gold star for USAHOF

15. Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder

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15. Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder

Ebony and Ivory
Highest Billboard Position:
#1 in 1982


These are two artists who should not be on a list like this.  In the twenty years leading up to this awful song, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder had established themselves as two of the most important figures in modern music history.  So when these two collaborated on a song people bought it because who could believe that two giants possibly misfire?

Their collaboration, Ebony and Ivory did become another monster hit, but it wasn’t long before the song’s corny feel was obvious to everyone and undermined the tune’s attempted content.  The song of course is a metaphor, the black (ebony) keys and the white (ivory) keys of a piano also symbolize the racial issues of black people and white people.  You see, if the keys of could work together in perfect harmony, than people could do the same.  Simple isn’t it?

It isn’t known however if the white keys appropriated the sound and culture of the black keys on occasion as McCartney didn’t really mention it when he wrote it.  Sadly, the message is delivered in such a syrupy way, that it is devoid of any social consciousness and is now a karaoke staple but only in a mocking way.  On a positive note, people of all colors are now united in their belief that this song does suck.

How awful is Ebony and Ivory?

I totally agree, Ebony and Ivory is god awful! - 23.5%
Ebony and Ivory is bad, but there is much worse. - 23.5%
Ebony and Ivory is actually a guilty pleasure. - 11.8%
No opinion. - 0%
You are nuts, Ebony and Ivory is amazing. - 41.2%
Last modified on Tuesday, 19 September 2017 20:34

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