These performances will blow you away! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most unique and unforgettable music performances delivered by artists at the desk of former NPR’s “All Songs Considered” host Bob Boilen.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most unique and unforgettable
00:09music performances delivered by artists at the desk of former NPR's All Songs Considered
00:15host Bob Boylan.
00:2020.
00:24Paramore Condensing an entire album into a nearly 13
00:28minute set can be an arduous task, but Paramore executes it to perfection in their Tiny Desk
00:35performance.
00:39Fresh off the release of their 2017 album After Laughter, the Grammy-winning rock band
00:45treated the NPR audience to three of its standout songs.
00:48The set begins with the 80s New Wave-inspired track Hard Times, before veering into sad
00:54territory with the string-laden ballad 26.
01:03The third and final song, Fake Happy, is given a shimmery, almost tropical treatment that's
01:09only elevated by frontwoman Hayley Williams' impressive vocals.
01:13The intimate setting in Tiny Desk may contrast Paramore's typically high-energy stage presence,
01:19but the band still feels right at home throughout.
01:2619.
01:29Sam Smith If condensing an entire album for Tiny Desk
01:33is challenging, we can only imagine the feat of compressing an entire career.
01:43With their September 2023 appearance, Sam Smith delivered a breathtaking distillation
01:49of their remarkable journey, emphasis on breathtaking.
01:54Not only is it an astonishing experience, but you could potentially hurt yourself if
01:58you tried hitting some of the high notes here.
02:03Backed by an 11-person choir that definitely sounds way grander and two spectacular instrumentalists,
02:10Smith leaves it all on the desk with renditions of beloved hits like Stay With Me and How
02:16Do You Sleep.
02:17Although Kim Petras wasn't available to perform on Unholy, we got a surprising and
02:22magnificent duet on Lay Me Down with singer LaDonna Harley-Peters.
02:2618.
02:27Leon Bridges It doesn't matter what year you watch this
02:39performance.
02:41You'll always feel as though you've been whisked away to the 1960s.
02:50That's how powerful Leon Bridges' vocals are.
02:53At the time of his 2015 appearance on Tiny Desk, Bridges was only 26, but his rich, soulful
03:00voice sounds like it's been aged in an earthenware jar for decades.
03:09He showcased his timeless talent with songs like Coming Home, Smooth Sailing, Twisted
03:14and Groovin' and River, infusing R&B sounds of the past with a modern touch.
03:20Beyond just the music, Bridges adds authenticity to his classic image by dressing up in vintage
03:27attire.
03:28All of this effortlessly transports listeners to another era, creating a truly unforgettable
03:33experience that lingers well after the music stops.
03:4117.
03:45No Name Chicago rapper No Name has garnered acclaim
03:49for her unique blend of rap, R&B and poetry.
03:58This made the intimate setting of Tiny Desk the perfect location to showcase her masterful
04:04lyricism.
04:05Drawing from her debut mixtape, Telephone, No Name radiated unparalleled joy and captivated
04:10the NPR audience with poignant verses from songs like Diddy Bop and Yesterday.
04:22But perhaps the most impressive section came midway into the set, with a glorious medley
04:27of the tracks Reality Check, Casket Pretty and Bye Bye Baby.
04:32Six years later, No Name returned to Tiny Desk for an equally impressive rendition of
04:36songs from her 2023 album, Sundial.
04:39Her return proved that her remarkable talent, which shone brightly back in 2017, remains
04:46unrivaled to this day.
04:5116.
04:54Leigh-Anne Lehavis The best musicians can strip away everything
04:58and still enchant listeners solely with the raw power of their voice.
05:10Leigh-Anne Lehavis does this brilliantly at Tiny Desk.
05:14The British singer-songwriter had recently released her 2015 sophomore album, Blood,
05:19and she graced NPR with renditions of What You Don't Do, Unstoppable and Forget.
05:29What truly made this performance unforgettable was Leigh-Anne Lehavis' ability to blend
05:34elements of soul, R&B and jazz, creating a sound that felt both timeless and contemporary.
05:41Remarkably, she achieved this with just her voice, accompanied by a lone backup singer
05:46and a pianist.
05:48They say you don't get a second chance to make a first impression, Leigh-Anne Lehavis
05:52definitely didn't need one.
05:5815.
06:01Usher In June 2022, NPR's Tiny Desk celebrated
06:06Black Music Month by featuring performances from artists such as FKA Twigs, Denzel Curry
06:12and Monica.
06:13They couldn't have picked a better musician to conclude the month-long celebration than
06:17R&B icon, Usher.
06:24Accompanied by his band, who, like him, were all dressed in black, Usher chronicled his
06:29long game-changing career with a medley of some of his well-known hits.
