Berlin, September 9th, 2026 (The Berlin Spectator) – Fifty years ago, on September 28th, 1976, “Songs in the Key of Life” was released, one of the most brilliant Soul albums of all time, by one of the greatest Soul singers on the face of the Earth. Stevie Wonder, who is 76 years old by now, is coming to Europe to play songs from that album. The best part: He and his band are scheduled to perform on two German stages.
“Songs in the Key of Life” is full of breathtaking tunes. Those include “Contusion”, an instrumental Jazz-Funk composition of his. Only die-hard fans seem to know that one. Stevie Wonder has used this tune as the intro to some concerts. He might do so again this time around. American Jazz-Funk at its very best, by Stevie Wonder? Expect to hear it live if you attend one of his shows.
“Sir Duke” and “I Wish” are funky tunes that could not be more energetic. They have become hymns and they are still being played all over the world, almost as if they had been released just yesterday. Nobody ever forgot Stevie Wonder’s wonderful ballads either. “Isn’t She Lovely”, “Ngiculela”, “Joy Inside My Tears”, “If It’s Magic” and “As”: All of these fascinating songs are on the album he will be presenting again live.
The Genius Himself
And, “yes”, “Black Man” is an important Black Pride song he wrote with Gary Byrd (Do you remember “The Crown”?) and put on “Songs in the Key of Life” as well. Are there even more tunes on this album? Yes. Is “Do I Do” on it? No. That one is on “Stevie Wonder’s Original Musiquarium”. But, yes, we know there are millions of other songs by the genius himself. If he had to play them all, his concert would take a month.
Wonder’s influence in Soul, Funk and in Pop music in general should not be underestimated. “As” and many other tunes were covered by many fellow artists. He also wrote tunes for colleagues, including “Until You Come Back To Me” which was sung by the late Aretha Franklin. Let’s just mention one more favorite, because we can: “My Love Is On Fire”, recorded in 2005 for the album “A Time to Love”. What does this one have to do with the upcoming gigs? Nothing.
Stevie Wonder and his band will be raising roofs in Birmingham, Paris, Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm before they conquer the stage at the ZAG Arena in Hanover on October 24th, 2026. On the 26th, they are scheduled to hit the Lanxess Arena in Cologne. After playing the last encore there (maybe “Sir Duke”), they are supposed to continue on to Amsterdam, Dublin, London, Manchester and Glasgow (which is where they will need subtitles when they talk to people).
Stevie, welcome to the Federal Republic. We don’t have to tell you we love you because you know, right?
Tickets for Stevie Wonder’s German shows are supposed to be available starting on September 11th (yes, I know) at 10:00 a.m. CEST. Try this link and this one.
