John Legend at the Royal Albert Hall

It’s no secret that John Legend possesses a soothing voice that captivates a wide range of audiences. In this solo performance – showcasing his finesse at the piano and his own vocal prowess – he conjures an engaging atmosphere that keeps the Royal Albert Hall entertained throughout. He plays plenty of hits such as Ordinary People and Stay with Me masterfully well, although for this concert he keeps it rather safe, for the most part.

Between each musical piece, Legend shares anecdotes of his life journey, from his childhood to his rise to fame in the mid-2000s. He does so with a touch of humour and plenty of charm, interacting spontaneously with the crowd and having them singing along with some of his more popular tunes. Despite his indulging in a bit of name-dropping and self-praise, the fans respond with warm applause.

In addition to his iconic hits, Legend also performs a cover of Stevie Wonder’s Ribbon in the Sky in a generous rendition, as well as some tracks from his latest album LEGEND (Solo Piano Version), such as Wonder Woman (a tribute to his wife, Chrissy Teigen) and Nervous, an exploration of anxiety in familiar situations. These new songs may be comparatively traditional, but they do fit seamlessly into the rest of his repertoire, adding some extra flair to a successful evening.

But it is the crowd-pleasers that really capture the excitement at the venue. Used to Love U has the audience singing along to the refrain, encouraged by Legend’s elegant stage presence. And, of course, All of Me, which he performs as the penultimate number, still seems to garner the most delight from listeners. That’s not a surprise: it’s a heartfelt, moving song that mixes endlessly well with Legend’s voice, amounting to a timeless release that just flows well and stands as a staple for the sort of RnB that the vocalist is famous for.

Michael Higgs
Photos: Virginie Viche

For further information and future events visit John Legend’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Wonder Woman here: