One of the greatest songs of all time. It can't be overstated the effect this song had on the music world. It influenced the sound of almost all genres of music.
This is an example of why Stevie Wonder is such a beloved and respected musician. He probably waived his fee or worked for scale to be on the show. He could have gone through the motions and just did an okay version of the song. Instead, Stevie and the band not only bring their A game, they bring their A+++ game. The band is tight, they do a banger version of the song, and then Stevie finishes off with a Sesame Street tribute.
@@jacluv7862 : That's him at 17, I think. Look him up. He's done so much more than just Ghostbusters theme. He's still producing music too. **Correction: Ray Parker, Jr. was 18 or 19 in this performance. He toured with Stevie Wonder in 1972 as an opening act for The Rolling Stones. I think I remember 17 as RPJ's age when he joined Wonderlove, the name of Stevie's band at the time.
there was a time back in the day when sesame Street was one of the hippest streets to be chilling at streets.. we call it Pre Elmo days everything changed when he was introduced. Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Johnny Cash, James Taylor in a whole hell of a lot more check out Mr raydio Ray Parker jr. laying down guitar here..Ben this video lot of people don't remember Ray Parker was a part of the Stevie wonder's band in the early 70s
You should check out some old clips from "The Muppet Show". They had a musical guest every week with names like Johnny Cash, Elton John, and even Alice Cooper performing with the muppets. It was pretty funny to see.
@@brianmiller1077 Buddy Rich was amazing! I got to meet him when I was young. My mother did some t-shirts for him and he came to the house to pick them up. I had a kid size 3 piece drum set in my room. He jammed on it, gave me a free lesson, and gave me a set of brushes. Talented and kind.
It's possible. I've never heard that before, but his dad was a TV executive and his mom was just getting ready to do the Jeffersons in '74, so it would make some sense.
@@suzyg20 RP Jr. was one of the young guns from Detroit back in the day so it probably was him. He has great stories about hanging out with James Jamerson and other Detroit legends when he was just a kid.
@@ganglion101 Exactly!!!! I wish people remembers to laugh at funny dumb stuff!! You remember the Bit with Chevy and Richard??? Always makes me laugh that got aired lolol
True! For a while it seemed they were giving him GRAMMY'S just so that everyone else can have a shot! Like Here Stevie, here's your GRAMMY now, for everybody else....
I saw this when I was about five, mesmerized by the performance and trying to process my father telling me Stevie was blind. Suffice to say, this is one of the greatest songs in the history of music, in my humble opinion. And for me, this is the definitive performance. Fantastic reaction, Jamel!
@@jackal59 .... Lenny Kravitz knew some folks who worked for CTW. His mother Roxie Roker was an film, music and T.V. promoter and actress. And so was his father Sy Kravitz. In fact she was in the T.V. show the Jefferson's. Where she played the character Helen Willis, Both of the are related to NBC Today Show national weatherman Al Roker.
I don't recall ever seeing anyone else bring on their whole band and doing one of their hits like that, but if maybe they were doing an episode on superstitions and they asked if he might sing it for the show, thinking probably him singing it with Elmo and Oscar or something... then yah, I can see him walking in with his whole band and giving Sesame Street copyright to what might be the best live rendition of the song ever. He's got a long history with the show.
I remember this episode, and there was no theme, it was just Stevie Wonder and his band jamming, then it was on to the next letter/number. Watching it was - -"Did Stevie Wonder just appear on Sesame Street or was that a dream?"
Five Great Things About This Performance: 1. That tight-ass rhythm section. Man, that drummer is exploding on the skins. The dude on bongos and bass need all the glory for laying down the funk! That is one tight-ass band! 2. Stevie "Gatdam" Wonder. 'Nuff said. 3. That horn section.Tight and brilliant. That horn section is bright, climactic and brilliantly clear. Love every note. 4. That kid in the rafters given'er with the throwdown and doing what we all want to do when we hear this classic. Shit, that kid is awesome! 5. The fact that this awesome performance was on "Sesame Street"!!! This is what children's programming should be about. Not selling garbage or junk food, but depicting peo❤ple in your neghbourhood. Mr. Rogers, Mr. Dressup, and the diverse cast of Sesame Street. I was too young for Stevie's performance but I recall Maria, Luis, Buffy Sainte Marie, Mr. Hooper, Gordon, Bob, and Susan❤you all
I remember seeing this vividly on Sesame Street when I was five years old. I couldn't look away because I couldn't believe that they were playing modern music on a kids show and also the song was so damn catchy, still is to this day I might add.
