I'm a 67 year old white dude, who got married for the first time at age 60. I tracked down the 12" extended single of this and had the DJ at our wedding reception play it. Yes - it's an incredibly life-affirming and positive message that EVERYONE should hear. Our friends and guests were a mix of white, Caribbean, Hispanic, Asian, and African-American folks. EVERYONE loved it.
I posted this song for people to appreciate the music. The music is for everybody to enjoy regardless of colour or race. This is not a forum for abuse, if you actually listen to the song all the way through, you will realise the message is for everybody. Thank you
Just transported back to 1983 Lloret de Mar 18-30s holiday, 22 years old and really living my best life. 61 now fat, recently widowed. Bless you and thanks for the memories of happier times 🖤🤍🤎
Just brilliant. I bought this 12" single as a young boy 40 years ago in Glasgow, Scotland. Still have it somewhere. The rhythm, the beat... captivated me. I learned every word on the back of the sleeve... and now have just reeled it all off again! Magic.
I am 59 years old and this just reminds me of how much better our lives were. we did not have much all we wanted was the music and getting pissed on a fiver. it makes you wanna cry.Kimmy B
Human skin colour should never have any bearing. Every human is equal. Been lucky to know many peoples from Asia Africa Middle East Europe. Everyone has great value. Great respect and regard.
This tune is Awake up to all .. listen to the words... Stay United and not divided... I'm 53... This is my tune 😊.... Love it always .. what a message to humanity if only people listen. Xx
i last posted about this song around 6 years ago.. I went to an 80s night last weekend and the dj played the intro to this song and i was the only one who got it !! And i still know every single word.. Well impressed and so was he !!
I am from Britain and my dad played this when l was a toddler. My books told this very story and reinforced what Gary Bird rapped about! I am forever grateful to both my father & DJ Gary Bird!
My colour is incidental. Bought this on my 18th birthday in 83 and it spoke to me and still does. Be proud of who you are whoever you are. Respect and love each other. No time for hate life is short.
In 2022. This song is a timeless classic, my dad introduced me to this song! I still feel people don't appreciate the history that this song covers. One of the best ever
There is a generation of people born in the mid 60s who when hearing this just know. Youre in the presence of others of the same generation. No words are needed just a simple nod. You know dont you? We were there and will never forget. Gee what a time
songs like this are still being played and listened to 32 yrs later dont think many songs that are getting released now will still b played in 2047 really glad i grew up in the 80s
megaphoenix2001 Fully agreed with what u said. Music of the 80s the best ever !!! Never getting tired of listening to them..... Alot do bring tears to my eyes...... they go deep down my soul......
As a Stevie fan, I immediately bought the 12" at Tower Records the day it was released. But Stevie only wrote the music and produced it. This was one of my favorite tracks from '83 because of the words; the history and information it taught. I only wish kids today would listen to and learn from songs like this...instead of songs that repetitively talk about cars, jewelry, money, and sex, sex, sex.
Still to this day such a great song to listen to .. I remember Gary Byrd being on BBC Radio 1, doing the US Top 40 countdown every Saturday, this was back in 1985 or 1986... Talented guy
I’m here on 20 June 2021 listening to this masterpiece.. 38 years later I’m still loving it .. 80’s a decade to remember and how lucky I was to live to every moment ❤️
I was staying in London when I first heard this. If you were in the clubs this was banging! Then when I came back to the USA, few had heard of this song. I was so disappointed. Had to bring it back with me from England.
This song is a great experience for my ears. And great to hear. Stevie. Wonder They don’t and never will make music like this any more. I’m so honoured to have been a youth when this song was out. I remember. Very hot summers and snowy winters as the seasons should be. I wish I could go back even just for an hour. Didn’t know we had it so good. No need for mobiles. 💛💚❤️💛💚❤️⭐️🌙🌈⭐️🌞🌈🌏⭐️🌈🌏💫🌛⭐️🌈🌙🌍🌟🌈🌞🌍🌟🌈💫☀️🌙🌏🌈💫☀️🌙🌈
I'm a 42yr old South African, defined by Apartheid as coloured...In the eighties I was a teenager caught up in Hip Hop...yep we had tv in Africa, as a kid I came across this song...it brought me to tears...as I played it over and over...learned the lyrics...something inside me changed! Gary Byrd, and Stevie Wonder gave me the courage to declare...I where the crown...the pain of Apartheid could not stand against this beat...I got down...danced my heart out!
