The Stevie Wonder's Song Rocket Love: Meaning and Analysis

Blind from birth Stevie Wonder is considered one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century. He has won 25 Grammy Awards (the most by a solo artist) and one Academy Award.

“You took me riding in your rocket, gave me a star but at a half a mile from Heaven, you dropped me back down to this cold, cold world.” Rocket Love by Stevie Wonder is a sad but brilliant love song. The ballad was written by Stevie Wonder and recorded at his Wonderland Studio in Los Angeles (1979). It was featured on Wonder’s nineteenth album “Hotter than July”, originally released on Motown's Tamla label in September 1980. The symbolism in the lyrics, the piano and the strings coming together in the music so poignant and beautiful. The song begins taking you through the highs of love, then slams you down to reality. Rocket love has been sampled by several artistы today despite it being over thirty-five years old and not Wonder’s most popular song.

Hotter Than July was an historic Album, featuring, 'Master Blaster (Jammin)', a creative reggae homage to the one and only, Bob Marley. The 'Happy Birthday' song, dedicated to Martin Luther King and the King Holiday. 'All I Do' which was originally written for the late, Tammi Terrell is on the album. Stevie recorded the song with Micheal Jackson, Eddie LeVert, and Betty Wright singing background. The album was certified platinum and reached number three on the US Billboard chart. This was his most successful album in the UK, peaking at number two and producing four top ten singles. It was nominated for Favorite Soul/R&B Album at the American Music Awards in 1982.

On “Rocket Love”, Stevie reminisces about a relationship that has turned sour. Stevie lovingly describes a woman as “sensitive and warm”, and metaphorically explains “riding in her rocket” during the height of their relationship. Right when things were starting to feel like “heaven” she leaves Stevie which makes him feel like he’s been dropped back down to this “cold, cold world”. He does a good job painting vivid pictures of the woman’s love and beauty “A female Shakespeare of your time. With looks to blow Picasso's mind”, as well as her heartbreaking coldness. Not only do the lyrics convey these feeling but so does the music. The song starts off slow with a melody played by Stevie on the synthesizer/piano, it quickly become more intense with the addition of strings arranged by Motown’s Paul Riser and played by Ben Bridges. All elements of Stevie Wonder’s “Rocket Love” have been sampled sixteen times between 1995 and 2019. Several artists have don’t covers/remakes of the song. Recently Stevie Wonder performed 'Rocket Love' at Nipsey Hussle’s funeral.