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

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Mike Scott of The Waterboys

Mike Scott of The WaterboysSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation."

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.