Tag: the Roots

New York Is Not “Invisible” When U2 Play on Fallon Debut

U2 Invisible New York
Last night, Jimmy Fallon hosted his first Tonight Show with guests Will Smith and U2. In a musical segment, Fallon introduced U2 from the Top of the Rock, the rooftop observation deck of Rockefeller Center. When they recorded the segment, the sun was setting, highlighting a beautiful view of New York City as the city returns as the location of The Tonight Show.

Bono and the band were at their bombastic best, having experience playing a rooftop in their “Where the Streets Have No Name” video way back in the 1980s. This time, there were no police. Check out U2 performing “Invisible,” followed by Fallon interviewing the band.  [UPDATE: Unfortunately, the video is no longer available.]

The show was not a surprise for anyone who has followed Fallon on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The Roots continued their great late night support, and Fallon showed off his variety show skills with a dance segment with Smith. A number of celebrities stopped by for a brief cameo to lend their support too. It was a good start to what looks like it might be a long run.

What did you think of Jimmy Fallon’s first Tonight Show? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    All I Want for Christmas is for Mariah Carey to Sing With Jimmy Fallon and the Roots

    This week on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, as Fallon and The Roots played toy instruments, Mariah Carey joined them, along with some children, for a rousing rendition of “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Check it out.

    Although now it seems like “All I Want for Christmas” is a holiday classic that has been around forever, it was written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff, becoming a hit song in 1994. There are a number of great versions, including Carey’s original and Olivia Olson‘s charming cover in the fun holiday movie Love Actually (2003). Now we can add this version with the Roots to the list.

    What is your favorite version of “All I Want for Christmas”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Pres. Obama Slow Jams the News with Jimmy Fallon

    Last night, Pres. Barack Obama joined Jimmy Fallon to slow jam the news on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. In the periodic segment on the show, someone reads the news while Fallon and his band The Roots riff on the straight news. So for our funny video of the week, check out Pres. Obama, Jimmy Fallon, and The Roots slow jammin’ the news.

    For the most part Pres. Obama played it straight delivering campaign lines addressed to the college crowd at the show’s taping at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Still, “the Preezy of the United Steezy” was a good sport for participating in the funny segment. “Oh yeah.”

    What did you think of the President going on the late night talk show? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    John Legend and The Roots Perform “Dancing in the Dark”

    John Legend Dancing in the Dark This week on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” John Legend and The Roots performed an excellent cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” from Springsteen’s Born in the USA (1984). To top it off, Legend also made the performance MP3 available to fans with a free download.

    2024 Update: Unfortunately, the performance with the Roots is no longer available, but here is another performance by Legend singing “Dancing in the Dark”:

    What do you think of John Legend’s cover? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    I Wish It Was Christmas Today

    When Jimmy Fallon hosted Saturday Night Live in 2011, he got together his old gang of Horatio Sanz, Chris Kattan and Tracy Morgan to reprise their classic funny performance of their song, “I Wish It Was Christmas Today.” They have made a few versions of the song through the years.

    Here is the original, which I think is from December 2000. From Sanz’s travel guitar, to Fallon’s screw-ups on the organ, to the look on Morgan’s face, it captures four guys having fun and thinking, “I can’t believe we’re doing this on TV.” [December 2013 Update: The original video is no longer available for embedding, but you may watch it here on YouTube.]

    The song has reappeared in several forms through the years since 2000. Sanz again performed the song on Saturday Night Live in 2004 with the Muppets. Another Fallon-Sanz version appeared December 2009 on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The performance with the Roots featured a surprise guest appearance by Strokes lead singer Julian Casablancas, who had covered the song. [December 2013 Update: That video is no longer available, so below is a video of Casablancas playing “I Wish It Was Christmas Today” live at one of his concerts.]

    Finally, the new December 2011 version is below. This version is nostalgic instead of adding much new, but it is fun to see the four reprising their roles. The funniest part may be that Morgan and Kattan came back to visit the show for this performance where they do not say a word.

    If you made it through all three versions, good luck in getting the song out of your head now. Happy holidays!

    What’s the funniest part of the performances? Which is your favorite version? Leave your two cents in the comments.


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