Superstition is crowned ‘Your Ultimate Stevie Wonder Song’ by BBC Radio 2 listeners

06 January 2026 - Press release

 

BBC Radio 2 listeners have crowned Superstition as their ‘Ultimate Stevie Wonder Song’, following an audience vote from a long list of his 60 most played solo tracks on the station.  

The song, taken from Stevie’s 15th studio album Talking Book, was a hit in the US and the UK in 1973 and later won Grammy Awards for Best Rhythm & Blues Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male.  The track was Stevie’s second number-one single in the US, following his first number one, Fingertips, Pt 2, as a 13 year old in 1963.   

Sir Duke (1977) takes second place, and For Once In My Life (1968) comes in bronze medal position.

Soul fans rejoice as Trevor Nelson counts down the 60 songs in Your Ultimate Stevie Wonder Songon Thursday 1st January 2026 from 3-5pm on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.  The countdown marks 50 years since the release of his landmark Songs In The Key Of Life album. Listeners were asked to vote up to five times - either all on one song or spread across multiple tracks, and the shortlist was compiled from his 60 most played solo tracks on Radio 2.

Trevor Nelson, who usually presents on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds each weekday (2-4pm),   says: “ The Radio 2 listeners have voted Superstition as their favourite Stevie song, and it’s hard to disagree with them. It’s a stone cold classic and a guaranteed floor filler with one of the best intros to a song ever made.” 

Jeff Smith, Head of Music, Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music says:  “The music we play on Radio 2 is timeless and melodic at its core, values which Stevie Wonder’s songs embody wholeheartedly.  There are few that can match the range and depth of his canon of music. From heartbreak songs like Lately to the declarations of love, such as My Cherie Amour, his music touches everyone.  I’m so pleased that we’ve given our listeners the opportunity to vote for their favourite Stevie song, as well as having this perfect programme on New Year’s Day.”

 

The full top 60 as voted for by listeners is:

1. Superstition 
2. Sir Duke
3. For Once In My Life
4. As
5. Isn’t She Lovely 
6. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
7. Master Blaster (Jammin’) 
8. Living For The City 
9. I Just Called To Say I Love You
10. Lately 
11. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)
12. He’s Misstra Know-It-All
13. My Cherie Amour 
14. Higher Ground 
15. Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing
16. Uptight (Everything’s Alright)
17. I Wish 
18. Part-Time Love
19. Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday
20. Do I Do 
21. Happy Birthday 
22. Another Star
23. I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) 
24. If You Really Love Me
25. Love’s In Need Of Love Today
26. Knocks Me Off My Feet
27. A Place In The Sun 
28. I Was Made To Love Her 
29. Pastime Paradise
30. Overjoyed
31. Golden Lady 
32. All I Do 
33. Ribbon In The Sky 
34. Boogie On Reggae Woman 
35. I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It
36. All In Love Is Fair
37. Never Had A Dream Come True
38. I Don’t Know Why (I Love You)
39. Ngiculela - Es Una Historia - I Am Singing
40. What Christmas Means To Me 
41. If It’s Magic
42. Heaven Help Us All
43. Someday At Christmas
44. We Can Work It Out
45. You Haven’t Done Nothin’ 
46. Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)
47. Blowin’ In The Wind 
48. Until You Come Back To Me 
49. For Your Love
50. Too High 
51. Fingertips Pt 2 
52. That Girl 
53. Did I Hear You Say You Love Me
54. Rocket Love
55. I’m Wondering 
56. Lovelight In Flight 
57. Send One Your Love
58. Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day 
59. Stranger On The Shore Of Love
60. Fun Day 

 

The New Year’s Day countdown will be followed by The Wonder of Stevie with DJ Spoony (5-6pm), who is a Stevie superfan. Spoony recalls how his fandom started when he was growing up in Hackney, East London in the 70s, but he wouldn’t fully appreciate the artist’s legacy until much later in life, an appreciation which continues in the present day.

DJ Spoony says: “Growing up in Hackney in the ’70s, Stevie Wonder’s music was one of the first sounds that truly stopped me in my tracks. I was a fan from the moment I heard him, even if I didn’t yet understand the scale of his genius. It wasn’t until much later in life that I fully appreciated the power of his songwriting, his innovation, and the way his music shaped so many of us. The show will be a must listen for Stevie fans everywhere, a tribute to the influence Stevie has had on my journey, and an opportunity for us to celebrate his genius.”

Stevie Wonder was born in Michigan on May 13th 1950. He was signed to Motown and made his recording debut at age 11 in 1961 and two years later, had his first hit as Little Stevie Wonder at the age of 13 with Fingertips Pt 2, which also featured Marvin Gaye on drums. Stevie quickly became a force to be reckoned with via hits like My Cherie Amour and I Was Made To Love Her, and went on to have global hits with Superstition, Higher Ground and You Are the Sunshine of My Life. Stevie is one of the best selling musicians of all time, and has won 25 Grammy Awards, the most by a male solo artist. His songs have been covered by George Michael, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Aretha Franklin amongst many others. He has sung duets with Paul McCartney, Whitney Houston, Luciano Pavarotti, Tony Bennett and Beyonce.