Billy Bragg: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

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  • čas přidán 17. 06. 2013
  • OK Go helped us move the Tiny Desk from our old building to NPR's new headquarters, and The National performed the first full new-building Tiny Desk Concert we posted to the site, but Billy Bragg gave us the first full Tiny Desk Concert we actually recorded in our new office.
    Bragg, one of the world's finest contemporary folksingers, appropriately sang "Handyman Blues" as his first tune - and was quickly met with lot of hammering on our rooftop by some real handymen as they put the finishing touches on NPR's new home.
    Bragg, along with Dobro player C.J. Hillman, also channeled the spirit of legendary American folksinger Woody Guthrie, with whom Bragg collaborated - albeit posthumously, in Guthrie's case - when he took Guthrie's unsung words and set them to song with the help of Wilco. Here, he takes a song Guthrie himself co-opted and altered: a gospel tune ("This World Is Not My Home") he'd turned into an anthem against inaction.
    In "I Ain't Got No Home," Bragg follows in the folk tradition by altering the song to address the issue of universal health care. It's a rare talent to make it work, but Bragg, as always, finds a way to blend politics and music with grace, charm and a rough edge. --BOB BOILEN
    Set List
    "Handyman Blues"
    "I Ain't Got No Home"
    "Sexuality"
    "No One Knows Nothing Anymore"
    Credits
    Producer: Bob Boilen; Editor: Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Gabriella Garcia-Pardo; photo by Marie McGrory/NPR
  • Hudba

Komentáře • 231

  • @MarkBTomlinson
    @MarkBTomlinson Před 4 lety +59

    I first heard Billy back in 84, the year of the Miners strike in the UK, and the man resonated with me. All these years later I have come to treasure his gentle resistance and intellect. Great artist and humanitarian.

    • @sderoski1
      @sderoski1 Před 6 měsíci

      I first heard Billy when he opened for the Smiths at the Beacon Theater in NYC in the 80s, I don't remember the year, but I was enlightened

  • @WGBHMusic
    @WGBHMusic Před 11 lety +35

    The slide guitar works so perfectly with his voice & guitar playing. Lovely stuff.

  • @rbsz6202
    @rbsz6202 Před 10 měsíci +6

    Can't believe I missed this. Billy is a legend. We've been singing his version of the internationale every Friday evening at the bar for years.

  • @HGPTW
    @HGPTW Před 11 lety +18

    One of the UK's musical heroes - telling it as straight to you in the US (about universal healthcare) as he has for many years over here! One of the best; well done, Billy!

  • @yerk3
    @yerk3 Před 11 lety +39

    Billy Bragg looks like he's slowly metamorphosing into Davos Seaworth.

  • @ba7926
    @ba7926 Před 3 lety +9

    Billy Bragg is one of the greatest, well, of my time alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @troybaugh4490
    @troybaugh4490 Před 9 lety +25

    Now this in an amazing little find just browsing around the site on an insomniac night. Billy's always been a treasure, and to see that after all these years he's still in fine form is a true treat. A man, his guitar and the truth: can you beat that?

  • @suegha
    @suegha Před 11 lety +9

    I have been a fan of Billy Bragg for 30 years, he just gets better and better!

  • @moblackledge
    @moblackledge Před 3 měsíci +2

    Loved him since the 80’s.

  • @suzannejarvie6394
    @suzannejarvie6394 Před 9 lety +41

    I hope I can eventually fulfill my dream of singing a duet with this man on Between the Wars - one of the most beautiful songs ever written.

  • @adamb.2964
    @adamb.2964 Před 8 lety +20

    I wish I was there. Been a longtime fan of NPR but this just gives them an instant 100 points in my book. Go Billy!

  • @tobylowe4482
    @tobylowe4482 Před rokem +4

    Oh Billy. Thank you x 1000 times. You helped me shape my ideals through my life. You are a marvellous individual.

  • @otto5723
    @otto5723 Před 7 lety +58

    I'm ashamed to say that I took a Billy Bragg hiatus for a few years... bad move. I'm back and loving it.

    • @desperatemohammedantheworl5833
      @desperatemohammedantheworl5833 Před 5 lety

      I've taken a 44 years and counting Billy Bragg hiatus. The guy could write the best song ever but I wouldn't care because he's such an arrogant champagne socialist tool.

    • @folksnake
      @folksnake Před 4 lety

      @@desperatemohammedantheworl5833 What brings you here?

    • @desperatemohammedantheworl5833
      @desperatemohammedantheworl5833 Před 4 lety

      @@folksnake The "you might also like" bar.

    • @folksnake
      @folksnake Před 4 lety +1

      @@desperatemohammedantheworl5833 I guess they need to replace 'also' with 'not'

    • @guidoparco2851
      @guidoparco2851 Před 4 lety +3

      That's all good. Art comes and goes in and out of favour. Not a bad move, just a move you took at the time that's what art is supposed to do. Some of the best artists whom are godley idols in the infamy they creat, it goes to their heads. And then they turn again. Sometimes our appreciation of art changes because of what's happening in our own world. That's the beauty of art, the paradigm shifts continuously depending on our notion of what we as individuals are experiencing.

