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“Lately” by Stevie Wonder and Jodeci

Designed by Grace Noble

It’s a feeling not many people want to relate to: the feeling of your love becoming unrequited. And yet, Stevie Wonder gave this feeling a gentle melody when he released “Lately” in 1980. It didn’t get very popular in the United States. And who would blame us for not reaching for a break-up song to set the mood?

Photo of Kimberly Griffin in a teal shirt
Stuart Goldenberg

But Jodeci performed its own version of the song in 1993 on MTV’s Unplugged, during the iconic era of ‘90s boy groups. This iteration of the one-sided relationship is anything but gentle. Of all the emotions to experience during a break-up, Jodeci explores those as deep as anger.

In this episode of Cover Story, Stephanie Shonekan and Kimberly Griffin discuss the different approaches to “Lately” and relive the glory days of ‘90s boy groups like Jodeci and Boyz II Men. And, as always, they decide which version of “Lately” reigns, and why.

“[The song 'Lately'] takes me back to a very specific time in my life that was full of joy and sadness and heartbreak and becoming, and it just puts me in a specific moment.” - Kimberly Griffin


Dean Shonekan

This is a show about the music we love. But the conversations uncover intimate stories about our own personal connections with the songs. Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan reconnects us with great music and the diverse perspectives, histories, and identities of the artists and the fans who enjoy that music.

Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan is produced by Katelynn McIlwain, Janet Saidi, Ryan Famuliner, Aaron Hay, Nat Kuhn and Stephanie Shonekan. This season was edited by Aaron Hay and Ryan Famuliner.

This podcast is a collaboration between KBIA and Vox Magazine, with funding from the University of Maryland College of Arts and Humanities and the Missouri School of Journalism.  

You can follow the podcast and other special projects on Twitter at @VoxMag, and @KBIA, and on Instagram at @voxmagazine and @kbianews. 

“Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan” Season 1 was produced by Janet Saidi, Kristofor Husted, Fernando Narro, Rehman Tungekar, and Ryan Famuliner, with host and producer Stephanie Shonekan. Season One was edited by Rehman Tungekar and Ryan Famuliner.

“Cover Story with Stephanie Shonekan” Season 2 was produced by Janet Saidi, Ryan Famuliner, Aaron Hay, and Stephanie Shonekan. Season Two was edited by Aaron Hay and Ryan Famuliner.

Tags
Cover Story - Season 3 Music Historypodcast
Janet Saidi is a producer and professor at KBIA and the Missouri School of Journalism.
Ryan served as the KBIA News Director from February 2011 to September 2023
Aaron worked as a full-time on-air host at KBIA from 2017 to 2022. He continues as the Managing Producer on High Turnout Wide Margins.
Katelynn McIlwain, originally from Freeport, Illinois (go Pretzels!), is the managing editor for KBIA. She assists KBIA newsroom leaders in planning, supervising and producing news programming for radio broadcast, including daily news and in-depth reports, as well as public affairs programming.