Photo: Tech. Sgt. Samuel King Jr., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Our Top 10 John Legend Songs looks at an American pianist and singer-songwriter who has achieved incredible success in the early 21st century with his R&B and soul music. John Legend was the first African American individual to win all the four major American or rather North American entertainment awards. John Roger Stephens, known by his stage name John Legend was born on 28th December 1978, Ohio U.S.
John Legend was born into a musically gifted family. His grandmother played the organ, his mother directed a church choir while his father and brother both played drums at the church. Legend attended the University of Pennsylvania and then moved to New York to work for Boston Consulting Group playing piano and singing in nightclubs. John worked On West’s debut album “The College Dropout” as a rap musician. His debut album “Get Lifted” was produced from West’s label GOOD Records. Below are John Legend top 10 songs
# 10 – Beauty and the Beast
John Legend and Ariana Grande covered Peabo Bryson and Celine Dion’s “Beauty and the Beast” as a title song for Disney’s 2017 live adaptation of the movie starring Emma Watson. This track music video has accumulated over 174 million views on YouTube and the reason it appears on our top ten list for John Legend songs. John Legend and Ariana Grande are arguably the king and queen of riffing in the music industry and their voices blend superbly on their track mostly on the classical “oh oh ohhhhh.” Their voices are super clear and shine unlike the 90s when most songs sounded like they were produced or rather recorded on a Broadway stage. This track sounds like it was recorded in a studio the whole time.
Upon its release, the track received worldwide critical acclaim and the track was the first-ever animated film to be nominated for a Grammy, album of the year. Finally, “Beauty and the Beast” picked up 5 Grammys and the Golden Globes for the best soundtrack and, the best original song.
# 9 – Ordinary People
This track “Ordinary People” peaks at number 9 on our list. It was written and produced by John Legend together with Will.I.Am for his debut album Get Lifted. The song was recorded in 2005 and released on 7th April 2005. The track received positive critics and it was praised for its simplicity and raw emotions.
“Ordinary People” received three nominations in the 48th Annual Grammy awards including a nomination for the Best R&B song, Song of the Year, and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance winning the latter.
In this song, John Legend is singing as if he is trying to navigate through a battlefield of love while trying to keep the love or rather affection safe from harm. This song from his debut album Get Lifted was the first of his top 40 hits that peaked number 24 on Billboard Hot 100. The song is one of his greatest hits.
# 8 – Number One
At number eight is “Number one,” a track that was released from his album “Get Lifted”. The song features Kanye West and a sample of the song “Let’s Do It Again” produced by The Staple Singers.
Jokingly, only John Legend, Tom Jones, and Mick Jagger could make cheating sound like it’s good for a relationship and John Legend does it in this track. This song evokes the carefree attitude and yet it has a funky breeziness of ” Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder without imitating it. This song was an incredible hit and peaked number 62 on UK Singles (OCC) while peaking at number 86 on the US Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop Songs Billboard Hot 100.
# 7 – Made To Love
John Legend’s solo track ” Made To Love” is amazing and does nothing to compromise his reputation. This single track is sensual and sexy in a wonderful alluring way that is hard to find nowadays. If you listen to this track, you will agree that Legend would make any lady weak at the knees.
If you listen to this song, I am sure you would want to listen to it more and more. It has a mid-tempo and sexy dance that feels like it perfectly complements Kimbra’s vocals, wailing, and scatting. The song went viral hours after its release, and it received numerous positive critics. It is worth your listening time.
# 6 – You & I (Nobody in the World)
This is one of the best tracks from John Legend. Before watching the video, grab yourself some Kleenex because the track is classical. This is where we all agree that without music life would have been a mistake. The video consists of several women with different scenarios with mirror reflection images.
