Ne-Yo: Tiny Desk Concert

Bobby Carter | April 26, 2024
There's nothing like hearing the oohs and aahs from the Tiny Desk audience when a recognizable note hits the soul. Ne-Yo's setlist stoked up audible gasps with nonstop hits from his catalog and a few he's written for megastars. He came draped in a bedazzled outfit and his signature fedora (one we had to ask him to adjust to see his eyes.) Not to be outdone, the band came outfitted in matching earth tones and sounded just as good as they looked.

As with most artists who've spent years on the radio, the charts and in the club, the challenge in our space is encapsulating those moments. He accepted this challenge by putting together a medley of some of his most celebrated jams, showing off just how prolific his pen is. "I've written a couple songs since I've been doing this thang," the singer said before passing Rihanna's "Take a Bow" to background singer, Pamela Westbrook. Before the premiere of his "confessional," the song "Two Million Secrets," the singer reminded us that he also wrote Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" and co-wrote Mario's "Let Me Love You." He shared with us that there was a healthy dose of nerves during his set, but — forever the showman — Ne-Yo gave the ladies what they came for closing with "Miss Independent."

SET LIST
"Because Of You"
"So Sick"
"Sexy Love"
"Take a Bow"
"Let Me Love You"
"Irreplaceable"
"Two Million Secrets"
"Miss Independent"

MUSICIANS
Ne-Yo: lead vocals
Justin Raines: bass guitar, key bass
Ray Ray Holloman: guitar
Monty Reynolds: keys
Madison Calley: harp
Leonard "Pudge" Tribbett: drums
Pamela Westbrook: vocals
Courtney Campbell: vocals
Brian Deshawn Kelly: vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bobby Carter
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Technical Director: Neil Tevault
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Maia Stern, Alanté Serene
Audio Engineer: Ted Mebane
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Tiny Desk Team: Kara Frame, Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

#nprmusic #tinydesk #neyo

[Oyinscorner]

Who ever decided to include the harp needs a raise

[brianmuindi]

Ne-Yo was carrying RnB industry from 2005 to 2010... wrote many songs for bigger artists.. and his contribution to the industry is enormous

[joshuagarcia]

This brotha sounds exactly like his studio records! 🫡 amazing brotha..

[rodrigolinero]

It’s embarrassing the amount of times I’ve watched it 10/10

[miracleisaacmubbale]

Neyo singing back up to his backup singers is top level humility and class. This is one of my favorite Tiny desks yet...

[jamaicanaforeign]

No auto tune, just straight singing, band jamming, harp playing, lovely music!!

[jmoneyicetea]

Ne-Yo has GOT to be apart of the 2000’s R&B Mountain Rushmore list

[hotdamndan]

People tend to forget Ne-Yo is a songwriter/Music producer before he starts to sing his own written songs, . He a true musical artist, . And he just reminded everyone with this Tiny Desk. 🎉

[Alisoflyyy]

Bro raised an entire generation with his music and is still killing it in 2024. Classic fr

[yvngnturnt]

Im now realizing that the harp is what makes Neyo’s songs so unique & memorable

[xChizo]

The irreplaceable cover was SICKENING are you crazy 🤯

[dubfilm]

People be forgetting Ne-Yo has an impeccable and blessed pen game!!!

Ne-Yo is a master class artist.

[ayurei]

2 million secrets is something else 😢❤️

[Greenz]

It is time for Neyo's Super bowl half time performance. This series is fire. I would like to see Jodeci at Tiny Desk please. Thank you.

[iammusicp]

The harp player is insane!! Love everything about this performance!

[dssadsadsasdasdas]

tiny desk always gets me looking up the background singers

[briansounalath]

The fact he sounds better live is extraordinary

[artisttjan]

One of the best writer of our generation, didn't know he wrote some of these.

[irmrepn]

Ne-Yo should be in the Superbowl Halftime Show someday

[leioh]

Usher, JT, and now NE-YO.
My high school days resurrected.