A Listening Party with John Legend for His Album 'My Favorite Dream'

Summary

All Of It: A Listening Party with John Legend for His Album 'My Favorite Dream'

Podcast Title: All Of It
Host: Alison Stewart
Guests: John Legend, Sufjan Stevens
Release Date: December 30, 2024
Duration Covered: [00:14] to [25:53]

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Introduction to the Episode

In this special episode of All Of It, hosted by Alison Stewart, listeners are invited to an intimate listening party featuring John Legend and Sufjan Stevens as they discuss Legend's latest project, a family-oriented album titled 'My Favorite Dream'. Released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Legend's debut album, Get Lifted, this new work reflects the profound personal growth and changes Legend has experienced over the past two decades, including achieving EGOT status, marriage, and fatherhood.

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Exploring 'My Favorite Dream'

Alison Stewart opens the discussion by highlighting the evolution in John Legend's life and how it inspired the creation of My Favorite Dream ([00:14]). This album is a departure from Legend's traditional R&B style, embracing a more familial and whimsical tone aimed at both children and parents. The project not only showcases Legend's versatility as an artist but also his dedication to creating meaningful content for families.

Notable Quote:

“I've always wanted to create something that my kids and I can enjoy together, something that brings our family closer.” – John Legend ([00:14])

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Collaboration with Sufjan Stevens

A significant aspect of the album's production is the collaboration with acclaimed musician Sufjan Stevens ([02:42]). Stevens, known for his intricate compositions and storytelling, brings a unique touch to the album, enhancing its musical depth and emotional resonance.

Notable Quotes:

“Working with Sufjan has been a dream come true. His ability to build beautiful soundscapes around my initial ideas has elevated the entire project.” – John Legend ([10:15])

“I wanted the album to have a specific mission, a narrative that guides each song, and Sufjan's production style was perfect for that vision.” – Sufjan Stevens ([04:28])

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Creative Process and Storytelling

The creative process behind My Favorite Dream is deeply rooted in storytelling and purposeful messaging. Stevens explains how his recent work in Broadway influenced the album, leading him to undertake a solo writing approach, differing from his previous collaborative efforts ([03:06]-[04:23]). This shift allowed for more cohesive and mission-driven songwriting, aligning perfectly with Legend's vision for a family album.

Notable Quote:

“Having a specific mission for the album helped streamline the creative process, ensuring that each song contributes to the overarching theme of family and dreams.” – Sufjan Stevens ([04:23])

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Spotlight on Key Tracks

1. "When We Fly" ([01:16] and [06:03])
A heartfelt song that encapsulates the album's theme of dreaming and togetherness. Legend's vocals are complemented by playful melodies, creating an uplifting atmosphere for listeners of all ages.

Notable Quote:

“I wanted 'When We Fly' to be an anthem for families, symbolizing hope and the boundless potential of dreams shared together.” – John Legend ([01:16])

2. "We're a Family" ([11:25])
This opening track serves as a welcoming embrace, reinforcing the album's central message of unity and support within the family unit.

Notable Quote:

“'We're a Family' sets the tone for the entire album, emphasizing that no matter where we are, our bond keeps us strong.” – Sufjan Stevens ([12:35])

3. "L O V E" ([14:09])
Featuring contributions from Legend's family members, this song celebrates love in its simplest form, making it relatable for both children and adults.

Notable Quote:

“Involving my family in 'L O V E' was essential. It adds authenticity and warmth, making the song truly a family affair.” – John Legend ([14:09])

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Family Involvement and Personal Touches

Legend's decision to involve his wife, Chrissy Teigen, and their children, Luna and Miles, adds a personal layer to the album. Their voices not only enhance the songs but also symbolize the collaborative spirit of family life.

Notable Quote:

“Having my family sing with me was a natural choice. It brings a genuine and heartfelt dimension to the music.” – John Legend ([13:32])

Stevens shares a touching anecdote about the album artwork, featuring a childhood photo taken by his aunt, Patricia, capturing a joyful moment that perfectly represents the album's essence ([17:44]-[18:46]).

