Latest news with #Fingertips'
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stevie Wonder Shares Poignant Response to Longstanding Rumor He's Not Really Blind
Stevie Wonder has used an appearance at a recent concert to address the longstanding conspiracy theory that he isn't actually blind. Wonder – who has been performing since the age of 11 and scored his first Hot 100 chart-topper with 'Fingertips' at 13 – has long been noted for his status as a blind man, having lost his vision weeks after his birth. More from Billboard Kesha Makes Chart-Topping Debut With New Album '. (Period)' Rauw Alejandro Gains Big: 'Carita Linda' Takes No. 1 Spot on Latin Airplay Chart Pusha T on Drake's 'What Did I Miss?': 'Just Not for Me' However, his prolific output and tireless work in the music industry over the past 64 years has resulted in a half-serious theory that Wonder can in fact see. Though often shared as a tongue-in-cheek rumor, Wonder's ability to navigate the world around him has resulted in many of these theories coming to light. In 2019, former NBA player Shaquille O'Neal shared a tale of Wonder recognizing him in an elevator, while comedian and actor Anthony Anderson once recalled how he challenged Wonder to a basketball game. 'What y'all don't know is, Stevie can see,' he told Stephen Colbert in 2016. 'It's just an act.' Now, at a recent tour stop in Cardiff, Wales for his Love, Light & Song U.K. tour, Wonder used an opportunity to speak to the crowd to dispel the enduring speculation. 'I must say to all of you, something that I was thinking, 'When did I want to let the world know this?' But I wanted to say it right now,' Wonder began. 'You know there have been rumors about me seeing and all that? But seriously, you know the truth. 'Truth is, shortly after my birth, I became blind,' he continued. 'Now, that was a blessing because it's allowed me to see the world in the vision of truth, of sight. See people in the spirit of them, not how they look. Not what color they are, but what color is their spirit?' Wonder has not released a new studio album since 2005's A Time to Love, though since 2008, he has spoken about a new project titled Through the Eyes of Wonder, which has been described as a performance piece that will reflect his experience as a blind man. 'What I want to do with our live performances is to create visuals that [give] my take on how I see the world and how most various things affected me,' he explained at the time. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stevie Wonder Says He'll Never Give Up Performing: ‘You Don't Have to Retire'
Stevie Wonder has confirmed that he's not going anywhere, with the veteran musician claiming he'll be performing and creating until his dying day. Wonder's comments came from a new interview with the BBC's Sidetracked podcast, where he entered into a discussion with host Annie Mac about the topic of retirement. More from Billboard Shakira & The Weeknd to Headline 2025 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park The Who Kick Off Farewell Tour in Italy, Perform First Show Since Zak Starkey Sacking Tool Announce First Hawaii Concert in Nearly 15 Years After turning the question back onto Mac after she inquired about his thoughts on the matter, Wonder explained that as long as he's physically able to, he'll keep creating in some capacity. 'For as long as you breathe, for as long as your heart beats, there's more for you to do,' he explained. 'I love playing music, that's like my mantra. I think I can do all the stuff I want to do – still have fun and do what I need to do – but I'm not going to stop the gift that keeps pouring through my body.' 'I love doing what I'm doing,' he added. 'An artist doesn't stop drawing – you keep on. As long as you can imagine is as long as you are going to be creative, and as long as you let your mind work, you don't have to retire.' Close to the entirety of Wonder's life has been dedicated to creating music, with the 75-year-old having released his first single at the age of 11, and later scored his first Hot 100 chart-topper with 'Fingertips' at 13. Currently, it's been almost 20 years since Wonder released his last studio album, A Time to Love, though a number of singles have arrived in the years since – including 2024's 'Can We Fix Our Nation's Broken Heart.' Since 2008, the musician has spoken about a new project titled Through the Eyes of Wonder, which has been described as a performance piece that will reflect his experience as a blind man. During his appearance on Sidetracked, Mac asked Wonder about his relationship with music, to which the veteran artist responded he's 'going to put music out' at some point, and is 'excited' about the long-discussed Through the Eyes of Wonder project. During his recent time in the U.K., Wonder also performed in Cardiff, Wales where he took the opportunity to share a poignant response to viral rumors that he is in fact able to see. 'You know there have been rumors about me seeing and all that?' he asked the crowd. 'But seriously, you know the truth. 'Truth is, shortly after my birth, I became blind,' Wonder explained. 'Now, that was a blessing because it's allowed me to see the world in the vision of truth, of sight. See people in the spirit of them, not how they look. Not what color they are, but what color is their spirit?' Watch Stevie Wonder's appearance on Sidetracked below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
R&B icon addresses longtime rumor he's not really blind: ‘You know the truth'
Stevie Wonder is hitting back at a prolonged rumor that the music legend can actually see. The 'Superstitious' singer addressed the rumor during his 'Love, Light and Song' U.K. tour stop in Cardiff, Wales. As seen in an Instagram video posted July 10, Wonder addressed the crowd in a light-hearted tone by saying, 'I must say to all of you, something that I was thinking, 'When did I want to let the world know this?' But I wanted to say it right now.' 'You know there have been rumors about me seeing and all that,' he said before a burst of laughter spread through the audience. After explaining how he started to go blind shortly after his birth, the 75-year-old shared how his lack of vision has enriched his life. 'That was a blessing because it's allowed me to see the world in the vision of truth, of sight,' Wonder said. 'See people in the spirit of them, not how they look. Not what color they are, but what color is their spirit?' The longtime rumor that Wonder isn't actually blind has been going on for decades, according to Variety. Lionel Richie joked that he was convinced the 'Fingertips' singer could see in a 2019 interview on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show.' 'I've been spending my whole life with him thinking he can see. I know he can see,' Richie said. 'I went to his house. He says, 'Wanna hear a new song? I've got it in the car. C'mon, go with me.'' Richie said Wonder sat in the driver's seat and started unexpectedly driving back down the driveway. 'And I screamed, 'Stevie! What are you doing?' And he said, 'Ah, got you, didn't I?,'' Richie recalled. More music content Pop megastar rumored to owe millions jokes he is 'almost out of debt' Famed drummer plans to keep playing despite leaving iconic rock band Legendary rock star could spend more than a decade in prison Surgery scheduled for country music icon recovering from onstage stroke Coldplay returns to Gillette Stadium for two sold out shows - Here's how to buy tickets Read the original article on MassLive. Solve the daily Crossword
