Believe it or not, it’s come to the final day of British Summer Time Hyde Park. But it could not be ending on a better note, with the legendary Stevie Wonder as the last headliner of the festival and Music-News.com was there.
In the last of the resplendent evening sun, 25 Grammy award-winning artist Stevie Wonder took to the Great Oak Stage in front of the crowd of 65,000 people. His four hour performance marked the 40th anniversary of his masterpiece album ‘Songs in the Key of Life’. Before sitting down at the piano, Stevie made an emotional appeal to audiences to ‘Choose love over hate, right over wrong, kindness over meanness, hope over no hope at all’, and most importantly that ‘all life matters’. After his speech, he began a fitting rendition of ‘Love’s in Need of Love Today’.
Stevie Wonder thrills BST with 'Songs in the Key of Life' https://t.co/WJQtN3gwYG pic.twitter.com/vmwUSu6h0K
— Music-News.com (@MusicNewsWeb) July 10, 2016
He and his fabulous band went onto play his 1976 landmark album in it’s entirety, with hits such as Isn’t She ‘Lovely’ and ‘Sir Duke’. He finished with a show-stopping medley, asking the audience to call him DJ Tick Tick Boom and firing into Prince’s ‘Kiss’ and ‘When Doves Cry’ before his own incredible back catalogue, including ‘Superstitious’ and ‘Part Time Lover’ which had the crowd going absolutely wild.
Pharrell Williams was second on the bill, emerging onto the stage with his smash hit ‘Move Yourself to Dance’ alongside a troupe of body-popping dancers. He paid tribute to fellow Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park headliner Kendrick Lamar with a cover of his track ‘We Gon Be Alright’, and brought out N.E.R.D to perform the explosive ‘Rock Star Poser’ and ‘Lapdance’. During his performance Pharrell shouted; ‘someone get me some water, cos Hyde Park is HOT!’.
Dressed in an amazing tasseled white jumpsuit, Corinne Bailey Rae also dazzled the crowd with her dreamy vocals, dropping an amazing slow jam arrangement of Bob Marley’s CeIs This Love’. Grabbing a tambourine, she encouraged the crowd to singalong to ‘Put Your Records On’, before launching into another hit ‘Feel Like A Star’.
Earlier acts in the day on the Great Oak Stage included the wonderful King, whos soulful set and brightly coloured matching kimonos drew Corinne Bailey Rae into the audience. JP Cooper kicked off the final day of the festival with his laid back blend of indie and soul, while Jamie Woon and Charlie Wilson topped the Barclaycard Stage bill. Up and coming acts Tom Misch, Allen Stone and Gallant also showcased their talents throughout the sunny London afternoon.
The stars in attendance matched the star studded Sunday lineup. Martin Freeman and wife Amanda Abbington made an appearance, as well as Naomi Campbell, Emilie Sande, Bradley Cooper and girlfriend Irina Shayk, Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Jade Jagger, Dougie Poynter, David Haye, Mel C, Alesha Dixon, Jarvis Cocker, Matt Berry, Trevor Nelson, Annie Mac, Toddla T and Rashida Jones.
Stevie Wonder London setlist 10 July 2016
Songs In The Key Of Life (1976) Disc 1
Love’s In Need of Love Today
Have A Talk With God
Village Ghetto Land
Contusion
Sir Duke
I Wish
Knocks Me Off My Feet
Pastime Paradise
Summer Soft
Ordinary Pain
A Something’s Extra EP Side One
Saturn
Ebony Eyes
Interval
Songs In The Key Of Life Disc 2
Isn’t She Lovely
Joy Inside My Tears
Black Man
Ngiculela Es Historia I Am Singing
If It’s Magic
As
Another Star
A Something’s Extra Side Two
All Day Sucker
Easy Goin’ Evening (My Mama’s Call)
Encore
Signed Sealed Delivered (from Signed Sealed & Delivered, 1970)
Superstition (from Talking Book, 1972)
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