NPR Music is celebrating Black Music Month with an array of brand new Tiny Desk concerts. Together, these artists represent the past, present and future of Black music. This month of carefully curated shows is a celebration of Black artists expressing themselves in ways we’ve never seen before, and of the Tiny Desk’s unique way of showcasing that talent.
Nikki Birch | June 9, 2023
I was working late when Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds first arrived at the office to rehearse for his Tiny Desk concert. Within moments, it was clear it would be an exceptional performance. The next day, my colleagues waited patiently to see the legendary singer, songwriter and producer. Because when it comes to matters of the heart, Babyface has turned our angst, our triumphs, our devastation, into timeless love songs that have scored the romances of more than one generation.
Joined by top-tier talent — Tank, Chanté Moore and Avery Wilson — Babyface came out swinging. From the songs that put him on the map, to those he wrote or produced for other icons, around the room hit after hit was met with swoons, sighs and not a few tears. (Ok, maybe that was just me.)
Babyface is a titan of the music industry: with numerous top 10 hits, 12 Grammys (50 nominations) and a jaw-dropping roster of collaborations. In 2022, he assembled a stellar ensemble of women for one of my favorite albums of the year, Girls Night Out. To watch this master of pen and sound behind the Tiny Desk was truly epic and nothing short of a dream come true.
SET LIST
“Two Occasions”
“Whip Appeal”
“Superwoman”
“Take A Bow”
“Not Gon’ Cry”
“Can We Talk”
“Change the World”
“Thnks fr th Mmrs”
“I’ll Make Love To You”
“End Of The Road”
“Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”
MUSICIANS
Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds: vocals, keys, guitar
Erskine Hawkins III: keys, music director
Antoine Porter: guitar
Walt Barnes Jr.: bass
Reggie Regg: drums
Tank: vocals
Chanté Moore: vocals
Avery Wilson: vocals
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bobby Carter
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Creative Director: Bob Boilen
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Sofia Seidel
Audio Assistant: Hannah Gluvna
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Hazel Cills
Photographer: Catie Dull
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
#tinydesk #nprmusic #babyface
Comments
37 responses to “Babyface: Tiny Desk Concert”
Avery left me wanting so much more at the end of Can We Talk!!! That was sooo good. I wish it would have been longer. 👏 👏 👏
My god I have no words to describe what I've just listened to 😢
That Chante Moore was showing out👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
3 mins in and I have goosebumps
Not your superwoman. I thought she said,"your toast looks like me" 🤣 🤣 🤣
I want to throw my phone every time Avery sings 😅 GOOSEBUMPS EVERY TIME 🔥🔥🔥
❤
Opened with my fav song ♥️
One of the best to do it!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Awesome ❤
beautiful, although I needed the full version of that Exhale.
I absolutely loved every moment of these talented singers performances on Tiny Desk. Babyface is a genius and he is a succesful master mind to choose these 3 singers together to cover Babyface's songs. It just makes sense! I will watch this segment again, and again over time. Beautifully done! My only suggestion is for Babyface…Please give a little air time, recognition, and exposure to Karyn Whate. She still can sing extremely well and deserves recognition.
Chante's voice is explosive and soothing at the same time ❤️❤️❤️
💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
The bass player gave me life on "Can we Talk." He was feeling it.
Y’all need to do a gospel series and Yolanda Adams needs to be the first guest!!!!
They are struggling to sing the notes It's the studio and the microphone that makes them sound good🍼🐟🤣😂😅💯
Omgggggg how do I get to go to one of these?!!!! I wish I was in the for this bc this was like magic ✨✨✨
A music master
This was my first NPR Tiny Desk Performance and I loved it! Babyface you are a master!
These background vocals are bananas!!!! Tank is a beast, Chante has the most angelic voice and Avery's range is crazy! Babyface you rock!
This show what a gift Whitney’s voice and Mary J’s voice are. Chante Moore is arguably one of the most talented singers ever and we miss them on their tracks.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥looooove this
Wow. Chante has some pipes. Many thanks for this mini concert Babyface.
Timeless talent 🔥🔥🔥this was epically amazing to watch i can’t imagine being in the room! Thank you Tiny Desk 🙌🏾
The way old boy killed CAN WE TALK!!!!! We can talk any day!!!!! 😂😂😂
You can tell Babyface was about to cry when he was talking about Whitney. Then he immediately goes to the song. She was a true icon that wi nevwr6be replicated. We all miss her
Y’all better sang!!!!
Love that he has Tank and is that Chante Moore? Love this
Wow Tank ,Chante Moore and Avery Wilson singing background. This is a treat.
🔥🔥🔥🔥
This was absolutely magnificent! ♥️ 👏🏽
The quartet I never needed Babyface, Tank, Chante Moore, and Avery Wilson.. SHONDO 🤸🏾♀️🔥🎶
Babyface is nothing short of being a musical genius. Been loving this dude since The Deal. 29
I love tdc because it's music without bells and whistles. And this show is packed with talent and confidence but without ego. The sharing of the stage with each other is almost as beautiful as the music. I love that they aren't so much back up singers as much as collaborators and colleagues.
I have no words🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
YESSSSSSS…….