Who Did It Better? - Stevie Wonder vs. Ray Charles (1973/1975)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 พ.ย. 2024
- As always please listen to both renditions then share your thoughts in the comments section.
“Living for the City" is a 1973 single by Stevie Wonder from his Innervisions album. It reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 1 on the R&B chart.[3]: 635 Rolling Stone ranked the song number 104 on their 2004 list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."
The song has won two Grammy Awards: one at the 1974 Grammy Awards for Best Rhythm & Blues Song, and the second for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 1975 Grammy Awards for Ray Charles' recording on his album Renaissance. - Wikipedia
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Shared for historical purposes. I do not own the rights.
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Genius vs. Genius.
I always gravitate to the blues what can I say I’m a soul man.
Stevie's version has more of a funk-style to it while Ray's version has a bluesy tonet. Both men are legends of music. I choose both versions of this amazing song.
I CONCUR, YOU ARE CORRECT, I AM A FORMER RETIRED RADIO R&B DJ WVOL NASHVILLE, TN.
Stevie & Ray…This is two different eras damn near but let’s not compare this is two great ARTIST that just so happen to be blind ❤️
Love them both but Ray Charles is a King of music
This shows you how Ray makes a song his own….don’t forget that Stevie was “Little Stevie” he did a WHOLE album of Ray Charles covers as the Heir Apparent….this makes total sense….imagine your Idol covers your song….that’s a dream come true….
It is obvious that it is a tie. Two geniuses in their field did this song justice in their own right!!!!!!!!!
I rock with Stevie heavy, but wow I never heard the Ray version before tonight! What a gift both of these gentlemen gave us.
Ray Charles 💯💯💯💯💯
Both equally did it great in their own storytelling style ! Both legends.
💜👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💜
Can't choose, thankfully I don't have to, it's all good and it's all my people. Bless.
Back then they werent suing either just having fun with they music. It was the love of music not the penny
Damn straight. It's ridiculous nowadays how greedy people are
BOTH
Mr. Charles did an awesome job. Very bluesy. I can't choose between the two. They're both excellent
Mr.Charles put that blues in there!
BOTH ARE EQUAL IN THEIR OWN FUNK!!! 🎶🎶🎶
🙇🏾♀️🙇🏾♀️🙇🏾♀️💝💝💝🕊🕊🕊
I prefer Ray Charles personally but they are both legends and both are appealing.
Don't put two legends together! They both are musical geniuses with different styles of music. Ray grew up in the era of blues where Stevie grew up with pop/funk music. I like and respect both of these gentlemen!
Both are very great at what they do, …. But Steve Wonder singing and the beat is awesome.
Wow Never heard Mr Ray Charles Both are Great. Stevie is the genre of the time in musicality. Ray’s is sho nuff blues both hit different ❤️
I like both BUT Stevie killed it. I mean felt every bit of it and the storytelling of going to a big city from a small town and getting caught up... Chefs kiss 💋
Both are equally legends in their talent and mass appeal. The delivery/style of the song by each artist is very different (R&B vs Bluesy grit) I vote for both!
It is obvious that it is a tie. Two geniuses in their field did this song justice in their own right. All we can do is enjoy both with a smile, snap of the fingers and head bobbing to the music. I was floored when they both performed this song together live. It was FANTASTIC!!!
Both. Love both versions.
Yes
my elders would clobber me but have to say Stevie. that's all I know 💯
There’s no comparison they’re both perfect
No compareson they both were asome
BOTH MEN HAVE REALLY GOOD TALENT GOD BLESS THE BLIND! LOVE LEE LEE!
Both men in their own unique way ADDRESS " The BLACK DIASPORA" and ARE ESPECIALLY, EXTREMELY, EXCEEDINGLY ,EXCEPTIONALLY PROFOUND ! However, " judgement-wise;" as to which is " better; to me it's " DRAW." My personal preference" is for Stevie Wonder's version as it DEFINITELY and DEEPLY makes CONNECTIONS TO MY MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, CULTURAL HISTORY,AND POLITICAL AGENDAS AND INNERMOST FEELINGS, THOUGHTS, AND BELIEFS!😐
STEVIE SOUNDS BETTER ! HE IS THE BEST 👌 👍 😍 🥰 ☺️ 💖 👌! I LOVE HIM SO MUCH! ALL HIS IS A BLESSING TO HEAR !
