Slow Dance

Album: Once Again (2006)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about a guy who just wants to stop thinking about the problems that he and his girl are having and the problems with this world that we live in, and to turn off the TV and just slow dance. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Nikki - Chicago, IL
  • Some Jimi Hendrix guitar licks show up on this track via a sample of the 1966 song "(My Girl) She's a Fox," which Hendrix recorded as a session player with a group called The Icemen. That song, written by Richard and Robert Poindexter (composers of the soul classic "Thin Line Between Love & Hate"), was also sampled by Amy Winehouse on her 2006 track "He Can Only Hold Her."
  • Legend gets a retro vibe going in this song, where he asks his girl to turn off the TV and listen to some "old school radio" for their slow dance. He keeps the argot old-school as well, referring to his girl as his "old lady."
  • Legend wrote and produced "Slow Dance" with will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas. They were collaborating a lot around this time; will.i.am contributed to Legend's first two albums, Get Lifted in 2004 and Once Again in 2006 (which includes "Slow Dance"). Legend worked on some tracks from will's 2003 album Must B 21, as well as the song "The Boogie That Be" from Black Eyed Peas Elephunk album.

Comments: 5

  • Goddyss from Detroit, MiSong uses the same samples that Amy Winehouse uses for " He Can Only Hold Her"
  • Nikki from Chicago, IlYeah Lori, I was there, that was at Madison Square Garden, I was cheering you on when you took his shirt off (lol). I met you in Philly a few months later at the Kings & Queens Bash, do you remember? Back to this song, this is the single of John Legend's "Live From Philadelphia" that was release exclusively at Target stores on January 15, 2008.
  • Sheila from Macon, GaLove It! Saw him on Ellen performing this song!
  • Lori from Brooklyn, NyYup, Nikki is right! I was the first one on stage in New York! It's well worth it!
  • Nikki from Chicago, IlWhen John Legend performs this song in concert, he picks a girl from the audience,pulls her on stage with him and they slow dance. It's a great highlight during his shows.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Dave Mason

Dave MasonSongwriter Interviews

Dave reveals the inspiration for "Feelin' Alright" and explains how the first song he ever wrote became the biggest hit for his band Traffic.

Peter Lord

Peter LordSongwriter Interviews

You may not recognize his name, but you will certainly recognize Peter Lord's songs. He wrote the bevy of hits from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.