The very first Sesame Street episode has Mahalia Jackson sing "He's got the Whole World in his Hand" It's very moving and a good message for right now, as she's accompanied by multi-racial children. Mahalia Jackson is the Gospel Queen, in case you don't know her. Powerful stuff.
Masterful songwriter with the.talent of twenty, rolled up in a kind soul...saw him live (with a 25+- piece band - huge horn + percussion sections, a dozen backup singers, and he sang for almost 4 hours without a break, flashing that extraordinary smile the whole time...still the best concert I've ever been to (at 60!) He embodies his life passion ...
I love that this is a full on, live performance. It is not watered down for kids and shows the power of the music. I was so happy when this was reposted, as I remembered it as a kid as well!
YES!YES!YES! Jamel! I've been in love with the groove in this song ever since I first heard it back in the day. I'm so ecstatic that you did your reaction to one of Best of the great Stevie Wonder. Thank you for spreading the news about great music. Keep spreading the joy!
This was when Talking Book was the current album, I remember whenever this perform was broadcasted, whatever I was playing with or doing, it STOPPED..... until it was done. You didn't know when it would come up. The Sesame Street broadcasts were almost never the same sequence, never the same order. So you never know what's coming up until you saw it. No advanced listing in the TV guide, so every broadcast was a treat.
One day, in my tiny little home town, I walked my little brother after school to our house (three blocks away). As usual, my brother wanted to get home in time to watch Sesame Street. Usually, I just sat down and talked to my mom, but this episode of Sesame Street came on and we all rocked out to Steve! I laughed because that little girl up on the fire escape was rocking so hard that she had to hang onto the rail to keep from falling!
Sesame Street in the 70's was an amazing, ground breaking show. I saw this performance when I was 3 1/2 years old and I remember it perfectly. I am blessed to have lived in a time when some of the best music ever played was produced.
"...wash your face and hands..." Ritual Ablution (symbolically washing your hands and face) is an ancient practice across many religions. It is so old and primal, that the Egyptian symbol for "holy man" is a person pouring water out of a jug. But so many people do these ritual things, without understanding why they are doing them, and that is what Stevie is talking about: Doing things without understanding ain't the Way. Keep giving us the good stuff! Recommendations: Nine Inch Nails - Head like a Hole Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction, Foreclosure of a Dream Extreme - Warheads (or anything off of 'Extreme 3 Sides of a Story') Sisters of Mercy - More, Detonation Boulevard AC/DC - Soul Stripper
I just heard Stevie Wonder sing the theme song to Sesame Street the other night on the show 50 Years Of Sunny Days and he was amazing cause he was playing the piano and the harmonica and he was backed by Quest Love on drums.
I remember watching this when I was like 5. Wasn’t old enough to understand what I was watching but was captivated. That funky-clavi keyboard sound, the brass, and why is this guy wearing such dark glasses and moving his head back and forth like that? This is still my favorite Stevie Wonder song.
Love it! Saw it before but it's even better now....thank you. When I was 5, I said to my momma, 'Where is Sesame Street because I want to go there!' I thought it was real and I wanted to go there.....
Jessie McGuinty not sure. Seems so. I was obviously a boy as in not mid to later teens and it was black and white. Seems he was introduced, perhaps a show?
Hey, anybody remember when children's educational TV was cool? Thought not. Jamel, you have to check out the version of "Superstition" by Jeff Beck's short-lived group Beck Bogert Appice. Stevie originally wrote the song for Jeff Beck (they met and became friends during Beck's days touring America with The Yardbirds). Unfortunately, the then-current version of The Jeff Beck Group broke up before he could record it, so the song stayed on the shelf. While Beck was putting together B B A, Stevie put it out himself, so by the time the B B A album came out, the lead single had already been a hit. "Superstition" has been covered many times, but my favorite cover was by Stevie Ray Vaughan. The video for his cover is really funny, and of course the guitar solo is incredible.
