If you need something to keep you warm this December, look no further than John Legend's new album Darkness and Light . Now available on Spotify, Legend's fifth studio album is a soulful triumph, like a cup of steaming hot cocoa for your soul it is at once rich, warm, and soothing — a musical promise that everything is going to be alright. Debuting at the tail end of a year that was stressful to say the least, Darkness and Light will carry you through the final days of 2016 and straight through 2017 as well. The album is full of anthems to love, understanding, and even one for his daughter (the touching "Right By You"), but there is one Darkness and Light song in particular every female Legend fan should listen to first.
Before you dive into the album as a whole, start with the uplifting "Surefire," a musical promise everything will be OK as long as you stand by the one you love. "The world is a nightmare/Wake up and stay here/Let me be on your side," Legend croons as your heart begins to melt into a puddle in your chest.
Whether you have a significant other or not, there is no other song quite so comforting or essential on the album. With an election cycle that was determined it was going to beat women down, it is all too easy to stop fighting for the things you hold dear. "Surefire" is a reminder that, no matter how crazy the world beyond your front door is, you don't have to face anything alone. Find the person you love, hold onto them, regroup, and then go out into the world to make it a better place knowing you have a safe place to land.
"No I won't let the blue fame die/We can't let hope die," Legend sings in a lyric designed to at once inspire and soothe your frazzled nerves. There is no shame in needing a reminder everything is not completely terrible. Let "Surefire" build you up with its soft, but firm reminder there is still more beauty and love in the world than there is hate. Close your eyes and pretend Legend is singing directly to you if it helps.
You deserve to feel empowered and surrounded by love. "Surefire" is the musical equivalent of that feeling. Put it on repeat, and, by the end of the day, you will be ready to conquer life, and be even more in love with Legend's stunning vocals than you were before. This is a win-win scenario, ladies. You get a sexy pep talk, and a new Legend album to enjoy. See? Things are looking up already.
