Writing with John Legend — Talking to the Sky

In 2013, My husband, Chris and I got set up to write with John Legend. I definitely knew his name but didn't really know any of his music. It was late summer and he came over to #AimeelandStudio to do a night write. One of his background singers was also writing with us.

We sat down at our round table, trying to decide what to work on.

John was engaged and completely love-drunk talking about his fiance @chrissyteigen

He had written a new song for her and we asked him to play it.

We crammed in the tiny grand piano room and John sat down. What happened next was of the most potent music moments I've ever witnessed (the other was Chris Martin on acoustic at Capitol Studios.)

John started singing a new song he had written that wasn't out yet...

"What would I do without your smart mouth
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
What's going on ... "

Chris and I exchanged holy sh!t looks -- it way late both of us. "It was otherworldly. Then John hit the chorus and I wanted to jump up and down. I was standing so close to him I could have thumped him in the head, so that made the whole thing even more unreal. The power and vulnerability of his voice felt like fireworks shooting through my heart.

So that was the first time I heard @JohnLegend sing and the first time I heard "All of Me."

When we went back into the main room and sat down-

I felt like a rocket ready to blast off -I was so excited.

Then John said, "Let's write something for Taylor Swift."

The next thing I know somebodies playing guitar and the girl that came with John was singing. She was great, but he had just blown my mind. And he was sitting a foot away from the upright piano.

I kicked Chris under the table - and mouthed, "do something!"

Chris said, "Taylor don't really cut outside songs."

That was true. I don't know if she has ever cut an outside song. But I'm sure John's thinking, did you not see what I just did on the piano.

I knew we could write something magic if I could find a way to get him on the microphone. Most of my biggest songs have been love songs. It felt like getting a chance to write with the Beatles and Ringo taking charge.

We had fun and he was so sweet to our three-year-old daughter Lola. She came out to say goodnight and sat in his lap, laughing.

We wrote a song called "Listen" that no one ever heard.

#Talkingtothesky #memoir #AimeeMayomemoir #songwritermemoir

#JohnLegend #ChrissyTeigan #AllofMe #songwriter