It’s not June yet, but Ne-Yo had NPR’s headquarters sounding and feeling like Black Music Month during his debut on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series. The singer, songwriter and producer went all out for his first time behind the infamous desk and delivered quite an entertaining performance.
Of course, Ne-Yo wasn’t alone in this endeavor. He brought along a four-piece band, three background vocalists (who he jokingly called The Hamhocks) and viral harpist Madison Calley, who was a beautiful surprise. Ne-Yo’s supporting cast was dressed in coordinating shades of ivory, cream and beige while he rocked a sequined winter white ensemble topped by a taupe fedora tilted ever-so perfectly to one side.
Ne-Yo took fans on a joyride back in time through his deep catalog of hits – his own and those he’s penned for other artists. He began his Tiny Desk set with his jam “Because Of You,” the lead single and title track from his 2007 sophomore album. Calley’s live harp and the harmonious background singers totally set this live rendition off.
The showman dug even deeper in his crates for his next song, rewinding the clock to his 2006 debut single “So Sick.” Ne-Yo began the song with a jazzy intro before Madison started to play the familiar notes on her harp. The rest of the musicians fell in line, and Ne-Yo proceeded to sing the beloved track. He stayed with his first album In My Own Words for his next selection, the equally catchy tune “Sexy Love,” which got a rousing round of applause from the in-office audience.
The crowd really lost their minds when Ne-Yo segued into his next segment and reminded everyone just how sharp his pen game is. He presented a killer medley of Rihanna’s “Take A Bow” with his background singer Pamela Westbrook on lead vocals, Mario’s “Let Me Love You” and Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” featuring background singer Courtney Campbell.
Following that trip down memory lane, Ne-Yo decided to give NPR an exclusive with the world premiere of his new single “Two Million Secrets.” He prefaced the track with a brief yet earnest explanation. “This song is not a song, this song is a confession,” he shared before jumping right into the revealing number inspired by his real-life relationship drama.
After that confessional moment, thankfully Ne-Yo ended his set on a lighter note. For his grand finale, he chose “Miss Independent,” which he dedicated to his favorite kind of woman. The mid-tempo bop was the perfect song for Ne-Yo’s impressive appearance on Tiny Desk to wrap on.
