Stevie Wonder is a hard artist to go toe to toe with. Trying to replicate his soulful, acrobatic vocals would prove difficult for many artists – Beyoncé is not one of them, though.
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In 2015, the powerhouse vocalist took part in a tribute concert put on by the Grammys, which aimed to fete Wonder’s cherished catalog. Of all the artists who took part in the tribute, Beyoncé was undoubtedly the most up to the task.
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Beyoncé delivered a flawless medley of some of Wonder’s biggest hits, including, “Higher Ground,” “Fingertips,” and “Master Blaster (Jammin’).” In the performance, Beyoncé was joined by Ed Sheeran and Gary Clark Jr. While both of those artists added their own flare to the performance, it was hard to take your eyes off of the “Formation” singer.
She bounded around the stage with her backing dancers in tow, leaving viewers to wonder how she could possibly maintain vocal control with that much movement going on. Beyoncé is nothing if not professional. Her Virgo perfectionism is well accounted for here.
Beyoncé expertly flipped between soft, lulling vocals and powerful growls throughout the performance. She more than rose to the occasion, giving Wonder the reverence he deserves. Sheeran and Clark Jr. perfectly blended their background vocals with Beyoncé’s melodic performance.
Other performers throughout the night included Babyface, the Band Perry, Tony Bennett, Andrea Bocelli, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, India.Arie, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Annie Lennox, Janelle Monáe, Wonder’s daughter Aisha Morris, Ne-Yo, Jill Scott, Ryan Tedder, and Pharrell Williams.
“We must, without question, let the world know that love is king and queen,” said Wonder during the tribute special. “I encourage all of us as artists to write songs about love. Love is the key, and you’ve given me love, and I thank you for it.”
(Photo by Kevin Winter/PW18/Getty Images for Parkwood Entertainment)
