How was Stevie Wonder’s Grammy success perceived back in the day?

[Oliverlogan263]

I was born long after, but I know that Stevie Wonder won Album of the Year at the Grammys 3 times in 4 years.

These albums are regarded as his classics now, and I indeed know and love them all.

But how did everybody feel back then?

The modern analogs to Stevie in this category (multiple AOTY wins in close proximity) Taylor Swift and Adele. And in both of their second victories, the backlash was HEAVY.

Yes Adele and Taylor’s albums were loved by the general public, sold massively, and gave the Grammy Academy warm and fuzzies. But they were perceived by older listeners as being “too pop” or “not real music”, they were perceived by the younger snobbier set as having bought the awards, and they were perceived by a huge amount of people in the press and public as having won the awards at the expense of someone more deserving (people like Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar).

Did any of this backlash happen to Stevie? Put me in the head of someone seeing Stevie win the award for the third time in 1977.

[abc3643]

I don't think it was a big issue at all. Stevie Wonder was a great artist even then with plenty of hit songs throughout the 1970s. But many artists had plenty of hit songs and albums in the 1970s. So, Stevie Wonder wasn't perceived as anything truly extraordinary (although he did have some fabulous songs).

Nobody thought "not real music" then because music wasn't systematically manufactured in the 1970s. Few artists back then were manufactured with concert shows being enormous extravaganzas. I got go to a major concert for under $10.

This is all why, arguably, the 1970s was the best decade for music. Several different popular genres. Artists doing their own thing. Kids listening to the radio and buying records (LPs and 45s). NO MTV so the "music video" was not a substantial thing yet. In a sense, we music listeners were all Stevie Wonder. It was about the auditory experience, not the visual experience except for the righteous album covers.

[abc3643]

On FM, plenty of songs were played that lasted more than 5 minutes such as "As" by Stevie Wonder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYQfWJNWe3I

I will never forget when Stevie Wonder was on Sesame Street. When that happened that changed both Sesame Street and many entertainers who subsequently were guests on the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE

Yes, Stevie Wonder on Sesame Street was an important moment in American cultural history.
ultimateclassicrock.com/.../

[abc3643]

www.nytimes.com/.../sesame-street-anniversary.html

[antelope51]

Yeah. He played his own instrument and sang with his own voice, and co-wrote most of the songs. So he wasn't set out to be a manufactured super-star like so many today who just have to look pretty and know how to dance, and the rest can be fixed with auto-tune.

[abc3643]

@antelope51 Yep. Randy Marsh explains it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_8S_7P7abM

[abc3643]

"As" is such a masterpiece. Stevie Wonder - one of those artists whose existence helps eradicate racism.

[Joshydavid25]

Nah, I can imagine the award shows weren't as contentious as they sometimes are now.. He most likely won them in peace.. It also helps that he probably made good music many people truly thought was good music.. Whereas Adele and Taylor make poppy music, that while not bad is more safe, and closer to mediocre..

[antelope51]

I don't remember any issue. I remember him and Ray Charles being inspirations and showing the world what they could do despite their blindness. My mom was always going on about "little Stevie Wonder" from when she was younger (because apparently he got recognized in the music business fairly early on). But I don't know. Not a single "negative" comes to mind when I remember him, but I was a kid, and didn't really pay attention to Grammies.

[FunkyMonkee]

Back in what day?

[Oliverlogan263]

In the 70s

[FunkyMonkee]

I hardly ever watched the awards shows, it's always somebody else's choices but, seems to me he got a lot of applause.