The story goes that D’Angelo, strapping, shirtless, sweating at the mic, muscles flexed and plexed in 2000, was upset about being considered a sex symbol and responded in the same manner any responsible person might, by losing his mind for over a decade. Now back in full force with the critically acclaimed album Black Messiah and the first concert, in what may well prove to be a long year of touring, next Saturday at the Apollo, the early sighting on Saturday Night Live yesterday found the premiere soul singer looking a lot like Luther Vandross -and not the latter day svelte one either. With a cocky brown hat escue on his head, a cape, and a scarf he looked, well, he looked like he won’t be mistaken for a sex symbol any time soon.
Stiil, a fine and tightened rendition of the new single “Really Love” skimmed 20% off the recorded version but got everything it needed to, included the spoken word introduction by Gina (whoever she is, read more here), who apparently says something like “he’s fucking up her life, that she loves him but he’s too jealous and possessive. He can’t own her because she’s free and even though she loves him she’s not sure she can trust him”. A flamenco player fingerpicking and packs of strings in the background followed and D’angelo, looking both stylish and completely bizarre,lead the beautiful song with artistry and nuance yet strangeness. Eccentric, that’s the word, yet another in a long list of eccentric black lead singers.
Written eight years ago, Black Messiah would’ve been everything people say it is if the rest of the album was as great as “Really Love” and with D’Angelo’s gorgeous falsetto and a Spanish groove r&b love song of the first order at his disposal, the r&b man got all of it. A superb first vision of the post-Black Messiah star, apparently the Sly Stone comparisons are gonna have to wait some.
Grade A
