Playing For Change Singers & Musicians Perform Stevie Wonder's Song "Higher Ground" (information, lyrics, video, & comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video of the song "Higher Ground" performed by singers and musicians associated with the Playing For Change Foundation.

Information about Playing For Change is included in this post along with selected comments from this video's discussion thread are also included in this post.

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The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Stevie Wonder for composing this song, thanks to all singers and musicians who are featured in this video. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those associated with the production of this video.
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/07/stevie-wonder-higher-ground-information.html for the pancocojams post entitled
"Stevie Wonder - "Higher Ground" (information, lyrics, video, and comments),"
That post contains information about and lyrics for Stevie Wonder's song "Higher Ground".

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE "PLAYING FOR CHANGE FOUNDATION"
From https://playingforchange.org/about/
"HISTORY, MISSION, AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE PLAYING FOR CHANGE FOUNDATION
Playing For Change arose from a common belief that music has the power to connect people regardless of their differences. In 2005, a small group of filmmakers set out with a dream to create a film rooted in the music of the streets. Not only has that dream been realized, it has grown into a global sensation that has touched the lives of millions of people around the world...

When the crew set out, they created a mobile recording studio and went around the world filming musicians in the places where they lived. The sound was then mixed, and although the musicians were never in the same room—or even the same country or continent—they were unified through music with each contributing her or his distinct gifts to the whole. While traveling the world to film and record, the crew got to know the music and people of each community they visited. Those involved wanted to give something back to the musicians who had shared so much with them.

In 2007, the Playing for Change Foundation was established as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. Our mission is to create positive change through music and arts education. As one of our students in Nepal stated, “Music is an indispensable part of life -‐ you cannot live without music.” We couldn’t agree more. At the Playing For Change Foundation, we live our lives by this principle and apply it to everything we do."

Higher Ground | Playing For Change | Song Around the World



Playing For Change, Published on Sep 6, 2011

This video is from our second album, "PFC2: Songs Around The World." "Higher Ground" is a song that speaks of the perseverance it takes to reach the higher consciousness. Let's all keep trying together, one heart and one song at a time, until we all reach the Higher Ground.
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Selected comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only)
1. Gill T, 2014
"One People!"

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2. noel cruz, 2014
"If there is one thing that is truly consistent in this world, it's that people like to groove."

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3. MissDistarr60, 2016
"I have been sitting here listening to what I consider to be one of the most incredible pieces of music I've heard. Then I pondered on how many times in a row I would end up listening too it because I couldn't stop replaying. Much respect to those involved in the creation of this music and the idea and inspiration of this project. Outstanding and thank you."

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4. MissDistarr60, 2016
"The recording of this amazing song blows me away each and every time I listen to it. Thank you PFC. Keep up the brilliant and very meaning full work. You help make our whispers into a loud and united voice and we need all the help we can get if we want to make a change. Thank you once again!"

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5. Trellompatzanakisa8, 2016
"Sleepers, just stop sleeping, cause it won't be too long............ Absolutely amazing tune!"
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This is a line from the lyrics for Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground". Click the link for the pancocojams post given above for this song to find the complete lyrics.

"Sleepers...stop sleeping" refers to being "conscious" and alert to social issues, as per the contemporary "Stay woke!" movement.

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6. SmokinJoe347, 2016
"People that don't play don't really appreciate just how good these Musicians are, they are countries apart/don't know each other/play differing styles but still come together like they're in the same studio and as a musician myself I have to say, darned impressive. They are "Tighter" than some bands that are together all the time and the music say's it all really......"

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7. Tee Bee, 2017
"ADDICTIVE, I've become a huge fan of Playing for Change. I can't stop viewing you guys' work. Keep it up! Great stuff."

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REPLY
8. Playing For Change, 2017
"Thank you so much for the encouragement!"

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9. JRC 71, 2017
"You guys' make awesome music. Keep on!"

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10. Suze Dunmow, 2017
"Such fabulous music.... Playing For Change.... brings a smile when I feel so down about the human race...."

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11. le chat, 2017
"Suze Dummow - Yes, it gives hope."

