John Legend at the O2 Arena

The Darkness and Light tour made its European stop in London at the O2 Arena. After a pop-infused opening by Jack Savoretti, who will join Legend across Europe during the rest of the tour, our main star landed on stage.

Although Savoretti set the tone with his husky, sensitive voice, the Grammy-winning songwriter John Legend impressed the audience who burst into applause when they first saw him, accompanied by the usual spacious piano. Behind him, we could visualise the rest of the band over a LED screen background. The impressive and illuminated stage design added a lot of value to the whole show.

This was the start of a two-hour delightful experience. The Darkness and Light tour carries the same name as the artist´s fifth studio album, which mixes a wide variety of styles that have been present throughout his musical career, from the very beloved ballads, to the more traditional pop tracks with gospel, soul and jazz touches.

Legend gave an amazing performance, showing off his seemingly effortless vocals and his fans couldn’t help but fall under the spell of his soothing yet lyrical language. He delivered a memorable and meaningful spectacle, full of hits, intimate songs and some more political tunes that invited the public to come together during challenging times, showcasing the coherence between art and reality. A highlight was Lay Me Down, a result of his collaboration with Sam Smith. Legend made us all shiver with his a capella cover of the song, which vibrated all over the O2.

The night couldn’t end properly without two of the performer’s most iconic successes. The romantic ballad All of Me, dedicated to his wife, and the always powerful and Oscar-winning track Glory from the movie Selma. Overall, the concert brought us everything it promised and more: an uplifting and united experience that reminded us all about the purpose of music. An unforgettable evening.

Maria Barrios
Photo: Samuel King Jr

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

Watch the video for Love Me Now here: