As much as the music industry changes and shifts, one thing that has very much stayed the same is the value of being on television. For a rising artist, making their late night television debut is a huge feather in their cap, marking a certain level of success that means something by every conceivable metric. Likewise, even the biggest, most respected artists in the world don’t shrug at the opportunity to be blasted into the TV sets of homes across the country. It’s an excuse to bring along unexpected collaborators, reimagine arrangements, or debut never-before-heard material.
The biggest drawback to late night performances is that, well, they are late at night. Often times, many of us are asleep when these great musical moments are happening, and it’s possible to miss the good ones in the ever-moving news cycle. So, we’ve rounded up 10 great late night performances from the last six months that you might have missed, touching on a wide range of genres, with one thread tying them together: These are moments that encapsulate just how special live music on television can be.
Camila Cabello – “Havana” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Forget the standard performances in front of the studio audience. Where The Tonight Show shines brightest is when The Roots, Jimmy, and an artist incorporate children’s instruments for a special rendition of a song. And even as far as these go, Camila Cabello‘s version of “Havana” in this format is special. Putting the rising pop star in this situation and seeing how her charisma easily eclipses everyone else involved in this performance is enlightening. She’s the kind of magnetic personality that viewers can’t take their eyes off of. In short, she’s the real deal, making this kids’ instrument interpretation her own.
Chris Stapleton ft. Sturgill Simpson – “Midnight Train To Memphis” on Saturday Night Live
Just playing SNL is a big enough deal for most artists. But occasionally, the musical guest will do something unexpected and special that takes their appearance through the stratosphere. For country giant Chris Stapleton, that meant bringing along fellow star Sturgill Simpson for an unannounced guest spot on “Midnight Train To Memphis.” Sturgill helps with both his guitar and vocal work, leaving anyone that wasn’t already familiar to wonder who was getting so much screen time along with Stapleton. Nonchalantly bringing along another musician who is almost your equal in popularity and esteem? That might be the biggest flex of all.
Taylor Swift – “New Year’s Day” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Arguably the best song on Taylor Swift’s new album Reputation, “New Year’s Day” held extra significance when it was played for Jimmy Fallon. Swift appeared as a special guest following the death of Fallon’s mother, and lyrics from the song found a special meaning for the host. It made for one of the most touching music stories of the past several months, and for one of the most memorable performances ever to appear on the show.
Natalie Prass – “Short Court Style” on Conan
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Fans knew that Natalie Prass was on a new wave just by listening to her first single from her upcoming sophomore album. But it was during this performance of “Short Court Style” on Conan that Prass’ transformation really came into focus. She dances, grooves, and all-around owns up to the song’s R&B DNA, proving more than ready for her first trip to late night television.
Huncho Jack ft. Takeoff – “Eye 2 Eye” on Jimmy Kimmel Live
The rap world is no stranger to epic collaborations, with combos like Kanye/Jay-Z and Drake/Future blowing fans’ minds when they appeared together at the heights of their solo careers. Huncho Jack was conceived in a similar vein, and although the Travis Scott and Quavo’s joint project isn’t quite as massive as the aforementioned ones, it still managed to link two greats while they seemingly could do no wrong. For their live debut, the pair went to Jimmy Kimmel Live to perform “Eye 2 Eye” with the help of both Takeoff and a giant lizard, showing that their chemistry isn’t limited to the recording studio.
Robert Plant – “Carry Fire” on The Late Late Show With James Corden
Listen: late night TV shows are in a pretty special position where they can book virtually any artist at the height of their popularity. But still, there are some gets that still feel like gets. And that’s probably the situation anytime that Robert Plant steps on a stage. This is the guy from Led Zeppelin, after all, and even performing a newer song like “Carry Fire” gets a chill going down the back of anyone watching, like you are in the presence of royalty.
Kacey Musgraves – “Slow Burn” on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Late night performances should be special, but often times they just fall back on an artist playing their latest single for (hopefully) some new TV viewers. But someone like Kacey Musgraves really gets it. On the eve of her new album’s release, she takes the opportunity not to just give a live version of a song we’ve already heard, but to debut a new song from the collection, giving the very deserving “Slow Burn” its moment in the sun. It’s a tender and intimate moment, made all the better by the freshness of the song.
MGMT – “Electric Feel” on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Okay, so another great thing that happens on late night performances is that even when a band like MGMT performs their latest song from their new album, sometimes they are kind enough to provide some bonus material. That’s what happened on their recent stop with Colbert, when after performing a retro version of “Me & Michael,” the gave the show one of their classic tunes as well. Colbert intros the song by talking about what a staple the tune was at his old show, rooting “Electric Feel” in a sort of pop music tradition that the 10-year-old tune rarely gets considered. It’s a modern classic now, and MGMT have embraced it.
Tyler, The Creator ft. Kali Uchis “See You Again” and Kali Uchis ft. Tyler, The Creator “After The Storm” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Talk about friends being there for friends. Late last year, Tyler, The Creator brought along Kali Uchis for a Fallon performance that opted for dramatically shot close-ups, resulting in a performance that really put Tyler’s recent aesthetic in the spotlight it deserves. It went so well, that Tyler returned the favor just a couple months later, guesting with Uchis as she took center stage on the show.
This is an example of not only the magic that a couple close collaborators can create by being there for each other, but also the relationship between an artist and a late night host working to create these moments. As a little bonus to the list, let’s never forget one of the greatest late night musical moments of all time, when Tyler first made his presence known to the world on The Tonight Show.
