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.
Music Talk
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah, the language of music is known
Around the world
It's the language that's understood
By people everywhere
(He said everywhere)
Ah, listen to the trombones playing way down low
Well everybody seems to be playing with a lot of soul
Ah, fellas do you mind if I join in and play along?
Everybody, yeah
Just a little bit of drum
Ah, Well I think the drummer has found a new groove
Listen close and you will hear the saxophones move
If you're feelin' what you hearing, well don't you know?
Yeah, ah it's just the music that friendly music
Talking to your soul
It can make you blue or make you feel so glad, oh
It's best way of talking that man has ever had
Everybody around the world sing with me now
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
In Stevie Wonder's song "Music Talk," he emphasizes the power of music as a universal language. He declares that the language of music is understood all over the world and it speaks to the soul. The song suggests that music bridges the gap between different people and cultures, bringing them together. The lyrics describe the instruments and sounds that make up the magic of music, with the trumpets and trombones being noted for their soulful sounds. The song creates a sense of unity, with Wonder asking everyone to join in and sing along.
The message is clear: regardless of one's background or experiences, music has the power to connect us all on a deep level. Furthermore, the song acknowledges music's impact on emotions. Wonder notes that music can make us feel blue or uplifted, highlighting its sway over our hearts and minds. By celebrating the universality of music and its influence on our soul and emotions, Wonder has penned a particular ode to music.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, the language of music is known
Music is a language that is universally known
Around the world
It's known and understood globally
It's the language that's understood
It is the language that people everywhere understand
By people everywhere
It's widely known
(He said everywhere)
Reiterating that music is universal
Soon you'll hear the trumpets begin to blow
The trumpets will soon start playing
Ah, listen to the trombones playing way down low
Take a moment to hear the trombones playing really low notes
Well everybody seems to be playing with a lot of soul
Everyone is putting their heart and soul into their music
Ah, fellas do you mind if I join in and play along?
Asking permission to join in on the music making
Everybody, yeah
Everyone is present and included
Just a little bit of drum
Adding a little bit of drum to the mix
Ah, Well I think the drummer has found a new groove
The drummer has found a new style or rhythm
Listen close and you will hear the saxophones move
Pay close attention and you'll hear the saxophones playing and moving seamlessly
If you're feelin' what you hearing, well don't you know?
If you're enjoying the music, then you know what I mean
Yeah, ah it's just the music that friendly music
The music is friendly and welcoming
Talking to your soul
It speaks to your soul
It can make you blue or make you feel so glad, oh
Music can bring out different emotions
It's best way of talking that man has ever had
It's one of the best forms of communication humans possess
Everybody around the world sing with me now
Inviting everyone from around the world to sing along
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Repeating the word 'yeah' to invite everyone to join in
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder, Ted Hull, Clarence Paul
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
janice yates
Got this album, love it x
Paul Valentine
the album in my opinion was the best he ever done, period
acintoli
Believe it or not, this song was released as a single (B-side) in 1967 by Tamla Motown in Italy under the title "Passo le mie notti qui da solo" (Spending all my nights here alone") and Stevie sings in Italian on the same base track and no chorus. The lyrics have nothing to do with the original, they talk about a man all alone in the night thinking of his belle who ran away.
ImhotepRamses
Classic
Valentine Janiky
Adore.!
johnniewalker23
This album was released on the Motown label. Unless I'm mistaken (and AllMusic for that matter).
山중독자
E sens Everywhere~
Roderick Bagsby
All seven of your comments means you're real S W fans like myaelf
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