STEVIE WONDER 'JESUS CHILDREN OF AMERICA' (reaction)

Check out Sight After Dark reacting to "Jesus Children of America" by Stevie Wonder!

We're reacting to the entire "Innervisions" album, so be sure to check out those other videos if you haven't!

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[adamlumani]

This song really grew on me after listening to it a bunch of times. I can understand it not being people’s fav after their first listen, but I really like it now and it’s become on of my favs on the album (but every song is good lol). Love the way he harmonizes with himself in the chorus and it really is a funky song when u listen to it closer

[robertmarsh]

It's about the hypocrisy of America. "Tell me, holy roller,
. . . are you standing for everything you talk about?"

[jameshw]

The interpolation of beats at 1:16 is beautiful.
One of my favorite Stevie Wonder tracks for sure.

[versatilejams]

This song is one of the funkiest, coldest songs ever recorded. Probably the song that converted me.

[versatilejams]

Stevie is playing the drums too. Along with damn near everything else.

[timcardona]

This has always been one of my favorites.
Again, a perfect marriage of music and messaging; that deep dark groove underpinning the urgency of the vocals. ...how many male vocalists can just modulate up a whole 5th like its nothing haha

[charlesrobinson]

In Jesus Children of America, Wonder offers both praise and criticism for organized religion. The song all but anticipates disco with its lead guitar-like keyboard part, softly thudding quasi-four-on-the-floor beat, and marvelous backing vocals, especially in the chorus, with Stevie doing his best male Aretha Franklin vocal, simultaneously calming and didactic.

[Benjiroyoface]

this was the song that made me understand and appreciate how he "plays the changes" when he does vocal runs, just like jazz improvisation "faa-aaa-aa-aaa-aaa-aaa HEEE" the word fast goes through like four or five chord changes. nice lengthy example here but he does it everywhere, vocal wizard

[CreatorOfTheRoom]

I kinda discounted this song at first but as of recently it really rose to my favorite from Stevie. It's not only just a really enjoyable funky jam, its lyrics really hit me when I actually paid attention to it; I feel as though it really calls on the hypocrisy of the average "follower" in America in which they prominently do not practice what they preach and do as they're told by the lord. It really pushed the narrative that if we associate with the teachings of the lord then we should live by the lord and his great example in Jesus Christ, and it's something I agree with myself. The song itself is not my only motivation to do right, of course, but it plays a valuable part and I really commemorate the track for that.

[kasper]

Amazing song. It sucks you right in. I could listen to this every day. Also the message is amazing and even if i am not religious (agnostic) this is such an underrated song and would say that every religious person should listen to this.

[webster]

This was my #1 song last year in 2020. Love this song

[summertime_blooz]

I think it's saying it's not cool to just to say you're a child of Jesus without walking the walk of following the commandments. I think Dan got it right. Anyway this song is awesome.

[gandalfshakur]

Kinda think this is about cultural programming. The last verse seems to resonate what Stevie was really into at the time. Innervisions has a 3-way tie between this, Higher Ground, and Living For The City. Arrangement-wise I think this tops the other two.

[Skylarking]

I read this was Stevie’s response to the “Jesus hippie freaks” who were prominent at the time (starting from the late 60s) but I’m unclear his take. I think the references to drugs means it’s more an admonition to them (similar to your take). Lots of yips and hee hees on this album, stolen ten years later by Michael Jackson.

[derrionarrington]

To me, in the first half, he addressed the empty religious talk from hollow holy Christians. Seems like he feels that they are corrupting the faith. This song could also be a jab at the Jesus People Movement at the time. They were extremely into drug culture at the time but also went out to teach the “word” as they say.

[showshowthecloneclown]

This is a good mix . Jesus children of America might have deteriorated into a cult . I remember the early 70s . I remember the forever children . They ended up as a cult . Mike Judge of beavis and butt head and king of the hill fame has these fantastic cartoons plus real video footage called on the tour bus . He covers James Brown the funkedelics waylon Jennings willie Nelson. It all seems historical accurate. 1 night bootsy Collins and the rest of the rhythm section were passing around a beverage spiked with orange sunshine . James Brown who never did LSD demanded they give the cup to him .Reluctantly they gave the cup to him and James Brown drank it all down . James performed ripped to the gills . Real strange dance steps that night

[damonhines]

Stevie the man, the band...definitely an admonition to those Christians whose hedonism, consumerism and hypocrisy is so antithetical to Christ's message. 70s, 20s, kinda on target anytime, sadly. Cheers, Happy Sunday. 8>D

[juiceplanet]

Meh reviews...both you guys are discounting the fact that this was released in 1973. 50 years ago. No one is doing what Stevie was doing. Catholic Church was heavy in America then. Go back and listen to the top 50 songs in the late 1960s. ...Motown sounds & Tom Jones.