"Bigger Love" by John Legend is an ode to the power of love

MySweeterPlace
1 de jul. de 2020
4 min de leitura

Atualizado: 23 de abr.

John Legend: "Bigger Love"

Released: June 19, 2020

Label: Columbia

Genre: Pop, R&B, Soul

Producers:

Anderson .Paak, Cautious Clay, Charlie Puth, Di Genius, DJ Camper, Eric Hudson, Gregg Wattenberg, Greg Wells, Jamil "Digi" Chammas, Jeff "Gitty" Gitelman, Jonas W. Karlsson, LIAS, Mr. Hudson, Nate Mercereau, OAK, Pom Pom, Raphael Saadiq, Ricky Reed, Ryan Tedder, TMS, and Zach Skelton

Writers:

Al Dubin, Alex Niceforo, Al Green, Al Jackson Jr., Anderson .Paak, Ben Kohn, Cautious Clay, Chance Pena, Charlie Puth, Curtis Hudson, David Axelrod, DJ Camper, Elijah N, Eric Hudson, Ester Dean, Gregg Wattenberg, Greg Wells, Harry Warren, Jake Torrey, Jamil "Digi" Chammas, Jeff "Gitty" Gitelman, Jesse Fink, John Legend, Jonas W. Karlsson, Julia Michaels, Justus West, Keith Sorrells, Kellen Pomeranz, KIRBY, Koffee, Mike Waters, Mr. Hudson, Nasri Atweh, Nate Mercereau, OAK, Pete Kelleher, Rapsody, RØMANS, Ryan Tedder, Sebastian Kole, Stephen McGregor, Tayla Parx, Teddy Geiger, Toby Gad, Toluwanimi Adeyemo, Tom Barnes, Trey Campbell, Wayne Hector, Willie Mitchell, and Zach Skelton

"Bigger Love" is the seventh studio album from John Legend, released on June 19, 2020. The album marks his first entirely new and original material in four years since 2016's "Darkness and Light." The record release for the R&B singer-songwriter features guest appearances from Jhené Aiko, Camper, Gary Clark Jr., Koffee, and Rapsody. The album reunites him with producer Raphael Saadiq, behind his 2018 Christmas album, "A Legendary Christmas."

John Legend believes in the power of love, and no one doubts it, and his seventh record remains on that. "This album is a celebration of love, joy, sensuality, hope, and resilience, the things that make our culture so beautiful and influential," he wrote on an Instagram Post. John Legend has often seemed like a throwback to a universal era of pop superstardom. The songs on "Bigger Love" are inspired "(…) by the loves of my life: my wife, my family, and the rich tradition of black music that has made me the artist I am", he adds on the post cited above.

"Ooh Laa" opens with those beautiful doo-wop inflections. "You know I'm romantic/I'd cross the Atlantic for that, "Ooh-laa", he sings.

John Legend's "Actions" lyrics are all about showing appreciation for your significant other through, well, actions, not words. "Actions speak louder than, speak louder than, speak louder than love songs/I've been doing it all wrong."

"I Do" was produced by and written alongside Charlie Puth. It marks the first song the singers wrote together.

"One Life" is that track that gives the idea of appreciating every moment and taking them with joy. "But if you don't mind/ We'll let our love fly/ Just give me your time/ 'Cause you've got all mine."

"Wild" is a prominent one. The track has notes of Rock thanks to the exceptional participation of Gary Clark Jr on the guitar. The theme itself is similar to what has been heard, but the music production triumphs here.

We quickly traveled to Reggaeton. "Bigger love," the title track, is a good summer song that makes everyone dance.

The beautiful ballad that follows, with the participation of Jhené Aiko, is a declaration of love. In "U Move, I Move," both confess that they will always be present for the loved one and show gratitude. The female voice gives a lot of distinction and relevance to the lyrics, making the seventh track one of the most beautiful.

"Favorite Place" is the kind of sexy-time jam. "No matter where I go/ Anytime, any space/ Say your lips are my favorite place."

"Slow Cooker" shows that good things happen to those who wait and don't rush things.

On the understated "Focused," the lyrics' simplicity mirrors how uncomplicated things are in her wife's company.

The album's first single has the mysterious name "Conversations In The Dark." Upon hearing, we understand that conversations in the dark are those about sad subjects. It is potent and makes you think of the people you love and what is within reach to make them feel better. It's the typical John Legend ballad.

KOFFEE's enthusiasm on "Don't Walk Away" lights up the track, while Rapsody's stately approach to "Remember Us" nicely offsets the classicism of John Legend's main vocal. "I'm Ready" is produced by DJ Camper, and it's the last collaboration on this record.

The voice leads us to "Always," a kind of love letter. The singer says he can't think of anything else but this particular person. He even declares that it is his first and only love and that this feeling will last forever.

The desire to reach for a higher love comes through on the LP's closing track: "Never Break."

After listening to the 16 tracks, the desire is to embrace those we love. John Legend never fails when it comes to feelings and has managed to carry a lot of emotional charge for this album.