New Yorkers expected to get a performance from singer-songwriter John Legend at the annual Global Citizen Festival this past weekend. Unfortunately for them, the threat of a nor’easter washed the possibility of that happening away. The singer-songwriter didn’t leave people hanging, though. He decided to give fans a thrill by dropping off “Fireflies,” the second single from his upcoming Pharrell Williams-produced album Muse.
“Fireflies” perpetuates the epic, cinematic sound we first heard on lead single “Daylight.” It starts with a foundation of gospel-tinged piano, rolling drums and a haunting choral arrangement. That sets the tone for a song that marries the feeling of a Negro spiritual with the storytelling of an artist like Nina Simone.
John tells what seems to be the story of modern Blackness in America, especially for those reared in the inner city. He sings of the trauma and pain that Black Americans have survived and the warnings and trappings that can be heard and seen in the projects. While there’s definitely despair found in the lyrics, the song also contains the undeniable hope that has spurred our community on.
“I, I’m a candle in the dark / And I come from a divine spark,” he sings on the bridge. “And I’m my ancestors’ thoughts / And their wildest dreams, their wildest dreams.”
For the “Fireflies” visual, John and director Paul Hunter bring the Muse album to life in classic black and white accompanied by the Hollywood Cinematic Orchestra. The dapper gents look regal in their tuxedos — John in his white jacket and the orchestra in black — against the sterile background.
There is more to the video, however. John and his piano are the focal point, and the video transports them to different scenes within a housing project. We see everyday moments that illustrate both the joys and the ills referenced in the song’s lyrics. The scenes and staging are visually arresting, reminding the viewer of the legendary photographic work of visionaries like Gordon Parks and Carrie Mae Weems.
It’s nice to see John Legend will be bringing it both musically and visually this album cycle. We look forward to hearing and seeing more when Muse arrives on Friday, October 23rd.
- Advertisement -