Stevie Wonder Concert Tour: Review and Top Ten Song Picks

Stevie Wonder has enchanted listeners for well over 40 years with his remarkable singing and musical ability. Every newly released album has been met with enthusiasm and awards. Though blind since early childhood, Stevie Wonder can play many instruments including harmonica and keyboard. His voice is unmatched for capturing difficult tempos and quickly accompanying any accoustical instrument. He recently went on tour in part due to his personal reflection since his mother's death a year ago, recently showing up in Washington State at the beautiful Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville, Washington on August 31st to a sold-out crowd which lasted 2 and half hours with lots of improvisation and sing-alongs. In honor of his appearance, here are my ten favorite picks from his long list of songs.

ONE: Fingertips, Pt. 2 - Born as Stevland Morris in Saginaw, Michigan on May 13, 1950, he joined the Motortown Revue Tour with this song and broke out with his introduction to the world as a 13 year old, young, talented miracle to music. This song was re-released on The Best of Stevie Wonder: The Millennium Collection. It is hard not to get caught up in the background crowds excitement and enthusiasm over this brilliant rising star.

TWO: For Once In My Life, written by Ron Miller, was a 1968 hit. Stevie sang this as a duet with Tony Bennett on Bennett's Christmas Birthday televised special nearly bringing the supper-club balladeer to tears. "Stevie Wonderful," said Bennett; "The famous Tony Bennett, Happy Birthday," said Wonder. Also showing up on The Best of Stevie Wonder Millennium Collection.

THREE: Heaven Help Us All, also written by Ron Miller. Issued as a single back in 1970 and showing up on the Millennium Collection and originally on the Signed, Sealed and Delivered album. This soleful lament about the war and other society underdogs definitely deserves a return from the archives.

FOUR: Anything and everything showing up on Stevie Wonder's Musiquariam album release. This would include such memorable hits as Superstition, Living for the City, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Ribbon in the Sky, Higher Ground, Sir Duke, Boogie On Reggae Woman, I Wish and Isn't She Lovely. In particular, I appreciate his lesser-known song from this album, Front Line, another tribute to our unsung heroes of the Vietnam War. Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You) Last Summer is my favorite Wintertime blues buster.

FIVE: Go Home from Stevie Wonder In the Square Circle Album (Motown, 1985) is a great get up and dance tune. I like to play this music when people get up in my space. What makes the song terrific is the unusual tempo or beat, which is unsynchopated as only Stevie Wonder can capture. By this point in time, Stevie Wonder has literally mastered the keyboard and all of its possibilities.

SIX: Overjoyed also from the Square Circle Album is a classic. American Idol's previous season singing contestants gave it a go. Although this album has other wonderful classics like Part-Time Lover, the entire songlist favors the love ballads such as Never In Your Sun, Stranger On the Shore of Love.

SEVEN: Shelter In the Rain, from his latest release in 2005's A Time to Love collection. This song is a perfect example of why Stevie Wonder is known for lifting the spirit. "I'll be your comfort through the pain, I'll be your shelter in the rain." Though simple and basic, you can tell he is speaking personally and from the heart. The catchy tune sticks in your mind and is one of the few uncomplicated Stevie songs.

EIGHT: Positivity from A Time to Love collection. Here he sings along with Aisha Morris, who is his daughter. It is literally impossible to follow along with Stevie Wonder on this one, unless you too have mastered the art of double-timed singing and double-speak. How he can get each and every word out with such rhythmic accuracy at such a rapid pace is beyond anyone's comprehension and exactly what makes Wonder one-of-a-kind. The song as a whole is meant to bring people up out of their depression and the tempo and words certainly do just that. Here, Stevie is mastering the acoustic piano, guitar loop, clavinet, drums, finger cymbals, voice box and the list goes on and on. This is sheer perfection in his instrument skill level and this album helped him win yet another Grammy.

NINE: Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours, from the album of the same name and re-released on his Millennium Collection. The song was brought back to life again by American Idol contestant Lisa Tucker on the American Idol Season Five Encores collection as well. This classic is simply infectious and song by almost everyone. It is an excellent example of song-writing ability and how words you can understand do matter.

TEN: Heaven Help Us All, a rare and unusually lesser-known lament appearing on the Millennium Collection. It shows Stevie Wonder's spiritual side, which is no secret when you listen carefully to the words of many of his other songs. Though not mistaken in any way for a religious hymn, much of his music carries messages of hope despite despair, light for the future and a deep-abiding faith. Wonder is simply a really nice guy and gives off a gentle, calm manner when off stage. Before an audience, you simply cannot watch his swaying head and body, without getting caught up right into the song. Lately, Wonder has been letting his voice do the walking as evident by the range, pitch and vibratto of this exceptional vocalist.

You can find more autobiographical material and self-disclosure in other songs like I Wish, and in particular songs from the Musiquariam Collection.