Best Ever Albums

Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:40:54 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 10/16/2026 09:40

If It's Magic

Not for me I’m afraid. It’s not bad it just doesn’t grab me. Not particularly memorable

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Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:21:50 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 10/15/2026 14:21

Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing

A pleasant enough groove runs through the track. A little bit forgettable to be honest but still a nice listen. Would this be a go to track on the album, no. Do I think that it’s OK, absolutely and it fits the flow and general feel of the album well

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Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 09:41:57 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 10/14/2026 13:41

Black Man

"This world was made for all men."

Love this track. When Stevie grooves like this, and he’s using his platform to get across a political and humanistic message, this is when I really get him.

A song whose theme are racism and the erasure of minority achievements still resonates and is as relevant today as it ever was (unfortunately)

Look behind the hypnotic and infectious rhythm for the underlying message.

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Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 04:17:37 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 10/13/2026 08:17

Hayden wrote:

Johnnyo wrote:

Isn't She Lovely
this is so cheesy that it should come with a health warning.

I'm with Mickilennial on this one Johnny—
Great track—
With the right context/environment/moment, it can really smack you in the face—

Hope everyone gives the four new tracks a spin— I Can See the Sun in Late December should've landed the cut, without question— not sure how it wound up with Roberta Flack, but Stevie's cut is ace—

Fair doos. It's just not my bag I'm afraid.

I haven't got round to listening to them yet but am planning to.

Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 04:13:57 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 10/13/2026 08:13

mickilennial wrote:

"Isn't She Lovely" is amazing.

It just doesn't resonate with me mickilennial but clearly I'm in the minority because it's a very popular track. I just don't get its appeal.

Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 04:11:58 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 10/13/2026 08:11

Joy Inside My Tears

So, this is another slow track from Stevie. Whilst I appreciate the arrangement of the track and the performance on show, at over six minutes it becomes a bit of a snooze fest for me.

Critics have frequently praised for its vocal performance and emotional depth. Yeh, maybe true but it doesn’t grab me.

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Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Hayden — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:34:10 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 10/12/2026 16:34

Johnnyo wrote:

Isn't She Lovely
this is so cheesy that it should come with a health warning.

Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

mickilennial — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:13:54 GMT

Author: mickilennial

Posted: 10/12/2026 16:13

"Isn't She Lovely" is amazing.

Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 10:59:31 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 10/12/2026 14:59

Isn't She Lovely

A lot like the later “I Just Called to Say I Love You” this is so cheesy that it should come with a health warning.

I’m not a fan of Stevie’s slower track per se but this is top of my list of such songs. Not for me at all

Weirdly, and maybe it's karma, I couldn't find a youtube that worked so.......

Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 04:34:21 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 10/11/2026 08:34

Ordinary Pain

On first hearing the start of this track I thought, ah, another slow ballady track from Stevie. Not going to like this that much but, although it is a bit of a ballad (at the start), it’s got a nice groove to it.

Not great but very decent until you get halfway through the track then it does a complete change of pace and goes funky dunky. Love the second half to bits. I think that the dual structure works really well here and Shirley Brewers vocals are spot on.

A very well constructed song with a great narrative.

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Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 08:33:06 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 10/10/2026 12:33

Summer Soft

One of Stevie’s better “slower songs” / ballads but still not a great song TBH.

Picks up a bit later in the middle section but pretty average.

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Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Fri, 9 Oct 2026 06:15:33 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 10/09/2026 10:15

Pastime Paradise

Very atmospheric track. Great string section opening (but played on a Yamaha!).

A favourite track of mine from the album it’s got such a great vibe.

Covered and sampled a lot over the years

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Love this

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And this is a pretty obvious one to include

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Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Wed, 7 Oct 2026 04:49:31 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 10/07/2026 08:49

Knocks Me Off My Feet

Nice piano intro but after that I find the track a little flat. I’ve never been a fan of Stevie’s ballads and I’m afraid that this is no exception.

It’s OK

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Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Sun, 4 Oct 2026 11:22:19 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 10/04/2026 15:22

I Wish

I hadn’t appreciated this, but I Wish was the first single from the album and I completely get that. What a great advert for the album and of course it was a huge hit. It’s also one of my favourite tracks on the album.

One of the funkiest, most upbeat tracks on the album with a fantastic baseline.

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Just had to include this as well

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Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Sat, 3 Oct 2026 07:44:50 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 10/03/2026 11:44

Sir Duke

Now this is a classic. From the infectious trumpet / sax intro all the way through the song, it’s got quality written all over it

It’s funky, it’s jazzy, it’s great

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Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 05:23:02 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 09/30/2026 09:23

Contusion" (instrumental)

This is a great jazz / funk instrumental track and one of my favourites of the genre. Very different to most, if not all, of the other tracks on the album I really love this track.

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Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 04:23:05 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 09/29/2026 08:23

Village Ghetto Land

"Tell me, would you be happy in Village Ghetto Land?"

Full of social commentary, I really like this track a lot and the opening string arrangement is so beautiful. Having said that, there is no orchestra involved. Stevie Wonder using the Yamaha GX-1to create the sound.

It’s a shame that the themes of urban decay, poverty, institutional neglect, severe struggles like starvation and lack of police protection, are still as relevant as they were 50 years ago. And not just in the US. That’s sad.

It’s a great political song wrapped up in a sugar candy coat

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Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 04:12:56 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 09/29/2026 08:12

Hayden wrote:

https://pitchfork.com/story/stevie-wonder-unvaults-four-songs-in-the-key-of-life-tracks/

Don't forget to bring this news to your group :D

Thanks Hayden, that's exactly the sort of thing that I'm looking for. Really appreciate you sharing and i will share with the group

Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Hayden — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:33:26 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 09/28/2026 15:33

https://pitchfork.com/story/stevie-wonder-unvaults-four-songs-in-the-key-of-life-tracks/

Don't forget to bring this news to your group 😁

Re: Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder

Johnnyo — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 06:52:17 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 09/26/2026 10:52

Have a Talk with God

The lyrics to this song do not speak to me (I am not religious at all) but if they speak to you, I’m cool with that. Clearly, they mean a lot to Stevie. Feels like he’s writing from the heart here.

As a piece of music, I really like this track. Funky with a great groove. It’s actually one of my favourite tracks musically on the album

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