Nellie McKay: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

You wouldn't think to call someone audacious who once devoted an entire album to Doris Day songs, but Nellie McKay is. Her bold personality shines through in every project she tackles, including this short set recorded at the NPR Music offices.
Set List:
"Caribbean Time"
"The Portal"
"Beneath The Underdog"

[@howarddulaney200]

this woman is insanely talented. why she doesn't have a larger following is bewildering. the real deal. this is great and she's even better live.

[@joosthulsman191]

Hi Howard, Your wonder is understandable. She is amazingly talented, a force of nature. I guess it takes time to get exposed to her. But than... First time I saw her was just now (four years after your post(!)) on Jimmy Dore's Show. I am an instant fan. Cheers! : ) Joost

[@michavandam]

This is live.

[@Go1US1Marines]

It's not so bewildering when you consider the abysmal taste in music these days. She is a breath of fresh air. She is terrific.

[@alextrivo6553]

The tallyhall effect

[@MrCheminee]

I just got here from another video mentioning her being dropped from a major label, maybe that's why?

[@oliviabell9691]

I love that you are child-like and excited about everything. I love that you are a fellow vegan and progressive. I love you as an artist. And I love you. Thank you for everything, Nellie💖

[@oliviabell9691]

@David Drake Thanks for sharing, Dave.

[@ThisSentenceIsFalse]

She makes me so happy.

[@sfincione2000]

I like the way she's so fun. She makes me smile just watching how she is.

[@hermannstockhammer7781]

sie hat eine nette gewinnende art.....ich mag sie einfach....

[@Marc310380]

It was as far back as June of 2004 when I first saw Nellie. I attended an outdoors Sting concert in Cologne, Germany. There were approximately 17.000 people on a rather large plaza in front of the stage, on the banks of river Rhine. And a young, I think 22 year old Nellie was the solo support act. So she came out in a lovely, colorful dress, sat down at an upright piano that was put up sideways, so when she looked to the right while playing she could face the audience. Her performance was brilliant to a degree I became a fan until today, 17 years later, and bought all of her records, although I think she never returned to play in Germany again, or I must have missed it. Not many other audience members really listened to her though, she must have looked super small for most people, since the video screens weren't turned on yet. She even got booed and whistled at, but that would not make her lose her lovely smile. As an artist, especially at a younger age, you must be so good at handling rejection, especially when you're still busy trying to explore yourself and put your most personal thoughts and feelings on the outside for everyone to see and judge. I often thought back to this day and hoped Nellie didn't get sad over that afternoon, since it got her at least one new faithful fan.

[@midnightrebellion01]

Her sharp wit shines through every song. This girl is so delightfully cool.

[@ehairgrove]

I never get enough of that big genuine smile plastered all over her face

[@timg8421]

+Shiva Ganesha happier than a pup! she's adorable

[@patrickpower3992]

I think I've watched this at *least* twenty times over the past few years. She is *such* an immense talent. I saw Nellie on Letterman's CBS Late Show twenty-five years ago! Crazy! I thought she was going to be huge. It didn't turn out that way, but I wouldn't doubt it was because she didn't want to be. I have seen her twice in concert, one with an audience of maybe four hundred (tops) and the other no more than about a hundred. I'd bet that she prefers that kind of intimacy.

[@mattl7886]

"I take no direction and I walk real slow / for the words of oppression are go go go."

[@kassandraayalasongs]

Matt L 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@yippee2000]

Is there anything Nellie cannot do? I just love her! So adorable, so talented....and so witty!!

[@binglinkin4]

it's hard not to fall for her...the way she sings...the way she talks...is just adorable!! And I certainly love her songs!!

[@235buz]

Like a breath of fresh air. She seems to be someone you like being around. She keeps it simple.

[@ladeedacook]

I love her. I could watch them all day.

[@nicorayo195]

I remember Nellie McKay from the movie 'P.S. I love You' as the younger sister to Hilary Swank's character. You can't forget someone this adorable.

[@aredp4nd4]

THE WAY SHE MAKES EVERYONE IN THE BAND SMILE WITH HER, I LOVE THIS WOMAN SO MUCHHHHHHHHHH.

[@charlesbush4100]

props to the guitarist.. learning guitar is easy, learning to control your face is the trick

[@BobCraigmile]

G. E. Smith...

[@xXXShinXtremXXx]

Nellie McKay, please come to Europe!! :-)

[@miguelwc]

LOVE LOVE LOVE Nellie McKay!! Amazing talent and personality!

