Boogie On Reggae Woman by Mark49

Mark49 - Boogie On Reggae Woman

Mark49

Nov 09, 2024 06:31am

<img src="https://singsnap-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/message-board/threads/RIYK/0237c11901_07VV_media.gif">"Boogie On Reggae Woman" is a 1974 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">funk</a> song by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">American</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motown" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Motown</a> artist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Wonder" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stevie Wonder</a>, released as the second single from his seventeenth studio album, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulfillingness%27_First_Finale" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fulfillingness' First Finale</a>, issued that same year. Despite the song's title, its style is firmly funk/<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_and_blues" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">R&B</a> and neither <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">boogie</a> nor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggae" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reggae</a>. It continued Wonder's successful Top Ten streak on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_200" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">pop charts</a>, reaching number three and also spent two weeks at number one on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Songs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">soul charts</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_On_Reggae_Woman#cite_note-2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[2]</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Billboard</a> ranked it as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1975" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">No. 26 song for 1975</a>. At the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_Grammy_Awards" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">17th Grammy Awards</a>, Stevie Wonder won the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_R%26B_Vocal_Performance,_Male" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male</a> for this song.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_On_Reggae_Woman#cite_note-3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[3]</a>The single spent eight weeks on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Singles_Chart" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">UK Singles Chart</a>, peaking at No 12.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_On_Reggae_Woman#cite_note-4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[4]</a>It features Wonder's distinctive <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonica" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">harmonica</a>, although not his usual <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromatic_harmonica" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">chromatic type</a>, but instead a diatonic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%E2%99%AD_(musical_note)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A-flat</a> "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richter-tuned_harmonica" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">blues harp</a>".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_On_Reggae_Woman#cite_note-5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[5]</a> The song is also notable for Wonder's pulsating <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moog_synthesizer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Moog synthesizer</a> bassline. The lyrics are designed as a dialogue between "nice" and "naughty" intent, including the introduction to his harmonica break, which incorporates Wonder's casual but repeated question: "Can I play?"Following conclusion of the vocal, the harmonica is reprised for the remaining 70 seconds, and concluding 30 bars of the tune, to the fade. Writing for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AllMusic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">AllMusic</a>, Ed Hogan said: "'Boogie on Reggae Woman' was light and bouncy, strutting along on a funky, percolating pulse. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Nash" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Johnny Nash</a>'s 1972 number one pop gold single '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Can_See_Clearly_Now" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I Can See Clearly Now</a>' had primed the mainstream audience for the reggae sound that Wonder employed on the cut."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_On_Reggae_Woman#cite_note-6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">[6]</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">Billboard</a> said the song has an "irresistible beat", "infectious melody" and "Caribbean flavor".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_On_Reggae_Woman#cite_note-bb-7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">[7]</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_Box" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">Cash Box</a> said that "a taste of reggae flavoring spices this ditty with Stevie's inimitable vocal style" and "the Wonder man comes across with just the right funk and instrumentation."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_On_Reggae_Woman#cite_note-cb-8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">[8]</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_World" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">Record World</a> said that "Stevie brings his '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingertips" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Fingertips</a>' facile harmonica style back in the spotlight.