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Parenting Through Music

Both Legend and Stevens delve into the role of music in parenting. Stevens emphasizes the importance of teaching children persistence, creativity, and teamwork through musical education, highlighting how these lessons extend beyond music itself ([16:26]).

Notable Quote:

“Music teaches kids valuable life skills—persistence, practice, teamwork—that are applicable in any field they choose to pursue.” – Sufjan Stevens ([16:26])

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Covers and Bonus Tracks

My Favorite Dream includes delightful covers of beloved children's songs, such as "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley and Fisher Price jingles. These covers not only resonate with children but also evoke nostalgia for parents, bridging generational gaps through music.

Notable Quotes:

“Covering 'Three Little Birds' was a joyful experience. It's a song that brings comfort and happiness, perfectly aligning with the album's themes.” – Sufjan Stevens ([19:38])

“Collaborating with Fisher Price allowed us to revisit classic songs and infuse them with new life, making them relevant for today’s children.” – John Legend ([21:23])

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Challenges and Aspirations

Stevens discusses the challenge of creating original children's music that stands the test of time, aiming to craft songs that could become future classics ([21:23]).

Notable Quote:

“Writing new children’s songs that kids will love and remember is a rewarding challenge. I wanted to create something timeless and special.” – Sufjan Stevens ([21:23])

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Supporting Political Causes

The episode briefly touches on Stevens' support for political figures, highlighting his performance at the Democratic National Convention ([23:33]-[24:22]). This segment underscores the intersection of art and activism, showcasing Stevens' commitment to societal causes.

Notable Quote:

“Supporting leaders like Kamala Harris aligns with my belief in progressive values and the future we want to build for our children.” – Sufjan Stevens ([23:43])

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Closing Tracks and Final Thoughts

The episode concludes with the heartfelt track "Always Come Back", a soothing lullaby that encapsulates the album’s message of enduring familial love and reassurance ([24:31]-[25:17]).

Notable Quote:

“'Always Come Back' is a promise to my children that no matter where I am, my love is a constant presence in their lives.” – John Legend ([24:37])

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Conclusion

In this episode of All Of It, John Legend and Sufjan Stevens provide an insightful look into the creation of My Favorite Dream, blending personal experiences with artistic collaboration to produce a family-oriented album that speaks to both children and parents. Through storytelling, heartfelt performances, and meaningful collaborations, the album stands as a testament to the power of music in fostering family bonds and nurturing young minds.

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Additional Notes:

• Advertisements and non-content segments occurring after timestamp [25:31] have been excluded from this summary to maintain focus on the episode's substantive discussions.

Transcript

[WNYC Studios]

Listener support WNYC Studios.

[Alison Stewart]

This is all of it. I'm Alison Stewart. Thanks for spending your day with us. Whether you're listening on the radio, live, streaming or on demand, I'm grateful you are here. Today's show features a lot of star power and passion projects. In this hour, we'll hear from musicians about two very different concept albums. First up, a children's album from John Legend. This year marks the 20th anniversary of John Legend's debut album, Get Lifted. Last month, he released a special anniversary edition of the album, but before that, he joined us to talk about his other 2024 release. A lot has changed for Legend in two decades. He's now an EGOT. He got married and is a dad. And his album titled My Favorite Dream reflects those changes by making an album for families. Let's listen to a track from the album called When We Fly.

[John Legend]

Have I ever told you my favorite dream? The I hope for every time I sleep Where I saw the skies over everything with my arms wide open with my arms as wings don't you want to float away now? Don't you want to feel the dream? Don't you want to go so high?

