These funk superstars gave arguably the greatest Grammys performance of all time – but almost no one was there to see it! A stacked lineup of Stevie Wonder, Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams, and Chic’s Nile Rodgers dropped some electrifying grooves on the smash hit “Get Lucky,” showcasing some spicy chemistry all throughout the performance. Just check out the grin on Pharrell’s face as he looks over at Stevie while the R&B icon nails the vocals.
The irony is that this iconic performance was given not at the actual Grammys, but just at the dress rehearsal! However, there was one legendary British frontman who knew that this was one unmissable gig, and he hopped across the pond to check it out. Sir Paul McCartney can be seen in the front row of the mostly empty venue at 5:20, and his look of excitement and joy as he reacts to the performance says it all. The Music Man has to say Stevie and the crew gave an absolute funk masterclass here!
Fan channel Radyo Burada uploaded the Grammys rehearsal jam to YouTube, where it hit 5.3 million views. Fans were amazed to see the band get a standing ovation at the rehearsal and added comments such as “Paul McCartney coming to see your rehearsal is the ultimate compliment” and “One of the best Grammys performances of all time and barely anyone was there to witness it live.”
There are plenty of classic Grammys moments that feature Stevie and his music. One of the most memorable moments from Stevie Wonder’s Grammy Salute was when Lady Gaga hit the stage to perform the R&B star’s hit “I Wonder.” This performance was really special due to the poignant story that Gaga shared with Stevie and the audience about the impact his music had on her growing up. Hearing Gaga go to town on the piano and really get down on an old-school funk jam is also a joy to hear.
Daft Punk released “Get Lucky” on April 19, 2013, as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Random Access Memories. The song featured Pharrell and Nile on lead vocals and guitar, respectively. Daft Punk shared writing duties on the tune with the singer and guitarist. Stevie was not involved with creating the studio recording. However, when he joined Daft Punk onstage at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, it certainly contributed to the historic nature of the performance. The Music Man readers may recall that the French electronic duo did well at the Grammys that year, picking up both Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.