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12. Darla Brown, 2017
"Awesome! Clarence Bekker has a beautiful voice"

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13. Flierman, 2017
"Wow great song, great version...so funky!"

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14. Will Webster, 2017
"to be fair whoever edited these clips to make a vid needs a medal - man alive thats some skills"

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15. pancho villa, 2017
"Amazing how they put this together 🤔"

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16. Brian Kingsman, 2017
"playing for change , simply some of the best MUSIC I have seen and heard , so much talent in everything you guys and gals do"

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17. Darcy Cropp< 2018
"Darla Brown and powerful! See how far back from the mic he stands for Stand by Me"

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18. Ron Carpenter, 2018
"To the person who did the mixing: You are a genius. I hope your work becomes available on cd, better yet video, if it hasn't already."

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Stevie Wonder - "Higher Ground" (information, lyrics, video, and comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a video of the song "Higher Ground" performed by its composer, Stevie Wonder.

Information about this song and its lyrics are included in this post along with selected comments from this video's discussion thread are also included in this post.

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The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Stevie Wonder for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "HIGHER GROUND"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_Ground_(Stevie_Wonder_song)
" "Higher Ground" is a funk song written by Stevie Wonder which first appeared on his 1973 album Innervisions. The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the US Hot R&B Singles chart.[3] Wonder wrote and recorded the song in a three-hour burst of creativity in May 1973.[4] The album version of the song contains an extra verse and runs 30 seconds longer than the single version.... Wonder played all instruments on the track, including drums and percussion.

[...]

"Higher Ground" is a funk song written by Stevie Wonder which first appeared on his 1973 album Innervisions. The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the US Hot R&B Singles chart.[3] Wonder wrote and recorded the song in a three-hour burst of creativity in May 1973.[4] The album version of the song contains an extra verse and runs 30 seconds longer than the single version. The unique wah-clavinet sound in the song was achieved with a Mu-Tron III envelope filter pedal. The bass line is provided by a Moog synthesizer and using overdubs, Wonder played all instruments on the track, including drums and percussion.

[...]

Subject
The song lyrics address the issue of reincarnation. Wonder commented, when interviewed by The 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 before the 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.[5]

[...]

Critical reception
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the song number 265 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, adding: "'Higher Ground' was recorded just before Wonder was involved in a near-fatal accident in August 1973 that left him in a coma. 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."[6]...

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LYRICS: HIGHER GROUND
(Stevie Wonder)

[Verse 1]
People keep on learning
Soldiers keep on warring
World keep on turning
Because it won't be too long

[Verse 2]
Powers keep on lying
While your people keep on dying
World keep on turning
Because it won't be too long

[Chorus]
I'm so darn glad he let me try it again
Because my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Going to keep on trying
Until I reach my highest ground

[Verse 3]
Teachers keep on teaching
Preachers keep on preaching
World keep on turning
Because it won't be too long
Oh no

[Verse 4]
Lovers keep on loving
Believers keep on believing
Sleepers just stop sleeping
Because it won't be too long
Oh no

[Chorus]
I'm so glad he let me try it again
Because my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Going to keep on trying
Until I reach my highest ground
No one's going to bring me down

[Outro]
Until I reach my highest ground
No one's going to bring me down
Oh no
Until I reach my highest ground
Don't let nobody bring you down (they'll sho 'nuff try)


Source: https://genius.com/Stevie-wonder-higher-ground-lyrics

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SHOWCASE VIDEO - "Higher Ground" Stevie Wonder 1974



WestLAGuy, Published on Dec 27, 2012

During his 1974 European Tour Stevie Wonder did a live performance on The Beat Club,

Here's "Higher Ground" from INNERVISIONS. On that album Stevie Wonder played ALL the instruments including drums.. On guitar just behind Wonder and to his right is MARLO HENDERSON behind and to Stevie's right, Reggie McBride on bass. Michael Sembello on guitar and T.O.N.T.O.synthesizer, and Ollie E. Brown kickin' ass and takin' names on drums.
Backing Vocals I'm pretty sure should be listed as Denice Williams, Lani Groves and Tasha Thomas.

I played around with the mix to brighten and balance it some.
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Selected comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers assigned for referencing purposes only)
1. ccth22, 2013
"That drummer was no joke!"

