John Legend Debuts New Song at Dem Convention in Denver

Last night at the opening festivities of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, John Legend provided some in-house entertainment, taking the stage to debut his new politically minded song "If You're Out There." The song's lyrics closely echo Obama campaign slogans, with lines like "We've been looking for the world to change" and "Tomorrow's starting now" and "No more broken promises, no more call to war, unless it's love and peace that we're really fighting for." "'If You're Out There' reflects the themes of hope and change, responsibility and leadership, and commitment to a better tomorrow expressed in the principles of Barack Obama and the hearts of the American people," Legend said in a statement. You can download the track for free by going to Barack Obama's website here, or if you like the song but don't support the candidate, you can also pick it up at the politically neutral iTunes. The song will also appear on Legend's upcoming album Evolver, due out October 28th.

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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