  • @brewster8
    @brewster8 Před 3 lety +3

    Love Billy. Can't wait for the autumn gigs

  • @RamblinAround
    @RamblinAround Před 11 lety +8

    Excellent!

  • @notsureonnameyet633
    @notsureonnameyet633 Před 3 lety +6

    the one and only bill bragg. I love him so much, legend

  • @thomasvello-xamon7732
    @thomasvello-xamon7732 Před 2 lety +6

    wheres billy bragg now??we need him more then ever!!

    • @Kiwigd
      @Kiwigd Před rokem

      Currently touring, due here in NZ in Feb ‘22

    • @daviecrocket9160
      @daviecrocket9160 Před rokem

      @@Kiwigd oh you guys really need him right now hahaha BlackRock got ya by the balls

  • @thomasdungl8493
    @thomasdungl8493 Před 2 lety +1

    Very fine and great session, thank you so much for sharing !

  • @chezza2412
    @chezza2412 Před 9 lety +3

    Billy you are great!! Am learning your songs thank you for some off the best music I have lisend to in my life!! Thank you'd

  • @ouchalargerock
    @ouchalargerock Před 3 lety +4

    a real inspiration of a person

  • @masollat
    @masollat Před 8 lety +2

    Brilliant. And ever pertinent.

  • @jamescassidy5852
    @jamescassidy5852 Před 11 měsíci

    Love your down to earth music. Thanks Billy.

  • @jesusquinteromena1789
    @jesusquinteromena1789 Před 11 lety +2

    New offices! Congratulations. I hope everybody are fine and happy. I love what you do. Greetings from Mexico City.

  • @LuisFernando-bn6wt
    @LuisFernando-bn6wt Před 4 lety +1

    Great Billy Bragg!

  • @Osteopathy
    @Osteopathy Před 3 lety +2

    Excellent performance!

  • @Giantcappuccino
    @Giantcappuccino Před 7 lety +3

    Billy Bragg is so much better live, just him and his guitar. Love this!

  • @betterthantelly2993
    @betterthantelly2993 Před 5 lety +1

    10 out of 9. I got trapsed around Glc functions in the 80s and I remember well as a 10 year old your sincerity and I'm finding you Again. Thank you.

  • @colleygate
    @colleygate Před 10 lety +8

    just pure class really

  • @MoiraRussell
    @MoiraRussell Před 11 lety +2

    Amazing!

  • @volkwino
    @volkwino Před 8 lety +2

    so great!!

  • @ddc9817
    @ddc9817 Před 2 lety +1

    Uncle Billy! I love this man.

  • @77inthedark
    @77inthedark Před 11 lety +16

    started this while in the shower...started it again when I got out just to watch the full thing - start to finish.
    gotta give the guy some credit for singing about sexual rights with such plain and blunt language. Plus the song is over 20 years old! So relevant with recent supreme court ruling in America!
    One of the few NRP TDCs I have enjoyed from start to finish. Wonderful

  • @tomlovesyou7180
    @tomlovesyou7180 Před 8 lety +5

    Billy is the best

  • @vickylikesthis
    @vickylikesthis Před 11 lety

    Love this.

  • @bronyr
    @bronyr Před 9 lety

    So sorry I missed this. Love BB.

  • @warrenm3542
    @warrenm3542 Před 5 měsíci

    The banter elevates the music

  • @mateusoliveira7556
    @mateusoliveira7556 Před 2 lety +1

    Wonderful liric. I listen um my workplace and is very Good. Bless for you brother

  • @Aldeus509
    @Aldeus509 Před 6 lety +3

    I've been very late on this great musician. I really like him and think like my favorite rocker "The Boss"" this guy is also great.

  • @colintook3357
    @colintook3357 Před 2 lety +2

    I ain't got no home in this world any more.... I know the feeling.

  • @jkhristian9603
    @jkhristian9603 Před 8 lety

    Awesome!

  • @nopasta922
    @nopasta922 Před 6 lety +1

    this made me happy. i can't change everything. you made my life better.

  • @harkcali
    @harkcali Před měsícem

    ❤coming to see you in Sac soon Billy 💥💥💥

  • @joseespinoza6283
    @joseespinoza6283 Před 9 lety +6

    Greetings from Venezuela Billy. Nice performance!

    • @pauljones5066
      @pauljones5066 Před 5 lety

      mismo es en Venezuela ahora? Todia via con revolucion Guevara Bolivar Chavez ?

  • @mossy1s
    @mossy1s Před 7 lety

    Love it

  • @heidiannemorris
    @heidiannemorris Před 11 lety +1

    AWESOME ♥

  • @ciropalumbo8087
    @ciropalumbo8087 Před 9 lety +2

    I love BB

  • @chroniclesofbap6170
    @chroniclesofbap6170 Před 4 lety

    Big hugs, Billy.

