#76 Superstition- Stevie Wonder

When you believe in things/
That you don’t understand,
Then you suffer…

Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” is a very unique concept for a song. Wonder’s thoughts on superstition is actually pretty profound: “When you believe in things that you don’t understand/ Then you suffer.” Interesting. I think most of us think of having superstitions as being cute or quirky. However, when stated like that, it is one more mental barrier I am placing between myself and the Truth, and that can’t be good, right?

Superstition
Stevie Wonder

That funky beat in the introduction is a great cross between Motown and a bit of Disco. The clavinet creates a great sound…it should be used more often in pop music and rock music. If I were a current producer this seems like unexplored territory I might want to look into. The intro drumbeat is pretty standard, but not many songs start with a 10 second drum-only part. It was recorded by Jeff Beck.

Lyrics Superstition
Very superstitious,
Writing’s 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 you suffer,
Superstition aint the way

Everybody scream!

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

written by Stevie Wonder

#75 Creep- Radiohead

I want a perfect body/
I want a perfect soul.
I want you to notice.

“Creep” is the song that made Radiohead famous.  For a couple years it appeared Radiohead might be a one-hit wonder. That was mostly a function of how big this song was on the radio and how little commercial airplay the rest of their catalogue received.  In hindsight, they are one of the most important and influential bands of the 90s with Nirvana and Green Day.

Creep meaning
Radiohead
The narrator feels like a “creep” because that is how society has labels men who approach women who are more attractive. And he wants to approach a particular woman who is out of his league. He places her on a pedestal–this is obvious and problematic.  Equally problematic are his feelings of self-hatred for feeling attraction and society’s reaction to “ugly” people.

We initially feel him to be a sympathetic character. I believe this is what makes the song connect with so many people.  We have all had feelings of inferiority and approaching strangers is difficult for anyone. We are rooting for him and we identify with him.

However, things turn south toward the end of the song. He describes her running out the door.  Is this woman so insensitive, or is it more likely that he is exhibiting creepy behavior? Or perhaps he is an unreliable narrator and not telling us all the details or giving us a distorted version of the story. We don’t know.

The melody of the song is amazing as are the vocals. It does sound a bit like another song on this list, The Hollies The Air That I Breathe, so perhaps that is a particular chord progression that just works. Obviously, the songs are unique enough to both deserve a spot on this list. The best part of the song is when the electric guitar comes in on “I’m so fucking special… (tat)(tat)..(tat)(tat)…(wahhh)..(that’s a guitar sound).

Radiohead avoids playing it live, which is annoying. I don’t care if you’re sick of playing it. I payed a lot of money for this once in a lifetime experience. Sing the song I want.

Creep Lyrics

When you were here before
Couldn’t look you in the eye
You’re just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
I wish I was special
You’re so fuckin’ special

But I’m a creep
I’m a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don’t belong here

I don’t care if it hurts
I wanna have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I’m not around
You’re so fuckin’ special

I wish I was special
But I’m a creep
I’m a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don’t belong here, oh, oh

She’s running out the door
She’s running out
She run, run, run, run
Run

Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You’re so fuckin’ special
I wish I was special

But I’m a creep
I’m a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don’t belong here
I don’t belong here

#74 The Other Woman- Nina Simone

The other woman has time to manicure her nails/
The other woman is perfect where her rival fails.

Nina Simone’s “The Other Woman” shows she is one of the masters of covering other artist’s material. Another I would put in her league is Tori Amos. Interestingly, both are classically trained pianists. I think that has a lot to do with it. They can add nuance to a song where before there was none, by taking a standard chord and turning into a 6th,7th, or 9th for flavor. Also, they can simply play the songs better and with more difficult and sophisticated arrangements.

 

The Other Woman Meaning
Nina Simone

“The Other Woman” is an old-school song. You wouldn’t hear this song written today…attitudes have changed. However, it was written by Jessie Mae Robinson, a woman. I suspected a man was the author. The story is that while the Other Woman looks better, and always meets my man smelling fresh like a daisy, she will end up spending her life alone, because he’s staying married to me.

If you are a girl/woman who is an aspiring singer, listen to Simone for clues on how to sing. She accentuates her lower octave and modulates her tone. Emotion is conveyed through the use of diction and slight variance in volume and barely any vibrato. It sounds like she is singing for an audience of one, not a stadium. There is one, short tasteful vocal run and that’s it. You might not win any contests with this style, but you will win an audience.

The Other Woman Lyrics

The other woman finds time to manicure her nails
The other woman is perfect where her rival fails
And she’s never seen with pin curls in her hair
The other woman enchants her clothes with French perfume

The other woman keeps fresh cut flowers in each room
There are never toys that’s scattered everywhere
And when her baby comes to call
He’ll find her waiting like a lonesome queen

Cos when she’s by his side
It’s such a change from old routine
But the other woman will always cry herself to sleep
The other woman will never have his love to keep

And as the years go by the other woman
Will spend her life alone
Written by Jessie Mae Robinson