STEVIE WONDER - SUPERSTITION / YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE

SUPERSTITION

Released : October 24, 1972

Charted:  UK: #11   US: #1 

"Superstition” was released as the lead single from his 1972 album “Talking book”. The lyrics describe popular superstitions and their negative effects. Wonder wrote this about the dangers of believing in superstitions.

Wonder suggests that putting faith in irrational beliefs can lead to suffering, and that it is better to focus on understanding things rather than relying on superstition. The lyrics reference different superstitious beliefs such as breaking a mirror leading to seven years of bad luck, as well as referencing the devil, suggesting that superstition is a type of harmful belief. Some other bad luck superstitions he alludes to include walking under a ladder and the number 13. The chorus of the song reiterates the message that believing in things we cannot understand can lead to pain, and that it is better to have faith in knowledge instead

"Superstition" was intended for Jeff Beck, who was brought in to play some guitar parts on the album in exchange for a song, his work can be heard on the track "Looking for another pure love". At one of the sessions, Stevie came up with the riff and wrote some lyrics, and they recorded a rough version of the song that day for Beck. It took Beck a while to record the song, and by the time he released it, Wonder's version had been out for a month and was a huge hit. Beck felt shortchanged, and made some statements in the press that Wonder didn't appreciate. In 1975, Beck released an instrumental version of Wonder's "Cause We've Ended As Lovers" on his album “Blow by blow”. The album was a hit and helped solidify Beck's reputation as an elite guitarist.

This song incorporates many elements of rock music, which helped Wonder extend his appeal to a white audience. Before “Talking book” was released, Stevie went on tour with The Rolling Stones, which boosted his credibility in the world of rock. When "Superstition" was released, it was warmly welcomed on the same radio stations that played The Stones, earning Wonder many new fans. It also helped Wonder move past his image as a child star.

YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE

Released : March 1973

Charted:  UK: #7   US: #1 

"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is a 1973 single released by Stevie Wonder. The song became Wonder's third number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his first number-one on the Easy Listening chart. It won Wonder a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and was nominated for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. This song was the second single released from the 1972 album entitled “Talking Book”, which stayed at number one on the R&B albums chart for three weeks.

The sunshine of Stevie Wonder's life when he wrote this song was Syreeta Wright, whom he married in 1970. Wright, who started at Motown Records as a secretary, co-wrote Wonder's hit "Signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours" that same year, and also all nine songs on Stevie's 1971 album “Where I'm Coming From.” Wonder produced her debut album, “Syreeta,” in 1972 and her next one, “Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta,” in 1974. Some sources list the couple's divorce as happening in 1972, but Wright, who died in 2004, claimed they were married until 1975. The marriage was difficult, and exacerbated by their working relationship, which Wright found stifling. "I was always living in his shadow," she said.

"You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" finds wonder expressing his devotion to Syreeta - it's a husband looking upon his now-familiar wife and remembering why he loves her and always will. It didn't work out for this couple, but the sentiment was irrefutable. The song remains a heartfelt expression of undying love.

Marvin Gaye, whose " Mercy mercy me (the ecology)" dealt with spirituality and the Earth, cited this song as an example of how the environment impacts songwriting. He told Soundsmagazine in 1976: "A lot of the time, they don't even know it as writers, but they're just forced to put Mother Nature into the picture, like in 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life.'"