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.
Look Around
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Married to our dangers
Into space, we go to change our ways
Flying to our heavens
We are all together
Into hell, we chase the light of day
Ruins of the human history
Look around and you'll find
Time is only floating in your mind
(Oh) you will find
(Oh) searching for time
(Oh) empty is your mind (oh)
We are charmed by living
Dazzled into giving
All the waste we plan to ignore
Coldness is the virtue
Measured for the untrue
Love is used for something but what for?
Look around and you'll see
Ruins of the human history
Look around and you'll find
Time is only floating in your mind
(Oh) you will find
(Oh) searching for time
(Oh) empty is your mind
(Oh) look around
The lyrics of Stevie Wonder's song Look Around are thought-provoking and insightful. The song highlights the disconnection between human beings and the world, as we are living in a perilous time. The first verse, "We are idle strangers, married to our dangers," sets the tone for the song. It suggests how people ignore the dangers around them and fail to take action to improve the world. Instead, they seek to escape into space or chase after the light of day, hoping that their problems will go away.
As the song progresses, Wonder highlights the futility of human accomplishments by referencing "ruins of the human history" and the fact that "time is only floating in your mind." The lyrics seem to suggest that everything we create in life is temporary, and eventually, all of it turns to dust.
The song's chorus emphasizes the significance of time, which is a fleeting commodity. The line "searching for time, empty is your mind" urges listeners to look around and pay attention to the world, which they often ignore. The words indicate that time is always slipping away, and we need to make the most of our existence.
Overall, Stevie Wonder's Look Around is a powerful song that provides a unique perspective on the struggles of the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
We are idle strangers
We exist without purpose or direction
Married to our dangers
We are bound to the risks of our existence
Into space, we go to change our ways
We explore new frontiers to escape our problems
Flying to our heavens
We chase our dreams and aspirations
We are all together
We are united in our pursuits
Into hell, we chase the light of day
We seek redemption from our mistakes
Look around and you'll see
Observe your surroundings
Ruins of the human history
The remnants of our past actions and decisions
Look around and you'll find
Explore your thoughts and feelings
Time is only floating in your mind
The concept of time is subjective and imaginary
(Oh) you will find
Realization of the truth
(Oh) searching for time
Seeking a sense of purpose
(Oh) empty is your mind (oh)
A lack of fulfillment or satisfaction
We are charmed by living
We are enamored with the experience of life
Dazzled into giving
We are compelled to give, often to our own detriment
All the waste we plan to ignore
We disregard the consequences of our actions
Coldness is the virtue
Emotional detachment is seen as desirable
Measured for the untrue
Our worth is based on falsehoods, such as material possessions or social status
Love is used for something but what for?
We exploit the concept of love without understanding its true purpose
Look around
Take a moment to observe and reflect
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder, John Worsley, Syreeta Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bruno Lana Santos
We are idle strangers
Married to our dangers
Into space we go to change our ways
Flying to our heavens
We are all together
Into hell we chase the light of day
Look around and you'll see
Ruins of the human history
Look around and you'll see
Time is only floating in your mind
You will find
Searching for time
Empty is your mind
We are charmed by living
Dazzled into giving
All the waste we plan to ignore
Coldness is the virtue
Measured by the untrue
Love is used for something but what for?
Look around and you'll see
Ruins of the human history
Look around and you'll see
Time is only floating in your mind
You will find
Searching for time
Empty is your mind
Look around
VictorLionsTV
Wow sir. I agre 110%. Many look at Talking Book from onwards but, I consider this the start of the classic period. Even in the album Signed, Sealed, Delivered you see some early signs with songs like We Can Work it out and Heaven Help Us All. The reason why this album was panned by critics is because it was greatly overshadowed by Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. Had this album come out a year earlier or a year after it would be much bigger than it is. To be honest I am a different type of Stevie fan.
Heres my Top 15 Stevie Albums
1. Innervisions
2. Talking Book
3. Music of My Mind
4. Songs In the Key of Life
5. Fulfillingness' First Finale
6. In Square Circle
7. My Cherie Amour
8. Signed, Sealed Delivered
9. Hotter Than July
10. Woman In Red Soundtrack
11. Original Musiquariam
12. A Time to Love
13. For Once In My Life
14. Jungle Fever Soundtrack
15. Conversation Peace
So I do MJ videos, and I will be planning to do Stevie talks. I subbed to your channel sir. All the Best!!
moehammondmedia
Stevie’s first masterpiece! People always say Music Of My Mind is where the classic period started . But no it started on this album. This album is a flawless masterpiece that sounded unlike anything before it. This is an amazing album. Criminally slept on and grossly underrated. The genius known as Stevie Wonder.
A MC Suffolk
This album was definitely a major part of his 'turning point' and has some brilliant songs on it, also including 'Do yourself a favour' 'something out of the blue' and 'never dreamt you'd leave in summer' which he fittingly and touchingly sung for Michael Jackson at the 'funeral' concert. Love some of the lyrics to these tracks, as well as the Beatleseque harmonies etc of this. Very underrated and at least as good as the stuff he put on subsequent albums. In my modest opinion!
Nautilus1972
1971-1976 the man was untouchable.
moehammondmedia
Untouchable
Boomer
Fact
Paul Callahan
wow. what a great song. Seems very much ahead of its time for 1971.
owenhunt
This is essentially a medieval ditty. It sounds like a jester's organ from about 1558. "I Wanna Be Where YOu Are" by the Jackson Five had a similar jig. Excellent sound when nailed.
Abstract vibezz
Don't know why this album is not part of his classic period. This album is slept on.
Ben Reed
For keyboard players out there, especially the ones into vintage gear - as this album is pre-Moog, Stevie is using an RMI 300 Electrapiano/harpsicord as his main instrument alongside the clavinet and Hammond. And all the keyboard bass is played on the RMI too. A very groovy instrument, obviously overshadowed by the Wurly and the Rhodes.
Walter Johnson
The master of music, what more can I say.