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Higher Ground
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Information About

Higher Ground (song)




  Cover Higherground45jpg
  From Album Innervisions
  B-side "Too High"
  Released July, 1973
  Artist Stevie Wonder
  Format 7" 45 RPM
  Genre Soul
  Length 3:42 (full-length version)
  Label Tamla
  Writer Stevie Wonder
  Producer Stevie Wonder


"Higher Ground" is a Funk song written by Stevie Wonder and first appearing on his 1973 album '' Innervisions ''. Against a driving, percolating Clavinet -based arrangement, the lyric posits that religion and reincarnation can perhaps successfully do battle with the darker sides of human nature. It reached #4 on the U.S. Pop Singles Chart and #1 on the U.S. Black Singles chart. The album version of this 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 Mutron envelope filter pedal. The bass is a Moog synthesizer. Via overdubs, Wonder played all instruments on the track, including drums.

In 2004, . Early in Wonder's recovery, his road manager sang the melody of "Ground" into the singer's ear; Wonder responded by moving his fingers with the music.''"

An especially ferocious performance of "Higher Ground" was given by Alicia Keys along with Wonder and Lenny Kravitz at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards . Keys and Wonder then took a softer, improvised approach in a duet at the 2006 Grammy Awards . Later in 2006, fifth-season '' American Idol '' contestant Chris Daughtry gave an acclaimed, show-closing rendition that blended the original with the Red Hot Chili Peppers ' 1989 cover. At the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival , Marcus Miller also performed this song. Higher Ground was later released on his 2007 album "Free".

  Before " Let's Get It On " by Marvin Gaye
  Title Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Number One Single
  Years September 29 , 1973
  After " Keep On Truckin' " by Eddie Kendricks



RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS COVER


Single Information

  Name Higher Ground
  Cover red_hot_chili_peppers_higher_groundjpg
  From Album Mother's Milk
  B-side "Millionaires Against Hunger"
  Released 1989
  Artist Red Hot Chili Peppers
  Format CD Single
  Length 3:21
  Label EMI
  Writer Stevie Wonder
  Producer Michael Beinhorn
  "" class="copylinks" target="_blank">Reviews =
  Chart Position #45 <small> ( Australia ) </small>
  Last Single " Knock Me Down " <br/> (1989)
  This Single "'''Higher Ground'''" <br/> (1989)
  Next Single " Taste The Pain " <br/> (1989)



This song was covered notably by the Red Hot Chili Peppers on 1989 's '' Mother's Milk ''.

This version was featured in the films '''' ( 1995 ), '' Center Stage '' ( 2000 ), '' Walking Tall '' ( 2004 ) and '' The Longest Yard '' ( 2005 ). It is used in The Pursuit Of Happyness too as Highest Ground. It was also used as the '' Mighty Morphin Power Rangers '' pilot episode opened. A cover of this version of the song was used in the game '' Guitar Hero ''. This song was released as a part of a 3-song pack via Xbox Live for the Xbox 360 title '' Guitar Hero II '' on April 11, 2007. Their version features a very dominant funk slap bass sound. Higher Ground was the Steiner Brother's entrance music back in WCW. As part of the "Year of a Million Dreams" Celebration, Space Mountain at Disneyland in Anaheim, California used this song as its soundtrack for 16 weeks, from January 3, 2007 to April 26, 2007.The Red Hot Chili's version was played in a season one episode of '' The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air ''.

British magazine, Total Guitar names this version as the second greatest cover version ever in 2000.

DigitalDreamDoor voted this song as having the 9th greatest bassline of all time.


Track Listing

CD Single #1
# Higher Ground (Album)
# Higher Ground (Munchkin Mix)
# Millionaires Against Hunger (Previously Unreleased)
# Mommy Where's Daddy (Album)

CD Single #2 (Germany Only)
# Politician (Mini Rap)
# Higher Ground (Munchkin Mix)
# Higher Ground (Daddy-O Remix)
# Mommy Where's Daddy (Album)

12" Vinyl
# Politician (Mini Rap)
# Higher Ground (Munchkin Mix)
# Higher Ground (Dub Mix)
# Mommy Where's Daddy

12" Remix Vinyl
# Higher Ground
# Higher Ground (Munchkin Mix)
# Politician (Mini Rap)
# Higher Ground (Bert Bevans Mix)

UK 12" Vinyl
# Higher Ground
# Higher Ground (Daddy-O Remix)
# Fight Like A Brave