RS Classic: February 8, 2017
Conspiracy theorists have long believed that Stevie Wonder is not blind. They base their theory on the fact that Paul McCartney accidentally knocked over Wonder’s microphone stand during one of his performances, but the singer reflexively caught it. Furthermore, they consider his hobby of “watching” basketball games to be another indication that he is not blind
Now Wonder is heating up the discussions himself. “TMZ” published a video in which he was asked whether he could imagine having his own reality TV show.
Stevie Wonder: “I’ve flown myself a few times”
“Probably not,” he replied. “But I would use the money to buy a few airplanes.” When asked whether the singer could then control this himself, he said: “Yes. I’ve flown and landed the plane myself a few times.”
And: Wonder announced that he would tell the truth about vision this year. It’s extremely likely (okay, it’s pretty certain) that he was kidding the reporter. After all, the paparazzi from “TMZ” are seen as annoying people who are best gotten rid of with stupid sayings.
The video should still provide enough topic of conversation among conspiracy theorists.
The best songwriters of all time (10): Stevie Wonder
“There is so much that can only be expressed through music,” Stevie Wonder once said. And for half a century he has proven how right he is with this assessment.
Whether he tried his hand at being a social commentator (“Higher Ground”, “Living For The City”). He gave free rein to his exuberant feelings (“You Are The Sunshine Of My Life”, “I Just Called To Say I Love You”). Or forgot his positive nature for a moment and criticized harshly (“You Haven’t Done Nothin’”). Wonder was always willing to keep in mind the totality of all human experience. Music, not least songwriting, was second nature to him.
With albums like “Talking Book” (1972) and “Innervisions” (1973), he made the studio the canvas for his inner expeditions
Back in the 1960s, when he was still Motown’s prodigy, he wrote his own material. Wonder even delivered a full-blown hit in 1966 with “Uptight (It’s Alright).” With albums like “Talking Book” (1972) and “Innervisions” (1973), he made the studio the canvas for his inner expeditions. He documented the will to finally shake off the musical formulas of Motown’s hit factory.
“I draw on experiences that can be painful or uplifting”
“And I work like a painter,” he once said. “Draw on experiences that can be painful or uplifting. At the beginning there is always a feeling of infinite gratitude. Something like, ‘It’s only by God’s grace that I’m here at all.’ Most songwriters are guided by their inner voice.” His feelings poured into song proved so much timeless substance that they were covered by God and the world, from Frank Sinatra to the Backstreet Boys.