Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder

Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder - Songfacts

Isn't She Lovely
by Stevie Wonder

Album: Songs In The Key Of Life (1976)

Charted: 94

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Wonder wrote this to celebrate the birth of his daughter, Aisha. In 2005, Aisha (last name: Morris, which is Wonder's real name) sang a duet with her dad on his song "How Will I Know." >>
Suggestion credit:
Brett - Edmonton, Canada
The song opens with the crying of a just-born baby. That's not the song's subject, Aisha, but at the end of the song when Stevie says, "Come on, Aisha. Get out of the water, baby," the splashing and protests (familiar to many parents at bathtime) are really her, recorded during a memorable moment between Stevie and his daughter.

Wonder had Aisha with Yolanda Simmons, whom he mentions near the end of the song: "Londi it could have not been done, without you who conceived the one."
Wonder played all of instruments on this track except some of the keyboards, which were done by Greg Phillinganes. Wonder improvised the harmonica part, which came out sounding very good.
The song runs 6:34 with a long fadeout where Wonder interacts with his daughter. Wonder, who had control of such matter thanks to a comprehensive contract he signed with Motown, would let the song be edited down and released as a single in America, which kept it off the Hot 100 despite being one of his most popular songs. The song was released as a single in the UK, where it was cut down to 3:26.
Much of the album was recorded at The Hit Factory, a legendary recording studio in New York City where John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon also recorded. Wonder was the first client at The Hit Factory, which closed in 2005.
In 2015, Wonder was honored with the TV special Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Grammy Salute. This was performed at the ceremony by Ne-Yo, who was joined midway through the song by Aisha Morris, surprising Wonder, who didn't expect to hear his daughter's voice.
American Idol finalist Clay Aiken performed this on the TV show Scrubs in the Episode "My Life in Four Cameras." >>
Suggestion credit:
Logan - Troy, MT
This appears in the 2003 Cuba Gooding Jr. film The Fighting Temptations. Other movies to use the song include Sea of Roses (1978) and Juwanna Mann (2002). TV series to use it include Designing Women, Doogie Howser, M.D., and Desperate Housewives.
A cover version by singer-songwriter and producer David Parton was a #4 hit in the UK in early 1977. Parton is best known for writing and co-producing Sweet Sensation's 1974 hit "Sad Sweet Dreamer" in 1974.

Livingston Taylor (younger brother of James), released his version on his 1997 album, Ink.
The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in May 2011 when a cover by The Glee Cast debuted at #65.

