John Legend sang a Prince song at the DNC. He'll flip the script at Riverbend this week
Speaking over the phone last week, it took John Legend all of 10 seconds to launch into one of his favorite themes – that music can change the world.
He’s not just talking about making people happy. Or proud. He’s talking about substantive societal change.
Two nights earlier, he had sung on the stage of Chicago’s United Center as part of the Democratic National Convention.
“I’m still on a nice high from it,” he said. No surprise there. He was singing in front of an adoring crowd. And the music? An emotionally charged rendition of a song by a favorite musician – Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy.”
“I have always thought that being an artist obligated me to speak out about things I believe in, like fighting for justice and equality,” he said. “I look at the artists I’ve admired so much in my life – Stevie Wonder, Harry Belafonte, Nina Simone, Nat King Cole, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Aretha Franklin. Not only did they perform songs that helped social movements, they contributed their resources and platforms to make change in this country and in this world.”
You’re likely to hear some of the same sentiments (and a heap of life stories) when Legend joins the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra at Riverbend Music Center on Tuesday, Sept. 10. His presentation, which he has toured on and off for the last 18 months, is called “A Night of Songs and Stories.”
“It’s so different from my normal show,” said Legend. “There is a lot more storytelling. In fact, it’s probably 60% stories and 40% music.”
Many of those stories are deeply personal, ranging from his experiences growing up in Springfield, Ohio, and regularly visiting relatives in Cincinnati. “I will always be a Buckeye,” he crowed. From being a 16-year-old freshman at the University of Pennsylvania – he graduated magna cum laude in English with an emphasis on African American literature – his first job was as a high-powered management consultant. And then, of course, there is his marriage to model Chrissy Teigen and the challenges of raising four children.
“Even before we were married, she said she wanted four kids,” he said, adding that “all of our kids were conceived through IVF. Think about it – four beautiful babies wouldn’t exist without IVF.”
The voice of John Legend
Clearly, Legend has a lot to say. And thanks to Audible.com, he got a chance to share it. Audible, the audiobook arm of Amazon.com, pitched him to become part of its “Words + Music” series.
“It was a series that’s all about musicians doing some version of telling a story and then mixing it with music. That got me thinking about exactly how I wanted to tell a story. My story. And how to incorporate the songs and the stories of who I am.”
It culminated with a performance in London at Ronny Scott’s, a legendary jazz venue.
“I loved doing it,” Legend said. “It was so much more than I imagined it would be. It felt so affirming for me. I wanted to do more of it. My agent came to the show and he was just floored by it. He said ‘We’ve got to take this on the road’. It didn’t take much to convince me.”
In time, that Audible.com presentation evolved into this full evening performance.
“It’s a very intimate show,” said Legend. “Honestly, I feel more connected and more understood after giving the show. Some of it is tough stuff. My family has been to the show. It still makes them cry a bit. You know – the challenges we went through when I was a kid. I talk about my mom and some of the challenges she faced during my adolescence.”
It’s likely that the show will include some music from his newest album, “My Favorite Dream,” inspired by his children. It even features two of the children and his wife as backup singers on a couple of cuts.
“I think throughout my career, my albums have reflected where I was in my life and what was inspiring me at the moment,” he said. “Right now, I’m in the thick of fatherhood. Fatherhood with pretty young kids.”
The album is filled with songs that are musically spare. No huge orchestral touches. These are songs that are meant to be sung with children, not just to them. The Legend kids are represented throughout the album. In fact, the cover of the first single from the album – “L-O-V-E” – was designed by his 8-year-old daughter, Luna.
“This is my life,” said Legend. “These are the things that my wife and I talk about all the time. And these are the messages that we share with our children, messages to inspire and comfort them. Hopefully, they can bring comfort to other people, too.”
'John Legend: A Night of Songs and Stories,' with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Where: Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township.
Tickets: $30-$240.
Information: 513-232-5882; cincinnatisymphony.org.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: John Legend on his DNC performance: 'I’m still on a nice high from it'
