Pastime Paradise
| "Pastime Paradise" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Song by Stevie Wonder | ||||
| from the album Songs in the Key of Life[1] | ||||
| Released | 1976 | |||
| Genre | Soul, pop | |||
| Length | 3:27 | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Stevie Wonder | |||
| Producer(s) | Stevie Wonder | |||
| Songs in the Key of Life track listing | ||||
| ||||
| "Pastime Paradise" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Sunlightsquare | |
| from the album Urban Latin Soul[2] | |
| Genre | Soul, Latin music |
| Length | 4:31 |
| Songwriter(s) | Stevie Wonder |
"Pastime Paradise" is a song from the 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life by Grammy-winning artist Stevie Wonder.[1] The song was one of the first to use a synthesizer (the Yamaha GX-1) to sound like a full string section.[3] Built initially from synth tracks rather than from a drummer setting the basic rhythm, the song is augmented with rhythm performances from Ray Maldonado, Bobbye Hall, and Wonder, and a persistent "chinging" bell pattern by Hare Krishna musicians. A gospel choir from West Angeles Church of God and Hare Krishna chanting group culminate in a multicultural finale.[4]
Meaning
Steve Lodder writes that the song can be understood in two different ways. It compares and contrasts the difference between the negative attitude of someone who has a flawed past, and the positive outlook of someone who wishes for a perfect future in this life or the next. Or, the song may be understood as Wonder describing how me-first materialism and laziness cannot compare to a strong work ethic which brings the great reward of heaven.[5]
Covers and samplings
The song was notably sampled by Coolio for "Gangsta's Paradise" (and its parody, "Amish Paradise" by Weird Al Yankovic), as well as in songs such as "Time" by Mary J. Blige and "Crack" by Scarface.[6] Covers versions of the song include recordings by Patti Smith, Panache Culture, Sherri Winston, Karl Latham, Sunlightsquare,[7][8] and a Latin version by Ray Baretto.[9]
References
- 1 2 "Stevie Wonder – Songs In The Key Of Life". Discogs.com. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
- ↑ "Sunlightsquare – Urban Latin Soul". Discogs.com. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
- ↑ "Pastime Paradise". AllMusic.com.
- ↑ Buskin, Richard (December 2007). "Classic Tracks: Stevie Wonder 'Pastime Paradise'". Sound on Sound.
- ↑ "Stevie Wonder: A Musical Guide to the Classical Albums".
- ↑ "Pastime Paradise". AllMusic.com.
- ↑ "Pastime Paradise by Stevie Wonder". SecondHandSongs.com.
- ↑ "Sunlightsquare cover of Stevie Wonder's Pastime Paradise". Whosampled.com. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
- ↑ "Ray Barretto cover of Stevie Wonder's Pastime Paradise". Whosampled.com. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
