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.
Bird of Beauty
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do do do do do do
Do do do do do
Ahh ah
Do do do do do do
Do do do do do do
Free to join in fun and plenty recreation
There awaits you a ticket
"Please Have A Good Time" Station, yeah
'Cause what is, is gonna stay
'Til ol' father time decides to change
Simon says, "That your mind is requesting furlough"
Let it find the answers to things
That you've always wanted to know
There's a tour of many places
That you've always wanted to go, yeah
And to me that sure sounds best
'Cause it means happiness for you
There is so much in life for you to feel
Unfound in white, red, or yellow pills
A mind excursion can be such a trill
You please satisfy
Take a chance and ride
The bird of beauty of the sky
Do do do do do do do do do do do do
Do do do do do do do
Tudo bem voce deve descannar a sua mente
Natilde faz mal o qu vai acontecer daqui pra fente
Vai cantar alegria
Voce coracao assim tao feliz ja vai cantar carnaval
There is so much in life for you to feel
Unfound in white, red, or yellow pills
A mind excursion can be such a trill
You please satisfy
Take a chance and ride
The bird of beauty of the sky
Do do do do do do
Do do do do do do (the bird of beauty of the sky)
Do do do do do do
Do do do do do do (the bird of beauty of the sky)
Do do do do do do (yeah, yeah)
Do do do do do do (the bird of beauty of the sky)
Do do do do do do
Do do do do do do (the bird of beauty of the sky)
Do do do do do do
Do do do do do do (the bird of beauty of the sky)
Stevie Wonder's song "Bird of Beauty" is a contemplation of life and the importance of taking a break from the daily grind. The opening lines set the stage for the message of the song: "Simon says, 'That now your mind desires a vacation'/ Free to join in fun and plenty recreation." Simon here is akin to "Simon Says," a children's game that involves following instructions to move one's body. The suggestion of vacation and recreation is offered as a way to escape from the monotony of daily life. The ticket to the "Please Have A Good Time" Station represents a chance to let go and live in the moment.
The second verse continues with this idea of escape: "Simon says, 'That your mind is requesting furlough'/ Let it find the answers to things/ That you've always wanted to know." The chorus reinforces the idea that there are many experiences in life that cannot be found in pills, but instead require a certain kind of mental exploration. The "bird of beauty of the sky" represents this mind excursion and a chance to ride it is an invitation to take a chance and experience something new. This idea of a mind excursion is emphasized through the addition of Portuguese lyrics towards the end of the song, where the message of the song is communicated that it is important to give your mind a break, let it be happy and 'sing joy' because in the end, all that stays as it is till 'old father time decides to change'.
"Bird of Beauty" is a celebration of taking a break and enjoying life, and embracing new experiences. In times of stress and monotony, it offers a reminder that there is more to life than just going through the motions.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh oh
Opening sounds, perhaps to set a playful mood
Do do do do do do
Repeating sounds, perhaps to create a sense of rhythm and anticipation
Do do do do do
Continuation of the repeating sounds
Ahh ah
More playful sounds to set the mood
Simon says, "That now your mind desires a vacation"
A reference to a child's game, introducing the idea that the mind is in need of a break from daily life
Free to join in fun and plenty recreation
Encouragement to enjoy oneself and engage in various activities
There awaits you a ticket
The idea that there is an opportunity to explore new things
"Please Have A Good Time" Station, yeah
A playful reference to the places where one can have fun and enjoy themselves
'Cause what is, is gonna stay
Recognition that some things in life may not change and should be accepted
'Til ol' father time decides to change
A reference to the idea that time is the only force that can bring about change
Simon says, "That your mind is requesting furlough"
Continuation of the earlier reference to the game, emphasizing the importance of taking a mental break
Let it find the answers to things
Encouragement to use the break to seek answers to life's questions
There's a tour of many places
Suggesting that there are many opportunities to explore and find new experiences
That you've always wanted to go, yeah
Emphasizing the idea that the mind should follow its desires
And to me that sure sounds best
Personal endorsement for taking a break
'Cause it means happiness for you
Emphasizing the idea that a break can lead to greater happiness
There is so much in life for you to feel
The notion that there are many experiences to be had in life
Unfound in white, red, or yellow pills
Acknowledging that medication cannot replace the joys of life experiences
A mind excursion can be such a trill
Suggesting that exploring the mind can be thrilling and exciting
You please satisfy
Encouragement to satisfy the desires of the mind
Take a chance and ride
Encouragement to take a risk and explore the mind
The bird of beauty of the sky
A poetic metaphor for the mind and its capacity for beauty and exploration
Tudo bem voce deve descannar a sua mente
Portuguese lyrics meaning, 'Everything's fine, you must rest your mind'
Natilde faz mal o qu vai acontecer daqui pra fente
Portuguese lyrics meaning, 'Nothing good can come from worrying about what's going to happen in the future'
Vai cantar alegria
Portuguese lyrics meaning, 'Sing with joy'
Voce coracao assim tao feliz ja vai cantar carnaval
Portuguese lyrics meaning, 'Your heart is already so happy that it will sing carnival (a festive celebration)'
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J
I love this!!! I love when he starts singing in Portuguese!! That Bossa Nova vibe is heavenly!!! I could just listen to this song over and over again.!Stevie is and will always be THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME !!!!❤️
Mountain Rigi
This man really created music that had not been found before.
Daniel Skilton
It's samba mate, why do you think they're all speaking portuguese from Brazil in ere
Ryan McNamara
@Daniel Skilton lame reply, Daniel.
Mike Solomon
@Daniel Skilton¹
James Brown Jr.
And since!
Clint Scott Fischer
This man will go down in history as the G.O.A.T. PERIOD. NO ARGUMENTS.
J
My sentiments EXACTLY !!!! I hope that he lives another 50 years!! ❤️
Anthony B
I have an argument... and that is... to NOT argue with the fact that Stevie Wonder IS truly THEE G.O.A.T.
Aladdin Smith
Not by me,thats for sure.