This Black Music Month, Tiny Desk honors the anniversaries of landmark albums that have shaped the course of music and culture.
When Amerie arrived at the Tiny Desk, her enthusiastic energy and bright smile was an instant mood boost. The warm entrance felt fitting for an artist whose music embodies the soul of summer: bold percussion, breezy vocals and the feeling of endless possibilities.
When her sophomore album Touch dropped in 2005, it introduced a national audience to the infectious rhythms of go-go. Rooted in Washington, D.C., go-go is known for its layered percussion, funky basslines and live instrumentation made to hype the crowd. These sounds pulse through Amerie's music and helped to make "1 Thing" a standout in a year overflowing with R&B hits.
Amerie, who once lived in Washington, D.C. for several years, returns to the city with a reimagined set accompanied by go-go legends Backyard Band. Together, they open the show with songs from her debut album All I Have, including "Talkin' to Me" and the quintessential summer anthem "Why Don't We Fall in Love." She eases into her latest single, "Mine," and delivers a fan-favorite "I Just Died," before introducing a new rendition of "Rolling Down My Face" that you'll want to hear all the time from now on. By the time "Talkin' About" kicks in, Amerie is in full dance mode. When "1 Thing" closes out the set, she steps from behind the Desk to join the dance party, turning the performance into a celebration.
SET LIST
- "Talkin' to Me"
- "Why Don't We Fall in Love"
- "Mine"
- "I Just Died"
- "Rolling Down My Face"
- "Talkin' About"
- "1 Thing"
MUSICIANS
- Amerie: vocals
- Warren Jones: keys
- Michael Dunklin: keys
- Eric Britt: keys
- Bobby Terry: guitar
- Eugene Chapman: alto saxophone
- Nathaniel Fields: bass
- Paul Edwards: drums
- Keith Robinson: percussion
- Tanesia Mack: background vocals
- Tonaee' Burgess: background vocals
- Zay'Marie: background vocals
TINY DESK TEAM
- Producer: Alanté Serene
- Director/Editor: Maia Stern
- Audio Technical Director: Josh Newell
- Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
- Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Elizabeth Gillis
- Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
- Production Assistants: Dora Levite, Ashley Pointer
- Photographer: Grace Raver
- Tiny Desk Series Editor: Lars Gotrich
- Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
- Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
- VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Copyright 2025 NPR