Kam Bowling
Audio By Carbonatix
John Legend proved why his music career is nothing short of legendary during his Get Lifted 20th Anniversary Tour stop in Dallas-Fort Worth on Saturday night.
Long lines moved swiftly into The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving. Fans of the 13-time Grammy Award winner packed out the music venue from the front row to the lawn for a one-man show celebrating the debut album that catapulted the singer’s music career.
The night began with Legend’s female trio of background singers and band in black-tie attire warming the crowd up before he walked onstage dressed in an all-white suit and shoes. The audience gave him a warm welcome with cheers and applause as he smiled like the moment belonged to him. Landing at a black piano placed centerstage, the vocalist dived into the song “Let’s Get Lifted.”
Kam Bowling
After asking the crowd to stand up, they readily obliged. He set an early tone of intimacy with “Used To Love U” while waving along with the audience and dropping into a slowed, serenade-style section, returning to the keys. Next up was “Heaven,” a beloved track from his album Once Again. For “Alright,” he shared the spotlight with his backup vocalists, doing tight, syncopated choreography. The momentum continued with the grown and sexy single “Tonight” from the Think Like A Man movie soundtrack. He ended it with a smirk and joked with the crowd, saying, “I don’t want to brag, but sometimes you got to talk to shit!”
Still standing from his initial ask, “She Doesn’t Have to Know” nudged some folks back to their seats. Legend took a short break that gave his singers a moment to flex their voices. He returned to the state and had a storytelling moment he had with Snoop Dogg to intro “I Can Change,” which he is featured on. Smoke rose from the stage as the song finished before having a jam session with his band.
“I’m feeling good, Dallas. You know this is the beginning of my North American tour, and I can’t imagine a better way to start it than tonight here in the DFW,” he told his supporters. “We’re having such a good time tonight. We’re celebrating tonight!”
What followed was a Gospel segment in which the songwriter explained how essential his upbringing in church was. He sang “Precious Lord” as an ode to his Pentecostal roots before telling the audience, “You’re my dream come true,” lifting the room with church-bred warmth. It was the beginning of sharing his career journey through storytelling, which lasted throughout the rest of his performance.
He did a tribute to his musical voyage and honored other singers by going down the memory lane of artists, songs and albums that were not only stepping stones for his career but also ones he admired. Before giving a nod to Lauryn Hill with “Everything Is Everything,” Legend told the story of how playing for her helped launch his music career. He then sang a taste of Bilal’s “Soul Sista,” a selection from The Roots that rolled into D’Angelo’s “Lady” and Musiq Soulchild’s “Just Friends.”
Circling back to his own catalogue, he threaded his own resume through a medley. He talked about early Kanye West sessions on “Jesus Walks” and “Never Let Me Down,” tipped to Jay-Z’s “Encore” record and “Selfish” from Slum Village, Estelle’s “American Boy,” and Alicia Keys’ “You Don’t Know My Name.” It played like a greatest hits mixtape and a reminder that Legend’s fingerprints are on more than his own discography.
After intermission, he came back singing “Ooh Laa” from his 2020 release Bigger Love. The suit jacket came off with a sweaty struggle, and “Save Room” followed on a second piano that was rolled out with a seat, giving the show a lounge-set mood. He sang an unreleased record titled “Sun Comes Up,” a light, upbeat cut with church in its bones that makes your shoulders bounce before belting out “Good Morning” from the Evolver album.
The night’s apex belonged to “Ordinary People” as everyone rose to their feet to sing along. While the band and singers cleared out, he slid back to the first piano as a single spotlight shone on him. He spoke about his parents’ love being the inspiration for the Billboard Hot 100 hit. This then continued with more songs from the album of the hour, “It Don’t Have to Change,” “Stay With You,” “When It’s Cold Outside” and “So High.”
The entertainer teased the intro to “Green Light,” unbuttoning and shedding his long-sleeve shirt. The popular record turned The Pavilion into a dance floor. He jumped off the stage to sing against the front-row guardrail. He shouted out the band and singers, who earned new fans who showed off their skills. The entertainer waved. “I’m John Legend. Thank you,” he said and exited the stage. Fans waited, hoping for an encore performance.
Legend’s fake-out was brief as the house washed blue, and the piano line to “All of Me” rolled in. Phones shot up as he sang the love song. After creating a free, fun-filled atmosphere for his two-hour set honoring Get Lifted, Legend sealed his heartfelt show with “Live It Up.” Owning the stage once more, giving DFW fans a night that left them lifted in spirits.
