“Before I sing too much more, I just want to say thank God for this moment,” says Stevie Wonder as he makes himself comfortable at the head of the stage. He’s positioned in front of a deck of keyboards and beside a black grand piano. He’s flanked, on all sides, by a full 30-plus-person band. In front of him is a sold out Madison Square Garden with fans who are likely also thanking God for this moment and, waiting with bated breath to sway and croon aloud with the legendary musician.
This moment, according to Wonder, is an opportunity for the United States of America to cool the overcooked political climate and come together. To help that along he’s embarked on an eleven-date tour called “Sing your song! As We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart” based on his most recent single, “Can We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart.” It’s a plea that would come off callow if it came from any other superstar, but from Wonder the motivation feels sincere if slightly jejune. But, honestly, all that really matters is that one of the titans of popular music is on tour again. At 74 years old, Wonder is still spry and quick-witted. His voice, though slightly diminished, still shimmers with the emotional clarity and tonal fidelity that we all grew to love.
For over two hours on Thursday (Oct. 10), Wonder ran through a small selection of his hits, taking brief breaks to share stories from his past and pay homage to some of his favorite artists. Despite the theme, the night never felt heavy or burdensome. It instead felt like a big party, only instead of a DJ there was an enormous band and a living legend at the helm. It’s doubtful if a concert can fix our nation’s heart, but one this good can definitely get us to come together and momentarily forget about the caustic campaigning.
Trying to pick the best moments or takeaways from a Stevie Wonder concert feels a bit like trying to narrow down the things you love most about your significant other — but below are five things that really stood out about his show at MSG.