[@Aelea]

Finally found her. It took me hours to search the NPR archives. I couldn't recall her name but remembered her face and music. My son was listening to something similar sounding, and I told him he'd love this CD I'd bought years ago after hearing her on npr. Her music was so folksy and cute.) But I must have misplaced the CD when cleaning out my house last year. Finally found her in the archives and came here to search her name.

[@shelbythompsoon]

i love nellie mckay

[@shelbythompsoon]

Shelby Thompson i was stoned when i met him

[@shelbythompsoon]

carribean , below the under dog, the portal me, spring 2016

[@alial-musawi9898]

So do I! She is a pure being with a very kind heart.

[@BrittonDeJong]

watched this 3 times already. Damngood

[@HudsonWI2057]

Were just kind of silent and tasteful... Love that.. I think we are now the Majority and the time we are going all the way..Peace on the Planet!!

[@ChadSiwik]

This is such a special presentation of her. I really love this video!! She's in great voice too. She's amazing. "We're in Washington D.C. fighting the man!" Hahah!

[@DaniloVeloya]

Amazing talent and big fan .

[@stephenverchinski9967]

The ballad. Its tough with the loss. Sure comes through in this piece. It really does. Thanks for the bittersweet reminder of those times when love is gone and you fully realize you loved, really loved.

[@yvonnecarns7603]

sometimes people can be shallow, but never Nellie. She's the real deal.

[@fernandohinojosa3211]

i fell in love

[@mariebyrtusova8231]

Oh G., she is like a silk bag full of butterflies.

[@tfrofciydntafc]

"We're in Washington, D.C...fighting The Man!"

[@FreddyBoBeddy]

I saw her in PS I Love you, and found her so beautiful and to have such an adorable and fun presence, I had to look her up so I could see more of her. Found out she's a singer, and I was like "Omg, yes".

[@DougStoneent]

She exudes joy. And brings it to her listeners.

[@bupdragon4694]

So beautiful. I can see your soul darling. Thanks for sharing it

[@SalaWalter]

“I just need my plug I hate my life” I LOVE HER SHE IS DO PRECIOUS

[@VladShatalov]

Makes me kindly smile, too.

[@invernessfan3017]

Nellie McKay is cool. I am a fan of McKay.

[@BachelorMachinesTV]

Goosebumps all the way through "The Portal," it's too good. Amazing song.

[@michaelcoughlin2183]

***** Agreed

[@1feloniouspunk]

Okay, so much to like here. Nellie had me at the second song, "Beneath the Underdog" which was so lovely it brought tears to my eyes. And one of the camera operators deserves kudos for the extreme close-ups of my #1 crush. In short, Nellie owns my heart!!!!!!!!!!

[@charliethomas6317]

FelPnk, hope you meant that as a tribute to Thelonious Monk, jazz musician par excellence.

[@1feloniouspunk]

@@charliethomas6317 You know it! Monk playing that melodious funk!!!

[@AndyMorrisArt]

WOW! all this I was missing.... so good

[@MyToasterIsBroken]

Such an incredible voice. What a beeeeeautiful woman too!

[@Chris.Brisson]

Thank you for this concert. We need more Nellie in our lives.

[@plummage]

Nellie is soooo talented

[@BALKISDREAMER]

what a mooooooooouuuth! what a smiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiile!

[@karilh4525]

An intelligent talented awesome cool woman. Just refreshing. Portal is such a beautiful song.

[@johnkennedy3970]

beautiful raw music

[@sfincione2000]

Magnificent! =) She seems like she has a great outlook on life.

[@erichairgrove4012]

Love that mug!

[@theolamp5312]

Nellies first album "Get Away From Me" could have been put on 1 CD. But, it was put on 2. Why? Nellie wanted people to experience flipping a Vinyl record over. How impressive is that for a 17 year old. Also, if you check out the liner notes on that album, The lyrics will stretch across a table. I am so impressed with her musicianship, vocals, and overall talent.

[@stephenbusscher]

Wow this woman is amazing

[@LouisGedo]

*Nellie Mckay.......you rock!*

[@epponieuwesteeg9611]

OMG im in love!

[@InaudibleWhisper]

Oh god, I've just realised what song Caribbean Time reminds me of and it is coincidentally another Nelly; the rapper. The song Ride Wit Me. And now when I hear her sing it, I think to myself "Caribbean time in motion, fireflyin' across the ocean and I... can... see the future (Hey, must be the money!)". Yes, I am deeply ashamed. But also amused.