06:34Listeners were treated to stripped-down renditions of classics like You Make Me Wanna, Nice and
06:39Slow, and Confessions Part II, with flawless vocals that effortlessly transitioned between
06:45smooth melodies and powerful runs.
06:54It was a masterclass in performance, reminding the world exactly why Usher is called the
06:59king of R&B.
07:0614.
07:10Tank and the Bangas Since 2015, NPR has hosted an annual contest
07:15where musicians submit one of their songs for a chance to play a Tiny Desk concert.
07:20In 2017, a little-known band called Tank and the Bangas triumphed over 6,000 other entrants
07:27to emerge victorious.
07:34From their eventual Tiny Desk performance, it's easy to see why.
07:38The New Orleans-based group showcased their eclectic blend of funk, soul, hip-hop and
07:42spoken word, and it's unlike anything you've ever seen or heard.
07:54Lead vocalist Tarionah Tank Ball completely commands attention, delivering a meticulously
07:59rehearsed set yet still allowing for some playful improvisation.
08:03It was a breathtaking introduction that propelled them to the spotlight and culminated in a
08:08Grammy nomination for Best New Artist just two years later.
08:1613.
08:18Taylor Swift From emerging bands to chart-topping icons,
08:22NPR's Tiny Desk has proven to be the melting pot of music.
08:30In 2019, pop juggernaut Taylor Swift, known for her usual stadium spectacles, showcased
08:36a more intimate side of her music persona at Bob Boylan's desk.
08:47Armed with just a guitar and a piano, the instruments on which the songs were built
08:52from scratch, Swift performed acoustic renditions of some offerings from her album Lover and
08:57the fan favorite, All Too Well.
09:00With each track, she gave personal insights about how they were crafted, inviting the
09:04audience into her creative process.
09:07It's a testament to the fact that despite her renowned status, Swift is at her finest
09:12with a microphone, an instrument and her voice.
09:2012.
09:22Tyler the Creator When Tyler the Creator is invited to perform
09:26a concert at your office, expect nothing less than a one-of-a-kind experience.
09:37The rapper delivered Tiny Desk's first-ever nighttime performance, going the extra mile
09:42to orchestrate special lighting that changed colors with each song.
09:52Just like that, Tyler set himself apart from the hundreds of other concerts, performing
09:57the songs Boredom, See You Again and Glitter from his album Flower Boy.
10:02Granted, Tyler is outstanding here, but equally of note are the exceptional backup singers
10:07and instrumentalists who give their all to make it a well-rounded performance.
10:18True to form, Tyler makes a point to individually acknowledge and introduce each of them at
10:23the end of the show.
10:2511.
10:26Mac Miller Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mac
10:29Miller was a gifted wordsmith with skills far beyond his years.
10:41His 2018 Tiny Desk appearance was a perfect showcase of his remarkable artistry.
10:46From his recent album Swimming, Miller kicked things off with a bare rendition of Small
10:51Worlds before being joined by Thundercat for the dazzling funk track What's the Use?
11:03The pinnacle of the set was the third and final song, 2009, where Miller, backed by
11:08a string quartet, delved into his personal struggles with heartfelt sincerity.
11:14Tragically, Miller passed away just one month after this performance, at the age of 26.
11:20Nevertheless, it serves as a poignant reminder of his extraordinary talent, and will be cherished
11:25by fans for years to come.
11:3210.
11:36Phoenix This French band might be known for their
11:39polished indie pop-rock recordings, but for the Tiny Desk series, they presented the audience
11:45with the sort of stripped-down acoustic jams you'd expect your friend's band to perform
11:49in an intimate house concert.
11:58Tracks like Listomania and 1901 are immediately recognisable, but the instrumentation makes
12:04the tracks feel totally new.
12:06The songs are as joyous as ever, but there's a certain richness and warmth to these acoustic
12:12versions.
12:15There's nothing performative about their set, it's just a group of friends playing
12:22together, and that's a rare, intimate musical moment to witness.
12:279.
12:28Chance the Rapper Chance starts this concert off by introducing
12:32not only the members of his backing band, but also himself too, as if we didn't already
12:38know him.
12:43He's clearly thrown by the space and the fact that it's literally just an office, but it's
12:48a humanising moment.
12:50He's now just a songwriter, laying himself bare for a room of faces he can actually make
12:55out without all the pretense of a full-sized concert.
13:02Unsurprisingly, given that he is one of the most unique rappers of his generation, he
13:10delivers a heartfelt performance, going so far as to recite a poem he had just written
13:15that very day.
13:16Humble and astounding.
13:198.
13:20Alt-J With Alt-J, the general rule is, expect the
13:34unexpected.
