Stevie Wonder paid tribute to Levi Stubbs at his Melbourne concert last night, dedicating his show to the late lead singer of the Four Tops.
Stubbs died on the weekend at the age of 72.Wonder recalled how when he came to Australia for the very first time when he was 19 years old, it was with the Four Tops.
As a tribute, he sang the Four Tops classic ‘I Can’t Help Myself’.
To watch Steve Wonder in concert was to witness a real music legend.
His two and a half hour show was laden with as much thought as hits. ‘Master Blaster’ was dedicated to Barack Obama. Wonder said how being blind was sometimes an advantage because it eliminates impressions based on colour. “This US election is based on colour and gender and it is bullshit,” he told the crowd.
He shared with the audience how he did not want to perform for two years after the death of his mother but she came to him in a dream and told him to get back to work.
On a lighter side, he made a go at trying on an Australian accent with a well rehearsed ‘G’day mate’ and a damn good go at saying “beer” with an Australian nasally tone. He said an Aussie told him to have a beer. “It will make you see more clearly, Stevie, when you have a beer,” he laughed. And his son has learned the lesson as well. He said after the last trip, his son came home with the impression “take a piss”.
Stevie’s daughter Aisha Morris was given centre stage during the show for a cover of the Nat King Cole song ‘I’m Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life’.
Here is the Stevie Wonder setlist for Melbourne, October 19, 2008:
As If You Read My Mind (from Hotter Than July, 1980)
Master Blaster (from Hotter Than July, 1980)
I Can’t Help Myself (Four Tops cover)
Did I Hear You say You Love Me (from Hotter Than July, 1980)
All I Do (from Hotter Than July, 1980)
Knocks Me Off My Feet (from Songs In The Key Of Life, 1976)
Lets Get Physical/Never Can Say Goodbye into Higher Ground
Spain (Chick Corea cover)
Don’t You Worry About A Thing (from Innervisions, 1973)
Visions (from Innervisions, 1973)
Living For The City (from Innervisions, 1973)
Part Time Lover (from In Square Circle, 1985)
Overjoyed (from In Square Circle, 1985)
Lately (from Hotter Than July, 1980)
I’m Gonna Love Your Right Out Of My Life (vocal Aisha Morris) (Nat King Cole cover)
My Cherie Amour (from My Cheri Amour, 1969)
Signed Sealed Delivered (from Signed Sealed Delivered, 1970)
Sir Duke (from Songs In The Key Of Life, 1976)
I Wish (from Songs In The Key Of Life, 1976)
Isn’t She Lovely (from Songs In The Key Of Life, 1976)
You Are The Sunshine of My Life (from Talking Book, 1972)
I Just Called To Say I Love You (from The Woman In Red, 1984)
Superstition (from Talking Book, 1972)
Do I Do (from Original Musiquarium, 1982)
Yester-Me Yester-You Yesterday (from My Cheri Amour, 1969)
For Once In My Life (from For Once In My Life, 1968)
Happy Birthday (from Hotter Than July, 1980)
As (from Songs In The Key Of Life, 1976)
