The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Dissecting Stevie Wonder's Superstition, 50 years after we first heard its infectious grooves

  • Written by Leigh Carriage, Senior Lecturer in Music, Southern Cross University
Dissecting Stevie Wonder's Superstition, 50 years after we first heard its infectious grooves

On October 24 1972, Stevie Wonder released his 15th album Talking Book and the world heard the infectious grooves and seamless vocal delivery of the song Superstition for the very first time.

Superstition reached number one in the Billboard Hot 100 and on the soul singles chart.

The song has been covered by an astounding number of artists, from Mel Torme[1] to Stevie Ray Vaughan and Macy Gray[2], French musician Tété[3] and a unique mashup from Pomplamoose[4].

Superstition is frequently played at gigs and gatherings all over the globe because the bass riff and driving drum groove have so much dance appeal[5] – a mix of the unexpected syncopation and repetition of the chorus hook. The song feels alive.

A simple structure

The listener can’t help but respond directly to the infectious opening groove played by Wonder.

Three key instruments forge the captivating and carefully arranged funk groove in the introduction: the Hohner Clavinet[6] (an electronic harpsichord – more on this later), drums and the Moog bass[7]. The cohesion is musical magic.

Superstition’s recording engineer Malcolm Cecil recalled[8] how Wonder recorded the entire song on drums first, with no reference other than the song in his head, then the keyboard bass part, and then the Clavinet.

This illustrates how complete his conceptualisation of the song was prior to recording.

The song’s structure is simple. The introduction sets up the familiar groove with its static harmony, pulsing bass and keyboard riff.

The verse proceeds over the same static harmony, with a new bass riff introduced halfway through, effecting a shift to a higher dynamic level.

The chorus releases the tension with a sophisticated cadence, reflecting jazz sensibilities and revealing the breadth of Wonder’s musical knowledge.

This structure is repeated, followed by an instrumental version of the chorus. Then there’s a final verse and chorus before a long instrumental section built on the verse riff leads to the final fade out.

Read more: Groovy findings: Researching how and why music moves you[9]

Unexpected instruments

One of the most memorable parts of the song is the signature played on the Hohner Clavinet.

A Clavinet[10] looks like an electric keyboard, but it is an electro-mechanical string instrument originally developed for the performance of classical harpsichord and clavichord music.

Like the Hammond organ[11] of the 1930s, it was soon discovered and adopted by many contemporary musicians.

Wonder had already used the instrument on I Was Made to Love Her (1967), Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day (1968) and I Don’t Know Why (1969). According to music journalist Martin Horn[12], Wonder wanted to use the Clavinet on Superstition to “full effect” to “show off”. Wonder had described the instrument as “funky, dirty, stinky”.

In some ways, the Clavinet is doing the job a guitarist might normally do. It plays the single note riff at the core of Wonder’s song, and chord parts similar to what you would hear from a strummed guitar. But there are also several other barely audible tracks of clavinet, which subtly add to the texture.

Superstition’s bass line is played on an analog synthesiser called TONTO[13] (The Original New Timbral Orchestra). This is an extraordinary collection of electronics which filled an entire room, adding to the song with a totally unique sonic palette – akin to a PVC pipe hit with a thong.

Standing the test of time

The contributions from the horn parts are also integral, played by Steve Madaio on trumpet and Trevor Lawrence on the tenor saxophone.

The horns first appear playing in unison with the bass line in the second half of the verse, emphasising the lift in energy. They play long notes in the chorus emphasising the melody, then reinforce the rhythmic figure at the crest of resolution.

Their part culminates in a powerful instrumental hook answering the vocal hook, “superstition ain’t the way”. These parts are repeated in the ensuing verses and choruses.

After the final chorus the horns cycle through a sequence containing the verse riff, the chorus hook and a short passage of long notes adapted from the chorus melody.

The melody of Superstition is very singable. Wonder’s delivery is fluid and highly expressive. He sings relatively short phrases, allowing the keyboard riffs to fill the space at the end of each phrase.

It isn’t until the chorus that Wonder delivers the first effortless vocal lick on “suffer”. His vocal delivery remains understated, with occasional punctuated phrases, gravel tones and a scream within the horn part.

The song ends with a long 50 second fade out, reinforcing the riff.

Superstition and Wonder’s vocal delivery is so dependable, groovy and secure musically. The listener feels free to give themselves over fully, to trust Wonder completely and lose themselves for a moment.

Superstition stands the test of time.

Read more: Why we're obsessed with music from our youth[14]

References

  1. ^ Mel Torme (www.youtube.com)
  2. ^ Stevie Ray Vaughan and Macy Gray (www.youtube.com)
  3. ^ Tété (www.youtube.com)
  4. ^ Pomplamoose (www.youtube.com)
  5. ^ dance appeal (www.youtube.com)
  6. ^ Hohner Clavinet (en.wikipedia.org)
  7. ^ Moog bass (en.wikipedia.org)
  8. ^ recalled (openvault.wgbh.org)
  9. ^ Groovy findings: Researching how and why music moves you (theconversation.com)
  10. ^ Clavinet (www.youtube.com)
  11. ^ Hammond organ (en.wikipedia.org)
  12. ^ Martin Horn (www.goodreads.com)
  13. ^ TONTO (www.youtube.com)
  14. ^ Why we're obsessed with music from our youth (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/dissecting-stevie-wonders-superstition-50-years-after-we-first-heard-its-infectious-grooves-189551

Times Magazine

Life-Saving Hacks for Working Moms

Being a mom is hard work – it’s the most amazing job you’ve ever had, but also the most exhausting. It’s deeply rewarding as well, but there are days when you’re simply running on a very low battery. As a working mom with not much spare time, you c...

oOh!media puts Neon up in lights

oOh!media has transformed its high-impact Panorama sites across the country for a campaign to mark the merger of Neon and Lightbox under the Neon brand. Sky’s ‘Get it on Neon’ campaign went live on street furniture assets on 17 August in Chris...

Safety First: Concrete Cutting Safety Measure Everyone Must Follow

When handling concrete cutting services, you must know how to handle different tools and maintain the safety of everyone involved. You should know the safety measures to apply when using a saw or a core driller. Remember that concrete cutting con...

Inclusion of the Best Dog Beds to Buy

It can be difficult to find a suitable dog bed that is cosy and long-lasting. It should be durable enough to withstand stains and keep up with your active dog but cosy enough for them to unwind and rest. Even though it might seem like a difficult e...

What to Expect at Our Ultimate Indoor Golfing Venue in Rockingham

Here, dear gentlemen, is what the future of golfing looks like in Rockingham! This dream place for those who want to play golf in any weather or at any time of the day will become our ultimate indoor golfing venue. Envision a scenario where one is ...

Boost Your Fitness Goals with an Online Supplement Store in Singapore

Welcome to the online supplement store Singapore! You have stumbled upon a fantastic platform that offers a diverse range of supplements, vitamins, and nutritional products to support your health and fitness goals. At our store, we are dedicated to...