Defibrillator: Stevie Wonder, "My Cherie Amour" (1969)

Simple, classic and beautiful, this soul song changed my whole relationship with Philadelphia. I visited the city with my parents while I was in middle school, and I knew little about it beyond the existence of the Liberty Bell. So when we walked into Reading Terminal Market on a drizzly afternoon, I had few expectations, except maybe getting a good cheesesteak. That all changed the moment I heard someone playing a piano rendition of a familiar tune. The performer looked about my age, but magic was coming from his fingers. And then I remembered the lyrics: “My cherie amour, lovely as a summer day…” From the moment I connected Stevie Wonder to Reading Terminal Market, a piece of my heart was lost to Philadelphia. It became linked with the melody of Stevie’s perfect little song, his infectious use of sing-along “la’s,” the earnestness of his dream that the girl he loved would notice him. It’s the kind of song that soothes the soul — and Philly, I would eventually learn, is a city that can do the same.