Why I Loved D'Angelo
While I share a lot in common with artists who sing and play piano, the common thread between me and D’Angelo—and the reason I loved him so much—was Prince.
Alternative rock wasn’t the only thing I was vibing with in the ’90s. There was a whole R&B, Hip-Hop, and Neo-Soul movement happening too. Blackstreet, Aaliyah, Dr. Dre & Snoop, Mary J. Blige, and D’Angelo were all in heavy rotation in our CD player.
In my brother Naje’s room, the air was thick with A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, and The Pharcyde—blended with The Smashing Pumpkins and Stone Temple Pilots.
When Brown Sugar dropped, it was one of those rare albums you could just let ride from start to finish. I think what made me fall for it was how it blended hip-hop-ish beats, deep bass lines, jazzy chords, and vocals that just worked. That title track comes in hot. And that bass riff? Um. Yes.
But my favorite song on the album? Lady. That guitar is groovy, bassline is funky as hell, the piano is the anchor, the background vocals are everything, and there’s this vocal line that slides in the middle of the second chorus—I love singing along with it. I still remember my Uncle Renny getting up to dance right after the bridge during that bassline breakdown. Aw yeahhhh. That song is laid-back, funky, sexy, silky, groovy—it’s got all the things. I could listen to it on loop forever.
Back then, I didn’t even know D’Angelo played piano... or guitar... or drums... or, you know, a whole bunch of instruments. I found out later he was a full-on multi-instrumentalist, which made perfect sense. If you revere Prince, picking up multiple instruments just feels like part of the path. (Note to self: dust off that saxophone one of these days and get steppin’.)
I can’t believe I’m about to admit this, but I don’t think I’ve listened to Voodoo all the way through. Not because I didn’t want to—I just haven’t sat with it in the way it deserves. When a song like Untitled (How Does It Feel) exists, it’s hard not to just play that on repeat. It reminds me so much of Prince—it’s ridiculous. Like if Insatiable and Do Me, Baby had a baby.
My favorite D’Angelo song (subject to change... because once I do finally dive into Voodoo, that might shift) is The Charade. I first heard it during his SNL performance—and I was blown away. There were so many messages packed into that one moment:
First: The music—it felt like Dirty Mind went out with When You Were Mine and then casually dated Raspberry Beret on the weekends.
Second: The “Black Lives Matter” and “I Can’t Breathe” t-shirts and that chalk outline of a body? Sent chills.
Third: D’Angelo on guitar. Standing. Not behind the piano. Standing in his power. I was in awe.
Fourth: The choreography. On point. My mom always says even the smallest choreographed movement from a band or singers can elevate an entire show. She’s right. It also reminded me of the Raspberry Beret video where everyone dips low during the chorus—little details like that matter.
Fifth: D’Angelo himself. He wasn’t the chiseled, shirtless Voodoo image anymore. He was more. I saw a rock star. I saw an advocate. I saw an artist who stripped away the superficial and let his genius speak for itself. We are—and always will be—more than our bodies.
D’Angelo was like the Prince with cornrows you listen to while sipping a 40 (if you drink) and passing a blunt (if you smoke). He’s that dude who strolls into a jazz club in ripped jeans and a tank top, looking like he ain’t got two nickels to rub together—then sits down and completely destroys the keys with raw, unapologetic talent. We need artists like that. The ones who aren't about fame, but about the music. The art.
When D’Angelo was asked what album he’d take to a deserted island, he said Parade by Prince. I love that album too (Favorite song: Anotherloverholenyohead) . Wish I could’ve met him one day and nerded out over it.
One of my faves from Black Messiah is Another Life. It feels like jazz and the Isley Brothers got together and hung out with a sprinkle of The Roots (shout out Questlove) on a Tuesday. The chord progressions are so cool, and the lyrics? I love them.
Michael Eugene Archer aka D’Angelo—a gift. Truly.