Stevie Wonder - Superstition on Sesame Street

[1985PACT]

good times when they still used to teach good things on Sesame Street...

[inthebasement2112]

@4:22

That kid is a legend.

[justinlaboy]

4:21 = YYYEEEEAAAAHHHH!!!!! LOL!

[grapebuy789]

What episode was this from?

[dude999998]

Wow - better than the studio recording!

[Farricelli]

I actually saw this on Sesame Street, as a young child. I didn't quite understand it, being maybe three or four years old at most, but I knew it was important. I'm sure I bugged my mother to "let me do that," and she probably blew me other with "when you're older." Well, I'm older now, and having fun with my mid-life crisis, learning the classics on my first real six-string.

[ICEcoleman2k]

@Farricelli I was also a young child when this was relatively new, and everytime this came on, I was alllllllll ears. I used to play the entire Innervisions album on my Ficher Price record player, needed to say I'm a Stevie Wonder fan since childhood. It was great to see a black artist shown on TV, including one on such a program like Sesame Street.

[dman1927]

Sunday night

[getyaboogieon]

stevie's blowing those kids minds... check the little dancing dude up the top he's tripping his tits off. Pure funk gold :)

[MrTrebla]

this song never get old love it

[rdermody]

Totally Bad Ass!! Stevie is a National Treasure!

This is undoubtedly the funkiest Sesame Street performance ever.

[akamizzT]

@rdermody

international treasure!!!! =D

[Hickory420]

haha nice turn around at the end!

[lookahere]

Real musicians, real music. No pro tools and auto tune crap.

[JPParent]

I love your comment! Well said!

[lookahere]

Thanks. I love real music with musicianship and meaning. This crap we have on the airwaves now a days needs to stopped and destroyed. Lol.

[benzie101]

@lookahere Heyy real musicians and music I agree, but don't dis pro tools :O Pro tools isn't the problem, people who abuse its functions and make the performance aspect of recording unecessarry are the problem

[lookahere]

@benzie101, you are absolutely right. I should not have dissed Pro Tools per say. It is an amazing program to say the least. But I feel as though we need to bring back more musicianship in the studio. You just can't match a good quality recording using real musicians with one done strictly by editing pre sampled loops. I hope the trend will change soon. Peace

[ripmeast21]

I wish he was this famous when I was watching sesame street. Nope, I had NSYNC and Backstreet Boys, bummer.

[Jughead65]

Did anyone notice that there's a false start by the drummer (no sound) at the beginning? The other versions that people have posted don't have that - was this taken from the source tape?

[steverlord]

No . . that's Ollie Brown and he was just getting the tempo in his head before he actually started the song.

[bmr3166]

was this the 1960's?

[mayniemayne]

Um no the song wasn't even made until 1972.

[Eidelmania]

I was in my moms belly when see saw Stevie in 1974. It was the best concert I ever attended!!!

[5tunt101]

awesome!!!!!!

[splarsen]

I was 9 years old when this aired... This was my Hannah Montana.

[sidcrowe]

Old stuff is the best.

Stevie rules.

[54spiritedwill54]

stevie is so pure

[sandoz121]

that kid is the cuteist! and omg its moments like this i feel proud that i watched this program as a kid.Such great performances and guests.while teaching you your abc's at the same time lol.xxx

[mdbrazilian]

See da kid dancing at 0:47 and 4:21. He's very funny!

[angelodjmoras]

Beautiful sound

[helg5]

Really? fab! where be it yankee boy?

[yankeesman123]

there is a better color one

[helg5]

Sesame Street and Stevie Wonder. My life does have meaning! :-)

[yankeesman123]

nice

[catchersmitt0]

Sesame Street was so cool in 1970 and "relevant' and all that. The first S.S. show I remember seeing was #3 and it was still so new no one knew what it was.

[louisianathunder]

that kid with the hair.

