Stevie Wonder leaves Motown, releases 2 new songs
Los Angeles, US, Oct 13 (efe-epa).- Departing from a nearly 60-year career with Motown Records, music legend Stevie Wonder on Tuesday released two new songs through his own new label.
“Where Is Our Love Song” features Gary Clark Jr. and “Can’t Put It in The Hands of Fate” features Rapsody, Cordae, Chika and Busta Rhymes.
The two songs – his first in four years – will be marketed and distributed through Universal subsidiary Republic Records, a striking aspect since Wonder had previously published all his works through Motown with very few exceptions (such as the single “Faith” from 2016 featuring Ariana Grande for the movie “Sing”).
Wonder was 11 years old when he signed to Motown, but announced he had left the label and launched his own, So What The Fuss Music.
Politically charged funk song “Can’t Put It in the Hands of the Fate” connects with the Black Lives Matter movement and underlines the urgency and need to continue with the protests against systematic racism.
“You say you’re sick and tired of us protesting/I say ‘Not time enough to make a change/You say ‘Just keep holdin’ on’/I say “No, way,’ cause we can’t put it in the hands of fate,” sings Wonder.
“Where Is Our Love Song” shows a much more sentimental side.
“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,” he questions.
Proceeds from this song will go to the non-profit Feeding America.
In a virtual press conference, reported today by American media, Wonder said he plans to release more material, but did not make it clear if these two songs will be part of a new EP or a future album.
His last album was “A Time to Love” in 2005.
Wonder, who turned 70 in May, said he “feels great” after receiving a kidney transplant in December.
A precocious soul genius in the 60s, in the following decade Wonder built an innovative discography with essential albums such as “Talking Book” (1972), “Innervisions” (1973) and “Songs in the Key of Life” (1976). EFE-EPA
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