The Obamas made a surprise appearance in the D.C. area with Wonder.
Stevie Wonder wants to heal America’s broken hearts. And indeed, his soulful repertoire has a unifying force. His Sing Your Song! brought 14,000 people together for a two-and-a-half hour, 30-song marathon in hopes of connecting through music. “As We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart” concludes with a fall 2024 tour.
Wonder’s piano was placed as far down the stage as possible. The show began with the song that became the tour’s title, “Can We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart?”
Wonder was carried onto the stage in the arms of Barack and Michelle Obama, exclaiming, “I have friends!” We have friends! ” With the Obamas in the background, Wonder sang a cover of the election-themed “Heat Wave,” changing the chorus to “Land Slide.”
The 44th president, wearing jeans and a leather jacket, spoke only at Wonder’s urging. Obama began with a long “hi” and joked that he and the former first lady “just want to make sure Stevie gets a seat.”
This is a Washington, D.C., area stop focused on uniting the country politically, so an appearance by a popular Democratic star made sense. Wonder has a storied history of using music to support Democratic presidential bids. He showed up during the DNC, spoke briefly, and performed “Higher Ground.”
Stevie Wonder spoke of his “love” and “healing” for this country, but he never lost focus on his belief that music can be a tool for peace. Of course, his songs still have a message in them. However, these messages are intended to provoke pensive thinking, not to encourage aggressive behavior. Let’s take a look at the lyrics of the aforementioned “Higher Ground.” “People keep learning/Soldiers keep fighting/The world keeps spinning/Because it doesn’t take long.”
But it wasn’t just politics and prose. People came to jam to the hit songs. And he gave them plenty. “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” got the groove going from the beginning. The crowd rose to their feet as they heard the message, “Signed, sealed and delivered.” Afterwards, Seminal Wonder’s ballads “Isn’t She Lovely” and “I Just Called to Say I Love You” were performed.
The band was large, 12 people in his string section alone. There was a full horn section, two percussionists, and five backing vocalists. It is estimated that at least 20 people on stage helped create Stevie’s iconic sound.
Stevie's unique, slightly nasal, soulful R&B voice remains in great shape. This is most evident in his velvety ballads, especially “Overjoyed.”
About midway through the evening, Wonder handed over the stage to guest vocalist Shelley McDonald. She used her amazing voice to perform a stunning cover of Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend.” Morgan State University’s choir took CFG Bank Arena to church, performing a prance-inducing gospel number in blue and orange robes.
Wonder returned to his elaborate keyboard setup and recorded songs such as “Sir Duke”, “Superstition”,
“Do you want to do it?” he asked, leaving the audience feeling euphoric and hopeful for the future.
Wonder said she believes love is what brings about a brighter tomorrow, healing the paralyzed so they can walk and making the blind see. As long as the pure beacon of goodness that is Stevie Wonder is still willing to spread peace through his music, everything he wants for us seems to be within reach.
