Stevie Wonder’s Out Of This World Song In The Key Of “S”!
Stevie Wonder and India Arie lead off “songs with an S” – and what better way than with a song from his classic “Songs In The Key Of Life” album!
My wife Alex and I saw Stevie Wonder in concert in Chicago a few years ago with our friends Kareen, Catherine and two different Chris’s…and what an amazing show it was, including this album cut:
“Saturn” by Stevie Wonder
The album has such classic Steveie Wonder songs as “I Wish”, “Sir Duke” and “As”, but I really like this one, performed live:
Stevie performed the entire album beginning to end, and it was a fantastic night of music – see my review, with more videos, here:
Next up, a band with the letter “S” who gave us these classic lyrics:
“Take a look at my girlfriend, she’s the only one I got…”
Supertramp – “Breakfast In America”
The sixth Supertramp album was recorded in Los Angeles, where the title track dreamed of a better girlfriend from across the sea…
“Take a look at my girlfriend
She’s the only one I got
Not much of a girlfriend
Never seem to get a lot
Take a jumbo across the water
Like to see America
See the girls in California
I’m hoping it’s going to come true
But there’s not a lot I can do…”
Supertramp had a slew of great songs, like “Give A Little Bit”, “It’s Raining Again” and “Bloody Well Right”, but this entire album is full of great hits like “Take The Long Way Home” and “The Logical Song” – and of course, the title track, composed and sung by Roger Hodgson:
I love this band and their 70’s vibe – see more about them here:
Another Artist from the 70’s is still going strong today, but nothing compared to how he looked then:
“Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” by Elton John
He was arguably the biggest star of that decade, with massive hits like “Candle In The Wind”, “Rocket Man” and “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” among many others – and this brilliant double album:
His music sounds just as fresh today, including this ode to letting off a little steam on the weekend:
“It’s getting late, have you seen my mates?
Ma, tell me when the boys get here
It’s seven o’clock and I want to rock
Want to get a belly full of beer
My old man’s drunker than a barrel full of monkeys
And my old lady, she don’t care
My sister looks cute in her braces and boots
A handful of grease in her hair
Don’t give us none of your aggravation
We had it with your discipline
Saturday night’s alright for fighting
Get a little action in
Get about as oiled as a diesel train
Going to set this dance alight
Saturday night’s the night I like
Saturday night’s alright, alright, alright!”
Even though it’s a raucous album track, Elton performs it here in 1976 with only a piano – and an enthused audience:
He was a great singer/songwrier who loved to dress up as well – and he was amazing in the film “Tommy” playing the “Pinball Wizard” – see that clip here:
So, hard to imagine anyone bigger than Elton…well, except for these guys:
“Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles
One of the greatest “S” songs of all time! The Beatles released this double-sided single in February 1967 – click on the vimeo link to see the promotional video they filmed with it:
All Beatles fans know that “Penny Lane” and “Strawberry Fields Forever” were recorded and released as singles BEFORE “Sgt. Peppers”, but were held off the album and added to the “Magical Mystery Tour” soundtrack instead…imagine if they had been on the album!
I know I am leaving off such “S” Artists as Bruce Springsteen and Simon & Garfunkel, along with Sting, Smashing Pumpkins and so much more, but c’mon, it’s just a list – add some more in the comments!
Great music post!!! Love the Beatles. They were such an pivotal group. I love how brilliant their lyrics and music are and how well they flow together!
‘Sowing The Seeds Of Love’ is such a majestic song. It is like a small opera, in construction and musical changes. A great choice, John. They were live in concert on the BBC last week., a 2017 recording. Still as good as ever.
Best wishes, Pete.
johnrieber 
Great music post!!! Love the Beatles. They were such an pivotal group. I love how brilliant their lyrics and music are and how well they flow together!
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All this reminds me of childhood, as my dad loves this music and I grew up on it. In fact the Beatles were my favorite band when I was a kid.
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‘Sowing The Seeds Of Love’ is such a majestic song. It is like a small opera, in construction and musical changes. A great choice, John. They were live in concert on the BBC last week., a 2017 recording. Still as good as ever.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, they really are, and I completely agree a “majestic” song indeed!
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Some great lyrics too.
“Everyone (Everyone) read about it, read about it
Read it in the books, in the crannies and the nooks, there are books to read”
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Yes indeed, and I told you that Roland Orzabal was surprisingly upbeat and enthusiastic while performing live…really proud of his work and rightly so!
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