[sirens54]

I love that he's always smiling when he sings. Stevie Wonder is in a league all his own!!!

but where are the muppets? it is sesame street.

[subversive]

amazing

[bkalafut]

Is that "Blue Lou" Marini playing the sax?

[paulobr1]

Watch my clip= paulo brazil + Olinda(Não Vá Embora)

music on myspace...paulo brazil + search

orkut- Paulo Brazil + Olinda

[dunskie]

Love the kids.

[yohendrix]

funkiest funker in the funking world!!!

[VideoJunkei]

There IS a better quality version here on YT, but it does not have the the 'restart' shown here!

[babyphat009]

If this ain't the last song i hear before I die, i'mma be hot fire pissed.

[Diegolobobranco]

Does someone knows the bassist?

[JIMFISHES1]

The bass player is none other than the legendary Anthony Jackson, he is amazing.

[pathdaly]

I love the Orange amps, dont see them much anymore, AND the kid freakin on the stairs at bout :49!

[luckyvet]

ron jeremy? thought I saw an extra long trumpet...

[ConcreteJohnson]

fantastic--Have youheard the reggae version of Ordinary People yet? come check it on my channel now.

[kramercp]

On trumpet ladies & gentlemen - Ron Jeremy!

[thatkoolkatal]

One mystery of the bible solved. You want to know how Jesus raised Lazrus from the dead...HE PLAYED THIS!!!

[Diegolobobranco]

Amém!!!!

[59bassman]

sesame st is the funkiest address in the world!!

[butfuq]

play this to pull me out of a coma. i swear it will work.

[Shamakah]

Ok, tell me no one noticed Ray Parker Jr. on Guitar.

[jeffparis51]

and Mike "Maniac" Sembello on the strat.

[1978lucas]

SUPERB.SIMPLY THE BEST.

[burningbushmen]

stevie is so pure

[applecounty]

Age a Problem? No. Subsequent to posting my comment I found the guys website.

[applecounty]

Well said differentbeing - me too! ih8flys that kid must be in its 30's by now?

[ih8flys]

is that a problem?

[differentbeing]

I don't care where I'm at or who I'm with,when this song comes on I crank it.

[ih8flys]

that kid rocking out on the stairs is my hero!!

[skydivebaby]

I love this and that kid is grrrreat!! It would be cool to see what path this kid took later in life. . .with charisma like that!

[Avengedpawtucket]

wow that is so hi def lol...awesome song

[medicbabe2ID]

A black cat who can cross my path anytime...scorching horn section!!!

[mramericanidol]

Stevie is soo good, but I don't know...Check out "Jesse Powell- You" he hit some very high notes with control, length, and ease. (at the end of his song) He maintained a gb5 and an A6!!!

[petermoonpetermoon]

stevie was the man in the 70's

[foxie2libra]

i love the kid that's flingin her hair! lol!

[quirpco]

Yup...I was born in that era ('73) and I don't think I'll be leaving it anytime soon :-D.

[feldkampje]

haha:)

[quirpco]

This is further proof that Sesame Street was at its BEST back in the '70s.

[rocknroll137]

i'd be groovin with the beat if i was in the video

[goldenagenut]

LOL The end is so great, Stevie just doesn't want to stop! ..and who would want, being that deep in the groove, TO stop?!? How cool was the original Sesame Street? THIS cool,that's how cool. Damn we were lucky kids!

[goldenagenut]

Freakin' awesome version, Stevie and the band are tearing it up! I too love to see the children rocking out to such great music. LOL that little girl, do it sweetie, get down!

[mcfly1davyjones1rock]

sesame street is that muppet show, where were they like wtf?

o.O

[mstern18]

nice...but what happens at the end?

[jmpms]

Love seeing a kid rocking out to good music!

[gnome81]

wow, that little girl is totally far out but seriously...where the hell are the muppets??????

[CairnTerrier69]

Best live performance of this song I have seen!