13:35For their second visit to the office, they asked for a trio of strings, including a cello,
13:41and the resulting performance was, quite frankly, astounding.
13:51Musical acts typically simplify their sound to play the tiny desk, and though Alt-J did
13:56strip down their core instrumentation, the string arrangement resulted in an uncommonly
14:02performance, with the sort of bass sound that one rarely hears at these concerts.
14:12Of course, it goes without saying, the songs they performed, both new and old, were a treat
14:18to see and hear performed.
14:287.
14:32Drum If you're ever feeling sad, just throw on
14:34a drum track and you'll find yourself grinning in a matter of seconds.
14:43The upbeat rapper and singer has an infectiously positive sound, and when he visited NPR, he
14:48filled the space up with his good vibes.
14:56Performing standout tracks like Cash Machine, Cute, and of course, Broccoli, Drum effortlessly
15:02reminded us why he's become such success.
15:11He writes music from the heart, is unafraid of blending styles, and knows how to own spotlight,
15:17be it on stage or behind a stage.
15:20In this setting, he's mesmerizing.
15:236.
15:24Adele This international sensation has the sort
15:27of voice you can't ignore.
15:29She could command attention whether she was performing at the Royal Albert Hall or busking
15:34on a street corner.
15:42All that is to say, when it comes to Adele, the expectations are always high.
15:47Which makes it even more impressive that she still somehow managed to blow everyone away
15:52when she visited to give a Tiny Desk concert.
16:01She's charming, she's personable, but most importantly, she reminds everyone, beyond
16:06the shadow of a doubt, that her vocals don't need any help from a sound studio.
16:11She can drop jaws even in the most mundane of settings.
16:245.
16:25St. Paul and the Broken Bones They might not be a household name, but this
16:30Birmingham, Alabama soul band deserves every bit of press and exposure they've received.
16:36And so much more.
16:41Paul Janeway, the enigmatic vocalist and frontman, owned the desk like it was an actual stage
16:47and oozed with the sort of enthusiasm that transforms a space.
16:52For a lesser singer, gold shoes like that would have been distracting.
16:56But with vocal chops like this, those killer kicks are a side note.
17:04Janeway's voice hits you right in the gut.
17:08And the Broken Bones, though understated in their performance, create a sound that
17:13speaks straight to the hearts.
17:224.
17:26Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros Just how many people can you fit behind that
17:32desk?
17:33At the time of this performance, in 2009, this was the largest group Bob Boylan had
17:44hosted.
17:45And in a true takeover of the space, they had their own little party, which we're lucky
17:50enough to have been invited to.
17:59There's no pretense, it's just a group of musicians who seem to genuinely love one
18:03another and the adventure they've embarked on.
18:06The line-up has since changed, but this video survives as an intimate portrait of the band's
18:11early time together.
18:193.
18:24Anderson .Paak and The Free Nationals This genre-blurring artist made a big splash
18:33with his second LP, Malibu.
18:39Visiting NPR to support the album, and with the company of his band, The Free Nationals,
18:43Paak proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the hype was well-deserved, delivering his
18:53distinctly soulful, raspy vocals from behind the drum set for the entire set.
18:58He and his fellow musicians groove like they're rehearsing in their own practice space, unselfconscious
19:04and undeniably feeling it.
19:12It's low-key, intimate, personable, and just a downright pleasure to watch.
19:17It's a performance that says this act is a powerhouse, and they're not going away any
19:22time soon.
19:242.
19:25Blue Man Group In this admittedly more elaborate tiny desk
19:32concert, the Blue Man Group literally took over the NPR space.
19:42In the teaser video, they were first shown hilariously pilfering whatever their blue
19:46hearts desired from the larger NPR office before setting up to do what they do best,
19:52making odd music with custom instruments.
20:01With the help of two not-so-blue musicians, they showed that they don't need a whole stage
20:05or their complex PVC instruments to put on a great show.
20:14Even without the lights, the paint, and elaborate stage, the Blue Man Group delivered pure magic.
20:441.
20:46T-Pain We've seen a number of big names strip down
20:56their sound to suit the tiny desk space and overall mood.
21:00But some artists are simply too big, with live shows too elaborate for us to ever reasonably
21:06expect to see them in this particular space.
21:09T-Pain is one of them.
21:11But that's what made this performance so special.
21:17NPR truly brought us something we likely would have never witnessed otherwise.
21:22If you've ever made the mistake of thinking that T-Pain is all auto-tune, this performance
21:26likely left you speechless.
21:29This isn't T-Pain the entertainer putting on another spectacle.
21:33This is Faheem Rashad Najm bearing his soul, and it's beautiful.
21:51Which of these tiny desk concerts do you re-watch obsessively?
21:55Let us know in the comments below.