Stevie Wonder...shut the fuck up

[PaulFitzroy]

Stevie Wonder has a lot of cojones spouting off what he did about Eminem (Full article here (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=638&ncid=638&e=1&u=/nm/20041206/en_nm/leisure_wonder_dc)).

It's one thing to criticize him for saying something you find distasteful about Michael Jackson.

It's quite another to lay on this heavy-handed social philosophy baloney: Said Wonder: "He has succeeded on the backs of people predominantly in that lower pay bracket, people of color. So for him to come out like that is bull."

What does making fun of Michael Jackson's seemy habits have to do with poverty or race? Michael Jackson is in the lower pay bracket? The man's swimming in dough. And he's a "perosn of color?" I don't know what the hell race Michael Jackson is, but I certainly wouldn't describe him as having any "color."

Go shove it, Stevie Wonder. If you want to defend Michael Jackson, talk about what actually matters.

[mouthbreather]

Someone who's been irrelevant for 30 years lambastes someone else who's overrated to high hell for poking fun at someone else who is a mentally unstable child molesting freak.

I don't even know where to start here. I think I'm just going to walk away.

[Larry Mudd]

I don't know what the hell race Michael Jackson is, but I certainly wouldn't describe him as having any "color." Shhh! Don't tell Stevie.

[Blalron]

Shhh! Don't tell Stevie.

What is, blind? :p

[Askia]

mouthbreather. Omit words #2-7 in your statement, and I agree with you completely.

[Stoid]

Ditto, Askia.

Stevie Wonder will never be irrelevant. He is a genius, and geniuses are never irrelevant.

[neuroman]

Stevie Wonder will never be irrelevant. He is a genius, and geniuses are never irrelevant.
What about MAD geniuses? What about them, smart guy?

[Evil Death]

I don't know what the hell race Michael Jackson is,

Then you shut the fuck up, you ignorant bastard.

Wonder isn't referring to Jacko as being in the lower pay bracket. I think he's lambasting Eminem for climbing to success on the back of the lower class blacks and then kicking another black guy when he's down. Maybe we'd know more if we had the full quote he gave to Billboard, because that feels like an extract or a soundbite.

[Ephemera]

While I agree with the first part of your post 'cause, really, "OMG! Michael Jackson's white!" jokes are played out, I don't agree with you or Stevie on the second part.

Sure, Eminem's climbed over a hell of a lot of poor black men to get to where he is but that doesn't mean he should have to censor himself about one man that has nothing to do with the genre based simply on his race.

To me, this makes as much sense as Randy Travis getting upset at Lenny Kravitz for making some crack about Garth Brooks.

[duffer]

Then you shut the fuck up, you ignorant bastard.

Well, that told him!


As far as Eminem making his riches by climbing over the backs of black men? Why not mention that he kicked a few Cocker Spaniels and BBQ'd a kitten or two? Eminem made his name fighting for recognition.

By the way, Dr Dre is the one that signed him to Interscope Records. If you want to be mad at anyone for Eminem's success, look to whom brought it to you. I challenge anyone here to say they've seen or heard of him before the Slim Shady EP.

[tomndebb]

Does anyone have the actual text of Stevie's remarks? As Evil Death noted, we're getting a cut-and-paste selection of his comments. In the comments we do have, Stevie notes that he respects Eminen's work. He then goes on to talk about not "kicking" someone "while they're down." Rather than the "blast" that has shown up in a couple of headlines on the story, it sounds a bit more as though Stevie was simply being rueful.

All in all, it would seem that this is more "tut-tut" material for Cafe Society than worthy of an actual rant in the Pit.

[FinnAgain]

All in all, it would seem that this is more "tut-tut" material for Cafe Society than worthy of an actual rant in the Pit.

Ah, but when Eminem cuts a track in response and calls Stevie some cool names, it'll be on!