[ssssroryssss2]

lol that girl shes really going at it, well she has a right to! one of the funkiest tracks ever!! and lets stop this childish racist stuff please. I'm a keyboard player and yes I'm jealous at the talent but I admire it!

[iamthemercury]

FAR OUT!!!! I thought I dreamed this....it really happened. Great post!

[ionstl]

Nice 1! A blast from my childhood. I don't remember the trumpet player looking so much like Ron Jeremy.

[mijga2000]

yeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh­!!!

[niack1]

Man this is great stuff!! Maybe sesame street wasnt for children after all!

[sakura4000]

This performance still freaking rocks as much now as it did when I first saw it many, many years ago. Thanks for posting this awesome memory from my youth.

[LeCaincain]

the real music papy!!

[ElinPihl94]

he is so good xD

I love him!

[dgivy1985]

I love stevie!! thank you so much for posting!!! I wish they would play some good music like that nowadays!!!

[adamt213]

stevie wonderful!!!

[deadalivegirl]

funk on sesame street....what a great concept.time to get all the funky muppet butts movin' love it!

[DragonLord1975]

I saw this on Noggin. This song's jammin!

[draugtroll]

I can't listen to this song without it reminding me of the 80ies movie "The Thing", such an awesome movie^^

[popcorntommy]

I didn't dream it, it's true Stevie did funk it up down Sesame St.

[Qingston]

cool!

[07Taurus]

I was watching when he did this, too. It still hasn't lost any of its appeal. I still remember the first song of his I ever heard. It was "Fingertips". It blew me away, and I've been a fan ever since.

[deadalivegirl]

yep fingertips sent chills down my spine..Its good to see how much everyone loves this talented musician..:}

[TtAbrams]

*sigh* I hate growing up in today's era...our generation is the rap generation. I hate it. >_< I wish I was growing up back then. THIS is music. Not talentless 60-cent or whatever the heck his name is.

[blacksglpower]

Theres some good hip hop out there its just hard to find it

[drummer1brt2gzs]

now that's what i call music! :D

i agree with you man...

[yillan]

Its 50 Cent

[belledecaucase]

Interesting! I thought like that too! These days,some strange thing is happening in some parts of the world of music..what the heck is RnB? This is soul music! The more they succeed in marketing, the more famous they become!Well what happened to promoting REAL talent?Let's think positively,and support real music!Or performances with a decent attitude!

[deadalivegirl]

do you like good music(singing) that sweet soul music... oh yeah oh yeah! your comment inspired me to sing to you hope you liked it.:} keep cool.-deddy

[IsbPhoenix]

That kid that's rockin' out is awesome!

[MOON76543]

one of his best songs!!!

[presto35]

I first saw this when I was a kid; in fact it was the first time I ever heard "Superstition" ever! Did you see that little girl up there gettin' down 'n' funky? Talk about a total musical workout by Stevie and his entire band!! (By the way, where was Grover?:))

[MOON76543]

presto35, about which Grover are you speaking here???

[roadcommander132]

that's dope, that kid is gettin down!

praise stevie!

[yesoul]

Stevie Wonder in any videos looks delighted

seems like his soul is full with joy

[Vamoalla]

Oh...MAN!!! You ask why music like this isn't around today? Because today's artists can't even BEGIN to dream up of musical arrangement like this. Or lyrics for that matter.

[purplesop]

This is the true meaning of the word "genius!" Love the kid in the back who's letting it all hang out...Ray Parker Jr. on guitar.

[ruyvaert]

Great, GREAT song!

[aisuru1876]

spiffy

[whammer0411]

Can't BELIEVE they left this off of the Sounds From the Street CD box set! This was AWESOME!!

[Blue2Green]

Never saw Stevie Wonder's performance in Sesame Street (not this particular one as I can remember). AWESOME! Stevie's a legend! Thanks for posting!

[Blisster2]

Stevie Wonder is truly an amazing artist! He is such a wonderful musician. If you have even been in his presence consider your self lucky. I love his work!