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2. Aaron Thomas, 2014
"PROVOCATIVE, RELEVANT, AND ALWAYS ON POINT...STEVIE WONDER"

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2015
3. Fabián Fornaroli
"Love this man, his fantastic voice and his music... is amazing!!!"

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4. videogameobsession
"I love how Stevie asking to have his monitor levels turned up somehow sounds like it belongs in that part of the song. ;)"

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REPLY
5. She Organizes Houston
"Yes indeed! He's a true professional!"

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6. Liza B
"I get shivers form the beat and the lyrics.
such amazing tune for the soul!"

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7. Shayne O'Neill
"Stevie wonder has a brutally good left hand technique. He's pulling the rythm off that Flea does on the bass on the chilli peppers version, and honestly if you didn't know, you could be forgiven for thinking its the bassist doing it here."

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REPLY
8. dbltrplx, 2016
"AND he is singing a perfect cadence"

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9. King James Mayo
"I love this song stevie kill it"
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"Kill it" here is a high compliment.

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2016
10. wil25z
"Get it, Stevie!!!!!!"

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11. Mark Despatis
"I came here to listen how Stevie played and sang this song. Yesterday (2 April 2016) I listened to a video that included musicians from all over the world in their countries. I think it is an amazing collaboration. The singers Titi Tsira and Clarence Bekker from South Africa and the Netherlands."
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/07/playing-for-change-singers-musicians.html for a pancocojams post on Playing For Change's rendition of this song.

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2017
12. Kurt Adams
"MOTOWN Masterpiece"

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13. Dixie Dale
"You can see Stevie's beloved MuTron II synthesizer at 1:55, which gave his keyboard the famed quacking sound. He even did print ads for this device. Google it."

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14. stonedog23
"Look at the legends that was in his band! And Deniece Williams back there grooving!"

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15. Joost den Houdijker
""No pharmaceutical product could ever equal the rush you get when the band hits that groove, the people are dancing, shouting, and swaying, and the house is rocking!"

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16. Jorge Hernandez
"Awesome live performance !"

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17. Inge Spruyt
"That audience's reaction! Haha..."

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18. Ricky El Diablo
"This much funk is not safe"

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REPLY
19. Pa Tero
"Richard El Diablo Live dangerous!! 😂"

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20. The Omega Point
"I love this song ❤️❤️🙌🏻 so powerful !!"

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21. Ed Rekers
"Thank you for posting,WestLAGuy. Stevie Wonder!!! This is a great group playing with Mr. Wonder too!! This took place over 40 years ago and Stevie Wonder continues on strong today. Wonderful!"

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2018
22. Tzvi Gluckin
"The guitarist labeled “Shuggie Otis” in the video is actually Marlo Henderson. The other guitarist (with the big hollow body) is Michael Sembello (he had a huge solo hit in the ‘80s with “Maniac,” which was also in the movie “Flashdance”)."

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23. liviusss
"Iconic!"

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24. racketman2u
"god, these videos of legends in their younger days are such GOLD! great post."

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15. Aaron Frick
"Can not decide whether or not I like this or the Red Hot Chili Peppers version better."

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REPLY
16. WestLAGuy
"Why not just like them both?"

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27. Lucas Caique
"Yeah. RHCP did cover of this. And it's pretty good. But f&&k* it. The original can't be touched, it has so much energy, so much power. RHCP did a good job, but they didn't bring anything new to the song."
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*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

RHCP= Rd Hot Chili Peppers [band]

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18. 16 VBN
"After all these years I thought red hot hot chili peppers were the original singers of this song. I'm ashamed to be misled."

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19. KutWrite
"Rhis version seems to stop before it's over!

I checked the full show, though, and they do stop there. Too bad... someone was going to do a great guitar solo!"

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30. Darren Winter
"Tuuune!!!"

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31. Melody Sanger
"HAPPY 68TH BIRTHDAY STEVLAND HARDAWAY MORRIS "STEVIE WONDER"
(MAY 13, 2018)"

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32. Michael Harvill
"One of the marks of a great artist is that they sound fantastic live."

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Visitor comments are welcome.