For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to revisit 1987 and highlight the incomparable Stevie Wonder’s twenty-first album, Characters. Released on November 6, 1987, the album features Mr. Wonder navigating topics such as love, politics, and spirituality with the passion that fans have come to know and love.
The album’s opener, “You Will Know,” is a gospel-tinged ballad filled with emotional depth. Stevie’s golden voice soaring over warm chords reaffirms his status as one of music’s greatest vocalists. The album’s first single, “Skeletons,” is a high-energy, politically charged masterpiece.
Over pounding drums, blistering synths, and a funk-driven bassline, Stevie exposes hypocrisy with a sharp, biting edge. In my opinion, “Skeletons” remains one of his most underappreciated protest songs, carrying the same fiery energy as “Village Ghetto Land” and “Living For The City.”
Stevie brings the funk with “Dark ‘n’ Lovely,” weaving an irresistible groove that celebrates Black beauty. The song features a slick, danceable rhythm that echoes his earlier experimental works. “Get It is a playful duet with his former label mate, Michael Jackson.
The chemistry between these two legends is electric, blending Stevie’s soulful sensibilities with MJ’s pop instincts. It’s a moment of pure joy, with two masters trading melodies like old friends reminiscing. Hearing this song again at age 43 makes me yearn for the unreleased album they did in the seventies.
What makes this album so captivating is its profound sincerity. Stevie doesn’t merely create music—he lives and breathes it. Tracks like “With Each Beat of My Heart” and “My Eyes Don’t Cry” showcase his extraordinary talent for transforming raw emotion into powerful soundscapes. At the same time, “One of a Kind” beautifully illustrates why his ballads are revered and often considered untouchable.
Lyrically, the album is quintessential Stevie, weaving together themes of love, social awareness, and playful optimism in equal measure. Even when he delves into weightier subjects, his melodies are imbued with hope, radiating a belief in something more significant that uplifts the listener’s spirit.
When we reflect upon Mr. Wonder’s catalog, Character is an often overlooked album. However, as R&B was shifting into New Jack Swing in 1987, Stevie stayed true to himself and validated why he was one of the best at doing this thing called music.
Final Grade: B+
Characters is available on all streaming platforms.
