Festival Review: Stevie Wonder At British Summer Time

Stevie Wonder is in full voice as he parades the hits in front of adoring London crowd.

It is baffling to comprehend that a man who recorded his first number one hit in 1963, and subsequently spent the next three decades at the forefront of popular music, is still just 75 years of age and continuing to perform with such intensity and style. Unlike many of his peers, Stevie Wonder seemingly still loves the songs which have brought him his fame. There is no sense of obligation to play the ‘crowd pleasing’ set - instead it is abundantly clear the thrill he enjoys from exhibiting his almost endless catalogue of hits.

With a focus on his music from the 70s but with a sprinkling of bangers from both the 60s and 80s, Wonder’s headline slot - on an appropriately hot July evening in Hyde Park - is a joyful celebration of soul music’s most prolific exponent.

Guided onto the stage by his son and daughter, rocking a long white jacket adorned with the bejeweled faces of his heroes - Marvin Gaye and John Lennon - Wonder kicks off not with music but with an impassioned plea. Without specific reference, he laments the state of the world - the wars, the leaders and the absence of unity. But he remains optimistic, as he implores the crowd to take their love out into the world - an often cliche sentiment that from Wonder holds its authenticity. In homage to this, he opens delicately with ‘Love’s In Need Of Love Today’ before moving on to a stirring rendition of Lennon's ultimate anti-war anthem ‘Imagine’. 

With his point resolutely made, the Wonder hits-train is then fully in motion as he and his band power through tunes such as ‘Master Blaster’, ‘Higher Ground’, ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours’ and ‘You Are The Sunshine of My Life’, to a delighted crowd comprising of hard-headed Stevie pilgrims and somewhat fresher faced new believers.

Singing as he sways his head characteristically from side to side, beaming from ear to ear, Wonder’s voice is still as strong as ever - skipping through melodies and key changes with his distinctive vibrato vocals fully intact. Although there feels like little room for the band - tight as ever - to break away from the song’s intended structure, it is hard not to be delighted hearing these legendary tunes almost exactly as they were recorded. 

The first guest appearance comes from local R&B legend Corinne Bailey Rae, as she joins Wonder in a tribute to the late Sly Stone, singing a rendition of the 1969 number one ‘Everybody Is A Star’- a moment taken with appropriate levels of solemnity and celebration by the soul-educated crowd. 

Yet, after a few ballads and some guest vocal performances from his backing singers - where Wonder slips off stage to catch his breath for 15 minutes - it's hard not to feel a loss in momentum. A sentiment clearly shared by the hundreds in the crowd who decided this was also the ideal time for their own toilet break.

The lull, however, is quickly forgotten as Wonder returns to stage, reentering the fold with his most leftfield set-list choice of the night - the fully instrumental fusion track Contusion. Although being one of the lesser known tunes on Wonder’s seminal ‘Songs In The Key Of Life’ album, it is the only time where the incredible musicianship of the band is truly put under the spotlight - the set being certainly the stronger for it.

With the sky slowly transforming into a glorious wash of pink and orange, Wonder seizes the moment and goes on his second incredible run of the night. Flying from ‘Living For The City’ to ‘Sir Duke’ to ‘I Wish’ to ‘Isn’t She Lovely’, with the crowd now hanging on to every moment - intoxicated by a true legend at the peak of his powers.

With the sun down and the closing moments upon the crowd, Wonder teases the intro to ‘Superstition’ before committing fully to a rendition of the song that we perhaps all know too well. Yet, when the keys kick in through the impressive BST sound system, it is impossible not to feel totally enthralled as Hyde Park turns into a dancefloor 65,000 people strong. The carnival atmosphere is then capped off in style with ‘Another Star’ - dazzling as ever with its latin flavours, punchy horn sections and irresistibly catchy hook.

With sadly no time for an encore, Wonder, his band and his family - holding hands - bow out to both sides of the crowd and take in their appreciation for a magnificent celebration of one of the best to do it. With everyone hoping that, before long, he’ll be back to do it all over again.