60 Songs That Explain the '90s

D’Angelo—“Untitled (How Does It Feel)”

February 25, 2026

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  • The 'funeral performance' or in-memoriam tribute by enduring pop stars is identified as one of the hardest and most psychologically fraught parts of a pop star's job, exemplified by performances for Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Aretha Franklin. 
  • D'Angelo's career, particularly the album *Voodoo* and the song "Untitled (How Does It Feel)", is deeply rooted in studying and paying homage to 'Yoda figures' like Prince, James Brown, and Marvin Gaye, often through the meticulous collection of 'treats' (archival footage). 
  • The highly sexualized music video for "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" is cited as having a paralyzing negative impact on D'Angelo's career, leading him to become defined by his absence and vulnerability due to the public expectation that he would always embody that image. 
  • D'Angelo's album *Voodoo* is lauded for its imperfect, humanistic approach to musical homage, characterized by intentional backphrasing and a sense of being 'eternally in this pocket' that defied contemporary radio BPMs. 
  • The intense public reaction to the 'Untitled (How Does It Feel)' music video led to a massive misreading of the song's commentary on patience and desire, potentially contributing to D'Angelo's subsequent withdrawal from the public eye. 
  • The scarcity of D'Angelo's output (only three albums over two decades) amplifies the perceived triumph and weight of each release, particularly the monumental effort required to follow up *Voodoo* with *Black Messiah*. 

