Steve Winwood's "Higher Love" is an enduring anthem of hope and connection, perfectly capturing the spirit of the 80s while transcending its era.
The Song
Released in June 1986, "Higher Love" was the lead single from Steve Winwood's fourth solo studio album, Back in the High Life. The soulful track was co-written by Winwood and Will Jennings, with production handled by Winwood and Russ Titelman. A standout element of the song is the powerful backing vocals provided by legendary singer Chaka Khan, whose contribution adds a gospel-like feel and elevates the song's emotional resonance.
Winwood himself played many of the instruments on Back in the High Life, including synthesizer, sequencer programming, and drum machine programming for "Higher Love". The lyrics, described by Jennings as a "modern hymn," explore a yearning for a deeper, more spiritual connection, which Winwood himself has connected to his personal reflections on life and faith after a near-fatal illness in 1972.
The Artist
Steve Winwood is an English musician and songwriter with a career spanning decades, known for his versatile voice and multi-instrumental talents across genres like blue-eyed soul, rhythm and blues, and rock. Before achieving massive solo success with "Higher Love," Winwood had already established himself as a prominent figure in rock history. As a teenager, his distinctive vocals were central to The Spencer Davis Group, delivering hits like "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "I'm A Man" in the 1960s.
He later ventured into more experimental music with the highly acclaimed progressive rock band Traffic and the supergroup Blind Faith, which also featured Eric Clapton. His solo career began in 1977, and while he had earlier singles like "While You See a Chance" and "Valerie," "Higher Love" marked his breakthrough solo hit, solidifying his status as a mainstream success.
Chart Performance
"Higher Love" was a significant commercial success for Steve Winwood, becoming his first US #1 single, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for one week beginning August 30, 1986. It also performed exceptionally well on other charts, spending four weeks at #1 on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and reaching #2 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
Internationally, the song also hit #1 in Canada for one week. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at #13, which was Winwood's highest-charting solo entry there at the time. The song's critical and commercial acclaim was further recognized at the 1987 Grammy Awards, where it won two prestigious awards: Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Cultural Impact
"Higher Love" has left a lasting mark on popular music, celebrated for its uplifting message and distinctive sound. Its spiritual undertones, described by lyricist Will Jennings as a "modern hymn," resonate with many listeners seeking transcendence. The song's enduring appeal is evident in its numerous covers and reinterpretations over the years.
Most notably, Whitney Houston recorded a version of "Higher Love" in 1990, which was initially released only as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of her album I'm Your Baby Tonight. Decades later, in 2019, Norwegian DJ and producer Kygo reworked Houston's vocals into a tropical house track, releasing it as a single worldwide. This posthumous release for Houston became a global hit, reaching the top 10 in several European countries and #1 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart, demonstrating the song's timeless quality and adaptability across genres.
Fun Facts
- The music video for Steve Winwood's "Higher Love" was directed by Peter Kagan and Paula Greif in June 1986.
- Kagan and Greif directed an almost identical video for Duran Duran's "Notorious" later that year. Both videos were nominated for several awards at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, though neither won.
- Chaka Khan, who provided prominent backing vocals on the track, also appears in the original music video.
- Nile Rodgers of Chic, who played rhythm guitar on the song, can also be seen performing with the backing band in the video.
- Much of the black and white footage, and some color, in the video was shot on Super 8 or a wind-up 16mm Bolex camera, with director Paula Greif sometimes pushed around in a shopping cart to capture shots.