April 29th, 2008
Will Stevie Wonder be coming to Ireland this year?
I have it on very good authority that Stevie Wonder is playing some London dates later this year. Jim usually has advance gig news before anyone, so maybe he’s heard some insider whispering on whether the great man himself might stop off in Dublin for a gig?
My dad saw Stevie play the RDS in the early 1980s. He had either a 15 or 25 piece brass section with him, played for almost four hours and was apparently unbelievable. I’d love to see him live. More Songs in the Key of Life, and less ‘I Just Called To Say I Love You’, of course.
In the meantime, here he is doing an incredible version of ‘Superstition’ on Sesame Street. They don’t make children’s TV like this anymore.
April 29th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Oh, if only this were true (about Dublin I mean). If his live albums (which can be astonishing) are anything to go by then ’tis a live experience not to be missed for anything.
Oh and I actually have a soft spot for “I Just Called…”! It’s not (of course) up there with his vintage stuff but, by the standards of the 80s, it’s not half bad.
April 29th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Apart from the chorus, ‘I just called…’ is a great song. I think.
If anyone can point a greater segue in music than that between “Too Shy To Say” and “Boogie On Reggae Woman”, I’ll eat my hat.
April 30th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I would happily stab someone to see Stevie Wonder play in Dublin (generally preferring stabbing people to getting a flight to London), even if it was only to see one of his drum solos. And I too, have a soft spot for IJCTSILY, but an even softer spot for Part Time Lover.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XFCyjB75cjs&feature=related
April 30th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Fustar, the live albums are a treasure. My dad - who’s seen so many great bands over the years - reckons it’s one of his favourite gigs of all time.
OFTR, really? I remember it being used in that awful Woman in Red film about Gene Wilder obsessing over Kelly Le Brock.
Hugh, I think it would be really special. The London dates are definitely happening. That’s some drum solo.
I ADORE Part Time Lover. A friend of mine who DJs, was one of the founders of Thomas the Skank Engine in the Thomas House (ah, dancing on seats, being soaked from the sweat dripping off the ceiling, everyone going mental for Daft Punk’s ‘One More Time’ - great days). He played that most Saturday nights to a very appreciative crowd.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I sell things and abandon things to get to that….if it happens…..
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:54 am
The problem with Stevie is the same one shared by other soul legends on the pension trail - you got along for the nostalgia and you get the kitsch and the not-very-good new songs.
Case in point: Smokey Robinson at Vicar St last year, pissing all over his legacy (all the Motown hits done as a five minute melody so he could do a 20 min set of lounge standards). I saw Aretha in New York last month and it was awesome to hear that amazing voice but the songs that voice was working with? Spare me.
I’d love to see Stevie play live, but I think I prefer the Stevie on YouTube unless I knew he was doing the “Songs In The Key Of Life”, “Innervisions”, “Talking Book” and especially “Music Of My Mind” albums