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.
Slow Dance
John Legend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can we wait just a minute
Slow it down for a minute now baby
Your talkin' loud
Your wilding out
Don't seem like my old lady
Lets go and play the song we used to play
'Cause things just ain't the same
We can talk about the baby
We can talk until we're crazy
We can focus on it now
Or we can focus on it later
We can start another fight
We can argue and fuss all night
But I propose that we go to floor and we slow dance
Tonight I wanna dance
Can you do that with you man yea
Tonight I wanna groove
And let the music make you move
Move yea
Can we wait just a minute
Turn that TV off for a minute
Now politics and talkin' shit ain't really none of my business
Lets go and play the songs we used to play
On that old school radio
Let the music soothe your soul
Forget about the world
I'm groovin' with my girl
Forget about the news
Lets put on our dancin' shoes
Lets not talk about the war
Do we know what they fightin' for
I propose that we go to the floor and we slow dance
Tonight I wanna dance
Can you do that with you man yea
Tonight I wanna groove
And let the music make you move, move
Move yea yea
Move yea yea
I love it
I love it
I love it we're slow dancin' together
I love it
I love it
I love it we're slow dancin' together
I love it
I love it
I love it we're slow dancin' together
I love it
I love it I propose that we go to floor and we slow dance
Tonight I wanna dance
Can you do that with your man yea
Tonight I wanna groove
Let the music make you move
John Legend's Slow Dance is essentially a love song that urges couples to slow down and reconnect with each other. Legend is singing to his lover, telling her that the noise and chaos of the outside world have gotten to them, and they need to focus on each other again. Instead of getting caught up in heated arguments and discussions about society's problems and politics, they should put on some old-school music and slow dance together, focusing on the love they share. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency to take a break from the hustle-bustle of life and cherish each moment spent with the person you love.
In the chorus of the song, Legend encourages his partner to dance and groove with him, letting the music take control and move them in sync. He expresses his love for the moment they are sharing together and the beauty of the simple act of slow dancing with his lover.
The underlying message in the song is that when life's complications become overwhelming, it is essential to take some time out to nurture relationships and connect with the person who matters the most. This is an ode to love and the power it holds to bring joy and solace in even the darkest and most chaotic times.
Line by Line Meaning
Yea, sing it with me y'all, oh yea yea
Give it your all and join me in singing this song, oh yeah yeah.
Can we wait just a minute
Can we take a break and slow down for a bit?
Slow it down for a minute now baby
Let's take it easy and relax for a bit, darling.
Your talkin' loud
I notice that you're being quite vocal.
Your wilding out
You seem to be losing control and letting loose.
Don't seem like my old lady
You're not acting like the woman I know.
Lets go and play the song we used to play
Let's revisit the music that we once enjoyed.
Can we reignite the flame
Can we rekindle the passion and love we once shared?
'Cause things just ain't the same
I feel that our relationship has lost its spark and needs to be reinvigorated.
We can talk about the baby
We can discuss our child and its needs.
We can talk until we're crazy
We can continue talking until we're exhausted and frustrated.
We can focus on it now
We can address the issue right away.
Or we can focus on it later
We can deal with it another time.
We can start another fight
We can argue and bicker once again.
We can argue and fuss all night
We can fight endlessly and unproductively all night long.
But I propose that we go to floor and we slow dance
Instead, I suggest we dance together and reconnect emotionally.
Tonight I wanna dance
I want to share a dance with you tonight.
Can you do that with you man yea
Would you like to join me in this dance, my love?
Tonight I wanna groove
I want to enjoy the rhythm and vibe of the music tonight.
And let the music make you move
Allow the music to inspire you and move your spirit.
Can we wait just a minute
Can we pause for a moment once again?
Turn that TV off for a minute
Let's turn off the television and disconnect from the noise.
Now politics and talkin' shit ain't really none of my business
I'm not interested in hearing about politics or gossip, babe.
On that old school radio
Let's play some classic tunes on the radio.
Let the music soothe your soul
Allow the music to calm and comfort your spirit.
Forget about the world
Let's escape from the chaos and pressure of the world.
I'm groovin' with my girl
I'm dancing with my love and feeling the rhythm.
Forget about the news
Let's ignore the news and negativity around us.
Lets put on our dancin' shoes
Let's prepare ourselves to dance and enjoy the music.
Lets not talk about the war
Let's avoid discussing the violence and conflict in the world.
Do we know what they fightin' for
Do we truly understand the reasons behind all the fighting and war?
I love it we're slow dancin' together
I'm enjoying our slow dance and the connection we're sharing.
I propose that we go to floor and we slow dance
I suggest that we dance together to strengthen our bond and intimacy.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILL ADAMS, LA CHARLES HARPER, RICHARD CORNELIUS POINDEXTER, ROBERT EUGENE POINDEXTER, JOHN ROGER STEPHENS, ESTELLE SWARAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ann Anderson
This is hands down one of my favorite John Legend songs. This guy is so amazing. John Legend bleeds talent!
Taylor Nesbitt
I will ❤️
Donna Dickerson
John Legend was' my favorite, but no newer songs can hold a candle to this song. It's like he changed his whole way of music 🎶
Carlos Jr
I agree. Those first 3 albums were like nothing else. I cherish those albums. The first or second week that his first album, Get Lifted, released, one little club here in El Paso had John Legend performing with no cover charge. There were maybe 300 people there because he was still "unknown" ( if you can believe that). I will never forget that performance. I tried to get my friends to go. I kept telling them, " We're never going to get to see this man play for free ever again". Needless to say they regret it to this day.
KCKclub97
John Legend is amazing at live performances i gotta say. Unlike some other artists who can only sing in the studio with edited voiceovers. He's got a voice like no other that is a smooth as a baby's " you know what". Keep it up brother. / § /
C Flow
Love this groove!!!! Keep R&B alive John Legend!
Edilamar Rodrigues
Caramba me apaixonei por Johon Legend, amei as músicas dele.
Inês Viana
Adoro john legend❤️❤️❤️
Katarzyna Andrasiak
this song is dope! john actually sounds better live than on recorded songs :)
Lucila Espinoza Salinas
I LOVE IT!!