weep
Now I'm the great pretender
I don't surrender to what I feel inside
I'm the life of the crowd, and ha, I left my blood
But it's all a fake disguise
'Cause I still hear my heart poundin'
Hard to be cool when you come around me
I still feel my heart purrin'
Hard to be calm when my insides stirrin'
I say mother dear see here, see here
Tell me now which way to go
Can't have that girl and I love her so
She said whenever you're blue, whatever you do
Be cool, calm, and keep yourself together
That's what my mama said
Be cool, calm, and keep yourself together
"Be Cool Be Calm" by Stevie Wonder is a song that speaks to the emotions that come with heartbreak and the process of trying to move on. The first verse begins by telling the story of the singer that has been crying since his lover left. He seeks advice from his mother, who tells him to be cool, calm, and keep himself together. The singer then changes his style and puts on a smile, hoping to face the world with optimism. However, he still feels the yearning of his heart, which makes it hard for him to be cool and calm.
In the second verse, the singer talks about how he cried himself to sleep after his lover said goodbye. His mother tells him not to lose his head and that it doesn't help to weep. The singer then becomes "the great pretender" by putting on a fake smile, pretending to be happy despite the hurt he feels inside. He still struggles to be cool and calm when his ex-partner is around. The song ends with the singer asking his mother which way to go since he loves his girl but can't have her. She advises him that whenever he's blue, he should be cool, calm, and keep himself together.
Overall, "Be Cool Be Calm" is a song that highlights the power of resilience and the importance of taking control of one's emotions to face the world. It's a reminder that it's okay to put on a smile and pretend everything is okay, but it's also essential to address the emotions we feel inside.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl I've been cryin' ever since you left
I have been constantly crying since you left, feeling alone without you
My mama told me get a hold of yourself
My mother advised me to control my emotions and maintain my composure
And be cool, calm and keep yourself together
To deal with this situation I need to be collected, composed and keep myself together
Sugar plum you're really gold
My dear, you are very precious to me
And it just don't help to cry
Crying will not solve our problems or make things better
So I wiped my tears away the other day
I wiped off my tears and decided to make new efforts to deal with this situation
And strung my handkerchief up to dry
I put my handkerchief aside, indicating that I am no longer mourning
Then I changed my style puttin' on a smile
I changed my attitude and started to smile instead of crying
And went out to face the world
I decided to move on and face the world instead of being stuck in the past
The smile I wear see, ha, I don't care that I just lost my girl
The smile on my face shows that I am strong and I don't care that I lost you, but deep inside I still miss you
But I still get that old yearnin'
I still have a strong desire to be with you
Can't be cool when my heart is burnin'
It's difficult to remain cool and collected when my heart is aching
I still get that old feelin'
I still have feelings for you
Can't be calm when my head is reelin'
It's hard to stay calm and focused when my mind is in chaos
Tell me now what shall I do
I am seeking advice on how to deal with this situation
She said when things give up be manly
My mom advised me to be strong and accept the situation
Now to be cool, calm, and keep yourself together
To deal with this situation, I need to keep myself composed and maintain my emotional stability
Sugar pie you said goodbye
My dear, you broke up with me
And I cried myself to sleep
I was so upset that I cried until I fell asleep
Now I'm the great pretender
I am pretending to be happy and unaffected by the breakup
I don't surrender to what I feel inside
I am suppressing my true emotions and not surrendering to my heart's desires
I'm the life of the crowd, and ha, I left my blood
I am the center of attention in social situations, but I am also hiding my true feelings
But it's all a fake disguise
This persona that I am putting up is not my real self
'Cause I still hear my heart poundin'
My heart is still racing when I am around you, showing that my feelings have not changed
Hard to be cool when you come around me
It's hard to keep my composure when I am with you
I still feel my heart purrin'
I still have feelings for you, which make my heart warm and flutter
Hard to be calm when my insides stirrin'
It's hard to stay calm when my emotions are stirring inside me
Tell me now which way to go
I need guidance on which direction to take and how to move on
She said whenever you're blue, whatever you do
My mom advised me to stay positive and strong, no matter the situation
That's what my mama said
My mother's words are wise and comforting
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HENRY COSBY, SYLVIA MOY, STEVIE WONDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cheryl Rowland Hall
on Isn't She Lovely
Dedicated to my lovely daughter, Amy Kathleen Rawson, the lovely child who helped mom to grow up!