Few performers can command attention when sharing the stage with over two dozen other musicians. But Stevie Wonder is no ordinary performer. Backed by a twelve-piece string orchestra, a five-piece horn section, three drum sets, three guitars, two keyboards, and five background singers, all eyes were on Stevie at the front of the stage. He sang and switched between a grand piano, electric keyboards, and a collection of harmonicas.
Stevie Wonder spent the month of October on a short tour, visiting less than a dozen cities. Although he later tacked on a visit to Chicago's United Center, the original schedule called for the tour to finish at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI, on Wednesday, October 30. I made the 3-hour trek from Chicago to witness Stevie for the first time. Sitting six rows from the stage, I had a clear view of the legendary performer.
The sold-out crowd rose to its feet when two of Stevie's children, Kailand and Aisha, led him onto the stage.
In recognition of the current deep political divide in the United States, Wonder released the single "Can We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart" earlier this year. This was the first song he performed in full, but he preceded the song with an improvised jingle that included the lines: "I'm in Grand Rapids. We can change the world!"
Instead of a warmup band, Stevie invited his protege Sheléa to perform a set in the middle of the concert, giving the 74-year-old a chance to rest his throat.
During the three-hour concert, he performed songs from throughout his six-decade career. Most were from his catalog, but he interspersed The Spinners' "It's a Shame" and Parliament's "Give Up the Funk" with his hit song "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours." He also led the audience in a singalong of the standard "You Are My Sunshine" as a lead-in to his 1973 hit "You Are the Sunshine of My Life." He even honored a request from the audience to sing "Ribbon in the Sky."
Wonder moved effortlessly between funky songs like "Superstition" and "Higher Ground" to love ballads such as "My Cherie Amour" and "Golden Lady." A highlight came when he sang the mournful protest song "Village Ghetto Land," accompanied only by the strings on stage.
Between songs, his charm captivated the audience. Although blind from birth, Mr. Wonder provides an Innervesion that transcends the light spectrum.
Although Wonder performed at the Democratic National Convention earlier this year, he minimized the politics from the stage, focusing on his message to promote "joy over anger, kindness over recrimination, and peace over war." He repeated his message of love throughout the performance, and the audience voiced its approval.
Although the drive home was exhausting, the trip was well worth it.