. . . what was the point of the song selection at the Democratic Convention tonight?
Look, I’ve been a fan of the guy for probably more years than most of you have lived. I own almost all of the recordings he has released. So don’t take me as someone looking to bash.
The first number was something that very few people (in my estimation) can relate to. The second number, “Signed, Sealed and Delivered” is an OK song but not the best or most appropriate song for the occasion. I would have thought that he would wrap it up with “For Once in My Life”.
Just my thought. I thought he and the convention blew the chance to blow away the audience.
I hope this is relevant enought to add to this thread . . .
I just heard Stevie Wonder on the radio today (it was a repeat from 2005.) My wife is a big fan but I’ve never really had an opinion of him one way or another. I’ve got to say, the man has an absolutely amazing voice - better than I realized - better live, in fact, than recorded, IMO. But kind of a shitty personality . . . you can’t get a word in edgewise, he rambles about nothing in particular, he says random shit like “I’m a grown ass man!” two or three times in a row for no apparent reason . . . he tried to play a practical joke that was not funny at all and resulted in a lot of dead air, he bragged about his money . . . does this guy do a lot of drugs?
I was thinking how could it be possible that a guy with so much musical talent pretty much lose the plot from the early 80s 'til today? I think he did some work in the 90s of note (maybe for the Jungle Fever soundtrack?) but damn, what has he done for his career of late?
(I hoped against hope he would play “Superstition” or “Sir Duke.”)
I think “Signed, Sealed, and Delivered” was an Obama staple during the primary season. I remember hearing it several times after his speeches. So that would explain that pick…
I wanted to watch the TV coverage of the Demathon and the big speech by the Obama Who Would Be King, but as I live in Brit-land this entailed staying up until 3 in the morning. I looked at the cast list and thought, well, not so bad, I get to see the mighty goodness that is Sheryl Crow in action, plus… oh look!.. Stevie Wonder! I was really looking forward to this.
Sadly, I have to agree with the OP. I’m a Wonderfan, as I guess most of us are one way or another (is there anyone alive who doesn’t love at least one Wondertune?). But he actually managed to be forgettable. The first song was tedious, and while I’m not exactly an expert, it seemed to me like the singers were having problems keeping in tune with one another. Maybe they were having technical difficulties leading to them not being able to hear one another properly. Performers in these circumstances rely on good feedback, either from earpieces or near-field monitors, to help them keep it together. As for song number two, ‘SSD’, Stevie did say he couldn’t hear himself near the start, although this didn’t seem to hamper his performance. It’s just that the performances itself was dull and tired.
From the 60s to the 80s, as it says on the All Music Guide, Stevie had talent to burn. What happened was, he burned it. Even the brightest candle goes out eventually. The result is that he has a back catalogue brimming with effervescent genius that redefined ‘popular music’, and a legacy that will live as long as people like catchy, brilliant, meaningful songs. It also means anything he does now looks distinctly second-rate by comparison, because it is.
He probably knows it too. For the rest of us, it just means we play the old albums and remember how great his talent was. For him… what must it be like? Imagine knowing that once, you pulled ‘Songs In The Key Of Life’ out of your head more or less without breaking a sweat, and produced so much great material they had to issue it as a double album with four more songs added on an extended play ‘single’. And now… ? Now he struggles to come up with anything anyone actually wants to listen to. Must be harsh, at times.