The Enduring Power Of Stevie Wonder’s “As,” R&B’s Greatest Song Ever

Of all the discourse on the ESSENCE timeline this past week, the biggest takeaway—for me, at least—is just how polarizing these music lists can be. Much of August has been spent debating with several of the best editors in the business about which songs belong at the top of the R&B canon. There have been hours-long meetings, cutting some legendary records and receiving less-than-favorable calls from a few of my colleagues asking the question: “What are y’all thinking?” But amidst all of the turmoil, we’ve finally arrived at the moment of truth; and it should come as no surprise that “As,” the final single from Stevie Wonder’s multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning album, Songs in the Key of Life, lands at #1. Just how did we come to this conclusion? Out of the bevy of tracks and omitted, added, taken off, and re-added, this one was the only song on the list that required no deliberation at all. It’s the greatest R&B song of all time, and you could make a strong case for it being the greatest song ever recorded, period.

The year is 1976, and ironically, Wonder is only one year removed from calling it quits on the music industry entirely. (The singer seriously considered moving to Ghana, where he hoped to pursue humanitarian work with children with disabilities amid his growing frustration with the U.S. government.) He’s right in the middle of what would become known as his “Classic Period,” a remarkable run that included 1972’s Music of My Mind and Talking Book, 1973’s Innervisions, and Fulfillingness’ First Finale in 1974. Expectations for his 18th studio album were understandably high, and the 26-year-old savant delivered. Songs in the Key of Life debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and remained there for 14 consecutive weeks before going on to win four Grammy Awards. Wonder had given the world his magnum opus, and among its many treasures, “As” emerged as a shining jewel in the crown.

While Stevie was the architect of “As,” he surrounded himself with musicians capable of turning his blueprint into something transcendent. The record featured Nathan Watts on the bass, Dean Parks playing guitar, Gerry Brown on the drums, and Herbie Hancock joining Wonder on the Fender Rhodes piano. Additionally, the lyrics on “As” highlighted the beauty of unconditional love, and it perseveres, regardless of the circumstance. In an interview with Gia Peppers during the Democratic National Convention in 2024, Wonder also spoke about the song in a broader scope, saying that it doesn’t restrict itself to solely individuals, but humanity as a whole.“I was inspired just to write those words, and say ‘make sure that with all the things you talk about, you are playing your part in making sure that we are moving consistently in the right direction for the good of all—not just ourselves,’” he explained.

There are several measuring sticks for what makes a song iconic, but perhaps none is more telling than its ability to withstand the test of time. In the time that followed its debut, “As” has been covered by countless artists, from Sister Sledge and Case to George Michael and Mary J. Blige’s Babyface-produced rendition. Beyond the covers, the track has become a fixture at family gatherings and cookouts across the country. (If you’re ever in charge of the aux cord, you’d be hard-pressed to put together a holiday playlist without it.) There’s also something remarkable about a song that can inspire someone in their 80s and someone in their 20s to both make it a song of their own.

Nearly 25 years after its release, “As” found another audience through Malcolm D. Lee’s The Best Man. The 1999 film placed Wonder’s classic behind the complicated history between Harper (Taye Diggs) and Jordan (Nia Long), using it during flashbacks to their college years and the attraction they never fully acted upon. For a generation coming of age decades after Songs in the Key of Life, the film offered another entry point into a record their parents already knew by heart. Still, Wonder’s message of love remains clear as ever.

Now, if I’m being honest, choosing the greatest R&B song of all time was no easy task. But somewhere in the middle of all those debates, I was reminded of something beautiful about music: there really is no wrong answer. We can argue about influence, commercial success, or add up Grammy wins, but music is art, and our relationship with it is personal. A song that reminds me of my childhood in New Orleans may take you back to your wedding day, and a record I consider perfect may not even crack your top 20. (Tevin Campbell’s “Can We Talk” got a bit more slander than I expected, but I digress.) Ultimately, it’s our experiences that determine which songs we hold closest.

So yes, debate the list. Tell us what we got wrong. Hell, tell us what you would’ve put at the top spot. But you have to admit, there’s something universal about “As.” Time and time again, listeners have heard themselves in Wonder’s words and passed the song from one generation to the next. To me, the best measure of a great song is how it makes you feel, and “As” has continued to evoke something in people half a century after its creation.