This song’s message is very similar to that of Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful.” The track says that no matter how you appear or rather look you are beautiful the way you are. We all know that nothing beats natural beauty. The message from both songs is similar, but the video from this track makes the difference. In this video, you will see several celebrities including Tig Notaro, Tatiana Ali, Chrissy Teigen, and Laverne Cox. The highlight is the scene where a lady is shown with one breast, and you will agree that it takes more than just your courage to reveal to the entire world all of you. The song will surely drive your emotions.
# 5 – Green Light
This song by John Legend is stunning and the reason it appears at the top five of our top 10 songs by Legend. This song featuring Andre 3000 showcases a funk-electronic sound that is unique from Legend’s previous work thus representing a musical style shift for this R&B star. This hit is featured in his third studio album “Evolver.” The song was released as the first solo song on 26th August 2008 via Columbia Records.
“Green Light” was embraced by contemporary music critics and branded it a ” certified club banger.” The song also did incredibly well on the charts since it peaked at position 24 on Billboard Hot 100. The song was also his best-selling single and earned him a platform certification by the Recording Industry Association of America.
This song was unexpected from John Legend since most of his R&Bs are slow-paced. The track is fast-paced to a point you can compare it with any Lil Wayne’s rap.
# 4 – Like I’m Gonna Lose You
This is a song by Meghan Trainor featuring John Legend. The song is about when you are experiencing those nightmares where your lover or rather loved one passes away and then you wake up crying and sweating and you call them or go to check on them and then they are there. Here is when you realize that tomorrow is not promised. Do you are gonna love them like you are about to lose them? This song was delivered perfectly and peaked number 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It is stunning and a legendary song just like John Legend.
# 3 – Glory
“Glory” by John Legend is regarded as the most crucial uplifting track in a decade. In this song, Legend brings a positive outlook that is perfect for the future. He shows why his voice is worthy of reverence.
This track was critically acclaimed and earned an Academic Award, Golden Globe, and a Grammy. In the end, this track moves the spirit with an understanding of grieve and pain endured by most who paved the way and the courage to go on with love as a weapon. A time will come when the war is won, and the world will shout “Glory.” This song has been loved by most. The lyrics in this song speak for themselves both socially and politically.
# 2 – Preach
At position 2 is this incredible song “Preach” by John Legend. The song was written by Sarah Aarons and Greg Kurstin. It was released as a single by Legend and the Sony Music Entertainment on 15th February, 2019 and peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.
It seems that Legend thought “And now… practice what you preach!” In this impressive video, it features a high school shooting, and a girl being separated from her parents or rather her mother at the border, and the policemen are very aggressive towards African American in case of an arrest. John Legend says that he was inspired by the survivors of the Florida shooting in 2018.
# 1 – All of Me
This song “All of Me” deservedly tops our list of the Top 10 John Legend songs. This song is written by John Legend and Toby Gad. It features his 4th studio album Love in the Future released in 2013. This song is amazing and peaked at position one on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming his first single song to top the Billboard Hot 100.
Additionally, this song peaked at position two in South Africa and the United Kingdom. This song is one of the most straightforward by John Legend where he manages to pull off lines such as “What’s going on in that beautiful mind/ I’m on your magical mystery ride,” with incredible sounds with soothing sophistication. Surely, this song is deservedly at the top.
Conclusion
John Legend is an amazing artist on the stage and loved by most. He has had a great career in the music industry and his music is well appreciated by most. The above songs by John Legend are stunning and hope you enjoy them.
Top 10 John Legend Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021
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Although All Of Me is deservedly Johns Number One top Ten Hit, I feel as though a couple of his other songs are really beautiful as well. Conversations’ in the Dark is such a lovely song, the refrain” I won’t break your heart” I won most every woman lives to hear. the song Everybody Knows is a little melancholy , but will resonate WITH anyone who has ever experienced heartbreak. Stay with You was a song I felt should have been on the Soundtrack of the movie “Loving”.. It goes without saying that WIld is just so sensual, ,and you feel his deep, passionate love thru every, single, note.