Comments: 26

Sama from HoustonAisha in Arabic means "one who lives" in the feminine fom. Masculine would be Aaish. The name imies a wish that the person who carries it will live long. It doesn't mean life. Life is Hayah. Living is Aish. Btw, my daughter's name is Aisha. We Arabs pronounce it 'Aa'isha. It starts with the latter 'ayn which does not exist in the English alphabet.
Aisha from Vacaville, California Aisha means Life. Life is Aisha, the meaning of her name.
Cynthia from St. Charles, MoI listened to this song my whole last trimester when I was carrying my daughter and listened to it at the hospital as I was having her in 1979. She is now having her first child who is also a girl. I have sent this song on to her and her husband as truly they will feel the same way. Thank you Stevie Wonder for such a beautiful heart felt song..
Annabelle from Eugene, Or"Stevie Wonder was giving credit to his wife, the woman who carried his beautiful daughter for nine months and gave birth to
her." Robin, there's one little problem with your comment. Yes, you're right that Londie is Aisha's mother, but she wasn't Stevie's wife. Stevie says and I quote, "Londie and I were never married." Stevie has only had two wives, Surita Wright, whom he divorced, and Karen Millard (AKA Kai), whom he's married to now. All the other women he's had in his life, including Yolanda Simmons, were just companions. So, your comment should actually read:
"Londie" is Aisha's mother. Stevie Wonder was giving credit to his companion, the woman who carried his beautiful daughter for nine months and gave birth to her."
Annabelle from Eugene, OrRobin in Burmingham, AL, were Stevie and Londie actually married? I thought he was married to Surita Wright!
Annabelle from Eugene, OrTo Jamie in Long Island, NY, if Aisha didn't cry, how do we know she wasn't stillborn? Usually, to the best of my knowledge, babies usually cry when they're born, to open up their airway. My brother cried when he was born. So this doesn't make any sense to me. If it wasn't Aisha crying, then who was it? Was some unknown baby brought into the studio and just cried on cue? If so, that seems a bit strange to me!
Jamie from Long Iland, NyIn a documentary I recently saw about Wonder, Stevie revealed that it isn't Aisha crying at the beginning of the song. When she was born, she didn't cry. She was a very mellow baby, who just laid there peacefully.
Andrea from San Francisco, CaAisha is prob from Ayesha who was Mohammed's favorite wife...
so it's prob BOTH Arabic from North Africa, where they speak Arabic and are Muslim...and Aisha is prob an African American variation. And it probably does mean lovely.
Jessie Steele from Bartlett, Tnthis is the sweetest song
at first i didnt realize it was about his daughter,but its soo sweet
Andy from Long Beach, CaHey Clubber Lange, Ocean Gate, NJ......apparently, you thought you were being witty and unfortunately I must provide you with the definition of "lovely":
"having a beauty that appeals to the heart or mind as well as to the eye, as a person or a face."......sorry you found humor in his song.....
John from Nashville, TnStevie Wonder turned down Motown's request to release this song as a single (Stevie's contract gave him the final contol over which singles would be released from his albums). Good move because the album sold more copies because of that song.
Clubber Lange from Ocean Gate, NjIts funny because he's blind, so he's really saying "She's lovely, isnt she?"...No offence to a true genius...
Jeremy from Omaha, NeAnnabel, Aisha is of Arabic origin (http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Aisha) but is also popular in Africa, especially East Africa. East Africa is the epicenter of Swahili and many words/names have tom to us through the filter of Swahili, (like Iddi Amin, Iddi is Swahili style for Eid, which is Arabic for holiday). So it is my opinion, that Aisha as a name in modern day America is moreso from East Africa than Arab origins because of the identification African Americans have with Africa.
Rochelle from Dallas,q, TxActually, per a VH1 Classic documentary, the baby crying at the beginning is from a doctor friend of Stevie's who recorded the live birth of a baby he delivered.
Annabelle from Eugene, OrTo Randi in West Boylston, MA, I've listened carefully to the Song "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder, and I kid you not, Aisha really does say "Eat Me!"
Andrew from Rochester, NyOne of the top "album cuts" of all time, as Stevie never actually released it as a single!
Randi from West Boylston, MaSuch a wonderful song. I don't believe she says "Eat me" though, Karl:) Does anyone know what it is Aisha says that Stevie then repeats, laughing?
Robin from Birmingham, Al"Londie" is Aisha's mother. Stevie Wonder was giving credit to his wife, the woman who carried his beautiful daughter for nine months and gave birth to her.
Karl from New York City Baby, NyThe baby in this song says eat me at one point.
Annabelle from Eugene, OrOne thing that has confused me about this song is the origin and Nationality of the name Aisha. Some say it's Arabic, and some say it's African. All I know is, Aisha means life and love. And also, who in the world is Londie?
Keith Major from Bristol, EnglandThis song was also recorded by David Parton and was a UK hit in the late 1970's.
Ruben from Grove, OkA song that I gave to my daughter Reagan. The words say it all about how I felt when I saw my daughter for the first time.
Lea from Brisbane, Australiastevie has done a great job. i have fallen in love with this song since it was sung on the
x-factor (like American/Australian idol but with age groups and vocal groups) and i cant get it out of my head it is just amazing i love it!!!!!!
great job Stevie
Pete from Nowra, Australiagreat song ..the love a parent has for their child..... sometimes it's hard to put into words Stevie as always does a great job .. excellent
Aisha from Springfield, MoThe reason my name is Aisha!
Chantal from Liverpool, CanadaTruly a "lovely" song..beautiful

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Break FreeAriana Grande

Ariana Grande's collaboration with Zedd, "Break Free" came about after the Russian-German producer overheard Grande performing at a label showcase while he was backstage, and he mentioned to his team that he wanted to work with her.

White IversonPost Malone

Post Malone came up with "White Iverson" after getting braids in his hair and thinking they looked like basketball legend Allen Iverson's signature cornrows.

Sunday GirlBlondie

"Sunday Girl" was written by Blondie guitarist Chris Stein to cheer up Debbie Harry after her cat had run away whilst they were away on tour. The gray cat was called Sunday Man.

Here I Go AgainWhitesnake

"Here I Go Again" was a #1 hit for Whitesnake in 1987, but it was first released in 1982 with the lyric, "Like a hobo I was born to walk alone."

Joy To The WorldThree Dog Night

Hoyt Axton wrote the Three Dog Night hit "Joy To The World." He said the "Jeremiah was a bullfrog" line just came into his head after having a drink of wine.

Take It EasyEagles

The Eagles' first single, "Take It Easy," was written by Jackson Browne, who was living in the apartment below Glenn Frey when he wrote it.