Stevie Wonder is one of the most important influences on pop music in history. He blended the rhythmic and harmonic aspects of many genres and embraced new technology to create his own unique signature sound. There have been many who have been inspired by his music as well as his innovative spirit in the years that have followed. In this article, we’ll take a look at just a few of the artists who borrowed certain aspects of Stevie Wonder’s sound.
How Stevie Wonder’s Rhythms Shaped Michael Jackson’s Solo Sound
Michael Jackson‘s approach to rhythm and harmony—particularly in his solo material from the late 1970s onward—shows clear influence from Stevie Wonder’s pioneering use of synthesizers, complex rhythms, and innovative harmonic progressions. Stevie Wonder was always known for his ability to shape tension and release in his harmonies with a smooth transition between the two that never felt too jarring. Jackson took heed of these lessons during his time in his solo career. Jackson admired Wonder’s ability to blend genres and has cited Stevie as an inspiration in many interviews throughout his life.
Jackson’s music often incorporated some very Stevie Wonder-influenced elements of funk and jazz. The song “Bad,” for example, has a bassline that is essential to the song’s structure, and it seems to draw from influence from Wonder’s music, specifically, the song “Ordinary Pain.“
Jackson and Wonder had a close musical and personal relationship. In fact, Stevie Wonder wrote some songs for Jackson, such as “I Can’t Help It” from his 1979 album “Off The Wall”. The song fits pretty seamlessly into Michael Jackson’s vast catalog of songs, further proving that Wonder was certainly a big part of Michael Jackson’s musical DNA.
Prince Followed Stevie Wonder’s Path to Creative Control
Prince not only took cues in the compositional genius of Stevie Wonder, but in his approach to the music business as well. Prince, like Wonder, strove for and achieved total creative control over his music and the production of his albums. Part of the reason he was able to do that is the fact that he is a brilliant multi-instrumentalist. Prince was influenced by Stevie Wonder’s multi-instrumentalism, complex arrangements, and genre-blending style that combined elements of funk, soul, pop, jazz, and rock.
Prince’s most iconic works are earmarked by funky grooves, complex arrangements, and harmonic richness. These are all hallmarks of Wonder’s work as well. Much like Michael Jackson, Prince also collaborated with Stevie Wonder on a song from 2005 called “So What’s The Fuss,” where Prince played guitar on the track.
Maroon 5 Carried Stevie Wonder’s Soul Into Modern Pop
Maroon 5 have been known to infuse elements of soul, funk, and pop into their music, often adopting rhythmic grooves and colorful harmonies that harken back to Wonder’s famous works. You can really hear this in their hits like “Sunday Morning,” “Shiver,” and “This Love“. The band, and more specifically, frontman Adam Levine, has cited Wonder’s music as a profound influence on them throughout their career. In particular, I think you can hear Wonder’s influence in the vocal harmonies very clearly. In 2005, Adam Levine performed live with Stevie Wonder.
Erykah Badu Found Kinship in Stevie Wonder’s Legacy
Erykah Badu is known as the queen of neo-soul, which was a genre that emerged in the 1990s from a blending of soul and R&B – two genres that are certainly part of Stevie Wonder’s legacy. Badu has cited Wonder as a profound influence on her music and career. When she won her Grammy in 1998 for best R&B album, she made sure to specifically thank Stevie Wonder. She was particularly drawn to his compositions but also his social and cultural impact. She found a kinship with his expression of the Black experience in America, his artistic freedom, and the spiritual messages and social consciousness that he infused into his music.
Why the Red Hot Chili Peppers Turned to Stevie Wonder for Funk Inspiration
The Red Hot Chili Peppers were obviously influenced by funk and R&B in general but Stevie Wonder was a standout for them. That’s why they covered “Higher Ground” on their 1989 album “Mothers Milk”. The song was not only a tribute to their musical idol, Stevie Wonder, but was a song that sat very naturally in their repertoire. Wonder’s unique perspective on funk music was most notably an influence on Flea, who provided the funk-laden bass track on that cover.
That cover song helped the band to reach broader audiences and set them up to be the juggernaut band they would become in the years to come. Their ability to blend genres and engage in complex rhythmic interplay was essential to their success and Stevie Wonder’s music was a large source of the inspiration to do that.
Stevie Wonder’s Songwriting: The Influence That Spans Generations
I think among the many different things that go into making Stevie Wonder’s sound so unique and inspiring, one thing above all else was essential – the ability to write a great song. Wonder was able to convey emotion in a way that was somehow very specific and very general at the same time. It was usually quite uplifting, which made it perfect as a pop staple.
The artists who have cited Wonder’s songwriting are exhaustive and span every genre, from Beyonce to Ed Sheeran to Nick Jonas, even Snoop Dogg has expressed reverence for Wonder’s music and has collaborated with him. His ability to tell a story and convey deep emotions is paramount to the staying power of his music, and the effect of that emotion was further accented by his melodies, harmonies, and unparalleled musicality.
