Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder song)

"Higher Ground" is a funk song written by Stevie Wonder which first appeared on his 1973 album Innervisions. The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the US Hot R&B Singles chart.[3] Wonder wrote and recorded the song in a three-hour burst of creativity in May 1973.[4] The album version of the song contains an extra verse and runs 30 seconds longer than the single version. The unique wah-clavinet sound in the song was achieved with a Mu-Tron III envelope filter pedal. The bass line is provided by a Moog synthesizer and using overdubs, Wonder played all instruments on the track, including drums and percussion.

"Higher Ground"
Cover for the 7" single in Germany.[1]
Single by Stevie Wonder
from the album Innervisions
B-side	"Too High"
Released	July 1973
Recorded	May 12, 1973
Genre	Funk[2]
Length	3:42 (Album version) 3:10 (Single version)
Label	Tamla
Songwriter(s)	Stevie Wonder
Producer(s)	Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder singles chronology
"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (1973) "Higher Ground" (1973) "Living for the City" (1973)

The song was released in the UK but achieved only modest success, reaching number 29 in the UK Singles Chart.

Subject

The song lyrics address the issue of reincarnation. Wonder commented, when interviewed by The New York Times:

I would like to believe in reincarnation. I would like to believe that there is another life. I think that sometimes your consciousness can happen on this earth a second time around. For me, I wrote "Higher Ground" even before the accident. But something must have been telling me that something was going to happen to make me aware of a lot of things and to get myself together. This is like my second chance for life, to do something or to do more, and to value the fact that I am alive.[5]

According to Billboard, the lyrics are about "people who are moving ahead in love and in all phases of life."[6]

Critical reception

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the song number 265 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, adding: "'Higher Ground' was recorded just before Wonder was involved in a near-fatal accident in August 1973 that left him in a coma. Early in Wonder's recovery, his road manager sang the song's melody into the singer's ear; Wonder responded by moving his fingers with the music."[7] According to Acclaimed Music, it is the 515th most celebrated song in popular music history.[8]

Chart performance

Chart (1973)	Peak Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9]	62
Canada (RPM 100 Singles)[10]	9
Canada (RPM Pop Music Playlist)[11]	73
France (IFOP)[12]	16
Italy (FIMI)[13]	22
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14]	33
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15]	28
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16]	29
US Billboard Hot 100[17]	4
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[17]	1

Red Hot Chili Peppers version

"Higher Ground"
Single by Red Hot Chili Peppers
from the album Mother's Milk
B-side	"Millionaires Against Hunger"
Released	April 8, 1989
Recorded	1988
Genre	Funk metal[18][19]
Length	3:21
Label	EMI America
Songwriter(s)	Stevie Wonder
Producer(s)	Michael Beinhorn
Red Hot Chili Peppers singles chronology
"Fight Like a Brave" (1987) "Higher Ground" (1989) "Knock Me Down" (1989)
Music video
"Higher Ground" on official website

The funk rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers released a cover as the first single[20] from their fourth studio album Mother's Milk.

It has been featured in films, TV shows and video games, including Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie,[21] Beavis and Butthead,[22] Center Stage,[23] The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,[24] Walking Tall,[25] The Longest Yard,[26] The Karate Kid,[27] The Change-Up,[28] Rocksmith[29] and Guitar Hero Live.[30]

A remixed version by the X-Ecutioners was featured in the video game SSX 3[31] while a cover version appeared in Guitar Hero.[32]

FX used the song to promote The Ultimate Fighter: Live and it also serves as the show's theme song.[33][34]

As part of the "Year of a Million Dreams" Celebration, Space Mountain at Disneyland in Anaheim, California was transformed into Rockin' Space Mountain. The song was used as its soundtrack for 16 weeks, from January 3, 2007 to April 26, 2007.[35]

In 2000 British magazine Total Guitar named it the second greatest cover ever.[36]

Red Hot Chili Peppers performed the song with other musicians as part of the all-star jam during the band's induction into the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.[37]

Track listing

US Cassette single (1989)[38]

1. "Higher Ground"
2. "Nobody Weird Like Me"

7" single (1989)

1. "Higher Ground"
2. "Fight Like a Brave"

UK CD single

1. "Higher Ground"
2. "Higher Ground" (Munchkin Mix)
3. "Millionaires Against Hunger"
4. "Mommy Where's Daddy?"

12" UK promo (1989)

1. "Higher Ground"
2. "Higher Ground" (Munchkin Mix)
3. "Higher Ground" (Bert Bevans Remix)

12" US promo (1989)

1. "Higher Ground" (12" Vocal)
2. "Higher Ground" (Politician Mix)
3. "Higher Ground" (Dub Mix)

Australian 7" single (1989)

1. "Higher Ground"
2. "Punk Rock Classic"

UK 7" single (1989)

1. "Higher Ground"
2. "Millionaires Against Hunger"

UK 12" 3D Punch Out Pepper single (1990)

1. "Higher Ground"
2. "Higher Ground" (Munchkin Mix)
3. "Politician" (Mini Rap)
4. "Higher Ground" (Bert Bevans Mix)

UK 12" gatefold sleeve pop up single (1990)

1. "Higher Ground"
2. "Fight Like a Brave"
3. "Out in L.A."

