Superstition (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was twenty-two years old. It was included on Wonder's Talking Book album, and released as a single in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number four in the UK, in February 1973.

Stevie had actually written this song for Jeff Beck, but at the insistance of his own manager, Stevie recorded it first. Beck was instead offered "Cause We've Ended As Lovers", which he recorded for 1975's Blow by Blow. Jeff Beck played guitar on Talking Book and later recorded his own version of Superstition with Beck, Bogert & Appice.

Wonder's music had been undergoing a marked change from his earlier Motown pop to a more personal style. This shift had been evident on his two prior albums, but it was Talking Book, and "Superstition" in particular that brought the new style to the awareness of the public in general.

The song deals with superstitions, and mentions several popular fables in its lyrics, such as in the line "Thirteen-month-old baby/Broke the looking glass/Seven years of bad luck/The good things in your past". The chorus contains some advice: "When you believe in things/That you don't understand/Then you suffer/Superstition ain't the way".

"Superstition" is immediately recognizable for its opening drum loop, which was performed by Stevie, and in particular for its funky clavinet riff. The song also heavily features brass instruments and saxophones, notably a saxophone lead by Trevor Laurence, and the electronic Arp and Moog synthesizer sounds that Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff helped to create for the album.

Wonder performed "Superstition" on the children's television show Sesame Street in 1972, as well as on Soul Train and WNET's Soul. The song also featured in a series of commercials for Levi's jeans, broadcast in the United States in late 2006.

The song was featured in a scene of John Carpenter's The Thing (film). T.K. Carter's character, Nauls, listens to it on a boom box in the kitchen, defiantly turning up the volume when he is asked to turn it down.It was also featured in the movie i Robot staring Will Smith where Smith's character plays it after waking up

The song has also been covered by Melvin Van Peebles, Raven-Symone, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Vaughan and Wonder had mutual admiration for one another; Wonder would later write the song "Stevie Ray Blues" in honor of Vaughan). Bucky Covington covered the song on the fifth season of American Idol, and his version was included on the CD. The song is also covered by Widespread Panic along with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band on Panic's 2000 release Another Joyous Occasion.

The distinctive riff was used in an unofficial "mashup" with Alicia Keys' hit "Karma", which was dubbed the "Karmastition Remix". Although this was fairly successful on the dance circuit charts in 2004, it was only released to DJ's as a 12" vinyl in the UK.

In November 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Superstition at #74 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Preceded by "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon	Billboard Hot 100 number one single January 27, 1973	Succeeded by "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John