Erykah Badu: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
19,721,592
Published 2018-08-22
After her self-introduction, which included a rundown of her spiritual and creative aliases, Badu rolled into one of her earliest musical calling cards, "Rimshot." It's an ode to the sound the percussionist makes when a drumstick is struck against the metal edge of the snare drum. On this performance, as on her 1997 album Baduizm, it becomes a device to play with time — stretching it, stopping it, suspending it. Propelled by jazz chords on the piano and the steady pulse of the acoustic bass, the playful performance unfolded in the tradition of the best bebop.
But the panoramic song "Green Eyes" is the centerpiece of Badu's Tiny Desk performance. It's wide-ranging in scope and musical arrangement and brilliantly executed by the jazz and hip-hop musicians in her backing band. The story of heartbreak is striking enough, but her interpretation showcases her formidable vocal skills. By the time it was over, we were all just as emotionally and spiritually spent as she was from the experience.
Erykah Badu is an artist for the ages. To old-school jazz fans like myself, names like Nina Simone, Betty Carter and Shirley Horn come to mind as much as Billie Holiday because of Badu's singular approach to a lyric. They all cut their own creative path and left behind a legacy that you can identify with just one note. Erykah Badu is on that same path, and one day her name will be mentioned along with the other Elders who share her spirit of musical adventure.
Set List
"Rimshot"
"Green Eyes"
Musicians
Erykah Badu (lead vocals), RC Williams (Keys), Braylon Lacy (bass), Cleon Edwards (Drums), Frank Moka (Percussion), Kenneth Whalum (Sax), Keyon Harrold (Trumpet), Dwayne Kerr (Flute)
Credits
Producers: Abby O'Neill, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Khun Minn Ohn, CJ Riculan; Production Assistants: Catherine Zhang, Téa Mottolese; Photo: Morgan Noelle Smith/NPR.
All Comments (21)
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Tiny Desk is our era's MTV Unplugged
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No matter how cool you are. You will never be as cool as Erykah Badu. Mic drop.
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"Silly me I thought your love was true, changed my name to silly E. Baduuu" I LOVE HER
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Her runs are like no other. She sings like she’s not even trying
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I love that Erykah Badu only sounds like Erykah Badu.
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"My name is Erykah Badu- also known as she- ill, also known as fatbellybella, also known as Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the unburnt queen of the Andals and first men, the breaker of chains, mother of dragons, and the true heir to the iron throne.." 😭
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Green eyes sounds better and has more feeling than the recorded version. Amazing
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Can someone please cast Erykah Badu as Mother Nature already?!?!
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She's like a beautiful, jazz fairy. Her music is magical.
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That's my brother on the drums!! Love it!!
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I listen to this set frequently. She’s amazing.
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she reminds me a of a forest enchantress/fairy who lives in a beautiful hut filled with sparkling bottles of potions and dried herbs.
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She need to open a coffee shop that plays music like this all the time
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When she said “ladies how ya’ll feel, fellas ya’ll alright? I was ready to buss out with “You Better call Tyron “😆 Love me some Ms Badu! 🙏🏽☺️
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The choice to perform GREEN EYES is a HUGE GIFT. This song is so DOPE. Many Tkx.
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This woman changed my life. quirky, hippie, lovely, and conscious and edgy all the different energies that a black woman can possess
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I'm deeply concerned for the people who disliked this
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How on planet earth is this woman 51 years old, I'm speechless
