Legend also played the piano on Lauryn Hill's 1998 song "Everything is Everything" and sang background vocals on Jay-Z's "Encore" and Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name". Legend frequently cites gospel, R&B, and hip hop music as his main musical influences.
Legend released his critically acclaimed and Billboard Top Ten second album, Once Again, in October 2006. Produced by Raphael Saadiq, Kanye West and will.i.am, it is again a mixture of gospel and classic soul showcasing his extraordinary voice, particularly on "Show Me".
Grammy Award Wins:
*2005 Best New Artist
*2005 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: "Ordinary People"
*2005 Best R&B Album- Get Lifted
*2007 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: Heaven
*2007 Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: Family Affair
Neo-soul singer and pianist John Legend combined the raw fervor of contemporaries Cody ChesnuTT and the burning precision of D'Angelo. Born John Stephens, Legend was a child prodigy who grew up in Ohio, where he began singing gospel and playing piano at the tender age of five. Legend left Ohio at 16 to attend college in Philadelphia, and it was there that he first found a larger audience. Not yet out of his teens, Legend was tapped to play piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything" in 1998. After completing college, he moved to New York, where he began to build a loyal following playing in nightclubs and releasing CDs that he would sell at shows. He also became an in-demand session musician, playing and occasionally writing for a wide array of artists, including Alicia Keys, Twista, Janet Jackson, and Kanye West. It wasn't until West signed the young talent to his new label that he adopted the Legend name with 2004's Solo Sessions Vol. 1: Live at the Knitting Factory. Get Lifted, his first studio album, was released later in the year. On the strength of enduring single "Ordinary People," the album reached the Top Five of the Billboard 200. This led to three Grammy Awards: Best R&B Album, Best R&B Male Vocal Performance, and Best New Artist. Once Again, which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, followed in October 2006. Live from Philadelphia, sold exclusively at Target stores, was a successful stopgap release that predated October 2008's Evolver.
Dance To The Music
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get on up and dance to the fonky music!
Dance to the music
Dance to the music
All we need is a drummer
For people who only need a beat
I'm gonna add a little guitar
And make it easy to move your feet
So that the dancers just won't hide
You might like to hear my organ
Playing "Ride Sally Ride"
You might like to hear the horns blowin'
Cynthia on the throne, yeah!
Cynthia & Jerry got a message they're sayin'
All the squares, go home!
Dance to the music
Dance to the music...
"Get up and dance to the music!" is a call to action by John Legend, encouraging people to get up and move their feet to the beat of the music. He emphasizes the need for a drummer, who is essential in keeping the beat and providing the backbone of the music. John Legend then adds a guitar to make it more fun and lively. He adds some bottom, which is the bass, to make sure that everyone in the audience feels the music in their bones. The organ playing "Ride Sally Ride" brings a fun and joyful tone to the music, making it even more irresistible. The horns add a layer of complexity to the music, making it even richer and fuller.
One of the most interesting things about this song is that it is a cover of an original song by Sly & the Family Stone. The original version was released in 1968 and became an instant hit, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has since become a classic and has been covered by many artists over the years.
Another interesting fact about this song is that it was featured in the popular dance video game, Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2. The game featured a remixed version of the song that was specially created for the game.
The song has also been used in several movies and TV shows, including Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and That '70s Show.
John Legend's version of the song was featured in a Coca-Cola ad campaign in 2006.
In 2019, John Legend performed the song live in a tribute to Sly & the Family Stone at the Grammy Awards.
The chord progression of the song follows a basic blues structure, with a I-IV-V progression in the key of E.
The bass line in the song is particularly noteworthy, with a bouncy, syncopated rhythm that drives the song forward.
The horns in the song are played by Jerry Martini, who was a member of Sly & the Family Stone.
The song has been covered by many other artists, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eddie Murphy, and Jimi Hendrix.
Chords:
Verse/Chorus: E, A, B (repeat throughout the song)
Line by Line Meaning
Get up and dance to the music!
Encouragement to move your body and groove to the rhythm of the music.
Get on up and dance to the fonky music!
Similar to the first line, urging listeners to get up and dance to the funky music.
Dance to the music
A simple directive to dance.
Dance to the music
Repeat of the above line, emphasizing the importance of dancing to the music.
All we need is a drummer
A statement that all they need is a drummer to keep the beat.
For people who only need a beat
Clarification that the beat is the most important element for those who just want to dance.
I'm gonna add a little guitar
Singer is planning to add some guitar to the mix to enhance the already danceable music.
And make it easy to move your feet
The guitar will help make the music even easier to dance to.
I'm gonna add some bottom
The musician plans on adding low notes to the music to help the bass line.
So that the dancers just won't hide
This will make it easier for dancers to move their bodies without feeling self-conscious.
You might like to hear my organ
The singer suggests that listeners might enjoy hearing their organ play.
Playing "Ride Sally Ride"
The specific piece the organ will play is "Ride Sally Ride".
You might like to hear the horns blowin'
The singer suggests that listeners may also enjoy the sound of the horns.
Cynthia on the throne, yeah!
Cynthia is in charge of the music and is doing a great job.
Cynthia & Jerry got a message they're sayin'
Cynthia and Jerry are sending a message through their music.
All the squares, go home!
The message is that people who are not dancing (i.e. "squares") should go home so the dancers can enjoy themselves.
Dance to the music
Another reminder to dance to the music!
Dance to the music...
Repeat of the above line, continuing to emphasize the importance of dancing to the music.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sylvester Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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