Is This The Best Stevie Wonder Song?

Bass Teacher Breakdowns are a hybrid part-by-part breakdown in addition to a reaction and live playalong. This series is here to give the most detailed breakdowns on the web!
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In the video we'll listen to the recommended live track and break it down in every way! From the isolated track, each part of the form, to the bassist Nathan Watts...let's go! As on Bass Freedom, I strive to give you the most detailed bass lessons online, and now I strive to give you the most detailed breakdowns on UA-cam!
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0:00 Opening Words
0:50 Sir Duke Background
1:30 Live Performance + Reaction
3:58 Intro Breakdown
5:09 Verse Breakdown
7:26 Pre Chorus Breakdown
8:22 Chorus Breakdown
10:09 The Big Riff
12:50 Bass Playalong w/ Live Track
14:06 Outro Chorus Breakdown
16:06 Final Words
@steviewonder #steviewonder

[@rome8180]

This is not just the best Stevie Wonder song. It's one of the best songs of all time. It has everything you could want in a pop song. Meaningful lyrics, catchy melody, interesting chords, complex orchestration, cool riffs, etc. Stevie Wonder did something all musicians should aspire to. He wrote music that was simultaneously accessible and innovative.

[@rome8180]

The F minor in the chorus functions as what's called a "tritone substitution." That's when instead of playing the V of a chord you want to get to, you play a chord a flat fifth away from that V chord. So since the third chord in the progression is E, normally you'd play a B to lead into it. But Stevie already played a B. It would be a bit boring to play it again. And so he substitutes the F -- which is the chord a tritone away from B. It's a bit unusual that he makes it minor. But otherwise, it's yet another reference to common jazz theory in a song about jazz.

[@madeiramagic]

Nathan's playing on 'Isn't she lovely' live in Rio is fantastic too

[@production2353]

One of for sure but hard to say a definitive best

[@alistergeorge8516]

Great work! Thanks, Andrew. I've just listened to your whole series of breakdowns. Superb.

[@BassFreedom]

Thanks so much for checking everything out! I appreciate you 😁. I’ll keep rollin’ ‘em out!🤘

[@jerrycote659]

Wow! I just watched your breakdown of ABBA’s Dancing Queen which was amazing and now this! Just brought my love of this song to another level because of hearing you point out the various influences which this song encompasses and it just flows all together perfectly. The best part of this video for me was the way you focused on the busy part (I’m pretty sure you called it differently, can’t recall what though), and then when you went through the final portion and I’ve always loved that part of the song because of the unique way Stevie mixes in a varied vocal rhythm and now I learn that the same is happening with the bass and you explained it so well, especially when you pointed out the arpeggio that is brought in. Loved the way you commented that it’s like the band just really lets loose and really puts it all out. So totally hear that and it’s not that I haven’t always, it’s now I can identify and know why it is that portion of the song is so damn good 😊 Thanks for another amazing video.

[@thispath]

Amazing video again, love your channel! Thank you 🙏

[@kenwimba]

Thank you so much, Andrew

[@IWishUWereTacos]

Awesome track to break down!

[@musicmarc.bassandkeys]

Awesome job. Your breakdown videos are amazing. Love all of the detail!

[@tnasir2003]

Loving these breakdown vids, please keep up the great work!

[@andrewpappas9311]

I’ve always loved this song, such a great one and super cool to play along with