[TwistofFate]

Someone who's been irrelevant for 30 years lambastes someone else who's overrated to high hell for poking fun at someone else who is a mentally unstable child molesting freak.

I don't even know where to start here. I think I'm just going to walk away.

The Day Innervisions and Talking Book cease to be relevant is the day music loses it's meaning.

[Captain Amazing]

What about MAD geniuses? What about them, smart guy?

Mad? Mad?! Because I seek to give carrots the gift of intelligence, they call me mad! I am the modern Prometheus! They laugh at me, but when I succeed, it is I who will laugh! Oh yes!

[Blackclaw]

Eminem made his name fighting for recognition.

I thought he made his name by spelling out the name of a delicious candy and spouting bad poetry.

[mouthbreather]

The Day Innervisions and Talking Book cease to be relevant is the day music loses it's meaning.

I agree completely. Talking Book was 1972 and Innervisions was 1973. I was going off the top of my head when I said 30 years. Looking at his discography, I'll have to ammend that to 28 years. Don't get me wrong, people. Loves me some old Stevie. But lets not kid ourselves. He's done enough crap in his career to fill an small warehouse. And someone if someone wants to point out more than one or two worthwhile things he has done since Songs in the Key of Life was released, I'll gladly reconsider.



Dont Drive Drunk? :dubious:

That's what friends are for? :dubious:

[BubbaDog]

I thought he made his name by spelling out the name of a delicious candy and spouting bad poetry.

I too am amazed about this "on the backs of people of color" theme going on here.

I thought he made his name by spelling out the name of a delicious candy and spouting bad poetry about how his mommy wasn't nice.

[Evil Death]

I too am amazed about this "on the backs of people of color" theme going on here.

I thought he made his name by spelling out the name of a delicious candy and spouting bad poetry about how his mommy wasn't nice.

And I thought he made his name by spelling sweeties and spouting bad poetry along these general lines:

I bash me a gay every time I see one
And I hate niggers but deep down I wanna be one

[Soul Brother Number Two]

I can't believe no one has posted...Stevie Wonder is a musical genius muthafucka!

[E-Sabbath]

I thought he made his money on the backs of young white suburban and urban males, ages 9 to 17, myself. Truthfully, he's a darn good rapper, I think, reminds me of when I used to listen to the early stuff on SNL and bootleg tapes. (I honestly don't know where I heard rap first, but I _think_ it was a SNL with... someone... doing Johnny B. Good. I remember an american flag... either guitar or record being involved, and I remember thinking, "Hey, this is good stuff." Or maybe that's the first time I _liked_ rap.)

Stevie's a genius, but he's being a bit racist here, isn't he? Or is he? If Mr. Mathers was black, he wouldn't have been so popular, it's true. But that's because he's from a non-traditional area, as much as anything. I do think being white broke him, but I think his talent is what is keeping him around, from movie to album. And he's sticking with the band he came from, and his old friends. What is that group, K-12 or something? So...

As far as superstars go, he seems like a fairly decent guy with most of his head together. On the other hand, I consider Marilyn Manson a fairly decent guy with most of his head together, so...

[Bad News Baboon]

I agree completely. Talking Book was 1972 and Innervisions was 1973. I was going off the top of my head when I said 30 years. Looking at his discography, I'll have to ammend that to 28 years. Don't get me wrong, people. Loves me some old Stevie. But lets not kid ourselves. He's done enough crap in his career to fill an small warehouse. And someone if someone wants to point out more than one or two worthwhile things he has done since Songs in the Key of Life was released, I'll gladly reconsider.



Dont Drive Drunk? :dubious:

That's what friends are for? :dubious:

um, hello?
What about that ditty on the Cosby Show that one time?

J-J-J-Jammin' on the one, b-b-b-baby.
Rooooooooooobert.
I don't know what to say.

[mouthbreather]

um, hello?
What about that ditty on the Cosby Show that one time?

J-J-J-Jammin' on the one, b-b-b-baby.
Rooooooooooobert.
I don't know what to say.



