A NIGHT OF WONDER /// MUSIC

Last nite, I made the epic trip to the Greenwich Peninsula from Brick Lane to see STEVIE WONDER play live at The O2. 

I love Stevie Wonder's music - he is one of the most prolific artists of our times, and I grew up on "Hotter Than July", listening to it over and over in my Dad's car.  

I was expecting to be excited, but I wasn't. I suppose being stuck in the Blackwall Tunnel can harsh your buzz ever so slightly. Arriving at The O2 for the first time in years is an interesting experience - I felt like I was arriving in a pseudo airport: massive car parks, loads of people queuing up (to be seated as the myriad of high street bars and eateries), pretty lights, announcements that you should head to your gate as Stevie Wonder will be on stage shortly... Oh yea... Stevie Wonder will be on stage shortly! I remembered that's what I was here for.

So we headed to our gate and after a bit more queuing, finally got to our seats, which were better than I had expected. I wasn't sat in the nosebleed section. Still miles away mind you.

(Amazingly the Italian I'm having a coffee at, writing this instead of working, is playing his 1973 hit "You Are the Sunshine of My Life")

And then it happened. 

Stevie Wonder was escorted onto the stage by his daughter. Everyone jumped out of their seats with applause. Stevie smiled. So did everyone else that I could see. His presence is something I have never witnessed before. I was in struck with awe. I couldn't believe that I was seeing and hearing Stevie Wonder play amazing song after amazing song... I nearly cried when he played "Lately". I couldn't believe I was standing up arms in the air singing along to "I Just Called to say I Love You". Hit after hit, I could not contain my excitement and joy. Stevie surprised me further, by playing his own versions of other classic American soul songs like "People Make the World Go Round" by The Stylistics and Donny Hathaway's "The Ghetto". 

When it was all over, I found myself in a strange state of joyous shock and awe.

How much do you reckon it costs to have Stevie Wonder play at your wedding???