Justin Ritter purchased the most recent John Legend album a minute after it was released. He was also the 62nd person in line on the day pre-sale tickets were available for Legend's show at 8 tonight in the Bryce Jordan Center.
"The chance might not come again," Ritter (graduate-law) said in reference to seeing Legend perform. "He sings some real stuff you can relate to in meaningful ways. You know how they say it hurts so good? That's what it does."
Joined by Raphael Saadiq, the Grammy Award-winning singer will stop in State College to perform as part of his world tour to promote the Oct. 28 release of his album Evolver.
The album offers a "welcome update" on his two previous records, Legend said, and debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.
"Each album has been an adventure," Legend said. "People have a certain image of what they think I am, [and] I think it just kind of shows people that, but also updates it and freshens it. I didn't want to limit myself to doing what I've done in the past. [I wanted] to open myself up to being creative and experimental and seeing what would happen."
The first single on Evolver, "Green Light," features OutKast's André 3000 and was "kind of a bold statement and kind of a significant change from what people had heard before," Legend said.
The singer added that "Green Light" has been attracting a new audience to his music.
It's playing on stations "that never played me before," he said. "Some new fans will come see my shows, [but] you don't want to alienate fans you had before also."
Of the 47 stops on the tour, State College is one place Legend, a "big Buckeyes fan," hasn't experienced.
"I'm quite familiar with the football team of course, and I'm from Ohio so I'm a little bit bitter right now," he said.
Legend majored in English at the University of Pennsylvania, but knew he wanted to pursue a career in music.
"I always did well in school and had a backup plan, but this was always my first choice of what I wanted to do," he said.
But the music business can be "dizzying" at times, he added, and maintaining college friendships is crucial.
"I try to stay in touch with all my friends," he said. "It's good to stay connected to where you've come from, not only in my hometown, but my friends that I've been friends with for awhile. You can lose your bearings sometimes if you don't have people around to help you keep your bearings."
Legend also believes giving back is important. One dollar from each ticket sold for tonight's show will be donated to his Show Me Campaign. The award-winning artist was also in New York City Monday launching (RED)WIRE, a digital music magazine that costs $5 a month, with the proceeds benefiting health care in Africa. Legend said he was really inspired by his charity work for Africa.
"Sounds corny, but it shows you the power of the human spirit," Legend said. "It's a beautiful thing."
Bernie Punt, director of sales and marketing for the BJC, has seen more than 500 shows at the BJC, and said the staff is "very excited" for Legend's performance, and the student response has been "tremendous."
"He has the reputation of being amazing live, so this is gonna be a big thrill for all of us that have been here for awhile, too. For a student to see him for $20, that's like an early holiday gift courtesy of UPAC," Punt said.
Roxana Gbetibouo (junior-public relations) likes Legend because he "came out with something completely different than anybody had done before."
"Nobody that I can think of sort of sounds like John Legend," she said. "I love his lyrics. [He] sounded like he was singing from the soul."
Sarah Sullivan (junior-recreation park and tourism management) hadn't listened to Legend much until her roommate told her about the concert.
"It's my first concert at the BJC, so I'm really excited," Sullivan said. "He's just really soothing. I feel like it's good music to listen to when you're in a really mellow mood."