Funny monkey lady, you're my homie and all, but You need to remember that 99.9573% of the populace of the United States is far less Cosby Show-inclined than you are. I have no clue what you're referring to, but it sounds like it fits in perfectly with all Stevie's other supercrap work in the 80s.

[Bad News Baboon]

99.9573%?


You forget this is the dope, wherein NO pop culture tidbit is forgotten.

Just you wait, there'll be a couple of posters along shortly to inform me that I have the order of the lyrics wrong.


Just you wait.

Us Cosbites are few but we are loyal!




P.s.
Ebony and Ivory is garbage? Say it ain't so!

;)

[Soul Brother Number Two]

Anybody see Joe Piscopo as Frank and Eddie Murphy as Stevie do "Ebony and Ivory?" Pants-pissin funny.

You are black and I am white
You're blind as a bat, now I got sight
Side by side be my amigo, negro
Let's not fiiiiight!

[Biggirl]

28 years?! What do you mean 28 years? Why, Songs In The Key of Life is the greatest album EVA!!!!! And that was released. . . um.








Never mind.






Holy Shit, I'm old.

[malkavia]

God, who knew that Stevie Wonder was such a damned racist?

I personally don't know a single black OR white person with much in common with Michael Jackson. Picking on him seems pretty safe territory, since there aren't very many multi-millionaire child molesting washed up pop stars with their own theme parks to back him up and shame you for bringing down their culture.

Eminem shot to popularity because he's white? Maybe. But that's kind of what happened to Vanilla Ice too, huh?

Eminem has REMAINED popular because he's fucking talented and his lyrics are intelligable, witty and fun (usually). The same can be said for Outkast and DMX, talent knows no color.

But hey, thanks Stevie for your unending ignorance and futile attempts to keep racism alive and well. :rolleyes:

What a putz.

[gobear]

Who knew racism was color-blind?

[Stoid]

Since when does not having continuous and current hits mean you are irrelevant?

Are the Beatles irrelevant?
Elvis?
Miles?
Frank?
Joni?
Ray?
Marvin?

Please. Ireelevance comes when your music itself passes into history without impact or note. Britney is irrelvant right now.

[mouthbreather]

Since when does not having continuous and current hits mean you are irrelevant?


Christ, you'd think I'd peed on the Pope. I never said that was what you needed to do to stay relevant. But from where I sit, you cannot put out 5 years of shitball music and still be considered relevant.


Stevie Wonder put out a string of terrible, terrible music in the 80s. He hasn't done anything worthwhile that I have heard since then. He had a nice stretch of great, influencial albums, but that was a long time ago. During the last stretch he was making music consistantly:


Part Time Lover
I just called to say I love you
Ebony and Ivory
Dont Drive Drunk
That's what friends are for


Ugh. If you like to rock those jams, more power to you. I think they all suck goat cock.

[Purd Werfect]

Seems kind of like a red herring to me. Eminem made it off the mass of pop culture which preceded him. If something's popular to the extent that it'll generate revenue, it'll be co-opted and incorporated and duplicated as quickly as possible until it reaches a point of saturation and diminishes. And Eminem's actions, stupid as they may be, just contribute to his success with consumers.

If Stevie Wonder wanted to complain about Eminem, it would make more sense to me if he just commented on the general hatred Mathers aims at just about anyone he considers different relative to himself. And how Eminem's fans apparently eat up that hatred like it's a delightful pudding. Of course, that could be said about quite a few artists.

[Indygrrl]

If Stevie Wonder wanted to complain about Eminem, it would make more sense to me if he just commented on the general hatred Mathers aims at just about anyone he considers different relative to himself. And how Eminem's fans apparently eat up that hatred like it's a delightful pudding. Of course, that could be said about quite a few artists.

