Superstition
by Stevie Wonder
"When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer."
"Superstition" is the definition of funk. Built on an irresistible Clavinet riff, it marked Stevie Wonder's full emancipation as an artist, blending rock energy with soul depth to warn against the dangers of ignorance.
🧠 Rationality vs. Fear
"Superstition ain't the way." The song is a direct plea for critical thinking. Wonder lists common fears (bad luck, ladders, broken glass) only to dismiss them as shackles on the mind.
The Warning
"Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past." Believing in negative myths creates a self-fulfilling prophecy of suffering.
Empowerment
The song encourages listeners to control their own destiny rather than attributing their fate to "things that you don't understand."
🎹 The Riff That Changed Everything
Stevie Wonder created the most famous keyboard riff in history using a Hohner Clavinet D6. The song was originally intended for guitarist Jeff Beck, but Motown insisted Stevie release it first. He played almost every instrument on the track himself, including the drums and Moog synthesizer bass.
🎤 Fan Poll
Which element makes you dance hardest?
📈 Global Smash
His first #1 of the 70s
Consistently ranked among the best
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Stevie Wonder
- Album
- Talking Book
- Release
- Oct 1972
- Instrument
- Hohner Clavinet