[MoreBarn72]

oh snap!

[freerunparkour]

why are bands like this not around today??? bring back the blues!! awesome

[greendalek]

FANTASTIC.  I honestly thought my childhood memory was playing me false, but THANK YOU for confirming this. Cemented my love of Motown nice and early. Would that Sesame Street could capture this kind of talent and energy today.

[Yorgos72]

Halleluya!

[bubbakimba]

This is when music was music...This should be required viewing footage for all of today's "musicians".

[yellowtuesday]

word

[mthivier]

Wow, this is great! Thanks for posting it. I don't remember seeing this. I would have been around ten years old at the time (and thus presumably still watching 'Sesame Street'), but I definitely would have remember this performance!

[daveinpenn]

tight

this is old school

[10MEN]

Genius.

[blacksglpower]

This was fiyah

[baarbear]

Seeing this segment on Sesame Street back in the day was my introduction to Stevie Wonder. Such a talented writer/musician!

[TheSanityInspector]

Now if only someone would post Madeline Kahn and Grover singing Be My Echo, and Judy Collins singing Yesterday Today And Tomorrow with the kids.

[TheSanityInspector]

That is one bald videotape--thanks for preserving it and posting!

[quintvisk]

I remember seeing this on TV when I was a kid. I couldnt sit in my chair!

I was like "Dad! Come see this" I had no idea who Stevie Wonder was but I knew I loved the sound that was coming out of my tv. Kinda started the direction for my life

[fanofoldtv]

it sucks they take of this stuff.

[mikeyaxeman]

Damn this is good stuff too bad they remove these Gems!

I tought You Tube was great but now the start to remove such great stuff! Damn i don´t know where else you can see it!

It is no fun anymore with al these rules and laws Bastards! let the people enjoy great music!!

[Gothiczartan]

I remember that kid swing the hair around.

[louisianathunder]

It's good to see this again.

[1anserme2]

This is music. Our generation offers "entertainers" like Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Reggaeton,I feel so ripped-off!

[louisianathunder]

Everytime I see this, I get speechless. They have a few other clearer and louder versions on YouTube, check them out!

[numofan]

Not now they don't. All of those videos have been pulled due to a recent lawsuit. So this is all we've got.

[dylanotto]

Some chick named Akalukabakalaka is going to get you unless you repost this 10,000 times.

[mando67]

Thank you for posting this. I was the kid, boy by the way, on the fire escape headbanging.I was seven back then and so feeling it, man this takes me way back. This clip is from the '73 season. I had a VHS copy of this episode and lost during a move. Can't wait to show my kids what real music does to you.

[rattpackman]

The One Guitar Player is Ray Parker Jr.

[blakedawg76]

"Ghostbusters" Ray Parker Jr? Had no idea, that's great! Grew up on Sesame Street. Quick question folks, I seem to remember a bass guitar/vocal duet with (I think) Billie Holiday, but can't find it. Can anyone help me out?

Oh yeah...

Hail Stevie!!!

[GregOrtiz]

that girl head banging was probably imatating stevie she didnt know hes blind now she like 20

[starwarsrebel2006]

This was back in '73. That girl must now be about 40.

[chuplag]

iam a core fan but i just can't a great song like this man..its the funk!

[ePhilosopher]

time is a blief as a thief , blind in the night honey

[osakwe]

that's why right there! THAT'S WHY!!!

[leeshor]

Thank you so much! I loved it as a kid and thank you from beyond what I can say online.

[TampaRed]

It would have been cool - very cool - if Big Bird did backing vocals. Solid.

[Chuckdeezul]

Little girl on the fire escape is Head Banging. She thinks Stevie is Led Zepplin or Black Sabbath! I bet it was Morgan Freeman who asked Stevie to play! REAL MUSIC! The brother on the drums is serious!