[Alison Stewart]

My Favorite Dream was produced by Sufjan Stevens. It also features guest vocals from members of John's family, his kids, Luna and Miles, and his wife, Chrissy Teigen. There are some great covers, and there are also bonus tracks of Legend covering some of those Fisher Price jingles that parents will have in their heads for the rest of their lives. My Favorite Dream has earned Legend a Grammy nomination for best children's music album, plus arrangement, instrumental and vocals. John Legend stopped by the studio to talk about it. Here's our conversation. So obviously, music was a big part of your life when you were a kid, when you grew up, played piano since you were tiny, when you weren't practicing. What music of your childhood influenced this record?

[Sufjan Stevens]

Well, it's interesting because we didn't listen to a lot of kids music when I was a kid because I grew up in a very musical home. But gospel music was the main music we listened to and we sang and played. My grandmother was the church organist. My grandfather was the pastor. My mother was the choir director. So I grew up listening to a lot of music, but it was a lot of gospel music.

[Alison Stewart]

When you were working on this album as a family album, it's a different process.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

What extent did the new process open up creativity for you?

[Sufjan Stevens]

Well, it's interesting because I've been writing for Broadway recently and that process in some ways kind of led me to this because I saw some musical threads and connections between writing for Broadway and writing for children and families. And then also with the Broadway stuff, this was the first time I was doing entire projects where I was writing all the music. And it kind of led me to want to write all the music for this album, too. And I had never done that for any of my previous albums, so get lifted. All the way through my entire career as an artist, I'd always co written, you know, most of my albums. And this was new for me, to just write all the things that were in my head. And the way I started was just brainstorming a lot of the messages that we like to give to our kids, to inspire them, to challenge them, to comfort them, to motivate them, and then figure out ways that I could translate that into song while sitting at the piano.

[Alison Stewart]

That's interesting. Through Broadway albums, was it the idea of telling a story through a song?

[Sufjan Stevens]

I think telling a story, but also having kind of a specific mission. Whereas, you know, when I'm making a normal album, you know, I haven't made, like, concept albums. I just kind of write what comes to me. And that freedom is great, but it also can lead you in so many different places that sometimes it's fun as a creative to have more of a specific mission for an album. And I had that with the Broadway stuff and then also with this album.

[Alison Stewart]

When you're trying to figure out that needle for parents. Because parents gotta listen to the music a lot.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

You know that as a parent, how many books did you have to read? How many movies did you have to watch?

[Sufjan Stevens]

And I want it to be, like, really entertaining and enjoyable for parents. And. And so that was part of my kind of standard I was setting for myself as I was making the records. I wanted to enjoy the records like I would enjoy any album from any of my favorite artists. And even though the messages may be more attuned to children's minds and what they're going through, I wanted the music to hold up. I wanted it to be of a standard that I could be really proud of. And that's part of why I reached out to Sufjan Stevens to produce it, because I. I knew he could thread the needle of making it fun and quirky and interesting and playful and whimsical and all those things, but also making it musically really beautiful and of a kind of high musical standard.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's listen to a track that I think reaches out to certain parents.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

We'll listen to When I Feel Sad Yes.

[John Legend]

When I feel sad I think of all that makes me glad I think of all the good times that we've had and I don't feel so bad Raindrops fall at a bit A bit of pattern Thunder rolls, let it roll, it don't matter Lightning striking But I know we'll be okay okay the sun will come, we'll. The skies were gray they were never meant to say no Remember what I always say? I say when I feel sad I think of all that makes me glad I think of all the good times that we've had and I don't feel so bad When I feel blue I think of what I love like you I think of how it's cool you love me too and I don't feel so sad I don't feel so bad.

[Alison Stewart]

Think of me that's John Legend. When I feel sad okay. I heard Little Raindrops Keep falling on my head.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

And I heard a little bit of Somewhere over the Rainbow.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Yes, yes, yes. And, you know, you hear Sufyan's voice in the background. If you know his music, you can recognize him singing some of the backing vocals, and you hear his production style all over the place. And every track, you can hear his personality as a musician in each track. So I really thought it was such a fun combination of my voice and songwriting with Sufian's ear for arranging and production, and I'm just so happy with how it turned out.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest is John Legend. His new family album is called My Favorite Dream. It's out now. Do you remember the first time you heard Sufian's songs or music that you really admired?

