Archive - Cogitated & Digested

Maybe it was the fact that I had by now recovered from my night shifts, maybe the seats, maybe the crowd but tonight really blew me away. For a start there wasn't the Visions problem from Birmingham. Which allowed for more of his songs. There was a real connection between Stevie and the crowd - although possibly the whole audience participation was a tad overdone (though to very funny effect as someone shouted "TURN IT UP!" in the midst of I Called To Say I Love You.

I sang, I danced, I felt free.

I engaged in banter with the backing singers. We had a dance off.

And you know? If I'd gone with someone else I
a) would not have got front row seats
b) actually would have been a bit more inhibited and wouldn't have done half the things that I did re: sing, dance and interact with the backing singers (who were ten feet in front of me)

Ten out of Ten.

Setlist here

It’s been a wee while since Stevie Wonder last hit these shores to do a full tour. I’ve always been keen to see him. Very keen. I remember seeing some of his performances on the West German music programme Beatclub and being mesmerised by them. Having said that I wasn’t overly keen on his Natural Wonder album – as notoriously difficult as live albums can be. I signed up for two gigs and through gifts from friends are seeing two more in October. Lucky me

So which Stevie would turn up?

The lights dimmed, some beatboxing and percussion filled the air and in came Stevie flanked with his backing singers to the cheers of the crowd. The harmonica came out, that incredible voice filled the air and the keys were tapped with aplomb.

The night was a hit-filled affair with an excellent choice of covers – a really atmospheric People Make the World Go Round made famous by The Stylistics, Spain by Chick Corea really showed off the band to its best.

The only really dampener on the night was an unnecessarily prolonged appearance by a chap talking about Arthur Wharton (the first black professional footballer in Britain). Though to be fair if I was on stage with Stevie I’d do the same.

However things got back on a more than even keel with the hit-list going through his major works of the sixties and seventies.

I think everyone has their favourite album tracks that they’d like to hear and I wait with bated breath to see if they appear. In the meantime I’m happy he does “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing” which is pretty much my all time favourite.

All in all – eight out of ten for this evening.

Setlist available here

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Cogitated & Digested

Stevie Wonder - September, Manchester

Stevie Wonder - September, Birmingham