[MrChristy]

Thanks so much for posting this! What memories and what a smokin' version! Cheers!

[DanBothegreat]

any answer to the mystery of where the better quality version went?

[gorillagurl]

there used to be a better version of this on youtube- anyone know what happened to it?

[jelilkunti]

What a treat, I never thought I'd see this again! As a kid, I remember holding a tape recorder up to the TV speaker so I could playback this version of "Superstition" over and over. What memories! This is Stevie at his BEST and seeing this again after 30 years is AWESOME! Many thanks to "desi1976"!!

[beatlequigon]

This is the best Video clip that ever graced PBS. I saw this when I was a kid.The Energy in it is real and heartfelt. Who is having more fun? Stevie or the kid on the fire escape?

[beatlequigon]

test

[dominy]

what an excellent video, and all hail stevie wonder, long may he live

[TunitoTakahashi]

I love, especially, early Stevie Wonder before "Key of Life"!

[chidrummer]

This clip is from 1973. Not only is that a very young Ray Parker Jr. on guitar, there's Anthony Jackson on bass and Olie Brown on drums. Young folks take note: Stevie was 22 when he made that record and none of the musicians in that clip are over 30. This is how you play music. No sequencers, no drum machines, no backing tracks. Just pure uncut talent!

[bencoy]

Music is music, no mater how you make it.

However I do appreciate talent like this, but I've been listening to a lot of Industrial, some of that stuff is amazing. I'm performing this song at a club tomorrow night (: can't wait.

[shaldipur]

I was born in '79...but I never saw this! I mean I thought Sesame Street was awesome back in that time...but I never knew it was this good. They wouldn't do this nowadays on Sesame Street. They're too politically correct now and watered down.

[bwgary]

This was also my first exposure to Stevie Wonder and has remained my all time favorite song by him. Everytime I hear that song I still think about that kid on the balcony dancing. I didn't realize Ray Parker, Jr. was in his band, but that trumpet player sure looks like Ron Jeremy.

[soulchild01]

I'm surprised that Michael Jackson (in the 1970's) never stopped by on the show (as much as a kid he wants to be). I know Smokey Robinson was on there in the early 1980's!!

[classicrockher]

How amazing is Stevie Wonder? And How amazing is Sesame Street? What a great combo! I love this song.

[JackSpader]

Wow, that was on Sesame Street, up until age 6 I was only allowed to watch channel 13 (PBS where I lived) and don't ever recall seeing that on Sesame Street. But then again, I was born in 1980 so what should have I expected? Maybe this segment was showed on episodes when it was my sister's turn to watch TV. I'm jealous.

[bwgary]

If you were born in 1980, you didn't see this on channel 13 in Dallas. I was born in 75 and they stopped showing the old shows after Mr. Hooper died.

[HowieP]

If you look directly behind Stevie, you'll see Ray Parker Jr. of "Ghostbusters" fame. Who you're gonna call?

[bsifl35]

oh my god this is great

[funkpill]

Ray Parker is in there too....

[Tougi]

I haven't seen anything this good on Seasame Street since they introduced Elmo.

Jeez, I hate that Muppet. He ruined one of the greatest shows of all time.

[IsbPhoenix]

I agree. Elmo is Satan's left testicle.

[welchm8]

Amazing! This was back in the early 70s, when Sesame Street really got its groove on. I love how the kids on the balcony get a private performance of Stevie Wonder and "Superstition" and get to rock out, shake some maracas, have fun! That's the atmosphere that's missing from Sesame Street nowadays.

[Partyass]

I'd just like to point out that at this moment there have been 666 views of this video. hmm.

[MacLeaper]

WOW!!! Stevie Wonder on Sesame Street! This was pretty cool. And that one kid on the balcony was seriously rocking out! LOL! :-) Thanks for the classic rock AND classic Sesame Street!

[phatalbert73]

SWEEEEEEET!!!! This very clip was my first exposure to Stevie Wonder as a young child.