The Legend in action

SINGAPORE – Three-time Grammy winning African-American singer-songwriter John Legend may have traveled almost everywhere for his music, but he has one place he’d love to see: Manila. This, the 28-year-old artist told this writer in an interview at the Mandarin Oriental, the afternoon after he wowed a fully-packed audience at The Esplanade Concert Hall.

"One of my best friends, Asad Rahman, told me a lot of fun things about the Philippines. My friend, a Pakistani, lived there for years when his diplomat-parents were assigned to the Philippines. So I’d love to go there," says Legend.

The voice behind the hit song Ordinary People did not disappoint when he played the piano, sang, dueted with his younger brother and worked up the crowd. Ladies lined up right in front of the stage to get as close as can be – possibly touch their idol – and scream their lungs out for him.

The crowd – mostly composed of yuppies – were up on their feet the whole time, dancing, shouting, wanting for more.

Legend, in a simple white short-sleeved undershirt, sang some of the songs in his new album, Once Again, under Sony- BMG. The lyrics of Do it Again, as he pounded on the ivory keys with such force the crowd was moved to match his fervor with thunderous applause. Legend went bossa nova in Maxine, a love song about a girl he misses so much.

Hands and bodies swayed, shouts of "I love you, John!" filled the air. The response so moved Legend he told the crowd, "This is the best show in my Asian tour (it has taken him to Tokyo and will bring him to Hong Kong right after). I promise to return."

The crowd roared for more. After what seemed like unbearable minutes of suspense, Legend reappeared, the beads of perspiration gone with the short-sleeved undershirt. This time, in plain white sando and black pants, Legend sang So High, a song which Luke Mejares, another SonyBMG artists, says is the best in Legend’s first album.

The song, with its rising vocals and chords, was a fitting finale to a triumphant concert. If only Manilans can relish that same experience.

Their best recourse, meanwhile, is to check out the album, Once Again, which, its distributors hope, will be big enough to merit a visit by Legend himself.