I consider myself a fan of Eminem, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything he has ever said. So, no, I don't eat up hatred like a "delightful pudding," but then Eminem really hasn't put out as much "hate" as everyone would like to make it seem. Some things are tounge-in-cheek humor, and some is commentary on society, but I don't see him out there making huge hateful proclamations.

[Purd Werfect]

I consider myself a fan of Eminem, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything he has ever said. So, no, I don't eat up hatred like a "delightful pudding," but then Eminem really hasn't put out as much "hate" as everyone would like to make it seem. Some things are tounge-in-cheek humor, and some is commentary on society, but I don't see him out there making huge hateful proclamations.

I haven't listened to his entire output, so based on your post I'll retract what I stated. I still do think that Stevie Wonder could find better reasons and much better targets for his anger.

[Zakalwe]

Mad? Mad?! Because I seek to give carrots the gift of intelligence, they call me mad! I am the modern Prometheus! They laugh at me, but when I succeed, it is I who will laugh! Oh yes!I, for one, will welcome our new carrot overlords.

[Spoke]

I think they all suck goat cock.

There's something wrong with goats? You have a problem with goats now? Goats are great animals and they've been of great benefit to mankind over the millenia.

Sir, I demand that you retract the implied slur!

[kevja]

Not that it's a big deal, but Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager wrote, “That’s What Friends Are For”.

And I could not care less about this little tiff between Stevie and Eminem. Just like I didn't care about Lynn Cheney defending women and gay people when he (Eminem) went off on her a few years ago.

Free speech. Eminem gets to present a video about Michael Jackson, Stevie and everyone else can exercise their free speech rights and react to it. Then we can all exercise out rights once again by voicing our opinions about the opinions.

Ain't the US great!

Stevie Wonder -- Irrelevant? Let's see who's music you hear being played 20, 30, 50 years from now. Wonders' or Mathers'?

[Biffy the Elephant Shrew]

Are the Beatles irrelevant?
Elvis?
Miles?
Frank?
Naw, Zappa is always relevant.

[ParentalAdvisory]

D12, Lloyd Banks, 50 cent, and many more...

The members of D12, and the others listed have become rich beyond their wildest dreams (and shocker!, they're black!:eek: ). And many more to come. That also extends to their familys and friends. He's even made Dre rich as hell too (well, MORE wealthy). How has Eminem trampled on the poor and people of color again? I like Stevie and all, but I feel he is somewhat blind to the facts (pun, intended). :cool:

[andros]

As is N. Furter.

[andros]

As is N. Furter.

Relevant, that is.

[ParentalAdvisory]

Stevie Wonder -- Irrelevant? Let's see who's music you hear being played 20, 30, 50 years from now. Wonders' or Mathers'?

Are you willing to bet on it?

[mouthbreather]

Stevie Wonder -- Irrelevant? Let's see who's music you hear being played 20, 30, 50 years from now. Wonders' or Mathers'?

I never compared the two, you're doing that. And, I am readily admitting that a long time ago Stevie made great albums that are all-time classics. He was at one point relevant. Being relevant at one point in your life does not give you a lifetime relevance pass, nor does it ensure that every piece of music with your name on it is a sacred cow.

Why is that so hard for people to accept? I probably like early Stevie as much as, if not more than, anyone who is arguing with me. I'm not simply trying to be contrary.

[andros]

Being relevant at one point in your life does not give you a lifetime relevance pass, nor does it ensure that every piece of music with your name on it is a sacred cow.

Why is that so hard for people to accept?

I reckon some folks are getting wound around the axle on the difference between relevant music and a relevant performer.

[Ghanima]

I finally clicked on this thread because the title has been a stone in the shoe of my day.

Stevie Wonder is a musical genius muthafucka!

Don't ever, ever tell Stevie Wonder to shut up again.

[Mtgman]

Stevie Wonder is a musical genius muthafucka!

Don't ever, ever tell Stevie Wonder to shut up again.This sounds much more like Little Richard than Stevie Wonder.

