“The only way we’re going to win this fight, a fight against injustice, is by voting.”
Stevie Wonder stepped out onto the campaign trail with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris last night.
The soul icon joined the Democratic ticket at a rally in his hometown of Detroit, performing a four-song set to open the campaign event. The show commenced with a timely rendition of “Higher Ground,” slipping into the live debuts of Wonder’s new songs, “Can’t Put It in the Hands of Fate” and “Where Is Our Love Song,” before capping it with his 1972 classic, “Superstition.”
Between songs, Wonder spoke candidly on the weight of the moment and the incredibly high stakes in the 2020 presidential election. “I feel this election here is the most important one of my lifetime. When I’m in California hearing about a group of people that are trying to kidnap and murder the governor of this state, excuse my language, but that’s some bullshit. Unacceptable,” Wonder said. “The only way we’re going to win this fight, a fight against injustice, is by voting,” he added, plainly and with animate urgency.
Wonder’s new songs were released on October 13th to launch his first solo label So What The Fuss Music, announcing a departure from his longtime Motown camp. The label takes its name from a 2005 collaboration with En Vogue the late Prince from Wonder’s last album, A Time to Love. “Can’t Put It In The Hands of Fate” features appearances from Rapsody, Busta Rhymes, Cordae, and Chika, while Gary Clark Jr. lends his six-strung to “Where Is Our Love Song.” In a statement on the new songs and breaking off from Motown, Wonder expressed his gratitude to Berry Gordy and the label that’s housed his music for nearly 60 years, suggesting his final release with Hitsville would be a gospel album inspired by his mother.
Watch Stevie Wonder perform at Joe Biden campaign rally in Detroit above. Election Day is now, but also, officially, on Tuesday, November 3rd. Find your polling location via vote.org.