Sounds so soulful, don't you agree?

In 2010, American Express launched “UNSTAGED: An Original Series from American Express” in partnership with VEVO and YouTube with the aim to bring concert and home entertainment experiences to new heights.

UNSTAGED features some of the most respected artists of the music industry playing at legendary venues across the United States, employs iconic figures of the film industry to direct the live streams and uses digital and social media such as twitter and YouTube to connect the audience to the live shows in order to create an unforgettable concert experience. Users are able to control and influence their viewing experience by sending in song requests or choosing between the director’s cam and alternative cameras from the backstage or the audience’s point of view.

In September, the 4 time Grammy Award winning hip hop and soul band The Roots and 9 time Grammy Award recipient singer-songwriter John Legend started off the UNSTAGED experience by taking the stage in Hell’s Kitchen’s infamous music venue, the Terminal 5 and giving a special one-off live-streamed performance directed by none other than the legendary Spike Lee.

The show was put on the same week when The Roots’ and Legend’s joint collaboration R&B/soul record, Wake Up! was released. Heavily inspired by the US presidential election of 2008, John Legend, one of the classiest male singers of our time and future Hall of Fame The Roots revive the politically engaged soul music of the 1960s and 70s. Mind you, this record is not just a simple imitation, it attempts to capture the spirit of change and raise awareness to social issues which are still relevant as of today. Timeless soul, suave, raw raps, stomping bass and drums. Magnificent.

In addition to the excerpts from Wake Up!, songs from John Legend’s own work and The Roots’ previous record entitled How I Got Over were played as well. Astonishingly, of course.

I am probably not as much of a concert-buff as most of you are, but this was one of the greatest music experiences of my life. Without a doubt, The Roots and Mr. Legend put on a hell of a show.

The whole performance was available on YouTube for quite a long time, but it has been deleted or made private for no logical reason. Fortunately, the clips are still there so I created a PLAYLIST for you guys. It is definitely worth watching.

Perhaps, you wonder why I am writing about a concert from 2 years ago on a Monday night. I have a legitimate explanation. Right now, my man Shawn Corey Carter better known as Jay-Z a.k.a. Jigga, a.k.a. The Greates of All Time, a.k.a. Young Hov is about to go on stage at SXSW, in Austin, TX and put on a show which will be aired live on YouTube in the very same format. I had this idea that while I am waiting for Hov, I’m going to write this post about this UNSTAGED concert presented in the very same format. Meanwhile I'm listening to Wake Up! and some Jay-Z tunes of course.

P.S.: Unfortunately, the show is streamed in the US only. Middle finger up. Too bad I asked him to perform Can't Knock the Hustle via twitter. Viewers can decide which songs shall be performed. Alright, NY Knicks @ Chicago Bulls then.

P.S.: My beloved Knicks lost. Two middle fingers up.