Blind since birth, Stevie Wonder has been considered one of music’s most inventive figures of late 20th-century. He is the recipient of 25 Grammy Awards (the highest number by an artist solo) and one Academy Award.
“You took you riding in your Rocket, gave me stars but at a half-mile from Heaven, you dropped us back down to this Cold, Cold World.” Rocket Love, by Stevie Wonder, is a poignant love song. Stevie Wonder wrote the song and it was recorded in Wonderland Studio Los Angeles (1979). It was included on Wonder’s 19th album, “Hotter than July”, which was originally released by Motown’s Tamla label on September 1980. The song’s symbolism is evident in the lyrics, as well as the piano and strings joining together to create a beautiful and powerful music. It takes you through the highs and then brings you back to reality. Although Rocket Love is not Wonder’s most-loved song, many artists have sampled it. Hotter Than July featured ‘Master Blaster Jammin’, an original reggae tribute to Bob Marley. The King Holiday and Martin Luther King are honored with the song “Happy Birthday”. This album includes the song ‘All I Do’, which was written originally for Tammi Terrall. Stevie recorded the track with Eddie LeVert, Micheal Jack, and Betty Wright, who sang background. The album reached number three in the US Billboard chart and was certified platinum. This album was his biggest success in the UK. It reached number 2, and it produced four top 10 singles. It was nominated as Favorite Soul/R&B Artist at the American Music Awards, 1982.
Stevie talks about her relationship with “Rocket Love” and reflects on the painful experience. Stevie affectionately describes a woman “sensitive and warm” and metaphorically explains how she “ride in her rocket” during their high-stakes relationship. Stevie’s relationship was reaching its peak and Stevie left him. He feels like he has been dropped back to the “cold, dark world”. He is a skilled artist who paints vivid pictures of the woman and her beauty. Her looks are as stunning as Picasso’s. The lyrics communicate these feelings, but the music also conveys them. It starts slowly with Stevie singing the melody on her synthesizer/piano. But it quickly gets more intense as Ben Bridges adds string arrangements by Paul Riser, Motown’s arranger of strings. From 1995 to 2019, Stevie Wonder’s “Rocket Love”, including all its elements, was sampled 16 times. The song has been covered by several artists, including some who haven’t cover it. Stevie Wonder sang ‘Rocket Love,’ recently at Nipsey Hassle’s funeral.
