Collage of Stevie's Performance by MeStevie Wonder opened the Place des festivals with a concert inaugurating the 30th edition of the Montreal Jazz Festival. The there must've been like 30,000 people filling the streets of Montreal. The set-up that was at the Place des festivals was fantastic, there were screens to see the stage; beautiful lights and the sound was incredible. In fact, the sound was better then surround sound. Stevie Wonder had the whole crowd dancing to his greatest hits and he did it with a backing orchestra that was incredibly talented. The songs he played really did come to life. The orchestral sound filling the streets of Montreal was fantastic.
He wanted to make this performance a celebration of the music of Micheal Jackson. He intertwined his show with interludes and teases of MJ's songs. "We love you Micheal" he improved in a song, and had the crowd chant along.
Press Read More to read the full review. Also video's of the performance and of Stevie's MJ Speech.
(MORE AFTER THE BREAK)
Also, cool was the projection of Stevie Wonder images on the side of a building lining the street, which changed sometimes in context to the songs.
I loved hearing the greatest hits, and he did a great cover of The Beatles song "Michelle", which the Montreal crowd really dug. Everyone passionately sang the french of the song. I'm guessing Michelle = Micheal so it was also a tribute. I really enjoyed it.
It actually rained hard before the show and I had no rain coat. Umbrellas blocked everyone's view , though the rain was warm and refreshing. It stopped enough that everyone put down their umbrellas in time for the show's start.
Still there were definite things that weren't great. My friends and I got there 2 hours before the show was supposed to start (9:30), so I was anxious. 9:30 comes and the Jazz Fest organizers take the stage and a presentation is made on the screens and stage, and the show is supposed to begin.
Stevie didn't come on till 10 and everyone was kind of confused as to what was going on. The screens gave no indications. When you have people arriving hours early to wait for the show don't tease them by saying the show is going to start and then delaying it 30 minutes.
My other complaint is that I really didn't enjoy Stevie's show much until he started breaking out his greatest hit's. He opened with a MJ song, that I don't think anyone could identify and for half the concert the material wasn't that great I'm not a hardcore Wonder fan, though I know his greatest hits, so the lack of recognizable songs wasn't fun. Some of my friends didn't stay the whole concert because the first half was pretty mediocre . The audience was pretty still as well during . I love his greatest hits but I wasn't really feeling most of the first part of the show. I did like the long improve instrumental jams though, harmonica solos and all.
He also at times played Micheal Jackson songs, and just stood there. For instance "Shake Your Body" was played and sure it was nice, but it felt out of place. It was just a recording of the song being played. He also did this for other songs, and while I know we should appreciate the wonderful voice of Jackson. Obviously most of us have spent the week listening to his hit's. Stevie could have covered these songs instead of playing recordings. Live music is what we wanted.
I really enjoyed the band and him playing part of "The Way You Make Me Feel". That's when the show got great. But, I would've liked more Stevie. Though when the show got good it was great and everyone was dancing and kissing, etc to his greatest hit's. He played all I wanted to hear.
While Stevie playing MJ recordings and not singing or doing anything bugged me. A nice touch was a great collage of Jackson 5 and MJ songs, for the crowd to dance to after Stevie finished the performance. It was nice hearing the songs boom through the Montreal night. But, not midway through the performance.
Credit to youtube videos by c4dksm & henkmanification for the screenshots used in the beginning photo.
Here's the video of MJ's "The Way you Make Me Feel", however it was weird since notice its just a recording and he's just dancing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wppXlu9XLp8
Here's where he starts singing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr8doGM1kK0
Videos
This message started the concert
Here's Stevie's kind words and speech about Micheal Jackson
Also, mtlmuslimah (who also has a blog called Muslimah on a Diet) Recorded the show in pretty great quality. Here are the youtube links
Links
part 1
Tidbit on the first song. It's a tribute to Michael Jackson. He worked with Quincy Jones on the song and MJ recorded it for his "Off the wall" Album. Song is called "Can't Help it". (from youtube description)
part 2
part 3
part 4
part 5
part 6
part 7
part 8
He wanted to make this performance a celebration of the music of Micheal Jackson. He intertwined his show with interludes and teases of MJ's songs. "We love you Micheal" he improved in a song, and had the crowd chant along.
Press Read More to read the full review. Also video's of the performance and of Stevie's MJ Speech.
(MORE AFTER THE BREAK)
Also, cool was the projection of Stevie Wonder images on the side of a building lining the street, which changed sometimes in context to the songs.
I loved hearing the greatest hits, and he did a great cover of The Beatles song "Michelle", which the Montreal crowd really dug. Everyone passionately sang the french of the song. I'm guessing Michelle = Micheal so it was also a tribute. I really enjoyed it.
It actually rained hard before the show and I had no rain coat. Umbrellas blocked everyone's view , though the rain was warm and refreshing. It stopped enough that everyone put down their umbrellas in time for the show's start.
Still there were definite things that weren't great. My friends and I got there 2 hours before the show was supposed to start (9:30), so I was anxious. 9:30 comes and the Jazz Fest organizers take the stage and a presentation is made on the screens and stage, and the show is supposed to begin.
Stevie didn't come on till 10 and everyone was kind of confused as to what was going on. The screens gave no indications. When you have people arriving hours early to wait for the show don't tease them by saying the show is going to start and then delaying it 30 minutes.
My other complaint is that I really didn't enjoy Stevie's show much until he started breaking out his greatest hit's. He opened with a MJ song, that I don't think anyone could identify and for half the concert the material wasn't that great I'm not a hardcore Wonder fan, though I know his greatest hits, so the lack of recognizable songs wasn't fun. Some of my friends didn't stay the whole concert because the first half was pretty mediocre . The audience was pretty still as well during . I love his greatest hits but I wasn't really feeling most of the first part of the show. I did like the long improve instrumental jams though, harmonica solos and all.
He also at times played Micheal Jackson songs, and just stood there. For instance "Shake Your Body" was played and sure it was nice, but it felt out of place. It was just a recording of the song being played. He also did this for other songs, and while I know we should appreciate the wonderful voice of Jackson. Obviously most of us have spent the week listening to his hit's. Stevie could have covered these songs instead of playing recordings. Live music is what we wanted.
I really enjoyed the band and him playing part of "The Way You Make Me Feel". That's when the show got great. But, I would've liked more Stevie. Though when the show got good it was great and everyone was dancing and kissing, etc to his greatest hit's. He played all I wanted to hear.
While Stevie playing MJ recordings and not singing or doing anything bugged me. A nice touch was a great collage of Jackson 5 and MJ songs, for the crowd to dance to after Stevie finished the performance. It was nice hearing the songs boom through the Montreal night. But, not midway through the performance.
Credit to youtube videos by c4dksm & henkmanification for the screenshots used in the beginning photo.
Here's the video of MJ's "The Way you Make Me Feel", however it was weird since notice its just a recording and he's just dancing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wppXlu9XLp8
Here's where he starts singing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr8doGM1kK0
Videos
This message started the concert
Here's Stevie's kind words and speech about Micheal Jackson
Also, mtlmuslimah (who also has a blog called Muslimah on a Diet) Recorded the show in pretty great quality. Here are the youtube links
Links
part 1
Tidbit on the first song. It's a tribute to Michael Jackson. He worked with Quincy Jones on the song and MJ recorded it for his "Off the wall" Album. Song is called "Can't Help it". (from youtube description)
part 2
part 3
part 4
part 5
part 6
part 7
part 8
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