Hopefully So

John Legend is apparently some music biz hotshot whose career has taken off in recent years via collaborations with stars like Kanye and Jay-Z. Well, I had never heard of him until earlier this year when I started listening to Estelle‘s album Shine, on which Legend is featured.  I read a few things about his work on that album then promptly forgot about him.

Then recently, Legend appeared on Stephen Colbert’s A Colbert Christmas. He sang a goofy song about nutmeg which was actually pretty good.

About two days later, John Aielli played the song Quickly from Legend’s new album, Evolver.  I liked it quite a bit, even though Brandy mostly oversings. Then it occurred to me that, after running across Legend three times this year, I was clearly being directed by the universe to check out his album.

The first single, Green Light (with Outkast’s Andre 3000) is OK. The song he sang at the Democratic National Convention, If You’re Out There, is really nice, and my daughter Amelia (a huge Obama supporter) loves it. There are a few other songs I like, a few I am not that into.

But I really dig It’s Over, featuring Kanye West. I have listened to this one over and over. It has a very Earth Wind & Fire vibe. The song’s only flaw is the part Kanye sings. Musically its all right, but the lyrics about Bobby and Whitney and Pamela Anderson just don’t fit. And frankly, I can do without the whole “shorty” thing in any song. But otherwise, It’s Over is a fantastic song, and definitely worth the time I spent looking more closely at Legend.