Segments

Rock Critic’s Perverse Funeral Live Blog
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(00:00:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Live-blogging Michael Jackson’s funeral was a debasing activity that highlighted the massive scale of modern celebrity death.
  • Summary: The host recounts being a rock critic in the late 2000s, specifically live-blogging Michael Jackson’s funeral in 2009, calling the activity perverse. He notes the massive global viewership of the event.
Stevie Wonder’s Grief Performance
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(00:01:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Stevie Wonder’s performance at the funeral provided permission for collective grief, especially when he stretched the word ‘stay’ in a tribute to Michael Jackson.
  • Summary: The host details Stevie Wonder’s emotional performance at Jackson’s funeral, noting how Wonder’s controlled grief allowed others to break down. He also mentions Wonder’s later breakdown while singing Jackson’s ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ in 2009.
The Burden of Tribute Performances
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(01:00:49)
  • Key Takeaway: The hardest part of being an enduring pop star is often the required funeral or in-memoriam performance for a peer.
  • Summary: The host discusses the immense pressure on artists like Jennifer Hudson (singing for Whitney Houston) and Stevie Wonder to perform tributes during moments of intense public mourning.
Jennifer Hudson’s Whitney Houston Tribute
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(01:11:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Jennifer Hudson’s performance of ‘I Will Always Love You’ immediately after Whitney Houston’s death was a moment of ’total helplessness and total command.’
  • Summary: Analysis of Jennifer Hudson singing ‘I Will Always Love You’ at the 2012 Grammys, noting her visibly stricken face while executing the difficult vocal performance.
Aretha Franklin Tribute Panic
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(01:14:40)
  • Key Takeaway: The 2011 Grammys Aretha Franklin tribute medley was characterized by palpable panic among the five participating divas.
  • Summary: The host describes the chaotic 2011 Grammys tribute to Aretha Franklin, noting the sense of panic that a single artist couldn’t suffice for her legacy. He contrasts this with Franklin’s actual 2018 funeral.
D’Angelo Eulogizes Prince
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(01:00:01)
  • Key Takeaway: D’Angelo’s 2016 performance of Prince’s ‘Sometimes It Snows in April’ was a heroic re-emergence to help process collective grief.
  • Summary: The host discusses Prince’s death in April 2016 and D’Angelo’s subsequent performance of ‘Sometimes It Snows in April’ on Jimmy Fallon, noting the heavy emotional weight of the moment and the vulnerability of the performers.
D’Angelo’s Absence and Presence
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(01:02:38)
  • Key Takeaway: D’Angelo’s career is defined as much by his long absences between albums as by his actual output.
  • Summary: The host details D’Angelo’s long gaps between albums (5 years, then 14 years) and how his reappearance is treated as a major event, exemplified by his Prince tribute.
Voodoo’s Yodas and Treats
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(01:02:56)
  • Key Takeaway: The Voodoo album was built on an explicit study of musical mentors (‘Yodas’) like Prince, using archival footage (’treats’) to inform their sound.
  • Summary: Discussion of the ‘Yodas and Treats’ concept, where D’Angelo and Questlove studied figures like James Brown and Prince. Questlove noted Voodoo was an ‘audition tape for Prince.’
Brown Sugar’s Timeless Vibe
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(01:03:58)
  • Key Takeaway: The Brown Sugar album is a cohesive, sumptuous vibe where individual songs melt into one another, showcasing D’Angelo’s mastery of 70s sounds in a 90s context.
  • Summary: Analysis of the debut album Brown Sugar, noting its subtle details, the ‘Foxy Lady as Weed’ canon, and D’Angelo’s rejection of the ‘Neo-Soul’ label in favor of ‘black music.’
The Untitled Video’s Impact
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(01:04:06)
  • Key Takeaway: The highly sexualized ‘Untitled (How Does It Feel)’ video overshadowed the song’s musical quality and created a paralyzing expectation for D’Angelo’s future performances.
  • Summary: Detailed look at the video for ‘Untitled (How Does It Feel),’ noting the audience reaction and how the focus on D’Angelo’s physique led to vulnerability and career paralysis.
Hanif Abdurrakib on First Contact
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(01:14:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Hanif Abdurrakib first experienced D’Angelo’s command through the single ‘Lady’ at a 1995 block party, seeing its romantic command over the crowd.
  • Summary: Guest Hanif Abdurrakib discusses his initial experience hearing D’Angelo’s music as a 12-year-old, focusing on the impact of the song ‘Lady’ at a city block party.
Voodoo’s Musical Pocket
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(01:21:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The album’s beauty lies in its loose, behind-the-beat backphrasing, paying homage to funk/soul legends.
  • Summary: Discussion of the musical elements in D’Angelo’s work, specifically the bass line being behind the beat, creating a loose pocket reminiscent of James Brown, Sly Stone, and Prince.
Voodoo’s Imperfect Homage
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(01:22:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Voodoo is D’Angelo’s best record because its imperfections in pursuing homage feel human and authentic.
  • Summary: The speaker praises Voodoo for being imperfect while honoring influences, noting the humanness in Questlove’s drumming and the musicians’ efforts to build sounds rather than just sample.
Voodoo’s Length and Pace
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(01:23:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The long track lengths and slow BPMs gave Voodoo a unique, meditative atmosphere compared to radio hits.
  • Summary: The speaker highlights the long song lengths and low BPMs of Voodoo, describing the album’s feel as watching smoke rise from a candle.
Voodoo’s College Popularity
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(01:24:48)
  • Key Takeaway: While ignored in high school, Voodoo became essential listening in college for setting a specific mood.
  • Summary: The speaker recalls initially ignoring Voodoo at 16 for faster music but finding it constantly played in college dorm rooms when trying to ’entice a certain kind of audience.'
Sense of Place on Voodoo
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(01:25:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Voodoo offers an unparalleled sense of being present in the studio with the musicians.
  • Summary: Analysis of the immersive quality of Voodoo, including studio chatter and the feeling of having spent years in Electric Lady Studios with the band.
D’Angelo’s Trusting Leadership
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(01:26:24)
  • Key Takeaway: D’Angelo led Voodoo through trust and collaboration, similar to Brian Wilson on Pet Sounds, rather than dictatorship.
  • Summary: Comparing D’Angelo’s band leadership to James Brown’s control, the speaker suggests D’Angelo articulated a vision and trusted musicians to execute it, resulting in an album of ‘incredible trust.’
Scarcity and Cherished Albums
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(01:27:09)
  • Key Takeaway: D’Angelo’s scarcity forces listeners to cherish his limited output, making each release a major event.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss how D’Angelo’s infrequent releases affect how his albums are perceived, noting the difficulty of following up a masterpiece like Voodoo with Black Messiah.
The Untitled Video Aftermath
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(01:31:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The ‘Untitled (How Does It Feel)’ video’s impact is complex; it shouldn’t be solely blamed for D’Angelo’s subsequent struggles.
  • Summary: Debate over whether the video ruined D’Angelo’s career, with the guest cautioning against conflating it with his documented personal turmoil and losses.
Video: Patience vs. Urgency
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(01:33:34)
  • Key Takeaway: The video was intended as commentary on the patience of desire, but was culturally misread as simple sexuality.
  • Summary: The guest analyzes the video as a commentary on the intersection of the sacred and secular, focusing on waiting for desire, contrasting this with the ‘read and react’ visual culture.
Live Performance vs. Video
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(01:35:43)
  • Key Takeaway: D’Angelo’s 2015 live rendition of ‘Untitled,’ where the band leaves the stage, was a better manifestation of the song’s core theme.
  • Summary: The speaker describes seeing D’Angelo perform ‘Untitled’ live in 2015, where the gradual removal of musicians until only he remained on piano, was deeply moving.
Fucking With Time
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(01:39:18)
  • Key Takeaway: D’Angelo’s musical manipulation of time reflects a mind operating far ahead of the listener, which can be a lonely place.
  • Summary: The guest praises D’Angelo for frequently ‘fucking with time’ in his music, suggesting this advanced musical placement is a byproduct of being brilliant and operating on his own timeline.
Black Messiah’s Unsettling Triumph
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(01:42:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Black Messiah masterfully balances spiritual rebirth with the harsh, unsettling reality of the world in 2014.
  • Summary: The speaker compares Black Messiah to Sly and the Family Stone’s ‘There’s a Riot Goin’ On,’ noting its unsettling quality as D’Angelo achieves spiritual awareness while confronting a terrible world.
Tributes and Shared Burden
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(01:44:01)
  • Key Takeaway: In-memoriam performances by artists like D’Angelo (for Prince) and Lauryn Hill (for D’Angelo) demonstrate a shared language of grief and survival.
  • Summary: The power of immediate tribute performances is discussed, focusing on D’Angelo’s Prince cover and Lauryn Hill’s tribute, noting they navigated similar unreal public expectations.
Gratitude for Intersection of Time
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(01:49:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Celebrating birthdays is a profound act of gratitude for being born in a timeline that allowed intersection with beloved artists.
  • Summary: The guest explains that honoring birthdays, even for deceased artists, is a way to acknowledge the ‘miracle’ of being born in an era that allowed access to their music.