Usher was the latest guest on NPR’s Tiny Desk online concert series. Fans were excited to see that he gave banger after banger for the entire 24-minute video. Prior to starting, Twitter was going absolutely crazy on the build-up.
The 43-year-old singer’s band featured “vocalists Eric Bellinger and Vedo, bassist, Dmitry Gorodetsky, trombonist Lemar Guillary, trumpeter Brandyn Phillips, saxophonist Jay Flat, keyboardist Darek Cobbs, guitarist Erick Walls and drummer Ryan Carr.”
The set list did not disappoint fans, consisting of some of Usher’s most excellent R&B jams like: “You Make Me Wanna,” “Superstar,” “U Don’t Have to Call,” “Nice & Slow,” “Confessions Part II,” and “My Way” and Usher ate every track with no in-ear piece.
Usher has NO IN EARS and is staying tf on key.
— Coolness941
(@Coolness941) June 30, 2022
“Good morning to Usher’s Tiny Desk and his Tiny Desk only. Y’all ready to get y’all souls fed today?” @IAMNJERA posted.
Good morning to Usher’s Tiny Desk and his Tiny Desk only. Y’all ready to get y’all souls fed today? pic.twitter.com/pGXfgTPb1I
— IAMNJERA (@IAMNJERA) June 30, 2022
“Usher “forever fine” Raymond gotta new tiny desk out. We running that back several times today.” Another fan added.
Usher “forever fine” Raymond gotta new tiny desk out. We running that back several times today.
— bO-Dy bO-Dy! (@natelege_) June 30, 2022
It seems to be a consensus that Usher is just as fine as he was when he released the hits because Twitter users chimed in with agreements, “Usher Raymond IV knooooows he can work a camera AND an audience at the same time. #TinyDesk How are they even standing up?!”
Usher Raymond IV knooooows he can work a camera AND an audience at the same time. #TinyDesk
How are the even standing up?!
Me the whole time: pic.twitter.com/ulOHtL7YuD
— Melissa Kimble (she/her) ? (@Melissa_Kimble) June 30, 2022
Fans felt just as sentimental as they were hyped, writing, “I love how Tiny Desk performances are celebrations. And this is really a celebration of one of the truly great careers of my lifetime. That boy Usher has an endless bag of hits. If he just wanted to focus on 1997-2004, that’d be enough. What a catalog, bruh. Damn.”
I love how Tiny Desk performances are celebrations. And this is really a celebration of one of the truly great careers of my lifetime. That boy Usher has an endless bag of hits. If he just wanted to focus on 1997-2004, that’d be enough.
What a catalog, bruh. Damn.
— Justin Tinsley (@JustinTinsley) June 30, 2022
It was unanimous that Usher still got it, ending a celebration of performances dedicated to Black Music Month.
Attached to these performances, NPR said, “This year, NPR Music is celebrating Black Music Month with an array of brand new Tiny Desk concerts — both from home and behind our beloved Desk. 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.” They finished with, “We celebrate Black Music Month. This has been Black magic.”
That’s exactly what Usher gave– “Black Magic.”