UK 12" limited edition picture disc single (1990)

1. "Higher Ground"
2. "Higher Ground" (Daddy-O Mix)
3. "Fight Like a Brave"

UK CD Maxi-single (1990)

1. "Higher Ground"
2. "Fight Like a Brave"
3. "Behind the Sun"
4. "Out in L.A."

France CD promo single (1992)

1. "Higher Ground" (Daddy-O Mix)
2. "Millionaires Against Hunger"
3. "Castles" (Live)

Personnel

Red Hot Chili Peppers

• Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
• John Frusciante – guitar, backing vocals
• Flea – bass, backing vocals
• Chad Smith – drums, tambourine

Additional personnel[39]

• Vicki Calhoun – backing vocals
• Wag – backing vocals
• Randy Ruff – backing vocals
• Aklia Chinn – backing vocals
• Jack Sherman – backing vocals
• Joel Virgel Viergel – backing vocals
• Iris Parker – backing vocals
• Julie Ritter – backing vocals
• Gretchen Seager – backing vocals
• Laure Spinosa – backing vocals
• Sir Babs – backing vocals
• Merill Ward – backing vocals
• Bruno Deron – backing vocals
• Kristen Vigard – backing vocals

Chart performance

Chart (1989-1990)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[40]	45
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[41]	38
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[42]	15
UK (Official Charts Company)[43]	54
US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks[44]	26
US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks[44]	11

References

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3. Joel Whitburn (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 635.
4. "Power in the Darkness". Micasamm.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
5. "Big American Night - Holy Roller". /bigamericannight.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
6. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. August 11, 1973. p. 71. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
7. "500 Greatest Songs of All Time - 265 - Stevie Wonder, 'Higher Ground'". Rolling Stone. Jann S. Wenner. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
8. "Higher Ground ranked 515th most celebrated song". Acclaimed Music. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
9. bulion. "Forum - ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts - CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". ARIA. Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
10. "Top Singles - Volume 20, No. 11, October 27, 1973". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
11. "Adult Contemporary - Volume 20, No. 9, October 13, 1973". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
12. "InfoDisc : Tout les Titres par Artiste". Infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on September 20, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
13. "I singoli più venduti del 1973". HitParadeItalia (in Italian). Creative Commons. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
    100. Higher ground - Stevie Wonder [#22]
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18. Christopher Knowles (2010). Viva Editions (ed.). The Secret History of Rock 'n' Roll. ISBN 978-1573445641. "Milk gave the band much-needed hits with “Knock Me Down” and a cover of Stevie Wonder's “Higher Ground,” both of which worked the funk-metal vein."
19. "Here Are the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 10 Greatest Shirtless Moments (Some Without Pants & Underwear, Too)". billboard.com.
20. "RHCP Timeline". Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
21. William Ruhlmann. "The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Original Soundtrack". Allmusic. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
22. Octopus (October 2, 2008). "S1 - Ep4 - Beavis and Butthead - Balloon". Beavis and Butt-Head. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
23. Caitlin Gallagher (2015). "Breaking Down 'Center Stage's "Higher Ground" Dance In Choreography — Because Even Though Cooper Nielson Was A Jerk, Dude Knew How To Move". Bustle. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
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28. "The Change-Up (2011) - Soundtracks". IMDb. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
29. Jeff Atwood (October 11, 2011). "Rocksmith Full Track List Revealed". Fake Plastic Rock. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
30. Mark Labbe (May 20, 2015). "Activision Reveals 10 New Heavy Metal and Hard Rock Songs for Guitar Hero Live". PlayStation LifeStyle. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
31. The Dinner King (July 4, 2010). "Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Higher Ground [X-Ecutioners Remix]". YouTube. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
32. Chris Roper (October 26, 2005). "GUITAR HERO SONG LIST UNVEILED". IGN. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
33. Dana White (March 23, 2012). "@flea333 Thanks to you guys for helping us with The Higher Ground for TUF on FX". Twitter. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
34. Dana White (March 23, 2012). "I want to thank Anthony Kiedis and the rest of the RHCP's for TUF live open tonight on FX!!! Appreciate u bro". Twitter. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
35. Matthew Walker (March 6, 2007). "Rockin' Space Mountain". StartedByAMouse.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
36. "The Best Cover Versions Ever". Total Guitar. Future Publishing. August 2000.
37. John Soeder (May 4, 2012). "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction special premieres Saturday night on HBO". Cleveland.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
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