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Rating: Autumn 2005: after about 10 years of absence, never before had so much time passed without a new album of original work, Stevie Wonder returns to the scene by releasing "A Time To Love." The album was preceded in spring by the release of the leading single "So What The Fuss," a politically charged protest song, strongly felt by the author (who has long been an opponent of Bush and his government), with very heated tones and a captivating and engaging hip-hop rhythm. In which we find a strong critique of the American people for the failure to elect Kerry: ". . And if we live in a democracy and you don't use your power to vote, knowin' some would like to turn back the hands of time, Shame on us, Shame on me, Shame on you. . " The reprimand is not lacking for the American society still too unjust and racist according to the Master: ". . Should I be drivin thru a klantown, find a restourant to get me some food, and someone says-"Hey boy, we don't serve your kind"-Shame on them. . "
Beautiful piece with a rhythm and especially a text that acts as a real electric shock directed at American listeners, but I would say to the Western world in general. Stevie is not new to his active political commitment, he had already expressed himself through music in pieces like "You Haven't Done Nothin'" (from 'Fulfillingness' First Finale) or "Conversation Peace" (from the homonymous album), but he also participated in the campaign for the election of Al Gore, candidate for the U.S. presidency at the time of George Bush's first election. Which is said to have represented an extreme disappointment in the author's soul. There is no lack of the typical love songs, the most compelling and passionate of which is, in my opinion, "Passionate Raindrops" with its explosive and sweet chorus at the same time, wonderful. With a poetic concluding lesson: 'Let each drop of rain be a lifetime that our love won't end'. The album contains no less than 15 tracks, and the author manages to keep the level extremely high in all of them. Noteworthy, however: the majestic incipit at the opening of the album "If Your Love Cannot Be Moved," the romantic "Moon Blue," the fun and playful notes played by Stevie on the Marimba in "My Love Is On Fire," again the wonderful classic "Shelter In The Rain," the energetic optimism of the single "Positivity" and the concluding, endless (9 minutes), fascinating and mysterious "A Time To Love" (which also contains political protests). Everything concludes with a "breathtaking" percussion solo. The art of Stevie Wonder seems to become increasingly "perfect and stylized" over the years, his notes and harmonies which exploded fresh and energetic in his early albums, now seem to have crystallized over time and have taken on an even more consistent form, of infinite charm. Moreover, everything is executed, needless to say, impeccably and with absolute inspiration. Mr. Wonder rations his production in recent times, but what little comes out is wonderfully perfect.
We have Time for racism, We have Time for criticism, ... We make Time to debate religion, for passing bills and building prisons, ... We have Time to cause pollution, We have Time to cause confusion, wrapped up in our illusions. . . We have Time to conquer nations, ... hatred, violence and terrorism When will there be a Time To Love... ?
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 I Was Made to Love Her (02:38)
I was born in Lil' Rock,
Had a childhood sweetheart,
We were always hand in hand.
I was hightop shoes and shirt tails,
Suzy was in pig tails,
I know I loved her even then.
You know my papa disapproved it,
My mama boohooed it,
But I told them time and time again,
"Don't you know I was made to love her,
Built a world all around her"
Yah! Hey, hey, hey.
She's been my inspiration,
Showed appreciation
For the love I gave her through the years.
Like a sweet magnolia tree
My love blossmed tenderly,
My life grew sweeter through the years.
I know that my baby loves me,
My baby needs me,
That's why we made it through the years.
I was made to love her,
Worship and adore her,
Hey, hey, hey.
All through thick and thin
Our love just won't end,
'Cause I love my baby, love my baby. Ah!
My baby loves me,
My baby needs me,
And I know I ain't going nowhere.
I was knee high to a chicken
When that love bug bit me,
I had the fever with each passing year.
Oh, even if the mountain tumbles,
If this whole world crumbles,
By her side I'll still be standing there.
'Cause I was made to love her,
I was made to live for her, yeah!
Ah, I was made to love her,
Built my world all around her,
Hey, hey, hey.
Oo baby, I was made to please her,
You know Stevie ain't gonna leave her, no,
Hey, hey, hey.
Oo wee baby, my baby loves me,
My baby needs me,
Hey, hey, hey.
OO my baby loves me....
02 Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours (02:41)
Like a fool I went and stayed too long
Now I'm wondering if your love's still strong
Oo, baby, here I am, signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours!
