Stevie Wonder, a wonder summers night tour. (Stevie Wonder in general)

Member Name: Larachristina

Product:	Stevie Wonder in general
Date:	03/10/08 (59 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well, he is a legend, and he has an incredible voice.

Disadvantages: strangely disjointed, setlist was disastrous.

I have been a Stevie Wonder fan since I was a kid.
I was raised on Motown, and remember dancing round my living room to *Signed sealed delivered* when I was about six.

Its not the most contemporary style of music to listen to, but I cant help it. His songs are so wonderfully expressive.

When, a few months back, I recieved an email from ticketmaster, telling me that Stevie Wonder tickets were being sold, I burst into tears. Literally.
He was not someone I ever expected to be lucky enough to see, and, as he hasnt toured the Uk for at least a decade, there was no sign he would ever tour again.

I was lucky enough to get tickets, for the O2 in London, and waited anxiously.

I have to point out, I am not a hardcore fan.
I dont know every lyric of every song, I havent memorised his biography....I just listen for enjoyment, and have a few choice favorites that I adore.

Last Tuesday, me and the fella, who I had given the other ticket to, regardless of the fact that he wasnt really a fan, arrived at the O2.

Firstly, doors opened at 6.30.

Stevie Wonder didnt actually appear until just past 9.00.
I have been told that this is quite normal, but I still thought it was an awfully long time to wait.

When he finally appeared, the first hour and a half was incredibly flat.
I really started to worry that I wasnt the fan I thought I was, as a barely knew any of the songs.
The atmosphere in the arena went right down. Many people were getting up to get drinks, and only the die hard fans, who knew every word to the more obscure songs, were up and dancing.
I also began to worry, because not only was this not the experience I was expecting, my poor fella was beginning to shift in his seat.
Considering I, as a fan, didnt know anything, I cant even begin to imagine how bored he must have been.

Dont get me wrong, Stevie Wonders voice is incredibly. The music was powerful, and the first time he sang, I was literally brought to tears just for being in the same room....but it wasnt enough.

I began to worry that this was it, and that none of the favorites I have loved for so long would be played.

Fortunatly, the last half hour saved the concert.
In quick sucession, Isnt she lovely, My cherie amour, signed sealed delivered, I just called to say I love you, and Superstition were played.
Unfortunatly, none of the songs seemed to be the full length versions, and were instead thrown together in a fast paced medley, not giving us enough of the favorites.

My personal favorite, *signed sealed delivered* brought me (and the entirety of the audience) to my feet, but was interuppted midway by the odd appearence of Joss Stone, who warbled in the background, for no apparent reason.
To be fair, it meant I got to hear signed sealed delivered nearly twice, and she didnt appear until three quarters of the way through the first rendition, and it was then repeated, but it seemed an unnatural appearence, and didnt sit right.

Throughout the concert, Stevie Wonder initiated an alomost pantomime like audience participation.
At times, this worked. It revived the flagging audience.
Other times, it seemed odd, and self indulgent, for example, promting the audience to try and copy Wonders vocal freestyling.....which obviously no one who have a hope of achieving, and then telling the audience that more *vibrato* was needed from them.
Oh. Choir memories.

Another thing that disconcerted me slightly was the constant references Wonder made to Barack Obama.

Fair enough, Stevie Wonder is a celebrity, and that gives him a platform to share his views and opinions, on whatever he chooses....but trying to get a rather straight laced British audience, to quite literally, sing the praises of a candidate for American President?

It didnt quite sit right with me.

Eventually, we left, mid song, but what we presumed was the end.
It was just too much.

So, in a way, im happy.
I have heard *signed sealed delivered* live, and it was incredible.
On the other hand, I am desperatly disappointed. The concert was mostly so flat and lacked so much atmosphere, that I have been left feeling quite empty.

I am glad I went.
It is an experience I will never forget,however, if the oppertunity arose, I dont think I would go again.

Unless I was personally allowed to approve the setlist beforehand.

Summary: sadly disapointing.