San francisco California USA
Written By Sason Bishope Parry
On Tuesday, July 23rd, the hallowed halls of Davies Symphony Hall were graced with an unforgettable performance as superstar guest singer John Legend brought his “An Evening with John Legend: A Night of Songs and Stories” tour to San Francisco and alongside our beloved San Francisco Symphony. Legend follows many other well-known artists who have elevated and re-envisioned their songbooks by playing with symphonies across the country. Walking into the orchestra hall and seeing a big grand piano on stage, we knew we were in for a treat. As the show bells chimed, conductor Anthony Parnther took the stage, and then Legend walked out to a rupture of applause from excited fans.
The twelve-time Grammy winner always looks dapper, and tonight, he donned an elegant white tuxedo, which set the mood for a magical 2-hour concert. It was a night of songs, storytelling, and gospel choir-style singalongs with one of music’s most recognized and loved music artists. The concert kicked off with a timeless classic, “I Only Have Eyes For You,” originally sung by Dick Powell in 1934. The song has seen many great renditions since, from The Flamingos and Art Garfunkel, both elevating the song’s notoriety. John Legend’s velvety voice melded seamlessly with the symphony’s lush arrangements, creating an intimate and enchanting atmosphere and making for a memorable performance as the fans sang along.
Following this, Legend delivered a sultry and captivating performance of “Ooh Laa.” The rich orchestration added layers of depth to the song, enhancing its sensual allure. Next, “Tonight” brought a burst of energy and passion to the hall, as Legend showed off his dynamic range and so much expressive emotion, captivating the audience. The performance then took a soulful turn with Aretha Franklin’s “Mary Don’t You Weep” and “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.” These gospel classics showcased Legend’s roots and allowed his powerful voice to shine. He took time to speak about his upbringing and growing up singing in church, where he honed his incredible chops and love for music.
Legend is a natural showman who exudes confidence, and his energy is magnetic. Whether performing or storytelling, he has a genuine way of connecting with fans. This connection could not be felt more, as old home videos of him performing at church were magnified on the big screens above, giving us a look into his younger years. Under Parnther’s expert direction, the symphony provided a robust and emotive accompaniment to Legend that resonated deeply with the audience.
One of the biggest highlights came with the magnificent song “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Legend delivered a heartfelt rendition of another Art & Garfunkel classic that soared as the
symphony chimed in on every magical note, making it a stand-out moment. Stevie Wonder’s poignant and beautiful “Ribbon in the Sky” followed, with its romantic melodies beautifully rendered by the orchestra and Legend’s tender interpretation. Legend later told the audience that Stevie Wonder was kind enough to perform this song at his wedding and that it was dedicated to his wife, Chrissy Teigen. The first half ended with Legend’s beloved hit, “Stay with You,” with the audience swaying and singing along. The symphony’s incredible arrangement brought new life to the song, making it another highlight before intermission.
The second half wasted no time raising the bar and opening with the Beach Boys serene and heavenly “God Only Knows.” It’s hard to match the original, which is a flawless masterpiece. Still, Legend’s voice did the song justice, floating effortlessly over the intricate orchestral backdrop, creating a moment of pure musical transcendence that I’m sure even Brian Wilson would approve of. Legend and the Symphony then picked up the tempo with an outstanding rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark.” I know most wouldn’t see this as part of Legend’s soulful, pop, and gospel choice of songs to cover, but he made it his own with an engaging, jazzy performance that had the audience tapping their feet.
It wasn’t until he performed “Used to Love U” and “Ordinary People” that fans were once again reminded of Legend’s incredible songwriting talent and emotional depth of connecting with each lyric. Fans sang along, especially to crowd favourite, “Ordinary People,” as the Symphony played and even clapped along at times to each beat. These songs, enriched by the incredible musicians on stage, felt fresh and invigorating, eliciting another standing ovation and warm applause from the audience.
Legend also took this time to endorse and give his full support for Vice President Kamala Harris, declaring, “It’s about time we elect a wonder woman to be president,” then, without missing a beat, he kicked into an excellent performance of his song “Wonder Woman.” This was definitely a tribute that most San Franciscan Harris supporters could get behind. Legend has never been shy about his politics and standing up or speaking out for injustice of any type. Another favourite song of mine is “Redemption Song,” and by the audience’s cheers, I’m sure it was a favourite of many in attendance. Legend’s impassioned vocals brought new relevance to Bob Marley’s classic.
The socially conscious “What’s Going On” could have come out today and been just as relevant as when Marvin Gaye first sang this emotional and moving social movement song. Clearly, it struck a chord with the audience, highlighting the timeless nature of its message. Legend’s soulful interpretation made this another standout moment of the night. Probably the night’s biggest highlight came with “Glory,” his collaboration with rapper Common, an absolute showstopper and one that Legend dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. The song’s poignant lyrics and soaring melody, brought to life by Legend’s emotional delivery and the symphony’s grand orchestration, were uplifting, bringing fans to their feet. The song’s
powerful message was a profound reminder of tumultuous times but with a hope for better days.
The night would not be complete without his performance of “All of Me,” which was particularly moving and, given that it’s arguably his most famous song, had many in the audience singing along to every word. Legend concluded with a medley of “This Time,” “I Love, You Love,” “Adore,” and “So High.” This finale was a tour de force, with Legend and the symphony reaching new heights of musical excellence. The medley perfectly encapsulated the evening’s blend of soul, passion, and orchestral brilliance.
The San Francisco Symphony is always pure perfection as it provided a rich and dynamic backdrop to John Legend’s incredible performance from start to finish. The synergy between Legend’s soulful voice and the orchestra created a magical night of music that will be remembered for years. Spellbound is the word that comes to mind, as each audience member seemed entranced and captivated by Legend’s opening first note to the final standing ovation.
As the final notes faded and the audience rose for its final standing ovation, it was clear that this concert was a triumphant celebration of music, artistry, and heartfelt connection. John Legend and the SF Symphony were a dynamic and inspiring fusion that took us to church and elevated our vibration with the incredible power of music.
For more info on the SF Symphony go to www.sfsyphony.org For more info on John Legend go to www.johnlegend.com
