To commemorate Black Music Month, NPR featured the one-and-only Babyface for the platform’s beloved “Tiny Desk Concert” series.
Babyface was joined by Tank, Chanté Moore, and Avery Wilson for the performance, and they came thru with the harmonies!
RELATED: Jermaine Dupri Credits Babyface For Humbling Him Early On In His Career
#1
The Singer Gave Longtime Fans What They Needed
The 30-minute performance premiered on Friday, and it opened with Babyface serenading viewers with “Two Occasions.”
Alongside Tank, Chanté, and Avery, Babyface went on to put a ton of bops from his catalog on full display.
In addition to his own hits, he also came thru and performed tracks that he penned and produced for other artists—such as Mary J. Blige‘s “Not Gon’ Cry” and Madonna‘s “Take a Bow,” among other songs.
Babyface wrote enough hits to do like 10 Tiny Desk concerts
— Charles J. Moore (@charles270) June 9, 2023
#2
Babyface, Tank, Chanté Moore, & Avery Wilson Earned Their Flowers
When Babyface’s “Tiny Desk Concert” premiered, it instantly became the talk of the Twitter timeline.
Of course, plenty of people were focused on the power that Babyface and his beloved backup singers provided.
In fact, one user summed up the vibes as “iconic, Blackity-Black goodness.”
Babyface, Tank, Avery Wilson, AND Chanté Moore in one single Tiny Desk performance is some iconic, Blackity-Black goodness. NPR is spoiling us too much for Black Music Month (let’s keep it going). https://t.co/xDh0ck3EuP
— IAMNJERA (@IAMNJERA) June 9, 2023
Babyface went on Tiny Desk and stacked the deck with his background vocalists. Tank, Chanté Moore, and Avery Wilson! pic.twitter.com/0mx9qMbylZ
— Kevín (@KevOnStage) June 9, 2023
Babyface is one of the greatest artist, performers and writers of our time. And then to add Tank, Chanté Moore, and Avery Wilson as back up singers?!! 🥹🔥 pic.twitter.com/biOSkCOThj
— Nakia Monet (@KeyKeyBoomBoom) June 9, 2023
Babyface accompanied by Tank, Chanté Moore & Avery Wilson give a Tiny Desk Concert performance to remember pic.twitter.com/4c64q3mejK
— RNB RADAR (@RNB_RADAR) June 9, 2023
#3
Babyface Reflected On Whitney Houston & "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
Aside from the star-studded lineup of singers, another noteworthy moment came when Babyface spoke on Whitney Houston while performing “Exhale (Shoop Shoop).”
After praising Whitney as “one of the greatest artists ever,” Babyface spoke about how she was initially unsure about taking on the song.
“The funny thing about this song [is] she wasn’t gonna sing at all…For the longest time, I hadn’t even started to write this song because I didn’t know whether she was gonna sing.”
However, it ultimately all worked out in the end, as Whitney took on the project, which “felt so good” when it was completed.
“And then finally she said she was gonna sing, so I started trying to put it together. That kind of explains why on the chorus, there’s no real lyrics because I hadn’t got to it yet…But it felt so good.”
Babyface talks about Whitney Houston and performs “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” with Tank, Avery Wilson and Chanté Moore on NPR Tiny Desk: https://t.co/rmjoEQjVcW pic.twitter.com/0RmAnrDC3z
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) June 9, 2023
I love it when legends talk about Whitney Houston. Babyface is and will forever be HIM 🔥
— Passenger Princess (@Jenny_jenjenn) June 9, 2023
one thing imma do is cry to a Whitney Houston song😭😭 @babyface you did amazing for your NPR tiny desk!!
— ms.gemini🩷 (@mohoneytee) June 9, 2023
#4
A Surprise Fall Out Boy Track Made It Into The Mix
While on the subject of Babyface’s performance, we should note that he performed “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs” by Fall Out Boy, which he wrote.
On top of serving as a great rendition, people were surprised to learn that Babyface penned the pop-punk hit.
Babyface doing “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs” with Chante Moore, Avery Wilson and Tank for Tiny Desk. pic.twitter.com/VTKqOuBCuC
— AGD. (@TheLexGabrielle) June 9, 2023
Babyface really produced Fall Out Boy's Thanks For the Memories 🤯
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) June 9, 2023
#5
The Clips & Bops Just Kept On Coming
All in all, most viewers were largely pleased with Babyface’s performance, and tons of clips have begun to circulate online.
Check out some other snippets down below.
Babyface performing ‘Whip Appeal’ on Tiny Desk! Happy Black Music Month to us!🖤🙌🏽😭 pic.twitter.com/5rwl1W3Y72
— Izzy & Liv (@izzyandliv) June 9, 2023
We were waiting for the Boyz II Men and were not disappointed! 😫💕
Babyface, Chante Moore, Tank, and Avery Wilson performing 'I'll Make Love To You' on Tiny Desk #BlackMusicMonth pic.twitter.com/EcQbeL98iA
— Izzy & Liv (@izzyandliv) June 9, 2023
oh but Ms Chanté Moore’s whistle note??? This Babyface Tiny Desk concert needed to be longer 💗 https://t.co/fbXDjkzqSC pic.twitter.com/UfKnhBN7dz
— Rene 🪐 (@_reneiloe) June 9, 2023