Then that time I went and said goodbye
Now I'm back and not ashamed to cry
Oo, baby, here I am, signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours!
Here I am baby
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm yours
(You got my future in your hands)
Here I am baby
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm yours
(You got my future in your hands)
I've done a lot of foolish things
That I really didn't mean, didn't I?
Seen a lot of things in this old world
When I touch them, they mean nothing, girl
Oo, baby, here I am, signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours!
Oowee baby, you set my soul on fire
That's why I know you're my heart's only desire
Here I am baby
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm yours
(You got my future in your hands)
Here I am baby
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm yours
(You got my future in your hands)
03 Living for the City (07:27)
A boy is born in hard time Mississippi
Surrounded by four walls that ain't so pretty
His parents give him love and affection
To keep him strong, moving in the right direction
Living just enough, just enough for the city
His father works some days for fourteen hours
And you can bet he barely makes a dollar
His mother goes to scrub the floors for many
And you'd best believe she hardly gets a penny
Living just enough, just enough for the city
Da da da...
His sister's black but she is sho'nuff pretty
Her skirt is short but Lord her legs are sturdy
To walk to school she's got to get up early
Her clothes are old but never are they dirty
Living just enough, just enough for the city
Her brother's smart he's got more sense than many
His patience's long but soon he won't have any
To find a job is like a haystack needle
Cause where he lives they don't use coloured people
Living just enough, just enough for the city
Da da da...
Living just enough, for the city, woah [Repeat]
Da da da...
[Interlude]
His hair is long, his feet are hard and gritty
He spends his life walking the streets of New York City
He's almost dead from breathing in air pollution
He tried to vote but to him there's no solution
Living just enough, just enough for the city
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I hope you hear inside my voice of sorrow
And that it motivates you to make a better tomorrow
This place is cruel no where could be much colder
If we don't change the world will soon be over
Living just enough, stop giving just enough for the city
Da da da...
04 Sir Duke (03:55)
Music is a world within itself
With a language we all understand
With an equal opportunity
For all to sing, dance and clap their hands
But just because a record has a groove
Don't make it in the groove
But you can tell right away at letter A
When the people start to move
They can feel it all over
They can feel it all over people
They can feel it all over
They can feel it all over people
Music knows it is and always will
Be one of the things that life just won't quit
But here are some of music's pioneers
That time will not allow us to forget
For there's Basie, Miller, Satchmo
And the king of all, Sir Duke
And with a voice like Ella's ringing out
There's no way the band can lose
You can feel it all over
You can feel it all over people
You can feel it all over
You can feel it all over people [Repeat]
Can't you feel it all over
Come on let's feel it all over people
You can feel it all over
Everybody, all over people
05 That Girl (05:17)
That girl thinks that she's so fine
That soon she'll have my mind
That girl thinks that she's so smart
That soon she'll have my heart
She thinks in no time flat
That she'll be free and clear to start
With her emotional rescue of love that you'll leave turn apart
That girl thinks that she's so bad
She'll change my tears from joy to sad
She says she keeps the upper hand
'Cause she can please her man
She doesn't use her love to make him weak
She uses love to keep him strong
And inside me there's no room for doubt
That it won't be too long
Before I tell her that I love her
That I want her
That my mind, soul and body needs her
Tell her that I'd love to, that I want to
That I need to do all that I have to
To be in her love
I've been hurting for a long time
And you've been playing for a long time
You know it's true
I've been holding for a long time
And you've been running for a long time
It's time to do what we have to do
That girl, That girl
That girl knows every single man
Would ask her for her hand
But she says her love is much too deep
For them to understand
She says her love has been crying out
But her lover hasn't heard
But what she doesn't realize is that I've listened to every word
That's why I know I'll tell that I love her
That I want her
That my mind, soul and body needs her
Tell her that I'd love to, that I want to
That I need to do all that I have to
To be in her love
Tell her I love her
That I want her
That my mind and soul and body needs her
Tell her that I'd love to, that I want to
That I need to do all that I have to
To be in her love
That I love her
That I want her
That my mind and soul and body needs her
Tell her that I'd love to, that I want to
That I need to do all that I have to...
Tell her that I love her
That I want her
That my mind and soul and body needs her
Tell her that I'd love to, that I want to
That I need to do all that I have to
To be in her...
That girl, that girl, that girl,
Oh, That girl, that girl, that girl, that girl...
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