Pastime Paradise
| "Pastime Paradise" | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||
| Song by Stevie Wonder from the album Songs in the Key of Life | ||||||||||
| Released | 1976 | |||||||||
| Genre | Soul, pop | |||||||||
| Length | 3:27 | |||||||||
| Label | Motown | |||||||||
| Writer | Stevie Wonder | |||||||||
| Producer | Stevie Wonder | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| "Pastime Paradise" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Sunlightsquare | |
| from the album Urban Latin Soul[1] | |
| Genre | Soul, Latin music |
| Length | 4:31 |
| Writer(s) | Stevie Wonder |
"Pastime Paradise" is a song from the 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life by Grammy-winning artist Stevie Wonder. The song was one of the first to use a synthesizer (the Yamaha GX-1) to sound like a full string section.[2] Built initially from synth tracks rather than from a drummer setting the basic rhythm, the song was later augmented with rhythm performances from Ray Maldonado and Bobbye Hall, especially featuring finger cymbals.[3]
Meaning
Steve Lodder writes that the song can be understood in two different ways. It compares and contrasts the difference between the negative attitude of someone who has a flawed past, and the positive outlook of someone who wishes for a perfect future in this life or the next. Or, the song may be understood as Wonder describing how me-first materialism and laziness cannot compare to a strong work ethic which brings the great reward of heaven.[4]
Covers, samplings, and parodies
Some of the artists who have covered Pastime Paradise include Chick Corea, Patti Smith, Charlie's Roots, Ray Barretto, Najee, Eläkeläiset, and Sunlightsquare. (The latter had released it as a single in 2008).[5] The song has been sampled by over a dozen artists, in songs such as "Time" by Mary J. Blige, "Crack" by Scarface, and "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio.[6][7]
References
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/urban-latin-soul-mr0003795274
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/song/pastime-paradise-mt0011091315
- ↑ Buskin, Richard (December 2007). "Classic Tracks: Stevie Wonder 'Pastime Paradise'". Sound On Sound.
- ↑ "Stevie Wonder: A Musical Guide to the Classical Albums".
- ↑ http://www.whosampled.com/cover/30095/Sunlightsquare-Pastime-Paradise-Stevie-Wonder-Pastime-Paradise/
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/song/pastime-paradise-mt0011091315
- ↑ http://www.whosampled.com/cover/view/30093/Ray%20Barretto-Pastime%20Paradise_Stevie%20Wonder-Pastime%20Paradise/
