Favorite "City" Songs #7 - "Living for the City"
@teamfreak16 (43418)
Denver, Colorado
January 20, 2019 8:18am CST
You know me when it comes to message songs. I can't get enough. I am counting down my favorite songs with "Town," "City," "State," and "Country" in the title, and this is the "City" edition. We are at #7: "Living for the City" by Stevie Wonder.
"A boy is born in hard time Mississippi," begins Stevie Wonder's Grammy Award-winning "Living for the City," from his classic 1973 album, Innervisions. And it only gets worse from there.
In this diatribe about racism, the boy's proud parents bust their asses on a daily basis for very little pay, his sister's clothes are old (but always clean,) and because, as Stevie points out, nobody hires colored people, his brother can't find a job. The boy heads to New York City, is arrested for a crime he didn't commit, and sentenced to 10 years.
And Stevie's vocals get very angry after that!
Stevie Wonder played every instrument on the classic tune, which reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was covered a year later by Ray Charles, who also won a Grammy for his performance.
I'll say it again. Stevie Wonder is a national treasure. This is just one reason why. But a damn good one.
(Info verified by Wikipedia)
7 people like this
8 responses
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
20 Jan 19
Most definitely. One of his best.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
20 Jan 19
Definitely deserving of the "legend" status.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (49721)
• Mojave, California
20 Jan 19
Love it buddy, national treasure indeed. He always makes me think about this show and sorry could not find a short clip but its in there somewhere. I am like Stevie Wonder..... blind as a beep. Funny as all hell.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
20 Jan 19
I've seen that before.
When you get a chance, check out the website Duffleblog. It's like The Onion, only geared towards the military. It's hilarious!
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (49721)
• Mojave, California
20 Jan 19
@teamfreak16 Ah OK, yeah shared that before and think you were the only one that responded. I love it though figure you would not mind again. I will check that out sounds neat. Never knew military had a funny personality where they would do that. I am not complaining, always uptight if know what I mean.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
22 Jan 19
@crossbones27 - Here's a taste. Hilarious.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump pulled aside Patrick Shanahan, the acting secretary of Defense, following a cabinet meeting to ask him about finding employment for Donald Trump Jr. as an “Army guy,” sources confirmed today. “Pat, question for you,” th
@JudyEv (342155)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 19
@teamfreak16 Actually I'd forgotten that bit.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35744)
•
26 Jan 19
A wonderous song selection! In 1969, Motown gave Stevie complete control of his recordings. He was one of the first artists to write, produce, arrange, and perform his own songs.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
27 Jan 19
It's one of his best, which is really saying something!
@FourWalls (69033)
• United States
20 Jan 19
I can feel it all over! I can feel it all over, people!! Oh, wait...wrong song.
That’s okay, still a great one.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
20 Jan 19
You meant "wrong great song!"
Ever heard of the website Duffleblog? Very much like The Onion, only geared towards the military? Hilarious!
1 person likes this
@Noraze (22)
•
20 Jan 19
Stevie wonder - superstition, is also a good one.
And he had also sang with Beatles' member Paul McCartney for the song Ebony And Ivory
https://youtu.be/TZtiJN6yiik
Hope you guys hear it..have a nice day..