Jun
28
2010
Stevie Wonder, O2 Arena, Dublin, June 2010
Author: admin
Two weeks after seeing Paul McCartney enthrall a packed crowd at Dublins RDS arena I’m on my way to see Stevie Wonder. Arriving at the O2 in Dublin there’s a real sense of something special about to happen and there’s no doubt that Stevie certainly didn’t let anyone down.
Arriving on stage at 8:20 Stevie played a set of over two hours comprising hit after hit. His backing band of twelve were on top form throughout.
The first real crowd favourite came with the second song Master Blaster (jammin) and was followed in no particular order by Sir Duke, For once in my life, Higher Ground, isn’t she lovely and a warm tribute to Michael Jackson in the form of a cover of Human Nature and many others. Stevie was in fine form throughout engaging easily with the audience encouraging sing alongs and coordinating the guys singing, then the girls. Even I just called to say I love you (possibly the cheesiest song ever written) just worked, resulting in a huge sing along which would normally have had the most hardened cynic reaching for the vomit bucket.
Before the next song Stevie reached for his water bottle declaring that he had a magic drink that would make him sound like little Stevie again. After taking a quick few gulps he turned back to the mic in a falsetto voice and sang fingertips. I think he got as much of a buzz out of this little move as the audience certainly did.
Then came Superstition. There are some songs that can completely change the atmosphere at a gig and even with a repertoire as large as Stevie’s, Superstition is still the one that does it for any audience. As soon as that bass line kicked in the whole arena went mental, nobody was left seated and it was a culmination of a wonderful evening.
If there was a down point of the evening it came at the end, Stevie left the stage to rapturous applause with the crowd fully expecting him to return. No encore happened and this left a bit of a feeling that he hadn’t received the true ovation that the crowd wanted to give him.
That said this was a truly special concert in the company of one of musics last living legends and I’m very proud to have been able to be there to see it.
Reviewer: Jack
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