Absolutely Stevie. No question. As far as covers go though, Ray did a great job! Growing up, my dad always told me that if I'm going to cover a song, I should make it my own instead of just copying it accurately note for note. Ray definitely did that here.
1:22 1:25
The man who wrote it. Stevie Wonder.
Never got to see Stevie live but in 1978, two horn players in Ray Charesl band came to place of my employment
Waited on them and my tip was a free ticket at Tipitinas.
What a show.
💯🌹❤️
Arggggg Ray Charles show..
My mind is like swiss cheese 😊😉
Forgive me I inhaled in the seventies 😉😊💯
Funny that I was re-watching an episode of HBO's "Treme" and there was a performance at Tipitinas! Great memory you shared, thanks. New Orleans is a very special place!
@@boxcomix1 even on this unnatural substitute for real life, irony and coincidence still illuminates our road.
Miss community as I felt so welcome in New Orleans.
It was a great experience.
Best six months running away from my mother's house.
Always wanted to go back to reciprocate for their kindness.
Katrina just broke my heart (again).
Must get Treme..
You just reminded me that it was on my list of stuff worth seeing!
Thank you Joe.
I'm Mo💯🌹😊
STEVIE STEVIE !!!!!
First time i hear RC…
Steve Wonder hands down!!!
Ray won this I love his version so much wow 🤩
I've always enjoyed the song and I've always enjoyed it by Stevie so when it comes to Stevie or Ray Charles I'm sorry , definitely Stevie Wonder thank you..❤️🎶.
They are both the perfection of their own lives. No one better than the other. Just two people who made their own way. Both perfectionist and both were perfect. You can't have history without either.
Stevie!
OH WOW!! I have never heard the Ray Charles version - wow..... before I even listened I predicted I would love Stevie's version, but man - I absolutely LOVE Ray's version the best. Stevie's version is like that of a youthful boy in the city - it's vibrant, funky, hopeful, and full of the kind of angst that is typical of a young person who believes they're making a statement and railing against the machine. Ray's version actually sounds like the city he's singing about - it's dark, it's gritty, it's manly, it's seasoned - this is the sound of a man who's been through some thangs - he's not railing against the machine, he's calling the machine out, indicting it, standing man-to-man with it and daring it to change him before he changes it! Yes, ray won this one - hands down.
I never knew that Ray did a version of this song, but Stevie still killed it.
Both are wonderful
Whoever mixed the ray Charles song is a fkn legend perfect eqs perfect reverb perfect compression panning with all the instruments are perfect
new jack city vs tupac resurection that is where i know this hit from
I truly enjoyed both. Neither one is better than the other. Each has it own groove that relays the same message.
Thanks for sharing these legendary versions.
Stevie
Ray. Though I never knew he has a version.
Never heard Ray's version but it 's good. Wouldn't expect any less.
the very first album i bought was Stupendous Stevie Wonder! my dad heard it playing, as soon as he realized it was a black man he broke it into pieces! those were the times. i couldn’t wait to leave home and listen to my beloved soul music!
Ray no doubt man..
Stevie's version made my eyes watery when I first heard it and it has harmonizing breaks that are beyond incredible if you understand music composition. A true masterpiece of musical art.
Who Did It Better? That's like asking to compare two diamonds that are exactly the same!!
I love them both. They are different.
Ray!💜
Stevie Wonder 💯%
Wow this is tough. Love them both.
It's hard to tell because they both have different styles of singing. They both are at Legends in my eyes. I can't figure out which one is the best.
Of course the original is the better one but Brother Ray is a hero of Stevie's and also one of my all-time favorites. I'm a HUGE fan of blind musicians because of their intuition to make great music. Rahsaan Roland Kirk is another great blind genius musician. 👌🏽
Stevie ... The Genius Is A Legend
I like both versions! It's a tie for me. They have their own styles but I liked them equally.
Wow, Stevie Wonder vs Ray Charles... Who could have _seen_ this coming
Horrible pun 😂
Absolutely Stevie!!!
