1973 single by Stevie Wonder
"Higher Ground " is a song written byStevie Wonder which first appeared on his 1973 albumInnervisions Billboard Hot 100Hot R&B Singles chart.[ 5] [ 6]
The song was released in the UK but achieved only modest success, reaching number 29 on theUK Singles Chart .
The song lyrics address the issue ofreincarnation . Wonder commented, when interviewed byThe New York Times
I would like to believe in reincarnation. I would like to believe that there is another life. I think that sometimes your consciousness can happen on this earth a second time around. For me, I wrote "Higher Ground" even beforethe accident . But something must have been telling me that something was going to happen to make me aware of a lot of things and to get myself together. This is like my second chance for life, to do something or to do more, and to value the fact that I am alive.[ 7]
According toBillboard [ 8]
The uniquewah-wah clavinet sound in the song was achieved with aMu-Tron III envelope filter pedal.[ 9] Moog synthesizer programmed by co-producersMalcolm Cecil andRobert Margouleff . Usingoverdubs , Wonder played clavinet, drums and percussion in addition to singing the vocals.[ 10]
On August 21, 2024, Wonder performed "Higher Ground" at the2024 Democratic National Convention in support ofVice President Kamala Harris and her campaign to become the nextPresident of the United States in the2024 United States presidential election .[ 11]
In its contemporary review,Cash Box [ 12] Record World Superstition .'"[ 13]
In 2004,Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time , was re-ranked at number 265 in 2010, and re-ranked at number 113 in 2021, adding: "'Higher Ground' was recorded just before Wonder was involved in a near-fatal accident in August 1973 that left him in acoma . Early in Wonder's recovery, his road manager sang the song's melody into the singer's ear; Wonder responded by moving his fingers with the music."[ 14] [ 15]
Chart (1973) Rank USBillboard Hot 100[ 24] 62
Region Certification Certified units /salesNew Zealand (RMNZ )[ 25] Gold 15,000‡ United Kingdom (BPI )[ 26] Silver 200,000‡ ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Red Hot Chili Peppers version [ edit ] Americanrock bandRed Hot Chili Peppers released a cover in 1989, as the first single from their fourth albumMother's Milk .[ 29] Total Guitar [ 30]
It has been featured in films, TV shows and video games, includingMighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie [ 31] Beavis and Butthead [ 32] Center Stage [ 33] The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air [ 34] Walking Tall [ 35] The Longest Yard [ 36] The Karate Kid [ 37] The Change-Up [ 38] Rocksmith [ 39] Guitar Hero Live [ 40]
A remixed version by theX-Ecutioners was featured in the video gameSSX 3 [ 41] Guitar Hero [ 42] FX used the song to promoteThe Ultimate Fighter: Live [ 43] [ 44]
As part of the "Year of a Million Dreams" Celebration,Space Mountain at Disneyland in Anaheim, California was transformed into Rockin' Space Mountain. The song was used as its soundtrack for 16 weeks, from January 3, 2007, to April 26, 2007.[ 45]
Red Hot Chili Peppers performed the song with other musicians as part of the all-star jam during the band's induction into the 2012Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony .[ 46]
The video for this version was directed by Drew Carolan and Bill Stobaugh, and was nominated forBreakthrough Video at the1990 MTV Video Music Awards .
US Cassette single (1989)[ 47] "Higher Ground" "Nobody Weird Like Me" 7" single (1989) "Higher Ground" "Fight Like a Brave " UK CD single "Higher Ground" "Higher Ground" (Munchkin Mix) "Millionaires Against Hunger" "Mommy Where's Daddy?" 12" UK promo (1989) "Higher Ground" "Higher Ground" (Munchkin Mix) "Higher Ground" (Bert Bevans Remix) 12" US promo (1989) "Higher Ground" (12" Vocal) "Higher Ground" (Politician Mix) "Higher Ground" (Dub Mix) Australian 7" single (1989) [US-2346] EMI USA "Higher Ground" - 3:12 "Punk Rock Classic" - 1:37 UK 7" single (1989) "Higher Ground" "Millionaires Against Hunger" UK 12" 3D Punch Out Pepper single (1990) "Higher Ground" "Higher Ground" (Munchkin Mix) "Politician" (Mini Rap) "Higher Ground" (Bert Bevans Mix) UK 12" gatefold sleeve pop up single (1990) "Higher Ground" "Fight Like a Brave" "Out in L.A." UK 12" limited edition picture disc single (1990) "Higher Ground" "Higher Ground" (Daddy-O Mix) "Fight Like a Brave" UK CD Reissue-single (1990) [#CDMT-88] EMI USA "Higher Ground" (album) - 3:22 "Fight Like a Brave" (album) - 3:47 "Behind the Sun" (album) - 4:40 "Out in L.A." (album) - 1:58 France CD promo single (1992) [#SPCD1608] EMI France "Higher Ground" (Daddy-O Mix) - 5:15 "Millionaires Against Hunger" - 3:11 "Castles " (Live) - 3:17 Personnel taken fromMother's Milk [ 48]
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Additional personnel
Vicki Calhoun – backing vocals Wag – backing vocals Randy Ruff – backing vocals Aklia Chinn – backing vocals Jack Sherman – backing vocalsJoel Virgel Viergel – backing vocals Iris Parker – backing vocals Julie Ritter – backing vocals Gretchen Seager – backing vocals Laure Spinosa – backing vocals Sir Babs – backing vocals Merill Ward – backing vocals Bruno Deron – backing vocals Kristen Vigard – backing vocalsRegion Certification Certified units /salesNew Zealand (RMNZ )[ 55] Gold 15,000‡ ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
