Music Master Smokey Robinson Sings Motown & Fresh Tunes In ‘Tiny Desk’ Performance.

Music Master Smokey Robinson Sings Motown & Fresh Tunes In ‘Tiny Desk’ Performance.

"Smokey Robinson can still charm a room at 83 years old. The Motown pioneer is the latest artist tapped for a Tiny Desk performance, and he did not disappoint whatsoever.

He started his 30-minute set with 1981’s “Being With You,” as a nod to his timeless, sensual sound. He dazzled viewers, both in-person and virtually, with his chilling falsetto as he went into his Miracles catalog and performed “The Tears Of A Clown” or as he put it, “the one I wrote with Stevie Wonder.”

The innate romantic showcased how age isn’t anything beyond a social construct as he performed “Beside You,” which he dedicated to the ladies, and “If We Don’t Have Each Other,” from his recent album, Gasms.

The latter is the album’s lead single, which debuted in April 2023. When speaking on why he chose to tease the highly-anticipated LP with that record, Robinson explained, “I chose this song as the first single of my new album because it’s different musically and has a slide dance feeling to it… which is different from what I’ve ever done before. It also has a current rhythm of today that I love, and I hope everyone else does too.”

During his Tiny Desk set, the saxophone solo at the hands of Brandon Wright particularly enthralled the audience. His band briefly flaunted their collective skills during the lively rendition of “Quiet Storm” in its nearly-eight minute entirety before Robinson concluded with the ever-timeless “Cruisin’.”

“We’ve been looking forward to playing the Tiny Desk for a long time,” he stated prior to “cruising on outta there.” As the record began to peak to its gasm, the crowd joined in so everyone could “cruise together.”

Watch Robinson’s full Tiny Desk above." - Vibe.com