Following an appearance at the Democratic National Convention in August, Stevie Wonder returned to the United Center on Saturday with a related agenda. The beloved singer’s visit was a late addition to his “Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart” tour itinerary. With underlying goals to get out the vote and cool heated rhetoric, Wonder’s appearance served as the trek’s final concert ahead of Election Day on Tuesday.
Wonder was guided by his son Kailand Morris and eldest daughter Aisha Morris to his position at center stage, where he played nimble and spirited harmonica riffs to a recorded snippet of “Fingertips.” Although the song wasn’t featured at other tour stops, Wonder explained that he had to perform it in Chicago and acknowledge the city as a pivotal place in his life. The 1963 No. 1 hit was recorded before a live audience at the former Regal Theater in Bronzeville.
Wonder called the evening “a celebration of hope and love songs for America.” The singer thanked God and loved ones for keeping him motivated. He acknowledged family in the venue and joked that some of his children might have been outside reselling tickets.
Wonder coaxed people to use their smartphones to capture his next remarks. “In 1963, there were places that I couldn’t go because of the color of my skin,” he said.
“Now for me, it was stupid ‘cause I couldn’t see none of that [stuff],” added the singer, who has been blind since birth. Despite progress, Wonder spoke against resurgent racism, hatred and denial of women’s rights before concluding that the nation’s motto should become “make America love again.”
The show continued with “Can We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart,” a new song cut from similar cloth to “Love’s in Need of Love Today” from the 1976 album “Songs in the Key of Life.” The soaring pop ballad marks Wonder’s first single since the last presidential election cycle in 2020.
The discourse avoided grievance politics. “Higher Ground” was reprised from August’s convention appearance. A song like the scathing Nixon-era protest “You Haven’t Done Nothin’ ” might have seemed like a contender for a program with a political undercurrent, but Wonder instead favored messages of love and unity even on interpersonal fare. When drawing from 1986 album “In Square Circle,” Wonder selected the beatific and starlit “Overjoyed” rather than the furtive “Part Time Lover.”
The audience was a willing accomplice during many arrangements, beginning with a reggae pop singalong to “Master Blaster (Jammin’).” Wonder led the crowd through folk standard “You Are My Sunshine” before transitioning into an intoxicating “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.” Audience vocals for “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” were divided by gender and characterized as friendly competition. Wonder gamely judged the result to be a tie.
Following a mid-show break, Wonder’s second set sampled generously from “Songs in the Key of Life.” “Village Ghetto Land” included a story about Wonder’s childhood in Detroit. “Living for the City” rode a soulful groove. Rollicking R&B numbers “I Wish” and “Sir Duke” featured sparkling brass. Wonder initially pulled the wrong harmonica for “Isn’t She Lovely,” but called a mulligan and took two more passes through the solo with enhanced gusto.
Following “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing,” Wonder returned to the evening’s theme. “We can’t have any leader anywhere that disrespects anybody,” he said without naming names. Wonder performed Bob Dylan’s civil rights era anthem “Blowin’ in the Wind,” and then choked up when dedicating “Love’s in Need of Love Today” to the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was in attendance.
“I Just Called to Say I Love You” is 40 years old this year. The multi-generational audience sang along blissfully. Many took videos or swayed arm in arm. Wonder shed tears of gratitude for Jackson during the last chorus.
The singer promised to elevate the mood and launched an implicit protest against Elon Musk’s America PAC cash giveaway by changing the chorus of the Beatles’ “Can’t Buy Me Love” to “money can’t buy my vote.” Wonder clambered atop his grand piano during “Do I Do.” The energy reached ecstatic heights with the funky “Superstition.”
“Make sure that you vote,” said Wonder before finishing with lively samba “Another Star.” “Vote for the goodness of us as a united people of this nation. After it’s all said and done, you want to know that you made America love again.”
This run was advertised in Chicago as Wonder’s final tour. At age 74 and more than 60 years since first topping the charts with “Fingertips,” it would be reasonable if he chose to retire and enjoy his golden years at home. However, Saturday’s uplifting and emotional performance at United Center suggested that Wonder remains enamored of his audience. With luck, fans may yet see him again.
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