The song Stevie Wonder played as a tribute to Marvin Gaye
Stevie Wonder is a name synonymous with musical genius. As someone whose talent emerged at an early age, Wonder crafted a legacy nothing short of legendary, setting out an unparalleled path to stardom from taking Motown by storm to becoming a global icon. His impact on the music industry is immeasurable, largely due to the fact that his songs transcend genres and resonate with people from all walks of life.
Wonder was catching the attention of audiences long before achieving chart-topping success. Barry Gordy and the Motown team quickly acknowledged his unparalleled talent even before the singer reached adolescence. At this time, Wonder found himself on tour, showcasing his captivating live performances with youthful exuberance coupled with an abundance of confidence and musical prowess.
In its entirety, Wonder’s discography is a testament to timelessness and innovation. His mastery of blending soul, R&B, pop, and funk, often enriched with social and political themes, set him apart, particularly in the 1970s with albums like Talking Book, Innervisions, and Songs in the Key of Life. The iconic synthesiser-driven sounds, coupled with poignant lyrics, established Wonder as a pioneer in the evolving landscape of contemporary music.
In April 1984, Wonder and many other musical luminaries were moved by the tragic passing of songwriting legend Marvin Gaye. According to various sources, Gaye was working on a duets album before his passing, with Wonder rumoured to have penned his heartfelt hit ‘Lighting Up The Candles’ with Gaye in mind. However, Wonder ended up paying tribute to Gaye with the song at his funeral instead, a seemingly perfect send-off for a musical icon.
In the spirit of celebration, the song’s lyrics occurred at the ideal moment for commemorating Gaye’s legacy. “Lighting up the candles / To what use to be / Tender memories in moments of love / Happy times and bad times / All seem wonderful,” Wonder sang that night, as many came together to honour the life and career of the ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ star.
Wonder has endured the lives and deaths of many musical icons during his tenure. The death of the legendary Prince, for instance, cut deep, especially given the fact that the singer regarded him as one of his heroes. “It’s a heartbreak to lose a member of that army of love,” Wonder said at the time. “It’s rare for me that I can feel, with every single breath, how he just passionately loved music.”
“It was hard to convey a message because I was in so much pain,” Wonder told NPR a year later. “Not saying I wasn’t with the others. But we had previously, very recently talked and talked about his future and things that he wanted to do and how inspired he was with the things he wanted to do. It lets you know: Hey, tomorrow’s not promised to anyone. But you say, ‘God, why him?'”
“But we are not the controllers of life,” he continued. “And that’s why people need to stop doing that, trying to control life. But I was — it was just painful for me. And as much as we say, ‘Well we’ve got his music. We’ve got their art, we got their this, we got their that’ — I would’ve loved to have some more of him, and them.”
