Instagram/@johnlegend
The tribute by John Legend to the deceased D’Angelo, a great singer from R&B, was a sincere one. He pointed out the contemporary nature of the two singers’ albums, their role in his music evolution as well as the whole R&B revolution of musicians, not just as an impact on his career.
Advertisement
D’Angelo’s death shocked the music world and among the artists who publicly voiced their sorrow, John Legend was one of the most prominent. Legend composed a long and very personal narrative about the passing of D’Angelo whom he referred to as “one of the greatest artists of our time.” His sadness was not expressed in just a few words, he actually sketched the course of his life according to D’Angelo’s albums and accompanied it. This was a remarkable showing of one artist’s work being another’s altar.
One of the songs that first came to mind for Legend is ‘Brown Sugar’, released in 1995. He was finishing high school and planned to go to college in Philadelphia. That album along with Mary J. Blige’s ‘My Life’ made up the first two records that he ever owned. He was constantly listening to them. He even joked that his roommate who was a buff of Jimmy Buffett could not get away from the hit “Shit Damn Motherfucker.” In this little humane detail he was immensely respectful. The first album was for Legend, “very deep in roots classic soul and yet awfully fresh and different.” It paved the way for “different kinds of R&B artists, artists that contradict the mainstream’s acceptance.” He was doing his best to imitate all the different styles—the deep, rough voice, the soft, smooth falsetto, the pleasantly blended backgrounds, the vintage-style electric pianos. D’Angelo was indeed a very influential figure.
Afterwards there was a long silence and then a ‘Voodoo’ resurgence. Legend described it as a “musical earthquake.” He acknowledged the cultural importance of the “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” clip but he still kept arguing that the music itself was “even more audacious, more artistic, more beautiful.” He said that for every D’Angelo album it was a celebration that the followers were looking forward to and needing. ‘Black Messiah’ was another outstanding creation. Although Legend admits he never had any direct communication with D’Angelo, the latter was “an integral part of my story.” He concluded by acknowledging D’Angelo’s art and mourning the loss of “such a brilliant soul at such a young age.” However, the legacy continues with the “bold, beautiful music.”
The public response to Legend’s tribute was overwhelming sorrow mixed with appreciation. One person resonated exactly with the artist and wrote, “This is EXACTLY how I felt. Thanks for putting it so perfectly. I listened to Brown Sugar and Voodoo yesterday in his memory. They have rewired my senses.” There was a recurring theme—people were not only mourning but also giving thanks for the fact that someone had put the emotion into words.
Another social media user called it a “Fitting tribute & musical journey love story,” commending particularly the transition from ‘Brown Sugar’ to ‘Voodoo.’ The user’s comment highlighted that D’Angelo’s art was not static; it was a vibrant and dynamic force that the audience had to engage with in real time. The artistically skilled in the advancement.
An especially moving comment was made by a user who was looking at Legend’s character rather than the music. “This piece is so rich in detail that it has really shown why you are a legend in your own right,” they said. Then, they shared how their husband, who would only listen to rap, eventually warmed up to John Legend’s music, indicating how one artist affects another in a chain-like manner even reaching the listeners in their homes. The user is already planning to take her husband to a Legend concert as a surprise, a delightful full-circle moment kindled by a shared affection for music.
Advertisement
Others were not as detailed but their messages were equally powerful. “My Aquarian soul music legend, love you D’Angelo. No more pain. Cancer sucks,” a user lamented on the forum, thus communicating his hurt over the singer’s death caused by illness. Another user called him a “luminous artist, gone too soon,” perfectly encapsulating the widespread feeling that a bright light had gone out. One thing that was common in all comments was the feeling of gratitude—for the existence of D’Angelo’s brilliant talent, the tribute by Legend, and for the powerful, everlasting music that is left behind. The community while suffering the loss, experienced a moment of bonding through a shared soundtrack. D’Angelo’s musical legacy is indeed secure and his influence on the soul music genre will always be intertwined.
