(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please refer to the "Poor Little Fool" post)
Little Stevie Wonder - "Fingertips (Part 2)"
Hit Number 1: August 10, 1963
Stay at Number 1: 3 Weeks
In June of 1962, in front of a major audience during a Motown event at the Regal Theater in Chicago, a musical prodigy was introduced as the next part of the show. This kid not only was at the young age of 12, but had suffered from being blind most of his life. He needed guidance to find the right place to be on stage, and needed someone to place a set of bongos in front of him so he could start playing his song. The audience had to be wondering where the hell this thing was going, and if this blind kid was really about to play them some sort of song. Little did they know that they were about to witness history, and completely have their hearts stolen away in seconds. This kid by the way was Stevie Wonder, at the time going by the stage name of Little Stevie Wonder.
This might seem kind of obvious when you listen to the song, but "Fingertips" really isn't much of a song. In fact, the sole purpose of its existence was to showcase Wonder's talents on the bongos and the harmonica. The part that went to #1 on the Hot 100 was the second part, where Wonder has switched from the bongos to the harmonica, and the song had already built up to speed. It starts out with Wonder yelling out as a call and response "Everybody say YEAH!", and the audience obviously responds. That happens a few more times before Wonder launches into his harmonica playing. When the second part starts, it's very clear that Wonder had already stolen the show, and the audience was loving what they were seeing and hearing. There's energy, excitement, and of course screaming from fans in disbelief. This wasn't supposed to be happening! How can a 12 year old blind kid possibly be doing this? How does he at the very least not sound nervous? Because Stevie Wonder is a national treasure. That's why.
Perhaps the best part of the song is when Wonder fakes everyone out, and gives out an unexpected encore after everyone was getting ready for the Marvelettes, the next act to follow Wonder. After he sings that he's saying goodbye, he plays a little snip it of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" with the audience laughing in response. He even felt comfortable enough to do that. There's just a little more harmonica playing, before the song comes to an obvious end, and Bill Murray tells Wonder to take a bow, and says "Let's hear it for Little Stevie Wonder!". Oh, but Wonder wasn't finished yet. After the exit music was done playing, that familiar harmonica started playing again, and the bassist for the Marvelettes who was getting ready for their act was in a tough spot. He knew Wonder was giving an encore and he was gonna have to play with him. You can hear him asking loudly "What key? What key?", before the song builds back up again. Wonder then sings "GOODBYE! I'm gonna go, but last let's swing it one more time!", before playing his harmonica riff one last time, before leaving for good. If I was the Marvelettes, I'd have to be thinking "How the hell are we supposed to follow that?!"
"Fingertips" was the first live recorded song to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it launched the obscure Wonder into stardom that he would hold onto all the way up to today. Of course as he got older, he would drop the "Little" in front of his name, and he would go on to become one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He will have several more moments in this blog. But for right now, I just want everyone who happens to be reading this to realize something. The kid was 12. The kid was blind. And that didn't stop him from becoming someone who used his God given talents to become a massive success. I don't care what anyone might say, the story of "Fingertips" will live on forever, and be known as the start to a legendary musical career.
GRADE: 10/10
10 ALERT!!!:
The Surfaris' "Wipe Out" peaked at #2 behind "Fingertips (Part 2)", and that song will also live forever. I'm certain of that. It's a 10.
JUST MISSED:
Two more songs just missed out on #1 due to "Fingertips (Part 2)" just like "Wipe Out". The next one was a fine folk song by Peter, Paul, and Mary called "Blowin' In the Wind". It's an 8.
Lastly, Allan Sherman's funny novelty song "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah (A Letter From Camp)" stalled out at #2 behind "Fingertips (Part 2)". It's a 7.
Amazing talent and point on with this review!