Switched on Pop22 Loka 2024

The virtuosity of Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder may be our modern day Mozart. A child prodigy, he joined Motown as a preadolescent where he was marketed as “Little” Stevie Wonder. He wowed audiences with his virtuosic command of the piano, harmonica, drums and of course, vocals. At just 13, he had his first number one hit “Fingertips Part II.” It was an unusual chart topper, featuring a live recording of mostly improvised music with Wonder switching between instruments as the audience cheered him on. But Wonder’s musical potential was far more than a gimmick. In the 1970s, Wonder broke free from the confines of his initial recording contract, securing his artistic and financial freedom. Between 1971 and 1976, during what is now known as his "classic period," he released five of the most iconic albums in popular music, beginning with Music of My Mind and culminating in Songs in the Key of Life. These albums showcased his musical genius and included timeless songs that have become part of the modern pop canon, touching on themes of love, heartbreak, justice, and spirituality. Few child prodigies fulfill their potential as profoundly as Stevie Wonder. With the help of Wesley Morris, NYT critic and host of the spectacular audio series The Wonder of Stevie, Switched on Pop looks back on some of Stevie Wonder’s strongest compositions, exploring what makes him our contemporary musical maestro. Songs Discussed: Stevie Wonder - "Girl Blue" Stevie Wonder - "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)" Stevie Wonder - "Superstition" Stevie Wonder - "Golden Lady" Stevie Wonder - "Isn't She Lovely" Stevie Wonder - "I Wish" Stevie Wonder - "Sir Duke" Stevie Wonder - "As" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Music only the World Cup could make

The quadrennial soccer (or fútbol, depending who you talk to) competition is upon us again: it's the FIFA World Cup! And while the World Cup is a sporting event, it's still relevant to the folks at Sw...

30 Kesä 37min

Why we can't resist Swedish pop (ft. Zara Larsson) ICYMI

In case you missed it: How does a country of 10 million people dominate the global pop charts? From ABBA's Eurovision breakthrough to Max Martin's methodical hit-making, Sweden has quietly engineered...

23 Kesä 44min

2hollis is the underground’s genre-hopping vampire

In the last episode of our feral pop miniseries, we take a look at the 22 year old rapper primed to take over the world: 2hollis. Splitting the difference between hardstyle and hip-hop while emanating...

18 Kesä 31min

Pop music for an internet-pilled generation

This week on Switched On Pop, we’re looking at all things feral pop, the microgenre that takes pop music to its most wild extremes. And no feral pop artist is more tapped into that ethos than undersco...

17 Kesä 25min

The new wave of pop is here, and it’s feral

What would it sound like if pop music was reverted to its most wild state of being? It would sound hyper-digital, influenced by the electronic vanguard of the 2010s, and speak to a post-genre audience...

16 Kesä 32min

Olivia Rodrigo has The Cure for sadness

Olivia Rodrigo is back with her third studio album, you seem pretty sad for a girl in love. As the title might suggest, it’s a deeply personal affair, with moody soundscapes supporting hyper-detailed ...

15 Kesä 42min

Paul McCartney went back to Liverpool for something new to say

Boys of Dungeon Lane, McCartney's collaboration with producer Andrew Watt, arrived when McCartney was 83 and and he came out swinging: the opening track greets listeners with a dissonant, unresolved g...

9 Kesä 42min

How a sci-fi dystopia became a personal utopia (ft. Arc Iris)

A sci-fi ballet imagined a 2080 where AI strips people of purpose, and the day before its New York premiere, an actual dystopia arrived. Arc Iris, the trio of Jocie Adams, Zach Tenorio and Ray Bell...

5 Kesä 13min