In 2005, Stevie Wonder released ‘A Time to Love’ – his twenty-third studio album and the last expression of music fans were going to get for over 15 years. Despite teasing the drop of an album in 2014, one never came and fans were beginning to think that the twenty-five time Grammy winner was hanging up his harmonica and piano. However, in a press conference earlier this week, Wonder announced two new songs, stating:
“In these times, we are hearing the most poignant wake-up calls and cries for this nation and the world to, please, heed our need for love, peace and unity,”
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The 70-year-old ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ crooner announced that his two new songs would be titled, ‘Where Is Our Love Song’ and ‘Can’t Put It in the Hands of Fate’. The songs are said to be about love, unity and peace; with the covers for both songs depicting people on banding together. Both songs were produced by Wonder’s own label, So What The Fuss Records (named after one of the songs on his latest album ‘A Time To Love’ from 2005) and will be distributed by Republic Records. This may come as a shock to fans as Wonder has been with Motown (a successful soul music label) for over 60 years.
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During an hour-long Zoom conference from his Southern California home, the ‘Superstition’ hitmaker explained how ‘Where Is Our Love Song’ was originally written in 1968 when Wonder was only 18 years old. Only recently did he revisit the song and it’s lyrics, writing new lines for the song and featuring a new cut track with Gary Clark Jr. on guitar. The slow, uplifting tune has Wonder crooning,
“Where is our song of love?
Another love song between you and me
But a song of love for all humanity
Where is our love song?
Our desperately needed song of love”
Wonder also shared that all proceeds from the song’s sales will be going to the charity organisation ‘Feeding America’. Of this he said,
“If I can do anything to use the gift of song to help to feed people, to share my love … it is my joy,”
The organisation just recently reached out for donations to families in need, citing a request for US$1 billion to help families around the US.
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The second track,’Can’t Put It in the Hands of Fate,’ is a more upbeat bop featuring Busta Rhymes, Rapsody, Cordae and Chika and protests the injustice against the Black community. The first few lines will have you hooked as Rapsody raps,
“History say don’t repeat her
Many years a slave, took notes from the Peter
You should marvel at the fightin’, feel like Anitta”
Wonder shared that the song had a whole different meaning when he first wrote it years ago but recent developments made him alter the song.
“When I first wrote it, it was about a relationship. And then I was thinking about where we are in the world and I was thinking … this craziness is unacceptable. We’re not going for it anymore. Change is right now. We can’t put it in hands of fate….. We can’t put voting in the hands of fate.”
The song now has rallying lyrics, calling for the world to unite:
“You say you’re sick and tired of us protesting
I say not had enough to make a change …
You say you believe that ‘all lives matter’
I say I don’t believe the f*** you do.”
Wonder, who jokingly said he feels “like [he’s] about 40 right now” after recently undergoing a kidney transplant, has confirmed that he is working on a new EP. On top of that is his”new project”, said to feature the songs above and set to be called “Through the Eyes of Wonder”.
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