Let’s face it… D’Angelo is the man. After fourteen years of relative inactivity, the R&B musician surprised the world with the early release of his album Black Messiah. The new music was incredibly well-received, a smooth combination of soulfulness, political awareness, and musical virtuosity.
If Black Messiah signaled D’Angelo’s comeback, then last night’s performance was the icing on the cake. D’Angelo brought his band, The Vanguard, for two numbers from the new album, “Really Love” and “The Charade.” The latter was particularly poignant, with members of the band wearing “Black Lives Matter” and “I Can’t Breathe” t-shirts. Considering the album’s early release was inspired by the Ferguson and Eric Garner news stories, it’s not surprising that D’Angelo would incorporate a message of social justice into his performance.
Regardless of the politics, D’Angelo and the Vanguard simply crushed these two songs. This will easily go down as one of the best performances of the season. Watch both clips below:
D’Angelo and the Vanguard – “Really Love”