The 10 Best Stevie Wonder Songs of All Time
Stevie Wonder is a singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He was born Stevland Hardaway Morris in Michigan on May 13, 1950, and he began his career as a child artist in 1961. Wonder is usually associated with music genres such as rhythm and blues, soul, gospel, pop, and funk. In addition to his musical talents and success as an artist, Stevie Wonder is known for being blind, as he lost his sight shortly after he was born. Despite his vision loss, he was releasing number one hits from as young as 11 years of age. At the beginning of his career, he was known as Little Stevie Wonder. During his career, Stevie Wonder has released 23 studio albums, 11 compilation albums, 20 music videos, four live albums, three soundtrack albums, and 101 singles. Here are the 10 best Stevie Wonder songs of all time.
10. Ebony and Ivory (1982)
‘Ebony and Ivory’ is a duet between Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was a number one hit in Canada, Germany, Ireland, and the UK. The track did not feature on a Stevie Wonder album, but it did feature on McCartney’s album ‘Tug of War.’ McCartney wrote the song, and the black and white keys of the piano were used to represent the song’s theme of racial harmony. It was the first time that McCartney had recorded a duet with another major artist.
9. Uptight (Everything’s Alright) (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYIGZrwlTZc
‘Uptight (Everything’s Alright’ is one of Stevie Wonder’s earlier hits, and it featured on the album ‘Up-Tight.’ When it was released in 1965, it topped the US R&B chart and reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was nominated for two Grammy Awards and was the first time Wonder was nominated for this accolade.
8. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours (1970)
Although ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours’ is not one of Stevie Wonder’s most commercially successful songs, it is one of his best known internationally. It was most successful on the US R&B chart as it reached number one, although it only reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Wonder co-wrote the song with Syreeta Wright, and it was the first single Wonder produced on his own. It was also the first of Wonder’s songs to feature his female backing group, which consisted of Syreeta Wright, Lynda Tucker Lawrence, and Venetta Fields.
7. You Haven’t Done Nothin’ (1974)
A number one hit in the United States and Canada, ‘You Haven’t Done Nothin’’ is a song written by Stevie Wonder that was one of the tracks on the album ‘Innervisions.’ Although Wonder is not known for political songs, this song was a political statement against President Richard Nixon. Two days after the song’s release, Nixon resigned. It was one of the earliest songs to feature a drum machine.
6. Sir Duke (1977)
‘Sir Duke’ topped the charts in Both Canada and the United States and reached number two on the UK charts. It was the third of five singles released from the 1976 album ‘Songs in the Key of Life.’ Stevie Wonder wrote the song as a tribute to the influential jazz legend Duke Ellington who had died in 1974. In the lyrics, there are mentions of several other jazz legends, including Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Glenn Miller, and Count Basie.
5. You Are the Sunshine of My Life (1973)
‘You Are the Sunshine of My Life’ was the second single Wonder released from the album ‘Talking Book,’ and it was the third of Wonder’s songs to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Although Wonder wrote and performed the song, his are not the only vocals heard on the track. Jim Gilstrap sang the first two lines, then Lani Groves sang the third and fourth lines of the song. Gilstrap, Groves, and Gloria Barley provide backing vocals for the track.
4. Superstition (1972)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tgnz6Qp-wQ
Album Reviews says that ‘Superstition’ is one of the best Stevie Wonder songs of all time. It featured on the album ‘Talking book,’ and it was a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Stevie Wonder wrote this song, which is about the negative effects of superstitions. Wonder won Grammy Awards for both his songwriting and his performance of the song.
3. That’s What Friends Are For (1985)
Throughout his career, Stevie Wonder has collaborated with many other successful artists, and ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ is the perfect example of one of these collaborations. The track features Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Dionne Warwick, and Gladys Knight. It topped the charts in the United States, Australia, and Canada and also won Grammy Awards for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Song of the Year. The song was written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager, and British artist Rod Stewart originally recorded it in 1982.
2. Part-Time Lover (1985)
‘Part-Time Lover’ topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was a number one hit in Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. It was released in 1985 and featured on the album ‘In Square Circle.’ The song was written by Stevie Wonder, and he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Backing vocals for this track were provided by Luther Vandross, Phillip Bailey, and Syreeta Wright.
1. I Just Called to Say I Love You (1984)
In terms of commercial success, ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You’ is the best Stevie Wonder song of all time, and it is also listed as one of his best by GQ Magazine. It was written by Stevie Wonder, and it remains his best-selling single to date. The song was also nominated for three awards at the 27th Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year, Best Pop Instrumental Performance, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Although the track did not win any of these awards, it did win a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
