Who Did It Better? - Stevie Wonder vs. Ray Charles (1973/1975)

As always please listen to both renditions then share your thoughts in the comments section.

“Living for the City" is a 1973 single by Stevie Wonder from his Innervisions album. It reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 1 on the R&B chart.[3]: 635  Rolling Stone ranked the song number 104 on their 2004 list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

The song has won two Grammy Awards: one at the 1974 Grammy Awards for Best Rhythm & Blues Song, and the second for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 1975 Grammy Awards for Ray Charles' recording on his album Renaissance. - Wikipedia
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[Riogi]

Stevie's version has more of a funk-style to it while Ray's version has a bluesy tonet. Both men are legends of music. I choose both versions of this amazing song.

[Iyona]

Stevie & Ray…This is two different eras damn near but let’s not compare this is two great ARTIST that just so happen to be blind ❤️

[Polygroove]

This shows you how Ray makes a song his own….don’t forget that Stevie was “Little Stevie” he did a WHOLE album of Ray Charles covers as the Heir Apparent….this makes total sense….imagine your Idol covers your song….that’s a dream come true….

[CamsHideOut]

I always gravitate to the blues what can I say I’m a soul man.

[defconfour]

I rock with Stevie heavy, but wow I never heard the Ray version before tonight! What a gift both of these gentlemen gave us.

[tula_tracey]

Both equally did it great in their own storytelling style ! Both legends.

[eramorgan]

Mr. Charles did an awesome job. Very bluesy. I can't choose between the two. They're both excellent

[emmanuelseequeh]

Love them both but Ray Charles is a King of music

[fantistic]

It is obvious that it is a tie. Two geniuses in their field did this song justice in their own

[moniquekyle]

Don't put two legends together! They both are musical geniuses with different styles of music. Ray grew up in the era of blues where Stevie grew up with pop/funk music. I like and respect both of these gentlemen!

[k.stewart]

Wow Never heard Mr Ray Charles Both are Great. Stevie is the genre of the time in musicality. Ray’s is sho nuff blues both hit different ❤️

[TheRealNemesisX]

Can't choose, thankfully I don't have to, it's all good and it's all my people. Bless.

[UncommonWoman]

BOTH ARE EQUAL IN THEIR OWN FUNK!!! 🎶🎶🎶
🙇🏾‍♀️🙇🏾‍♀️🙇🏾‍♀️💝💝💝🕊🕊🕊

[hornet]

It is obvious that it is a tie. Two geniuses in their field did this song justice in their own right. All we can do is enjoy both with a smile, snap of the fingers and head bobbing to the music. I was floored when they both performed this song together live. It was FANTASTIC!!!

[jamiAkos]

I like both BUT Stevie killed it. I mean felt every bit of it and the storytelling of going to a big city from a small town and getting caught up... Chefs kiss 💋

[tawniamalone]

I prefer Ray Charles personally but they are both legends and both are appealing.

[IAmUS]

Both are equally legends in their talent and mass appeal. The delivery/style of the song by each artist is very different (R&B vs Bluesy grit) I vote for both!

[michelleanthony]

Both are very great at what they do, …. But Steve Wonder singing and the beat is awesome.

[crosswordpuzzle]

They are both the perfection of their own lives. No one better than the other. Just two people who made their own way. Both perfectionist and both were perfect. You can't have history without either.

[TodaysSpecialMinis]

OH WOW!! I have never heard the Ray Charles version - before I even listened I predicted I would love Stevie's version, but man - I absolutely LOVE Ray's version the best. Stevie's version is like that of a youthful boy in the city - it's vibrant, funky, hopeful, and full of the kind of angst that is typical of a young person who believes they're making a statement and railing against the machine. Ray's version actually sounds like the city he's singing about - it's dark, it's gritty, it's manly, it's seasoned - this is the sound of a man who's been through some thangs - he's not railing against the machine, he's calling the machine out, indicting it, standing man-to-man with it and daring it to change him before he changes it! Yes, ray won this one - hands down.