Superstition (song)

For other uses, see Superstition (disambiguation).

"Superstition"
Single by Stevie Wonder
from the album Talking Book
B-side"You've Got It Bad Girl"
ReleasedOctober 24, 1972
Recorded1972
StudioElectric Lady, New York City
Genre
Length
  • 4:26 (album version)
  • 4:07 (7" version)
LabelMotown
Songwriter(s)Stevie Wonder
Producer(s)
Stevie Wonder singles chronology
"Keep on Running"
(1972) 		"Superstition"
(1972) 		"You Are the Sunshine of My Life"
(1973)
Music video
"Superstition" (Official Audio) on YouTube

"Superstition" is a song by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder. It was released on October 24, 1972, as the lead single from his fifteenth studio album, Talking Book (1972), by Tamla.[7] The lyrics describe popular superstitions[8] and their negative effects.

"Superstition" reached number one in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in January 1973 [9][8] and on the soul singles chart.[10] It was Wonder's first number-one single since "Fingertips, Pt. 2" in 1963.[11] It peaked at number eleven in the UK Singles Chart in February 1973. In November 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the song number 74 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was re-ranked number 73 on its 2010 list,[12] and number 12 on its 2021 list.[13] At the 16th Grammy Awards, the song earned Wonder two Grammys: "Best Rhythm & Blues Song" and "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male". In 1998, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[14]

  1. ^ Huey, Steve. "Stevie Wonder | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  2. ^ Considine, J.D. (2004). "Stevie Wonder". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 885–886. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  3. ^ McFerrin, John. "Stevie Wonder- Talking Book". Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  4. ^ Pitchfork Staff (August 22, 2016). "The 200 Best Songs of the 1970s". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 13, 2022. The drums came first: one of pop's most instantly recognizable intros tapped out on one of the tightest-ever snares leading into an indelible funk groove of swung 16th notes.
  5. ^ Breihan, Tom (March 20, 2019). "The Number Ones: Stevie Wonder's "Superstition"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 17, 2023. And yet "Superstition" is still a soul song, with its perfectly timed horn stabs...
  6. ^ Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 165. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.
  7. ^ "Superstition: Stevie Wonder". Rolling Stone. December 9, 2004. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved January 16, 2008.
  8. ^ a b Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 276. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
  9. ^ "This Week in Billboard Chart History: In 1973, Stevie Wonder's 'Superstition' Soared to No. 1 on the Hot 100". Billboard.
  10. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 635.
  11. ^ "Stevie Wonder Top Songs". MusicVF.com. Music VF, US & UK hits charts. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  12. ^ "Superstition ranked #73 on Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs List in 2010". Rolling Stone. December 11, 2003. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  13. ^ "Superstition ranked #12 on Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs List". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  14. ^ "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com.