John Legend brings ‘ the power of music’ to the quest for freedom in ‘ Underground’
In 1850s Georgia, an escaped slave, the fear of capture in his eyes, hides from pursuing bounty hunters. The intensity in the opening scene of
Underground is amplified by Kanye West’s searing Black Skinhead, a jolt that veers from the expected 19th- century music, conveying the breathlessness of a man caught between freedom and servitude.
“It was written into the script to set the tone. We reached out to Kanye and said, ‘ We really want this song as part of the show,’ ” says executive producer John Legend, who produced the main theme for WGN America’s drama about the Underground Railroad that premieres Wednesday.
Series creators Misha Green and Joe Pokaski “wanted to establish a tone that we weren’t afraid to make this feel vibrant and fresh and not simply another period piece. And part of the way we did it was through the music,” Legend says.
Underground tells the story of men and women from a Georgia plantation, including blacksmith Noah ( Aldis Hodge) and house servant Rosalee ( Jurnee SmollettBell), who risk everything to travel hundreds of miles north in a heroic and dangerous search for freedom. They are aided by a white Ohio abolitionist couple ( Jessica De Gouw, Marc Blucas). The cast also featuresMykelti Williamson, Adina Porter, Alano Miller, Amirah Vann, Reed Diamond and Christopher Meloni. And SmollettBell’s brother, Empire’s Jussie Smollett, guest- stars.
Mike Jackson, Legend’s producing partner, says they were attracted to a story that has “never been told. We like to tell stories that resonate and, if appropriate, educate without feeling like a history lesson.”
Underground mixes an original score, including theme song Heaven’s Door, performed by Alice Smith, and songs licensed from contemporary artists.
“Music is part of the emotion. We were trying to help tell the story with the power of the music,” says Legend, who won an Oscar ( with Common) last year for Glory, an original song in 2014’ s Selma. “I’ve written a lot of songs for soundtracks and scores, and it’s always fun to see it connect. When it comes together beautifully, it’s such a powerful moment.”
In Underground, which also features spirituals and folk songs, the music becomes part of the story as lyrics convey a map to freedom.
“You see how important songs were, even as coded language, to help guide people on the route to the North. That’s explicitly what Heaven’s Door is about: trying to figure out how to get to the promised land,” Legend says.
The singer/ songwriter sees a connection from Underground’s 1850s to the 1960s of Selma to today.
“All of it has to do with America’s history with race, and with the enslavement and eventual liberation of black people and then the legacy that that stain of slavery and racism carried into the future,” Legend says. “You can’t understand what happens now when you look at people talking about Black Lives Matter ( or) protesting in the streets ( without) context. It’s important to understand history so you can think about what’s happening now and try to not repeat the bad parts of our history.” UNDERGROUND WGN, WEDNESDAY, 10 P. M. ET/ PT