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RetrievedApril 5, 2021 . ^ Wonder, Stevie. “Innervisions” (Liner Notes). Tamla Motown. 1973. ^ "Watch Stevie Wonder And John Legend Perform At The DNC Day 3" .Forbes . August 21, 2024.^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF) .Cash Box . August 11, 1973. p. 18. RetrievedDecember 11, 2021 .^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF) .Record World . August 18, 1973. p. 1. RetrievedMarch 22, 2023 .^ "500 Greatest Songs of All Time - 265 - Stevie Wonder, 'Higher Ground' .Rolling Stone . RetrievedJuly 30, 2013 .^ "Higher Ground ranked No. 113 on Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs List" .Rolling Stone . RetrievedOctober 3, 2021 .^ bulion."Forum - ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts - CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989" .ARIA . Australian-charts.com. Archived fromthe original on October 20, 2013. RetrievedJuly 30, 2013 . ^ "Top Singles - Volume 20, No. 11, October 27, 1973" .Library and Archives Canada . Archived fromthe original on May 2, 2014. RetrievedJuly 30, 2013 .^ "Adult Contemporary - Volume 20, No. 9, October 13, 1973" .Library and Archives Canada . Archived fromthe original on May 2, 2014. RetrievedJuly 30, 2013 .^ "InfoDisc : Tout les Titres par Artiste" . Infodisc.fr. Archived fromthe original on September 20, 2013. RetrievedNovember 22, 2015 .^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground " (in Dutch).Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved July 30, 2013. ^ "Stevie Wonder – Higher Ground " (in Dutch).Single Top 100 . Retrieved July 30, 2013. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 27/10/1973 – Top 100 ".Official Charts Company . Retrieved July 30, 2013. ^a b "Innervisions awards at Allmusic" .AllMusic Rovi Corporation . RetrievedJuly 30, 2013 .^ "Top Pop 100 Singles" (PDF) . Billboard Talent in Action. December 29, 1973. p. TA-28. RetrievedDecember 6, 2020 .^ "New Zealand single certifications – Stevie Wonder – Higher Ground" . Radioscope. RetrievedDecember 15, 2024 .Type Higher Ground in the "Search:" field and press Enter. ^ "British single certifications – Stevie Wonder – Higher Ground" .British Phonographic Industry . RetrievedAugust 5, 2022 .^ Christopher Knowles (2010). Viva Editions (ed.).The Secret History of Rock 'n' Roll . Simon and Schuster.ISBN 978-1573445641 ^ "Here Are the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 10 Greatest Shirtless Moments (Some Without Pants & Underwear, Too)" .Billboard .^ "RHCP Timeline" . Archived fromthe original on February 6, 2015. RetrievedJanuary 7, 2015 .^ "The Best Cover Versions Ever".Total Guitar . Future Publishing. August 2000. ^ William Ruhlmann."The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Original Soundtrack" . AllMusic. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 . ^ Octopus (October 2, 2008)."S1 - Ep4 - Beavis and Butthead - Balloon" . Beavis and Butt-Head. Archived fromthe original on June 17, 2015. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 . ^ Caitlin Gallagher (2015)."Breaking Down 'Center Stage's "Higher Ground" Dance In Choreography — Because Even Though Cooper Nielson Was A Jerk, Dude Knew How To Move" .Bustle . RetrievedMay 30, 2015 . ^ "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Episode Nice Lady Music & List of Songs" . Tunes.Zone. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 .^ "Walking Tall (2004) - Soundtracks" . IMDb. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 .^ "The Longest Yard (2005) - Soundtracks" . IMDb. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 .^ "Music from The Karate Kid" . Music From Film. Archived from the original on December 9, 2010. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 .^ "The Change-Up (2011) - Soundtracks" . IMDb. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 .^ Jeff Atwood (October 11, 2011)."Rocksmith Full Track List Revealed" . Fake Plastic Rock. Archived fromthe original on June 17, 2015. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 . ^ Mark Labbe (May 20, 2015)."Activision Reveals 10 New Heavy Metal and Hard Rock Songs for Guitar Hero Live" . PlayStation LifeStyle. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 . ^ The Dinner King (July 4, 2010)."Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Higher Ground [X-Ecutioners Remix]" . YouTube. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 . [dead YouTube link ^ Chris Roper (October 26, 2005)."GUITAR HERO SONG LIST UNVEILED" . IGN. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 . ^ Dana White (March 23, 2012)."@flea333 Thanks to you guys for helping us with The Higher Ground for TUF on FX" . Twitter. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 . ^ Dana White (March 23, 2012)."I want to thank Anthony Kiedis and the rest of the RHCP's for TUF live open tonight on FX!!! Appreciate u bro" . Twitter. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 . ^ Matthew Walker (March 6, 2007)."Rockin' Space Mountain" . StartedByAMouse.com. Archived fromthe original on February 28, 2013. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 . ^ John Soeder (May 4, 2012)."Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction special premieres Saturday night on HBO" . Cleveland.com. RetrievedMay 30, 2015 . ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers - Higher Ground at Discogs" . Discogs.com. 1989. RetrievedNovember 22, 2015 .^ Mother's Milk Red Hot Chili Peppers . 1989.{{cite AV media notes }}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Higher Ground ".ARIA Top 50 Singles . Retrieved July 30, 2013. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Higher Ground " (in Dutch).Single Top 100 . Retrieved July 30, 2013. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Higher Ground ".Top 40 Singles . Retrieved July 30, 2013. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 17/2/1990 – Top 100 ".Official Charts Company . Retrieved June 30, 2021. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Mainstream Rock) ".Billboard ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Alternative Airplay) ".Billboard ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Higher Ground" .Recorded Music NZ . RetrievedDecember 15, 2024 .
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