1st heard this on the car radio, early 80s. We got into the multistory carpark and all sat there listening until the end. Must have been radio 1, and a fab dj for playing it's entirety. Years later (mid 90s) I found the disc, rummaging through a box at folkestone market. Later in the 90s I gave it to a dj friend, I hope he still has it @djreadybreak but I still recall most of the lyrics. Finding this today has made my day,week,month etc, so thankyou. xx
Lets fight and get back Vinyl. All this CD ..Ipod stuff are nothing but trash. I fell in love with this song during my teenage years. Brings back good memories. Thanks for posting.
My mother would play this record over and over and Im so glad that she did! It fed me!!!! This song takes the cake for the music thats out today which I wont even listen too! Thanks mom!!!! :)
I loved this way back. Have it on 12" vinyl. The message is so powerful and still as relevant today. Like the man says, " We all have a crown in place" wear yours with pride. ❤️✌🏽️🌏
Thanks for posting this song which is an integral part of my musical taste. Love it all those years ago and still do now in 2022. Definitely has stood the test of time. ⌚⌚⌚⌚
Early 80s frequented ‘The Crown’, Edinburgh Sq., Midhurst where everyone ‘delighted united’ in singing along with the chorus as loud as poss when Jon & Jan played this - what a tune of happy memories❤
I where the crown because I' am always down with an ancient sound one that is quite profound! Yeah I love the mystery digging inside our history, information is free. A revelation has given me a clue who thought it would come true...
Brother Gary Byrd is the self-conscious rap mentor ever. This definetely is such a deep self-conscious track, that teaches our true life story about how we built our realities that was totally denied. Brother Gary Byrd is the greatest ever rapper, mentor, DJ and hero of all-time and this hip-hop classic, twenty-nine years, says it all.
I was 20 when this was released, absolutely loved it. Am now 59 and recently widowed after 35 years of a happy marriage. Taking comfort in sounds from over the years,suddenly thought of this one today, so glad I did, what an underrated classic 😀
So sorry to read this. I was 13, and it was first introduced on radio 1 as 'the finest song I've ever heard' by the dj, can't remember who it was now though! May have been Simon Mayo? Now I know what it actually means and the efforts that Stevie Wonder went to in order to be impartial and yet an activist, I appreciate it all the more. Oh, and my sister is also called Heidi 😎
this is one of my fondest memory music-wise from 1983. I was in Austria, working and this song was blasting out of the radio and it was such a breath of fresh air. Little did I know that Stevie had a finger in it at the time. Today this track is so relevant and also a great musical contribution as well, love this track!
Wish they’d release this digitally, this is probably my favorite old-school hip hop jam of all time. Before late 80s hip hop and gangster rap, this was the business, with a great message for all races.
What a song!! It was powerful and Stewie's voice was honey and awesome .The lyrics are so good. An old goodie of the seventies. I want to give Stewie and Gary Byrd a crown because they deserved it!!
Gary Bryd is a highly respected radio broadcaster from NYC since the 60s . Been listen to Gary Bryd since the late 60s since wwrl 1600 am and I'm 65 yo today . Love this tune .
Co written by Stevie Wonder & Gary Byrd who sing & rap on this mega hit of a track, retelling the story of the coming of modern civilisation, paying homage to the Alkebus, the Romans, the ancient Greeks, Neffertiti, king Tut, the Sphinx, Cleopatra, Alex Haley, Roots, Muhammad Ali, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Louis, Malcolm x, a history class but in a rap format
One of my favorite 12 inches. Then again I don't think there's any song from this era that I don't have. What an animated and fun time to grow up! I wish I was still young, but not if I would lose the knowledge of this musical era.
What a truly an amazing record that was way back in the days, brings back some great memories of my childhood times. Yes dont think there will be many in around 30yrs could say that about the music of today lol we had it you will not.
Temaso me canse de buscarlo ..y hoy de manera insolita lo encontre lo tararie en gogle y para mi sorpresa di con el despues de 37 años ,encanta ,con un grande steven wonder la mejor musica ...