[Sufjan Stevens]

Yeah, I remember it very specifically because I was part of judging. I think it was called the Mercury Prize that they give to artists that are kind of indie and a little underground, and they want to kind of shine a light on them and. And they asked me to be part of the judging panel for it. And I think Illinois was the album. And it came out, I think, in 2004 or five, right around the same time my debut album came out. And this wasn't his debut, but it was one of his early albums, and I absolutely just loved him. I didn't know his music prior to judging that competition, but I remember thinking it was my favorite of the ones I was judging. And I just started becoming a fan and. And I feel like he's influenced me throughout my career, particularly when I made Once Again my second album. I felt like listening to his music was influential to how I wanted to make that album. And Then over the years, I've listened to him, and there have been kind of ebbs and flows of when I listened to him more. But I started listening to him again more recently. And then as I was writing the music for this album, I was like, I should see if Sufyan wants to produce it. And he was literally the only idea I had for someone to produce it. And I was just hopeful that he would say yes. And my manager knew his manager and knew him a little bit, and she was able to connect us. And, you know, we just had a call to. It was like speed dating to see if we were interested in making it happen. And I just told him I was a huge fan. And my vision for the music for this album was I wanted it to sound like he produced it.

[Alison Stewart]

What did he bring out for you as a performer? That's what a producer's job is.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Well, it's interesting because in this particular album, we didn't do it that way. I recorded the piano and vocal versions of the songs, and he built the arrangements around them.

[Alison Stewart]

Wow, that's kind of interesting.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Yeah. I recorded my parts in Los Angeles, then would send them off to the Catskills digitally, of course, and he would build these amazing soundscapes around them. So he never produced me as a vocalist, but he just built these beautiful soundscapes around what I had already recorded.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's listen to another track. This is We're A Family. What's the story behind this?

[Sufjan Stevens]

We're A Family was the first song I wrote for this album, and it's the opening song on the album. And it feels like a good kind of opening salvo, a good way of bringing people into the mood of the album and the themes of the album.

[Alison Stewart]

This is We're a Family.

[John Legend]

All your little worries gonna be all of your trouble's gonna melt away. Cause I've got you and you've got me and we're our family. Our little world will keep spinning round. I'll pick you up whenever you feel down. Yes, I love you and you love me and we're our family. Oh, we're gonna build a life together forever Love forever We'll grow and grow Our little family tree. And you will see that all your little wor Is going to be all right. Just close your eyes Go to sleep tonight. Cuz I've got you and you got me and we're our family Dream all.

[Alison Stewart]

The time that's an important message to people. We're a family. We heard the When I feel sad, I mean, you're touching on really big issues for little people.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

How can music be a helpful way to process the difficult. The I feel sad. The we are a family in this very crazy world that we live in.

[Sufjan Stevens]

You know, particularly with those themes. I feel like adults can use those messages sometimes, too. And, you know, I think a lot of times what our kids need is. Is to feel like they have some safety. And it allows them to be creative and take risks and try things knowing that they have, you know, a safety net. Yes, exactly. Scaffolding and a zone of comfort around them where they can feel protected. But it allows them to try things and be adventurous in the same way. So hopefully we're creating that for our kids. And I wanted the songs to evoke some of that spirit as well.

[Alison Stewart]

You got your family involved. Were they always gonna be involved?

[Sufjan Stevens]

You know, I was like, in an ideal world, I'll find a song where, you know, the kids and Chrissy can sing with me. And the perfect song for it was L O V E. And once I had recorded the rough demos of the songs, I told Sufian, I was like, I think I want Chrissy and the kids to sing on this one. And he was like, that would be amazing. And he would. He sent me voice notes of what he thought, you know, their part could be. And then we recorded it at my studio in la. And they did a great job. They sound really good on it.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's take a listen.

