The world probably needs more upbeat, celebratory love songs. (The world needs more love in general, but that's another entry for another blog for another day.) Stevie Wonder is a wide-ranging, nuanced writer and producer, able to wrench tears of joy and sorrow from his listeners with ease. From the gentle lullabies that cradle us and make us feel warm, to the the rousing anthems that make us jump out of our seats, Stevie is probably the most provocative composer of our time. This was never more exemplified than on his epic Songs in the Key of Life, a 4-side collection (plus EP) that took its listeners on an exhaustive emotional journey.
"As," out of the five total Wonder-performed tracks on our countdown, ended up being the highest ranked because of how many of us love it. And though I can admit that it's not my number one favorite (only by a hair), the power of this song cannot be denied. Even on an upbeat track, Stevie uses his requisite cosmic and nature-themed references to give the lyrics weight. This ain't no typical, run-of-the-mill, ordinary pedestrian love. This is the kind of love that will last until the end of the world. And maybe even then it will still go strong. Although SoulBounce favorites Mary J. Blige and George Michael recorded a decent duet version in recent years, nothing quite beats a Stevie original.
Stevie Wonder: "As"
