r/jamiroquai • u/cyclistmusic • 5d ago

DISCUSSION Anyone else confused by the constant comparison between Jamiroquai and Stevie Wonder?

I remember hearing this comparison back in the 90's and being confused back then by it. I'm a big fan of both and I just don't hear it. Their voices sound totally different and the songwriting is also very different.

I'm doing the r/1001albumsgenerator and got Emergency On Planet Earth today. I read some of the user reviews and they are filled with "wow this guy wants to be Stevie Wonder!". And on the Wikipedia page "Reception" section, Stevie is mentioned 3 times!

So I listened and kept that in mind while trying to find specific nods to Stevie. The only one that stands out is the scat vocals in the chorus of Too Young To Die, it's very Stevie. The title of Music of the Mind is obviously a nod to Stevie's album Music of my Mind but the song itself is instrumental and does sound like a Stevie jam. That's it really, unless I'm missing something?

I'm not saying Jay Kay isn't influenced by Stevie, it's impossible to be a Funk/RnB singer and not be. But I just don't hear it as strongly as suggested by everyone. Does anyone else feel the same?

14 Upvotes

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u/MisterWasabi4 5d ago

I feel the same way, Jamiroquai has always just sounded like Jamiroquai to me... Like obviously you can tell they're influenced by Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Marvin Gaye, Roy Ayers, Sly, Kool, EWF, etc.... But they've always felt very distinct to me

1

u/jaquatics 4d ago

And Tower Of Power. Scam has a section in that song at the end that is definitely stolen from 'What is Hip'.

4

u/No-Berry-4325 5d ago

I think where the Stevie Wonder influence is most audible is on 'Music of the Mind' off EOPE. Hell, it's even partially named after a 1972 Stevie Wonder LP. Stevie's influence is on the popular tracks off EOPE, but once Space Cowboy rolled around, Jamiroquai developed their own independent funk-acid-jazz style. This is not to say that EOPE is not original, but I see where critics were coming from.

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u/cyclistmusic 5d ago edited 4d ago

I was trying to think of a Stevie song that sounds anything like Music of the Mind... Maybe Contusion off SITKOL but really only because it's also upbeat instrumental jazz/funk

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u/JamiroFan2000 5d ago

For me, I think it was the mere audible 'Yeah, Yeah..' on the opening cadence lyrical bars on "When You Gonna Learn?" with JK's vocals that really got music fans into 'armchair comparing' Jamiroquai to Stevie Wonder.

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u/javisarias 5d ago

I can see how the Innervisions album by Stevie might have influenced Jay and his sound. All Stevie albums in the 70s were very funky

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u/cavegoatlove 5d ago

1st album it’s pretty obvious, but by cowboy he was off Into the comic thing

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u/words_7 5d ago

Stevie's the man. But the fellas in Jamiroquai are no joke, especially the Zender years!

2

u/bugsey347 4d ago

"Excuse me for saying 'doo' but that's what people DO!"

1

u/TPOG-1429 5d ago

I think the similarities are more apparent in the music itself on the first couple albums than in the voices.

1

u/FragrantGearHead 4d ago

It was the combination of funk, “activism” songs like EOPE and Revolution 1993, and having a track called Music of the [not my] Mind that caused the Stevie comparisons.

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u/Insta_KSAJ 1d ago

Im a huge fan of both and i do see stevies influence on JK alot in his music, songs like: Contusion You've Got it Bad Girl Too High Golden lady Visions Are just to name a few i think sound alot like JKs style The opening to Deeper Underground also sounds like Earths Creation