Celebrating five decades of his Songs In The Key Of Life album, Stevie Wonder served up a supper of soul at Manchester’s Co-op Live – and looked to be enjoying every second ☆☆☆☆☆
The word “legend” is thrown about a lot. But in Stevie Wonder’s case, it is more than justified. The soul man has provided the soundtrack to weddings, christenings, funerals, nights out, nights in and so much more since 1962. Now 76, he’s sold over 100 million records worldwide and released 30 albums, the most successful of which – Songs In The Key Of Life, is celebrating its 50th trip around the sun this year.
Which is why 20,500 of us were gathered on Remembrance Day at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena – for a joyful trip down memory lane as Stevie, a full orchestra and three of his nine children, played a 25-song setlist honouring the beloved record.
It was the hitmaker’s penultimate show in the UK and, right from the off, Stevie was playful and in party mode, kicking off proceedings with Love’s In Need Of Love Today and Village Ghetto Land. Stevie tried his hand at a British accent, much to the delight of the Mancunian crowd, before playing a selection of his biggest hits. His voice, unmistakable and iconic, was gorgeous. Like meeting an old friend.
Getting political as the show progressed, Stevie said: “I know that it’s Remembrance Day. I want to do this song, and have a moment of silence, and pray that we will find a way, all of the world, to find the solution of how we end wars and destruction. And I’m going to say this right now, too: all the leaders who have a responsibility to making life better for all of us, cut the bullsh*t and just get to it.”
On equality, he continued: “I truly feel that, you know, being visually blind doesn’t mean that you can’t see. ‘Cause I see, you know, the spirit of a person. As we know, the the planet is in alignment. The universe is in alignment, but unfortunately, we are not. We’re not. We keep talking about the same things over and over again, and we keep saying, ‘Oh, God, I see. I hear you.’ It’s like going to church on Sunday and then going to hell on Monday.
“The whole colour thing has always been weird to me. I’m not saying you have to be blind visually to not get it. You get it. But understand: don’t let anyone, anyone on this earth make you think that because someone’s a different colour than you, doesn’t have as much money as you or less than you, we’re all equal. We are all equal.” Manchester roared in appreciation.
Singing his songs Sir Duke, I Wish, backed up by a full orchestra gave the classic tracks new life. The band was sublime, each member cooler than the last. Slicker than an ice rink, they jammed out, clearly having the time of their lives, ad-libbing to Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean. Later, Brandee Younger played harp while Stevie sang If It’s Magic.
It was a family affair on stage as Stevie’s eldest daughter, Aisha Morris, sang backing vocals. She is also famously the baby whose cries and birth inspired his hit 1976 song Isn’t She Lovely. She watched on proudly as her father sang the famous melody to open the second act. Elsewhere, Stevie’s son Mandla Morris joined him to sing Have a Talk With God. And later, as the show drew towards its conclusion, Stevie’s daughter Zaiah Morris showed off her vocals, sat by her father on the piano, for a rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine.
A serotonin-boosting serve of feelgood nostalgia, the two hour show was a fitting tribute to an album so important to so many. Songs In The Key Of Life debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and remained at the top for 13 consecutive weeks. It was only the third album in history to debut at No. 1, though in the UK its highest chart position was No. 2. It won the 1977 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
“I listened to this in my university halls of residence,” said my mum, now a 68-year-old grandmother, but who was transported back 50 years as the opening bars of Superstition began.
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