All of Me


 * Clip from Grammys Vlog - Jan. 27, 2014
 * Todd: But like I said, this...this was one of the better ones, but it's still kind of boring. There were five different songs, three of them in a row were just like, basically had the same setup I do: just person and a piano. Maybe they can be more exciting, pick it up. Does anyone really care about John Legend? I mean, I didn't even know he had a song out this year. Did you?

Two months later...

Todd: Goddamn mother...! How am I so bad at this?! Just once, I'd like to say something doesn't matter, and have it not matter. Anyway...

Todd plays "All of Me" on the piano

JOHN LEGEND - ALL OF ME A pop song review

Todd: So, apparently people do care about John Legend, so let's talk about him.


 * Video for "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)"
 * John Legend: I hit you with the best stroke

Todd (VO): This is John Legend, [picture of, performing at Super Bowl XLVII...] male Alicia Keys. He's not as pretty as her. [Beat] Oh, okay, he kinda is; but I guess not enough so, so he's not as successful.

Todd: But in pretty much every other regard, her and him are virtually identical.

Todd (VO): They're neo-soul-influenced piano players, smart, classy, impossibly talented singers and pianists, and yet somehow kind of limited artistically by all of the above.

Todd: The kind of guy people wish they liked more than they do.


 * Video for "Used to Love U"
 * John: Maybe it's me
 * Maybe I bore you

Todd: [sigh] Yeah, maybe.

Todd (VO): And yeah, I do like John Legend—or at the very least, I respect him—but I was really surprised to see him have a huge pop hit like he has right now, especially this one.


 * Video for "All of Me"
 * John: 'Cause all of me...

Todd (VO): Actually, I don't know how many people actually know anything about the guy, so I figure I'd better give some backstory.

Todd: In terms of pop success, John Legend has had basically only two notable songs, and neither of them were huge, but they're the closest he's gotten to pop stardom.


 * Clip of "Ordinary People"

Todd (VO): The first was his breakthrough and signature tune, "Ordinary People".


 * John: We're just ordinary people

Transcript in progress