We nearly had a Stevie Wonder two-fer this weekend, as the #1 song the week of October 27, 1984, was his ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You.’
But I featured that insipid track a week ago, so it’s just one Stevie Wonder song (a much better one) this weekend. Still, it’s impressive that Wonder was able to hold the #1 spot on the same week a decade apart.
Throwing back to the week of October 26, 1974, we find Dionne Warwick atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Then Came You,’ covered here a couple of weeks ago.
At #2 was Stevie Wonder’s political screed ‘You Haven’t Done Nothin’.’ which would reach the top spot the following week before dropping out of the top ten. Wonder was backed up on this track by the Jackson 5, whom he calls out by name after the second and third choruses.
One of the things I love best about Kelly Clarkson’s Kellyoke covers is how wide a net she casts. I wouldn’t expect her to cover Radiohead, for example, but it turns out she’s done just that three times.
And the woman has exceptional taste, as those Radiohead covers are of my three favorite songs by the band: ‘Karma Police,’ ‘Exit Music,’ and ‘Fake Plastic Trees.’
Kelly Clarkson’s Kellyoke performances are often faithful to the style of the original, but once in awhile she pulls out a new arrangement of an old classic with wonderful results.
That’s what she did in April of 2022 when she turned ABBA’s disco anthem ‘Dancing Queen’ into a tender piano ballad, wringing raw emotion out of the upbeat tune.
In January of 2020, a few weeks before the country was shut down due to Covid-19, Kelly Clarkson performed The White Stripes’ anthem ‘Seven Nation Army’ while backed by the USC Trojan marching band.
Listening to these incredible vocals makes me marvel at how, right out of the gate, American Idol managed to identify and elevate one of the nation’s greatest singers. The show did its job splendidly.
Meet Me In Montauk 