Yo Gabba Gabba used to get some very cool artists to do a song each week Chromeo did one in their typical style teaching kids about washing hands and Biz markie did his Beat of the Day -- human beatbox each episode
This song is like three all-time grooves riding on top of each other. I'm struck by it every time it comes on. The drums, the keyboard (also playing the bass role), and then the brass. Epic. Never been anything else like it.
Stevie Wonder owned the airwaves for much of the 60s. 70s, and 80s for good reason. The best of the best of the best. It would take you all day to listen to all of his great music. He was a fantastic early mixer. On some albums he played all instruments and did all voices.
another Stevie masterpiece from the mid-'70s. Another Star from Songs in the Key of Life another of his great ones. I saw Stevie around 1980 and he played three straight hours of hits, great show.
I was 4 years old when I saw this video for the first time, and that's when I became a fan for life! I saw him in DC in 2015, and that was a dream come true.
This, to me, is a PERFECT live performance. Period. Every single time I suggest Stevie to ANYONE younger? (I drive a school bus... so I've got a LOT of people younger than myself to suggest music to when asked. lol) It's THIS specific video. It's just goddamn perfection.
I was 6 when he played this on Sesame Street. I was their perfect target audience. Now I'm 53 and watching this, and I'm STILL his perfect target audience. Thanks for making me feel like a little kid again Stevie. : )
You wouldn't remember mate. This was way before you were a sparkle in your father's eyes. I remember it well in the early 70s. Sesame Street was a staple in Australia too.
OMG, yes. One of my requests! I love this version. So amazing. Ray "Ghostbusters" Parker Jr. is on guitar (blue cap, and no mustache yet). I loved this when I was a kid. I would've been 4 when I saw this. But it's unforgettable. In 1969, 18-year-old Luther Vandross was on, too, singing a song with other teens about counting to 20.
I remember when this aired. My mother walked past the tv & said, “I thought you were watching Sesame Street. What’s Stevie Wonder doing on Sesame Street “ I was 8 & my brother was 4 & we watched his shows while I did my homework. (he watched Sesame Street & Mr Rogers)
I worked as a short-order cook at a Ramada Inn in Michigan and the lounge band was rehearsing this song one afternoon as I was punching out and I had to stand there and listen. My favorite rendition of this song is on the Talking Book album's studio version from 1972. Of course, Radio stations limited most records' play time to 3 minutes at the most and would cut songs to fit. That little girl dancing in the Sesame Street's video was feelin' it exactly the same way I felt inside as I stood in that dark lounge and listened to those guys play the hell out of Mr. Wonder's music. What a gift to the world of music Stevie Wonder really is.
Hey, so this is kind of funny... I'll get into how this reminded me of a video I watched a few weeks ago. I don't know if you're familiar with Jose Feliciano, but he is also blind -- a great Puerto Rican guitarist & vocalist -- and he hit the top 10 in 1968 with a cover version of a song by the Doors which you have reacted to: Light My Fire. And a bit of additional synchronicity: the video was a Live At Daryl's House appearance. Great stuff: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tqlBJclyuMY.html
i still remember, to this day, watching this episode on sesame street when it originally aired!!! 😁😁😁😁 😁. i started 1st grade the next year. haven't looked at the posts , but did anyone notice ray parker jr. on bass? afro, cap and no mustache.
As a young kid he was called Little Stevie Wonder and he always wanted to hang out with The Funk Brothers, the house band of Motown. After one session he was talking to the piano player and said he liked what he just played. The guy brought Stevie to the piano and helped him began to play. One year later the teacher's services were no longer required!! He was thinking Stevie already knew more about playing the piano than he did!! Then he said "i bet it was the same thing when he learned to play them drums!! Yes Stevie is as much genius as ever Ray Charles.
Oh my goodness! This is one of my first memories in life. I was a little girl, watching Sesame Street, and Stevie Wonder is there and I told my mom, “THIS is what I like!” I was probably 4 years old. Still love Stevie.
