Song by Song: "Superstition" Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1972

Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song number 74 on its 2004 list and number 12 on its 2021 list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time." The single was released on October 24, 1972 from the album "Talking Book" with "You've Got it Bad Girl" on the B-Side.

Answer: Maintaining superstition causes suffering

Stevie Wonder takes a negative view of superstition in the song, suggesting it is not good for the soul. Superstitions keep one "in a daydream." Those who encourage superstitions "don't wanna save me," and therefore "sad is the soul." Superstition causes suffering:

"When you believe in things
That you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way."

Wonder was quoted in Rolling Stone magazine as saying that too many people "let superstition rule their lives." He went on to say, "The more you believe in it, the more bad things happen to you."

Answer: R&B

The song peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the U.S. Billboard R&B charts. It peaked at number 38 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The song reached number 11 on the UK singles chart and number six on the Canadian RPM. The record was certified two times platinum in the UK by BPI.

Answer: Hohner Clavinet

The Clavinet is an electrically amplified clavichord (a keyboard instrument) that was manufactured by the Hohner company of Trossingen, West Germany. The instrument can create electric guitar sounds and was popular in funk music of the 70s. Stevie Wonder also played Moog bass and drums and sang the lead vocals on this song. Trevor Lawrence was on tenor saxophone, while Steve Madaio played trumpet.

Answer: Sesame Street

He performed the song for episode 514, and it was later included on the album "Songs from the Street: 35 Years in Music," which was released in 2004.

Stevie Wonder won a Grammy at the 16th Grammy Awards as a songwriter for Best Rhythm & Blues song for "Superstition."

Answer: the ladder

"Very superstitious,
Writing's on the wall,
Very superstitious,
Ladder's 'bout to fall."

This is an allusion to the superstition that it is bad luck to walk under a ladder.

Quincy Jones covered the song on his 1976 album "I Heard That."

Answer: Jeff Beck

Jeff Beck rose to fame as guitarist for the Yardbirds and later formed the Jeff Beck Group and then Beck, Bogert & Appice. His version of "Superstition" was released on the latter's self-titled debut album in 1973. Beck is also credited with coming up with the opening drum beat for the song. Wonder had originally intended the song for Beck to record, but, according to Rolling Stone magazine, Motown record executive "Berry Gordy wouldn't let him give it away," and Wonder recorded the song first.

Answer: 13, 7

These lines allude to the superstitions that thirteen is an unlucky number and that if you break a mirror (looking glass) you will experience seven years of bad luck.

The Jackson 5 included a live version of "Superstition" on "The Jackson 5 in Japan" which was released in 1973 in Japan only and later re-released in a limited reissue in 2004.

Answer: the devil

According to Rolling Stone magazine, Stevie Wonder debuted "Superstition" in the summer of 1972 while opening for the British rock band the Rolling Stones.

Raven-Symoné recorded a cover of "Superstition" for the soundtrack of the 2003 American horror comedy "The Haunted Mansion."

Answer: Bud Light

The Super Bowl was held in New Orleans, and the Bud Light commercials were constructed around the theme of "it's only weird if it doesn't work." The song played throughout the commercials, which shows fans engaging in various superstitious acts to support their football teams.

Double Trouble guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan recorded a live version of "Superstition" in 1986. The cover was released as a single from "Live Alive."