"Love Light in Flight" by Stevie Wonder

Song#:  2145
Date:  12/01/1984
Debut:  64
Peak:  17
Weeks:  16
Genre:  R&B, Soundtrack



Pop Bits:  Wonder got one of the biggest hits of his career with "I Just Called to Say I Love You," a song taken from the soundtrack to the film The Woman in Red. It spent three weeks atop the Pop chart while also getting to #1 at AC and R&B. For a follow-up this song from the soundtrack was issued. It wasn't nearly as popular, but it did reach #10 AC and #4 R&B while getting inside the Pop Top 20.

ReduxReview:  While I wouldn't say this is a lost gem, it is a good Wonder song that has long been forgotten. It grooves along well and I like its minor tone. Each section of the song is pretty solid, but the drawback is that there is no real chorus here. I guess the "make me feel like paradise" part might be considered the chorus, but even it changes a bit during certain sections. Even the title of the song is mainly relegated to the background. Yet despite not having a catchy chorus, the song is one of Wonder's better latter-day efforts.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Another tune from the soundtrack album, "Don't Drive Drunk," was issued as a single in many countries. In the US, it appeared only as a 12" single. The song charted in a minor few countries with the best being a #20 appearance on the Netherlands chart. Although not popular in the US, some folks may remember the song due to its appearance in a TV spot. The Ad Council joined up with the US Department of Transportation to do a series of TV PSA's that focused on drunk driving, especially targeting teenagers. Wanting a hooky jingle that would attract a younger crowd, the Council thought it might be interesting to get Stevie Wonder involved. Wonder obliged and wrote "Don't Drive Drunk." He also took it step further by filming a video for the song that would also be used in the PSA. Although Wonder was blind and obviously didn't drive, that fact didn't stop the marketing folks from spinning it into a different angle. For print ads that featured Wonder, he is quoted as saying, "Before I'll ride with a drunk, I'll drive myself." The tune then did double duty by appearing on The Woman in Red soundtrack.

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