THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

920-Stevie Wonder-Do I Do.

1982-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 7.46. Stevie Wonder’s attempt at Rapping, was more prankster, than gangster.

‘Do I Do’ was the first of four singles released from ‘Stevie Wonder’s Original Musiquarium I,’ which was a compilation Album issued by ‘Tamla Motown’ records in May 1982, in order to fill the gap between Stevie Wonder’s 1980 ‘Hotter Than July’ Album, and 1984’s ‘The Woman in Red.’ ‘Stevie Wonder’s Original Musiquarium I,’ collects together 11 previous top 40 1970’s, and 1980’s hit singles, five of his 1970’s Album tracks, and four brand new songs, including ‘Do I Do.’ The Album was issued as a double Album, with each sides last track being a brand new song,’Do I Do’ is the closing song on side 4 .

‘Do I Do’ was written and produced by Stevie Wonder, (see also best songs 843-834-682-570-503-366-205-152 and 65) and appears in all of it’s 10 minutes and 27 seconds on the Album version. The single edit at 5 minutes and 2 seconds cruelly omits the Dizzy Gillespie trumpet solo, and Stevie Wonder’s attempt at Rapping. Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993) was a boyhood hero of Wonder’s, and along with other notable names such as Nathan Lamar Watts, (bass) Dennis Davis, (1949-2016) (drums) and Paul Riser, (string arrangements) they and others contributed to song.

Dizzy Gillespie was born John Birks Gillespie on October 21st, 1917, in Cheraw, South Carolina, United States, he died on January 6th, 1993, of pancreatic cancer, at the age of 75, it is said that he earned his nickname ‘Dizzy’ for his erratic, and mischievous behaviour. Gillespie is best remembered as a Jazz trumpeter, who in the 1940’s became a major figure in the development of ‘Bebop,’ and ‘Modern Jazz.’ ‘Bebop’ is a style of ‘Jazz’ that features compositions characterised by a fast tempo, which usually exceeds 200 BPM. ‘Bebop’ is also noted for it’s complex chord progressions, with rapid chord changes, and numerous changes of key, instrumental virtuosity, and improvisation based on a combination of harmonic structure. There are several stories as to how the term ‘Bebop’ derived, with Dizzy Gillespie’s version stating that the audiences coined the name after hearing him ‘scat’ the then-nameless compositions to his players, and the press ultimately picked it up, using it as an official term. Gillespie has said,’People, when they’d wanna ask for those numbers and didn’t know the name, would ask for ‘Bebop.’

Other notable musicians on ‘Do I Do’ included Nathan Lamar Watts, who is a long term collaborator with Stevie Wonder, having played on all 10 Stevie Wonder studio Albums from ‘Songs in the Key of Life,’ (1976) through to ‘A Time To Love,’ (2005) His critically acclaimed bass playing has been singled out for plaudits on other tracks as well as ‘Do I Do,’ including ‘I Wish,’ (1976) (see also best songs 152) and ‘I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It’ (1980.) Watts whose musical education included attending rehearsals, and recordings of ‘The Funk Brothers’ (see also best songs 948-650-569-411-382-212-148 and 28) at ‘Motown’s Hitsville Studios,’ has also played on the Albums of dozens of other artists. The drummer on ‘Do I Do’ was Dennis Davis (1949-2016.) Davis who was born in New York, United States, was a session musician who is best remembered for playing on selected tracks over the course of 10 David Bowie (1947-2016) studio Albums, including on the Billboard Number 1 single ‘Fame,’ (1975) Davis died of cancer in 2016, at the age of 66.

Towards the end of ‘Do I Do,’ Stevie Wonder surprises us all when he lightheartedly starts ‘Rapping.’ Back in 1982 ‘Rap’ was still in it’s infancy, and somewhat of a novelty, and Stevie is obviously enjoying experimenting with this new musical genre. In 2001 the American Rapper ‘Ja Rule’ sampled ‘Do I Do’ for his Billboard Number 6, and UK Number 5 hit single ‘Livin’ It Up.’

‘Girl, I’ve got some chocolate kisses for your lovin’ baby, oh yea. Do you want some candy? Do you want some honey suckle? Do you want some chocolate dripping kisses full of love for you?’