[John Legend]

L O V E Love it's easy to spell and if you know it for yourself and everybody else well, they can tell When L O V E love gets into your heart it sparkles like a star and everyone can see how bright you are because love, love, love makes you feel better Love, love, love keeps us together Love, love, love Warm like a sweater Aren't you glad to know that you've got love.

[Alison Stewart]

Love.

[John Legend]

Love love, love, love L O V E Love it's my favorite word it sings out like a bird the sweetest song I've heard Sweeter than dessert and L O V E love thing it's free for you and me so you give love and I'll give love and we all can give our love Love.

[Alison Stewart]

Love makes you feel better that's John Legend. His new family album is called My Favorite Dream. How's your experience as a parent with your kids? Day to day? The good part of day to day, the long part of day to day. How did it influence the songs that you wrote on the album?

[Sufjan Stevens]

Well, I really thought a lot about the things we talk to Our kids about all the time. I have a song called Always Come Back. And, you know, as someone who travels for work a lot, I'm away from them right now. I just left them last night to come here to New York. You know, there are times when I have to comfort them, saying, dad's gonna come back. Mom's gonna come back. And I wrote a song about it. And so it allowed me to really write music that was really directly connected to the things that we talked to them about.

[Alison Stewart]

When it comes to music and parenting, are there any specific lessons or routines that you've tried to instill in your children, the kind of lessons and routines you get through being a musician?

[Sufjan Stevens]

Well, first of all, they're learning to play music. So Luna and Miles are taking piano lessons. Luna's in a musical theater group at school. And so I think learning music at a young age is so powerful and beautiful for kids. It helps them express themselves. It helps them be part of a group that's doing something together as a team. Helps them go from kind of the beginning of learning something, practicing something, to perfecting it and being able to perform it on the stage. So all these kinds of skills and kind of character traits you want to develop in young people, I feel like music allows you to teach that teaches persistence and practice and honing your craft and getting good at something to the point where you're willing to do it in front of an audience. So all of that, I think, is so cool for kids to learn at a pretty young age. And it helps them if they want to be professionals, but also helps them if they want to be great at anything. Helps them develop the kind of work habits that will make them become great at things.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's talk about the covers and the COVID The COVID of the record is you, the toddler trying to smile.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

Where's the photo from?

[Sufjan Stevens]

It's from my aunt's house. My Aunt Patricia took the photo. She's my mother's younger sister, and she's like our archivist, our family photographer. And my grandfather, her father used to be that when he was alive, too. So she kind of took the. That mantle from my grandfather. But she would always, you know, take family photos. And whenever my career started to take off, sometimes I would be on a news show, and they would want archival footage of me.

[Alison Stewart]

Aunt Patricia.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Yes. So I would call Aunt Patricia. And this time I was two and a half years old, and I was visiting her house in Lansing, Michigan, from. From our home in Ohio. So we went up there to visit her, and she just took a picture of me hanging out with her and her family, and it just captured the right spirit and energy that I wanted the album to have. And I was like, this is the one.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's talk about covers on the album. You've got you Are My Sunshine, Three Little Birds. Why did you want to cover Bob Marley?

[Sufjan Stevens]

Oh, I just thought it would be so fun to have it on a kid's album. You know, my kids do a music class. They do a toddler's music class where they literally sing those kinds of songs. They don't do a lot of singing, but they, like, do a lot of dancing and playing percussive instruments, and their teacher sings with them, and it just introduces them to music and to movement. And Three Little Birds is the kind of song they like to play at these sessions with them. And I just thought it was the perfect energy for the album. And I figured I could do a fun cover of it, and Sufyan and I produced it together.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's hear Three Little Birds.