I love both of them.
No problems in Querétaro
Move out of the USA.
Relocate. The people. $75k direct deposits.
God is in control.
Stevie All Day!! Ray Charles did a very good version though. I can listen to both versions at any time.
Ain't no way I'm dropping one for the other... not in a month of Sundays. I've grown accustomed to Stevie's version over the years and thank you Reelblack, I'm only just hearing Ray's one now and I love it so much I can't vote against it. Both for me 🙌🏾
A truly awesome song. 2 magnificent artists. Love them both. You can definitely hear the difference in available technology in both songs. That is, in my opinion, the only difference. With what was available both did an extremely magnificent performance. I wouldn't change a thing!
I enjoy both versions but I'm riding with Stevie on this one.
Why even compare them to put one over the other? That's sad. They both were phenomenal.
Stevie all day!!!
Hey Fam Mike returns back tomorrow Nov4
@@afrosoul_soul hello. Miss you
What can I say?? I've listened to this by Stevie many times but, I have to say that Ray's voice made the lyrics clearer. It definitely depends on the mood you're in whether it's for the music or the lyrics. I'm playing this for my aunt later she'll get a kick out of this one. Thanks for the upload Mike
ABSOLUTELY!👏😐
They both told the story.
Ray version is good 👍🏾 But I prefer Stevie
There's a live version where they performed this together. It's HEAVEN. Ray's phrasing is genuis, and Stevie's voice is unmatched. This is my favorite Stevie Wonder song.
No contest Stevie Wonder keep it 💯
Try not to compare just enjoy ❤❤
Both are legendary -Stevie Wonder...the original is better!
Stevie definitely has a sophisticated mix and an extremely...danceable appeal......Mr. Charles' version has a close to the bone and deep passion...and it's palpable with its powerful vocal authority and clarity.....and also filled with a rawness and realness...that projects his profoundly human experience and also affects the listener with those emotions..... intertwining deep sorrow and deep jo.....y all in a transcendental mix....of ecstatic music.
Both brilliant.
Stevie is the greatest of all time !!!!
Both are talented in their own way
I can’t close they both are good!😀
Did what better?
Both are amazing artists, but I definitely have to go with Stevie-a total WONDER 🎶
Ray sing with his soul
Both are good. Ray Charles did a wonderful job as well. Never heard it before. But the song belongs to Stevie.
until this moment, I didn't know Ray covered this Stevie Classic. Ray's version, the Arrangements are good, the Arranger helped to make this better, and give it Ray's style. but I have to go with Stevie. if people only knew about Music Arrangers and what they do to help make a Record/songs great and become Big Hits. the most overlooked and the most underpaid people in the history of the Music Business/Music Arrangers.
Met them both and love them both God bless forever
How many blind men knew they were black?
Apples and oranges
It's Stevie he did his thang
I hold both artists in highest regard and I quite enjoy Stevie's version, but Mr. Charles is just on a whole other level. It may be the difference in the artists' style, but to me, there is just something more personal about Ray Charles' style.
Mr. Wonder's version is nothing short than a masterpiece. Stevie,I bow down to you on this one.
This is simply a matter of whether or not you want your chicken grilled or fried. Both are delicious. My favorite entertainer is Stevie but I am a HUGE Ray Charles fan, so this means I'll never be disappointed.
A huge fan of both 🙌🏾
I love it I love the way Ray Charles put it down his voice the music who's better.
That's a question that's an answer I don't. But I love the way and my first time hearing Ray Charles singing that song it was beautiful.
If I can I give this 2 thumbs up?
Keep up the good work.
Both are Legends
Both.
Hi! That was a treat! I didn't know Ray Charles sang the song. I think I slightly prefer his, but there is nothing wrong with Stevie's version. They are both great to listen to.
I didn't know Ray Charles recorded this
It's got the funk style
The instruments actually Make this a good song
Stevie wonder put Great passion and emotion into his version
Both are talented amazing singers
These recordings are precious, first of all.
I had forgotten about the "extended " version of Stevies version. Teach me, man.
Ray is the bae too.
At the time, I listened but didn't hear.
Thanks