http://newcritics.disqus.com/the best in web criticismenMon, 23 Jul 2007 19:26:02 -0000http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/07/23/stevie-wonders-songs-of-love-mentalism/#comment-1377233I did a post quite some time ago on my blog wondering aloud, as it were, whether anybody still listens to Stevie. I mean <em>listens</em>, not comes across his tunes occasionally on oldies radio. I only hope others do listen still, as you do.<br><br>You can't heap enough praise on Mr Wonder. It's impossible.Kevin WolfMon, 23 Jul 2007 19:26:02 -0000http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/07/23/stevie-wonders-songs-of-love-mentalism/#comment-1377231<i>One could argue (and I do) that his burst of creative output is just as important as the Beatles’ similar stretch in the ’60s, or Dylan’s.</i><br>No argument here. It's no surprise that his works from this era have been heavily sampled by hip-hop artists.<br>Another reason it was wonderful to live while these works were being released (besides how good they were) was because Stevie had been around for years by then (his first big hit was in 1963). So the musical performer that we were all used to and already loved suddenly blossomed into something of a wholly different order. It was like watching magic happen right in front of you.<br>And those Grammies--Stevie had won for best album two years in a row. When Paul Simon won for "Still Crazy After All These Years" the first thing he said was, "I'd like to thank Stevie Wonder for not releasing an album this year." Wise man, because Stevie won again the next year for "Songs in the Key of Life."estivMon, 23 Jul 2007 15:27:01 -0000