#30 -- Stevie Wonder

Internal Geometry

If ever there were an artist who one could claim was the #1 pop singer of his era, it would be Stevie Wonder.

I vividly remember a scene from my late teenage years, sitting in a restaurant with friends, eating lunch.  One by one we chose a song on the juke box to listen to.  And each choice said a little bit about us.  The biggest knock-out, explosive response was when someone cued up "You Are The Sunshine of My Life".  Not only does it capture the delicious, freed exuberance of youth, but everyone catches onto the doorknob and enters.

Sheer genius is involved in writing and singing such pop.  Not only is the song excellent, but it threads the needle of popularity, finding the perfect sweet spot that speaks to the greatest number of listeners.

Take another example: "Higher Ground".  The bouncy funk was revolutionary in its appeal across musical tastes.  But why did it have such broad magnetism?  The Internal geometry.  This is what makes some songwriters giants; and incidentally, what becomes the giveaway for 'throwaway' genres that are living off hype and little else (punchy rhythm and bass, snappy lyrics and you've got Rap; add a pleasing architecture and you've got greatness).

 ...................................

Each band or performer is graded on four things:
  1.  Innovation
  2.  Influence in my life--as a typical American
  3.  Integrity: the band's approach to music (just making a buck or honing a craft?)  
  4.  Immortality--am I, a typical American--still eager to hear their music

8/7//6/6 = 27 out of a perfect 40

....................................

C'est Vrai: Wonder played all the instruments you hear on "Higher Ground", not to mention writing the words.

#31 -- Sting

The artist Sting, besides generating countless popular hits in the '80s and '90's, has done for Rock & Roll what few other musicians have accomplished: merged the popular with the classical to give Rock unbounded respect.

Most successful musicians are content to stick to a groove, churning out additional, derivative hits, or music aimed in that direction, often collaborating with other artists once they've an established brand to bank on.  But few have traveled as far afield as Sting.  First Jazz, then singing in foreign languages, archaic traditional, North African, Indian, hip-hop, and finally a musical play.

And this is all on top of a life devoted to activism, in which charity concerts to raise funds for worthy causes are manyfold. 

Several weeks ago I was watching the PBS show 'Finding Your Roots", which traces celebrity genealogies, and saw Sting participate.  His roots, it turns out, were generally Nordic, and quite 'umble.  His reaction was as genuinely pleased amd as gracious as if he'd been found the long lost 17th Earl of Pompton.  It's a safe bet that few superstars would react that way.

 ...................................

Each band or performer is graded on four things:
  1.  Innovation
  2.  Influence in my life--as a typical American
  3.  Integrity: the band's approach to music (just making a buck or honing a craft?)  
  4.  Immortality--am I, a typical American--still eager to hear their music

9/4/9/5 = 27 out of a perfect 40

....................................

Fun Fact: Sting's is the voice singing "I want my MTV" in the over-the-top, mocking, 1985 Dire Straits song, "Money For Nothing".