[John Legend]

Don't worry about a thing. Cause every little thing Is gonna be all right. Singing don't worry about the thing. Cause every little thing Is gonna be alright. Rise up this morning Smile with the rising sun Three little birds Pitch by my doorstep Singing sweet songs Melodies pure and true Saying this is my message to you. Singing don't worry about the thing.

[Alison Stewart]

That's John Legend. His new album is called My Favorite Dream. There's also lullabies on the album. Go to sleep. What is an example of when your kids would not go to sleep?

[Sufjan Stevens]

There's always examples. The older ones, you know, they're like, their mind is still racing sometimes, and they're excited about something or they just had quite a day. And sometimes it's hard for them to, like, calm down and go to sleep. So I usually tell them, read something. Reading always helps me fall asleep. And so I'll be like, go back to your room. Read something, and then just close your eyes and you'll fall asleep.

[Alison Stewart]

Now, all the parents out there know the songs from the Fisher Price toys.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

And you've got three bonus tracks on this album covering some Fisher Price songs.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Absolutely. And the whole project started with the maybe Purple Monkey song, because Chrissy was like, you know, esti loves this song. John, why don't you learn it?

[Alison Stewart]

Love that my wife can say, like, hey, why don't you learn that?

[Sufjan Stevens]

Why don't you learn this song? So I sat at the piano, learned the chords, and sang it to Esti, and then Chrissy posted a version of me doing that on her Instagram. And then I posted it after her. And it just got so much response from people. People saying, john, please do of this. And then Fisher Price reached out to us and was like, let's collaborate on something. And their idea was just, can you cover a few more of our songs and we'll, you know, do a collaboration partnership together. But I was like, I just want to make a whole new album. Let's just do it an album. And so as a songwriter, I took it on as a challenge, like, can I write brand new children's songs that will become classics or standards? And so that's what I was trying to aim for with the new songs, but it was all started by covering a classic Fisher Price song.

[Alison Stewart]

Well, let's listen to maybe Purple monkey song.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Yeah.

[John Legend]

Yeah. Maybe you could be a purple monkey in a bubble gum tree you could swing the breeze Then you could swing back to me. Maybe you could be a little bird with polka dot wings and you could fly to the sea Then you could fly back to me over the ocean above the clouds you would float across.

[Sufjan Stevens]

The sky.

[John Legend]

Back through the forest you would sing out then fly back home. Maybe you could be a purple monkey in the bubblegum tree.

[Alison Stewart]

John Legend, before I let you go, one of the reasons you had to be away is you were performing at the D and C. Yes. How would you describe that in three words?

[Sufjan Stevens]

Oh, it was thrilling, exciting, energizing.

[Alison Stewart]

And why was that important for you to do?

[Sufjan Stevens]

Well, I'm really supportive of Kamala Harris running for president. I love the ticket between her and Governor Walz. I think they'll make great leaders for the country. And I'm so energized by her being handed the mantle from President Biden. I feel like she's ready for it and ready to lead the country into the future. And I was excited to do whatever I could to support and help make that happen.

[Alison Stewart]

The name of the album is called My favorite Dream. It is by John Legend. Thanks for coming to the studio.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Thank you, Alison. So nice to hang out with you.

[Alison Stewart]

And let's start with. Let's finish with Always come back to you, Luna's favorite.

[John Legend]

I may go to all those unfamiliar places Stranger towns with stranger faces way out there it's okay, my dear I may ride the planes and trains and distant highways I know I'll be finding my way home Though I'm gone just know it's not for long.

[Alison Stewart]

Up next, Lin Manuel Miranda and Issa Davis talk about their concept album Inspired by the 1979 action thriller the Warrior.

[Sufjan Stevens]

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[John Legend]

Oh, I love these new Nikes.

[Alison Stewart]

I always score at rac.

[Sufjan Stevens]

Stock up on new gear from the best brands in the game, starting at just $40. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack.

[WNYC Studios]

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