D’Angelo made his long-anticipated return to the stage tonight (July 1) at the BET Awards, performing a medly of his trademark bedroom anthem ‘How Does It Feel’ and ‘Sugar Daddy,’ one of 30 — yes, 30! — new tracks he’s written for an upcoming new album.

D’Angelo, sporting a bandana over his fro, was almost unrecognizable from his ‘How Does It Feel’ days, but that may be in part because he spent the performance fully clothed. His look was almost identical to his Bonnaroo style. His falsetto was complemented by little other than the minimal arrangement and understated background singers, letting his introductory ‘How Does It Feel’ take center stage.

After the first chorus, the lights onstage went up and D’Angelo took his spot at a piano, playing a jazzy rendition of ‘Sugar Daddy’ with a full band. Common, Beyonce, Solange, Nicki Minaj and even Victoria’s Secret model Selita Ebanks were spotted clapping, cheering and dancing to the track.

The most interesting part of the performance? No one seemed to know when it ended. D’Angelo and his band continued with soulful ad libs and riffs whenever anyone began to applaud them. But based on the soul, sexiness and talent that oozed out of his performance, he earned every applause break he got.

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