Ribbon in the Sky
1982 single by Stevie Wonder
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"Ribbon in the Sky" is a song by American singer Stevie Wonder. The ballad was first featured on the 1982 greatest hits album, Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I, and charted at No. 54 pop,[1] No. 21 Adult Contemporary,[2] and No. 10 R&B in the US when it was released.[3] The song also charted in the United Kingdom, reaching No. 45.
| "Ribbon in the Sky" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Single by Stevie Wonder | ||||
| from the album Original Musiquarium I | ||||
| B-side | "Black Orchid" | |||
| Released | June 13, 1982 | |||
| Recorded | October 1981 | |||
| Studio | Wonderland (Los Angeles, California) | |||
| Genre | R&B, soul, jazz, soul jazz, smooth soul | |||
| Length | 5:50 | |||
| Label | Tamla | |||
| Songwriter | Stevie Wonder | |||
| Producer | Stevie Wonder | |||
| Stevie Wonder singles chronology | ||||
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In February 1983, Wonder was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 25th Grammy Awards.
In 2009, Essence magazine included "Ribbon in the Sky" in their list of the "25 Best Slow Jams of All Time".[4]
Wonder performed a version of the song at Whitney Houston's funeral on February 18, 2012.[5]
Critical reception
Upon its release, "Ribbon in the Sky" received mixed reviews from music critics. Simon Hills of British Record Mirror described the track as a "lush ballad," but felt that Wonder's "breathy vocals" were ultimately "ordinary by his standards." However, Hills noted that the song served as a welcome relief to the artist's recent output, writing that "at least it might kill memories of the awful 'Ebony and Ivory'." He was equally critical of the single's B-side, dismissing "Secret Life of Plants" as "disastrous."[6]
Personnel
- Stevie Wonder – vocals, drums, piano, synthesizers
- Benjamin Bridges – acoustic guitar
