ShareJohn Legend, with special guest Jack Savoretti, performing his Darkness And Light Tour at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Sunday 10th September 2017.
Imaged and Review by Kevin Cooper
Back in 2004 there was no telling what the future held for John Legend as he came on to the scene as a prodigy piano player discovered by Kanye West. Fast forward 13 years and he has truly grown into his moniker of ‘legend’ with his worldwide tour named after his latest album, Darkness And Light making a stop at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena last night.
With Jack Savoretti supporting, there was a big crowd to listen to his powerful opener, Only You from his latest album Sleep No More. With his spine tingling voice projecting around the Arena, other new songs such as Whiskey Tango and Deep Waters were well received. But it was standout moment Breaking The Rules that earned him a standing ovation. Finishing his set with Catapult, an outstanding song from his Written In Scars album, Savoretti had certainly left a mark on this crowd.
Legend began his near two hour 25 song set behind his piano for the beautiful new song, I Know Better. Other new songs followed; Penthouse Floor, Love Me Know, Darkness And Light, Overload and his current single Surefire which all showcased his ability to pout and wiggle his hips.
And with his energy and showmanship never wilting, it was soul throwback Slow Dance that got an appreciative cheer as he invited a lucky lady from the audience to dance with him. With a true calling for crafting potentially timeless songs, the beautiful You And I (Nobody In The World) had every couple in the room swaying in tandem whilst his velvety voice soared on a cover of Meghan Trainor’s Like I’m Gonna Lose You.
Legend turned the clocks back to 2004 as he played his first single Used To Love U and brought it all right up to date with Right For You (For Luna) with film clips of his too cute daughter being shown on the big screens. Telling this enraptured audience an endearing story about his role as a laptop DJ whilst his wife was in labour, he launched into a cover of the Curtis Mayfield classic, Superfly, which was playing when his daughter was born.
Complete with a costume change it was not long before he was back behind his piano for a funky and upbeat cover of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes’ Wake Up Everybody, whilst images of everyday people on the huge screens enhanced Ordinary People, his 2005 breakthrough hit.
The highlight was undoubtedly The Beach Boys’ God Only Knows done a capella with a single spotlight on him, but the encore brought Legend back for the song that finally knocked Pharrell’s Happy off the US number one spot, All Of Me.
Ending with a powerful and poignant Glory, the award winning song from Selma, which was accompanied with footage from the civil rights movements, Legend had given a performance that simply took your breath away. But with him oozing romance, he could sing a Chinese menu and still make women swoon with his warm and seductive style.
