37 of the Most Memorable NPR Tiny Desk Concerts

Updated on 10/20/2023 at 2:30 PM

Why spend hundreds on concert tickets when you can simply watch NPR Tiny Desk Concerts for free on YouTube? For those who might be unfamiliar with these hidden gems scattered all over the internet, these mini concerts invite the most talented, well-known musicians to perform in a little room in front of a small crowd.

The idea of Tiny Desk Concerts actually started out as a joke back in 2008 when NPR's Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson were disappointed over the fact that they couldn't hear a concert over crowd noise while at a bar show. Thompson jokingly suggested that the musician playing the concert should just perform at his tiny desk. It was then that the idea came to fruition and thus became a smash hit.

From artists and bands like Sam Smith, Chlöe, and the Jonas Brothers to Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Usher, this music series has seen it all. Most recently, Maluma participated in the series after announcing that he and his girlfriend, Susana Gomez, are expecting their first child, and things got emotional when he sang "ADMV," which he dedicated to Gomez and their unborn daughter.

Check out our list of the most unforgettable NPR Tiny Desk Concerts ahead.

Mac Miller's Tiny Desk Concert

Taylor Swift's Tiny Desk Concert

Lizzo's Tiny Desk Concert

The 1975's Tiny Desk Concert

Anderson .Paak and The Free Nationals's Tiny Desk Concert

T-Pain's Tiny Desk Concert

Usher's Tiny Desk Concert

Leslie Odom Jr.'s Tiny Desk Concert

Jon Batiste's Tiny Desk Concert

Tank's Tiny Desk Concert

Sheryl Crow's Tiny Desk Concert

Summer Walker's Tiny Desk Concert

King Princess's Tiny Desk Concert

Tokischa's Tiny Desk Concert

Ari Lennox's Tiny Desk Concert

Megan Thee Stallion's Tiny Desk Concert

Lewis Capaldi's Tiny Desk Concert

The Lumineers's Tiny Desk Concert

Harry Styles's Tiny Desk Concert

Wale's Tiny Desk Concert

Jonas Brothers's Tiny Desk Concert

Babyface's Tiny Desk Concert

Trina's Tiny Desk Concert

Coldplay's Tiny Desk Concert

Jessie Reyez's Tiny Desk Concert

Bono and The Edge's Tiny Desk Concert

Karol G's Tiny Desk Concert

Carly Rae Jepsen's Tiny Desk Concert

The-Dream's Tiny Desk Concert

Snoh Aalegra's Tiny Desk Concert

Sam Smith's Tiny Desk Concert

Chlöe's Tiny Desk Concert

Post Malone's Tiny Desk Concert

Maluma's Tiny Desk Concert

Smokey Robinson's Tiny Desk Concert

Becky G's Tiny Desk Concert

Ivy Queen's Tiny Desk Concert