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Monday, July 11, 2016 4:30am ET by  
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Stevie Wonder tells BST Hyde Park crowd: 'I was blessed to be blind, it was a gift'

Stevie Wonder started his 4-hour set at the British Summertime concert in London's Hyde Park last night (July 10) by telling the 65,000-strong audience that he is blessed to be blind.

Offering his support to the Black Lives Matter movement, he said:

"Before I start the concert I'd like to say to all of you a few simple things. In this troubled time I want to say to all of you that I love you all.

"And I love you because I was blessed to be blind, it was a gift so that I could show those of you who have everything you have the blessing you have to use them all. That every day is to please God and to use the gift of song that he has given me to encourage you to move forward.

"In one sense I'm very happy that Songs In The Key of Life is still significant almost 40 years later. In another sense I'm not happy about that. The reason is that the songs and the words that we talk about those conditions still exist in the world and that hurts my heart.

"What I'm hopeful about is that we can make a difference. And if you too feel that we can make a difference. I encourage you to choose love over hate. It's just that simple. Choose love over hate, right over wrong, kind over meaness. Hope over no hope at all. Which brings me to another point, yes, all life does matter, but the reason I say black lives matter is because we are the original people of this world.

"So in essence, everyone here has some black in you! You've all got some soul in you so stop denying your culture. So love yourselves and all your family. That's what I say.

"We were all made in God's image. When you hate someone, you're hating that image. If I'm blind and I can see it, you can see it too."

Stevie Wonder then launched into his legendary 1976 album, 'Songs In The Key of Life,' an album that tackles racial hatred and corrupt police.

Wonder also led a Prince tribute for his friend. Under the name of 'DJ Tick Tick Boo,' he covered 'Kiss' and 'When Doves Cry' 

Famous faces within the audience watching 66-year-old's concert included Bradley Cooper, Emeli Sande, Martin Freeman, Julianne Moore, Naomi Campbell, Jarvis Cocker, Disclosure, Jack Garratt, Trevor Nelson and Corinne Bailey Rae.

British Summer Time Hyde Park tweetd: "We just witness the 8th WONDER of the world and we are immensely emotional. Thank you Stevie Wonder!"

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Watch fan footage of Stevie Wonder's concert below:

 

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