Who Did It Better? - Stevie Wonder vs. Ray Charles (1973/1975)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.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
-----
Please join our mailing list by sending an email to reelblackinc@live.com and follow us on social media @reelblack so that you can stay informed of future projects created outside of this platform.
Merch: shop.Reelblack.com
Donate via CashApp $Reelblack or PayPal.me/Reelblack
Support us monthly via www.patreon.com/Reelblack
Twitter TikTok and Instagram @Reelblack
REELBLACK TWO, is our backup TH-cam Channel that carries New Original content plus Classics from The Reelblack Vault that will be monetized. We ask that you subscribe there. / reelblacktwo
Thank you.
Shared for historical purposes. I do not own the rights.
#####
Reelblack's mission is to educate, entertain, enlighten, and empower through film. If there is content shared on this platform that you feel infringes on your intellectual property, please email me at Reelblack@mail.com and info@reelblack.com with details and it will be promptly removed.
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….
I rock with Stevie heavy, but wow I never heard the Ray version before tonight! What a gift both of these gentlemen gave us.
Both equally did it great in their own storytelling style ! Both legends.
💜👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💜
Mr. Charles did an awesome job. Very bluesy. I can't choose between the two. They're both excellent
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!!!
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 ❤️
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 💋
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 ❤️
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
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.
Both. Love both versions.
BOTH ARE EQUAL IN THEIR OWN FUNK!!! 🎶🎶🎶
🙇🏾♀️🙇🏾♀️🙇🏾♀️💝💝💝🕊🕊🕊
Both are very great at what they do, …. But Steve Wonder singing and the beat is awesome.
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 always gravitate to the blues what can I say I’m a soul man.
Whoever mixed the ray Charles song is a fkn legend perfect eqs perfect reverb perfect compression panning with all the instruments are perfect
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.
Love them both but Ray Charles is a King of music
No compareson they both were asome
The man who wrote it. Stevie Wonder.
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!👏😐
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..❤️🎶.
my elders would clobber me but have to say Stevie. that's all I know 💯
Never heard Ray's version but it 's good. Wouldn't expect any less.
Wow this is tough. Love them both.
Both are wonderful
Stevie all day!!!
Hey Fam Mike returns back tomorrow Nov4
@@afrosoul_soul hello. Miss you
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. 👌🏽
There’s no comparison they’re both perfect
Ray won this I love his version so much wow 🤩
Stevie
Absolutely 💯 awesome
Both forever and always ❤️❤️❤️❤️
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!
A huge fan of both 🙌🏾
First time i hear RC…
Steve Wonder hands down!!!
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
Both are talented amazing singers
I can’t close they both are good!😀
I like both versions! It's a tie for me. They have their own styles but I liked them equally.
I love Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles but I prefer Stevie's version.
Hey Mike returns back tomorrow Nov 4
I enjoy both versions but I'm riding with Stevie on this one.
new jack city vs tupac resurection that is where i know this hit from
No contest Stevie Wonder keep it 💯
Ray. Though I never knew he has a version.
Both are Legends
Stevie is the greatest of all time !!!!
I love both of them.
No problems in Querétaro
Move out of the USA.
Relocate. The people. $75k direct deposits.
God is in control.
Both are legendary -Stevie Wonder...the original is better!
They both told the story.
Ray version is good 👍🏾 But I prefer Stevie
Wow, Stevie Wonder vs Ray Charles... Who could have _seen_ this coming
Horrible pun 😂
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 good. Ray Charles did a wonderful job as well. Never heard it before. But the song belongs to Stevie.
Did what better?
This sound good an I love old school music when it was worth a piss like I told an rnb singer love when it was good
Why even compare them to put one over the other? That's sad. They both were phenomenal.
Goat vs Goat= Greatness!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎹🎤
I am sorry Stevie...Your rendition is great, your music is great, but your anger in your rendition of the song equally comes across and in 2024, we need to all rise above division. Ray Charles music always had a tenor that deep underneath his voice was a layer of love for humanity. It is unmistakable. Rest in peace Mr. Ray Charles, king of soul: Black White, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a truly amazing video ! Both are genius, but I have to say that Ray's hit me harder. The song itself is genius.
Sreviw had us jamming in the club and RY took us to church 🎉❤❤
STEVIE STEVIE !!!!!
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!😐
Holy cramp. Love them both
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.
Stevie!
Ray no doubt man..
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.
One is a wonder of a song & the other is a ray filled production.
It would take a musical genius to separate one above the other & he ain't here.
I saw RC in concert , at the fair a little over 2o yrs ago .. it was Ray Charles is what it was like .
S T E V I E!!!
Stevie wonder 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Never heard the Ray Charles version so I say Stevie Wonder hands-down!
Stevie’s is the best. But Ray did an excellent job in his own right. Also, Everybody should also listen to their live performance where they both perform the song together. Their live performance was outstanding.
Both are amazing but I think I prefer Ray's
Stevie Wonder hands down!!!!
Ray's style reminds me of David Allen Gier of the blind man from
In Living Color
Both 74 years younger Harlem New York
Who Did It Better? That's like asking to compare two diamonds that are exactly the same!!
Ray Charles put his whole stankfoot in the pot of collard greens with his version ! I could imagine of Eric Clapton was anywhere around he would have did a cover of his version
Ray Charles is the God of music,Steve Wonder Is the Prophet of music
BOTH ARE GREAT !!!
Apples and oranges
As great as Stevie is I would never compare him to the Legendary Ray Charles who was already in action before Stevie was born and was probably influenced by Ray Charles by the time he was 7 or 8 as a kid. I'm sure Stevie may have gotten some ideas from Ray Charles. As kids we all have an idol or someone we look up to. That's why I would never compare the two. They both are equally phenomenal.
Love Stevie Wonder but gotta go with Ray!! Ray got that blues funk!! And I like that.
Stevie easily 🕺🏽
1973 was the GREATEST year 💯%
Ray sing with his soul
You better sang Stevie!!!
Both
Both.
Try not to compare just enjoy ❤❤
Ray Charles is my favorite musician, but stevie is close behind
Stevie is the best musician of the 20th century. Paul McCartney, Elvis, Rodgers are honorable mentions.
I love Stevie version as it is more of an upbeat than Ray Charles Version.
Wonder is a good bontempi player but Ray is the real deal.
I LOVE sTEVIE'S BUT RAY'S hOWL AND RAP ABOUT THE RATS AND THE ROACHES SWAYED MY VOTE. THIS WAS THE TOUGHEST YET.
I kind of like Ray Charles version He added that juke joint blues
With all respect to Papa Ray nobody is going to do a Stevie Wonder song better than Stevie... Well except maybe Donny Hathaway. (Super Woman) But Donny is a once in a lifetime phenomenon
Hmm....I didn’t know _Ray Charles_ did a version of “ _Living for the City._ ” This is the first time I had heard of it. Interesting. I like the little description _Ray Charles_ did in his version, that’s sort of like the “crime”/“police-arrest” scenario in _Stevie Wonder’s_ version. Of course, _Stevie_ did the _ORIGINAL,_ and his is the better of the two. But, _Ray Charles_ did his own unique “take” and “ _Blues_ ”-style interpretation of the same or similar subject matter of _Stevie’s_ lyrics.
It's as if Rodin and Michelangelo both carved a statue of David. How to choose between two masters?