On the weekend that a pair of Mancunian brothers stole all the musical headlines a vintage musical superstar stormed their home city with a hits-laden repertoire that was jaw-droppingly spectacular. Stevie Wonder may now be pushing closer to 80 than 70, but only the frailty of his steps gives rise to his advancing years as he is led on stage to a thunderous reception accompanied by two of the nine children he has fathered.
Dressed in a sleek black jacket with silver sequins depicting fellow black music icons Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, the atmosphere is at fever pitch for the legendary soul, funk, R&B, and pop musician, but rather than launch straight into his gold-plated songbook, Wonder tells us about his choice of clothing – and the stars they depict – before lecturing the audience about how “his heart is broken” by all the wars around the world. It’s a strange start to a show – not the message just the timing – as he aims his sights at world leaders telling the audience: “So many wars, so many people who are supposed to be leaders, to lead us to a better place. In a kind of way, they’re messed up.”
By the time Wonder finally sits down at his grand piano the sold-out near 20,000 crowd inside the stunning Co-op Live arena are desperate for the music to begin.
First track Love’s In Need Of Love Today smooths the way, and with some sound gremlins ironed out, the audience rise to their feet en masse for second number As If You Read My Mind.
Blind since shortly after birth, Wonder decides to swap sunglasses four songs in telling fans “I can’t see without my glasses”, before leading the audience into an impromptu burst of You Are My Sunshine by way of intro to You Are the Sunshine of My Life.
Backed by a hugely talented 17-strong band, including a stunning brass section, four amazing backing singers and the phenomenal bass playing of band-leader Nathan Watts, the show races by as Wonder treats us to a 50 year long tour de force of hits in what is the second night of a five-date UK tour.
And ever the perfectionist, he’s not afraid to slam on the handbrake if something isn’t right. Multiple times he stops the band – even admitting at the start of Everybody Is A Star that “I messed up!” before checking with his ensemble that the song is in B flat.
Even the audience fall foul of his perfectionism as they later on struggle to understand his call and response request during Signed, Sealed, Delivered. After multiple attempts he turns to his band to help out – but they fail in the task too.
The 75-year-old American-Ghanaian takes a well-earned break on the hour mark – which seems to extend a tad longer than the band expected but enables backing singer Jada Spight to deliver a phenomenal version of the Wonder-penned Aretha Franklin classic – Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do).
When the hero returns the tempo is lifted and as we enter a run of his very greatest, greatest hits, the vast new arena – the biggest in Europe – becomes a thriving mass of people recreating a 1970s disco
Superstition, Isn’t She Lovely, Sir Duke, I Wish, Higher Ground all form part of a 26-song tracklisting that is nothing but joyous.
When he starts Ebony and Ivory there is a moment when the entire North West crowd wonder if his co-collaborator of the 1982 will join him on stage. Sadly Mr McCartney failed to materialise but it failed to stop the mother of all singalongs that was only topped by I Just Called To Say I Love You.
Over to you Oasis to top that on your return home next weekend.
The full set list from Stevie Wonder’s performance at Co-Op Live in Manchester on Saturday July 5.
Love’s In Need Of Love Today
As If You Read My Mind
Master Blaster (Jammin’)
Higher Ground
You Are My Sunshine
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
Everybody Is A Star (Sly & The Family Stone cover)
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)
Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing
My Cherie Amour
Overjoyed
Stranger On The Shore Of Love – sung by KJ McNeill
Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do) – sung by Jada Spight
Contusion
If You Really Love Me
Lately
Golden Lady
I Can Only Be Me – sung by Stevie’s son, Mandla Morris
Living For The City
Sir Duke
I Wish
Isn’t She Lovely
Ebony and Ivory
Do I Do
I Just Called To Say I Love You
Superstition