Friday November 13, 2020 “Superstition” Stevie Wonder

We missed Friday the 13th, and gratefully all survived it but I thought we would revisit it.

So it’s Friday the 13th and what better song to mark the day than Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition”.

 Stevie Wonder originally wrote this song about the dangers of believing in superstitions for Jeff Beck who was brought in to the Motown studios to do some guitar work, ironically including this track.  However Berry Gordy knew a hit when he heard it and released the Stevie Wonder version before Beck had a chance to release his.

Jeff Beck would release his own version as Beck, Bogert & Appice.

Some of the bad luck superstitions Wonder alludes to included walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror, and of course the number 13 none of which proved to be superstitious for Steive as this was a million selling number one song.  Other than the horns and the guitar, Stevie played all the instruments on this recording.

 I met Stevie Wonder in the Ronald Reagan Airport in DC one evening as we were both waiting for a flight to New York and I can tell you two interesting things about him: he was a very gracious man and he was really tall.

 Stay safe and well...and keep away from ladders and black cats today.

Very superstitious, writings on the wall

Very superstitious, ladders bout' to fall

Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass

Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past

 When you believe in things that you don't understand

Then we suffer

Superstition ain't the way 

Very superstitious, wash your face and hands

Rid me of the problems, do all that you can 

Keep me in a daydream, keep me goin' strong

You don't want to save me, sad is my song 

When you believe in things you don't understand

Then you sufferSuperstition ain't the way, yeh, yeh 

Very superstitious, nothin' more to say

Very superstitious, the devil's on his way

Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass

Seven years of bad luck, good things in your past 

When you believe in things that you don't understand

Then you suffer

Superstition ain't the way, no, no, no