[@FreddyBoBeddy]

Haha

[@celiaporter]

Ridicuously talented songwriter and musician.

[@starmessenger8468]

Cute, cool, nice, and very talented. Nice combination, heh?

[@ThisSentenceIsFalse]

love.

[@SweetComputing]

She's much better live than the studio versions.

[@mayopants]

I think I'm in love.

[@duncanmckeown1292]

She has a joyful attitude (even when singing witty songs like this one, which are subtly political) that is truly infectious. A born stage performer! (even behind a tiny desk!)

[@GatoSears]

wow nice amiga awebo que buena melodia

[@nomoniker7917]

THE BEST NPR TINY DESK CONCERT EVER IS THIS ONE. Sorry everyone else, but you know its true.

[@radcowley]

this is dope

[@mannis]

amazing talent

[@mannis]

i can’t stop watching this

[@PatheticHero]

Now that we've heard Nellie McKay, it is now time for us to leave rock music in the dust bin of history.

[@WagnerBrenner]

What?? 🤣

[@Evilmonkey36]

14:00, omg, hahahhahahaaa, I love Nellie

[@DavesGoneBy]

Nellie McKay Fans: She'll be a guest, chatting with Rabbi Sol Solomon, on the "Dave's Gone By" podcast Saturday, May 4, 2019! Watch the show live, 9-11:30am(Eastern) on Facebook: facebook.com/davesgoneby. If you miss it, the show will then be archived at www.davesgoneby.com.

[@oOstinsonOo]

i luv how ure lip bends while sing :D

[@ikebanaJc]

Catchy rhythm

[@jmocan]

oh my gosh!! :DD she's totally on P.S. I Love You!!! :DD Her music is wonderful!

[@kassandraayalasongs]

OMG 😄💗💗😄

[@supreme7738]

she's cool , thanks jimmy dore lol

[@gup8175]

❤

[@hunterbrinson]

That guitar sounds crazy. Does anyone know what kind it is?

[@Ivartshiva]

wow

[@ccbb76]

this guys guitar strings must be razor blades

[@martijnbreman759]

Ukelele tuner

[@JOHNNYCRAFT79]

Cc Bb LMAO!!!!!

[@michavandam]

How come she doesn't know the names of the musicians? Are they not 'her' musicians? How was this Tiny Desk organised?

[@alhulcher3279]

Intelligent music is rare.

[@kassandraayalasongs]

She kinda reminds me of the character Sara from the movie Sweet November the 1967 version lol

[@LiamPorterFilms]

@inooradd but why do yo usay you hate "her persona"? Why not say you "hate her personality"? How do you know any better?

[@BeeDubDakota]

It is most certainly a Gibson.

[@danielhuber4953]

What do You think. LOVE and hugs forever. Besides that cat. Feed it or stop it. Feed it ... LOVE

[@kenbaker9738]

Isn't she absolutely adorable?

[@LongHairedBaker]

The faces at 9.10.

[@michavandam]

The contrast between her and her guitarist's facial expressions couldn't be bigger.

[@bil_chamberlin]

In my next life, I'm coming back as one of these humans

[@lnklttr]

No kidding, did he just switch to .013s that afternoon?

[@hohaia01]

First song has a Men at Work vibe

[@richeytony21]

best female musician in the country. by far

[@tomace1748]

Go sing this in Somalia, please

[@AMRINDER-123]

Jimmy Dore brought me here.

[@blshbleeeblopblop]

Stuart Spector basses ftw.

[@jellis270]

The 29 degenerates who disliked this video must be some miserable individuals...

[@DirtyDanMayne]

electric ukulele? she can't get more badass

[@billfurman1494]

Her music has guts!

[@alhulcher3279]

George Harrison couldn't stand Madonna. He might have appreciated this.

[@gaoyusi85]

we are the silent majority! lol.

[@UKISOCIETY]

Gretsch

[@ashishsingh2772]

above 30 but still looks like an adorable doll... "PS I Love You"

[@64wing]

ok the drummer looks like Josh Ritter...who I just got done watching on here lol Is he pulling double duty?

[@objetty11]

That was soooo bitchen'....Aloha

[@pwitte777]

Bass player needs to turn up...

[@Gonko100]

I have such a weird taste in women. The world is full of all these perfectly rounded, untouchable jet-beauties. None of them actually make me feel something. That woman right here is pure light. Always happy about a new crush.