Enjoy,
Steven

[PaulFitzroy]

I'm not even concerned with Stevie Wonder's relevance, or his musical talent (which he has, without a doubt, in spades; that's not the subject of my rant here.) The comment he made was completely asinine, and an absolute non-sequitur in the context of Eminem making fun of Michael Jackson for allegedly molesting boys. That's my issue with Wonder. It'd be the same if it was any other celebrity or any other person in general.

[Larry Mudd]

Are you willing to bet on it?Hell yeah, I'll take that action. Eminem is strictly from footnote.

In posterity, Eminem will be to KRS-One as Hall & Oates are to Stevie Wonder.

You can take that to the bank.

[kevja]

Are you willing to bet on it?

Well, considering Stevie Wonder's music that was recorded in the 60's and 70's is still being played today, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to hear a Stevie Wonder song or two played and/or covered for several generations to come.

Maybe Eminen's music will be played and/or covered for several generations too. I know he's a huge star and means a lot to people, but I'd place a gentleman's bet on Wonder.

Let's resurrect this thread on December 6, 2024 and see.

[Soul Brother Number Two]

ghanima, check post #19. (insert winky-face emoticon here)

[FriarTed]

Mad? Mad?! Because I seek to give carrots the gift of intelligence, they call me mad! I am the modern Prometheus! They laugh at me, but when I succeed, it is I who will laugh! Oh yes!


UND VITH MY RICE OF ATOMIC ZUPER-CARROTS, I VILL RULE ZE VURLD!!!!

[Larry Mudd]

Bevare the no-nosed dragon that sits on your doorstep! He eats little boys!

[darylhallfan]

Hey Larry, I hope you realize that you're worse than Hitler to me now! ;)

Oops, neverland uh, I mean nevermind.

Substitute Michael Jackson for Hitler. :D

[Larry Mudd]

I did wince a bit when I saw y'all as the last poster, yeah.

Sorry 'bout that. :)

[shelbo]

I find it interesting that in all of the foregoing, no one challenged the idea that Michael Jackson is "a mentally unstable child molesting freak". (Not that anyone should have.) I do miss the days when he (seemed) normal -- when he was an inspiration, the true "King of Pop."

[Lemur866]

Home?

I have no home.

Hunted...despised... living like an animal -- the jungle is my home! But I will show the world that I can be its master. I shall perfect my own race of people -- a race of atomic supercarrots that will conquer the world!

[capacitor]

There are only 3 businesses in the record industry that are masssively successful: Outkast, Eminem and Dissing Eminem. Stevie is wisely following the trend.

[Evil Death]

I find it interesting that in all of the foregoing, no one challenged the idea that Michael Jackson is "a mentally unstable child molesting freak". (Not that anyone should have.) I do miss the days when he (seemed) normal -- when he was an inspiration, the true "King of Pop."

People might be quicker to leap to Jackson's defence if he'd recorded anything worth listening to in the last 15 years or so.

[Una Persson]

You forget this is the dope, wherein NO pop culture tidbit is forgotten.

Just you wait, there'll be a couple of posters along shortly to inform me that I have the order of the lyrics wrong.


Just you wait.

Us Cosbites are few but we are loyal!
My first thought upon reading this thread was the Cosby skit. Not his best moment, not his worst. Just part of the filler of life.

Yes, I am a Cosbite too, Gorilla.

[ParentalAdvisory]

Maybe Eminen's music will be played and/or covered for several generations too. I know he's a huge star and means a lot to people, but I'd place a gentleman's bet on Wonder.

Let's resurrect this thread on December 6, 2024 and see.


Hate to bump this few day old thead, but I'll take that bet, for 1 dollar (Trading Places style). And I'll subscribe to this thread, and pull it up on 12/6/2024. My feeling is that Wonder will still be played, but Eminem will be played more on "Old-school" type Hip-Hop/Rap stations in 2024. Which I expect a lot of.