  • @richieroma
    @richieroma Před 11 lety +4

    this man is a living saint. Bow down before him.

  • @thiagofavoretto4072
    @thiagofavoretto4072 Před 4 lety +2

    Salute for Brazil

  • @Ancientchicken1
    @Ancientchicken1 Před 6 lety

    Billy Bragg pure class

  • @allandrummond8028
    @allandrummond8028 Před 9 lety +1

    Rediscovered billy again via this newish song

  • @jayp.1145
    @jayp.1145 Před 3 lety +1

    This should have at least twenty million more views.

  • @lorig2828
    @lorig2828 Před 5 lety

    I smiled during this entire video

  • @Cashdekiller
    @Cashdekiller Před 5 lety +4

    Why is this man not so much more popular around the world? He definitely deserves it, what a show!

  • @davidcarlson1208
    @davidcarlson1208 Před 7 lety +1

    great !! hope to see him! K

  • @michaelmcdonald9814
    @michaelmcdonald9814 Před 5 lety +1

    Better every time, Glasgow loves you.

  • @Abert32
    @Abert32 Před 11 lety +3

    I wonder what its like to be able to sing that effortlessly...

  • @BeatkidsBerlin
    @BeatkidsBerlin Před 11 lety +1

    Yeah, you slow the world! That's relaxed. Big like, BEATKIDS Berlin, Germany

  • @OttobreMusic
    @OttobreMusic Před 11 lety +1

    gran bel pezzo !

  • @muktimukti15revolutionrevo60

    ❤️❤️

  • @SondraSneed
    @SondraSneed Před 11 lety +2

    Writers get material from everywhere and I just got, "alteration trumps grammar every time!" Thanks for that!

  • @jimmyzbike
    @jimmyzbike Před 2 lety +2

    a true national treasure

    • @sderoski1
      @sderoski1 Před 6 měsíci

      A treasure for the whole world!

  • @heidiannemorris
    @heidiannemorris Před 11 lety +1

    beautiful catchlights in his eyes 16:09 :)

  • @LONEEAGLE_space_rock
    @LONEEAGLE_space_rock Před 8 lety +7

    i saw him live here in new zealand way back, must have been early 1990s, he had Johnny Marr with him on guitar, not completely sure but think it was JM from the Smiths. At the end they did a version of the Clash's Garageland

    • @Rustsamurai1
      @Rustsamurai1 Před 5 lety

      Wellington Town Hall?

    • @RF-us4yw
      @RF-us4yw Před rokem

      Read Johnny Marr biography. He collaborated with Billy on a lot of Billy’s work. I’d say “ Yes” that Johnny Marr.

  • @edison3615
    @edison3615 Před 4 lety +12

    Billy Bragg’s son is my school principle.

  • @rowinggorilla9437
    @rowinggorilla9437 Před 2 lety +1

    humility with so much talent and grace.

  • @rucksacks
    @rucksacks Před 2 lety

    Every second of this is absolutely lovely.

  • @robersoto76rgs
    @robersoto76rgs Před 10 lety +132

    I don´t know any bad song by Billy Bragg

    • @falseteeth5621
      @falseteeth5621 Před 9 lety +6

      They're all shit.

    • @rwdh199
      @rwdh199 Před 8 lety +10

      +Brennan Hilliard He forgot the word "the" before the word "shit." And if I am mistaken, I still laughed when I read "They're all shit." Then I laughed when you got defensive about it. I just laugh at god damn everything there is to be said in this world these days. Live, Laugh, Love... hahahahah fuck that is so fucking cliche and something I HATE when people say..... seemed ridiculously fitting in my comment. My comment is my own and because of that I think it is the best fucking comment in the entire god damn world and aint NO ONE gun'change that. Your comment was by far, the best comment in the entire world, according to you, and False's comment was BY FARRRRR the best comment in the entire bloody world. We're all so egotistical. I love you.

    • @ericfriedland-kays3103
      @ericfriedland-kays3103 Před 7 lety +4

      i totally agree with you robersoto ... Billy Bragg is so predictably offering us great catchy tunes, meaningful words, and deep feeling. Fun and meaningful, in my opinion, so so often. Thank you for your comment.

    • @karaloca
      @karaloca Před 6 lety +1

      False Teeth I’m with you, I’d file this under shit too.

    • @tommys88
      @tommys88 Před 6 lety +1

      all political ones...

  • @jonbarnhart1947
    @jonbarnhart1947 Před 10 lety +3

    @ Larry, it's a Gibson J-45

  • @yerdasellsavon9232
    @yerdasellsavon9232 Před 9 měsíci +2

    0:20 handyman blues
    4:50 I aint got no home in this world anymore
    11:20 sexuality
    16:30 no one knows nothing any more

  • @karaloca
    @karaloca Před 5 lety

    He's one of the people. honest.

  • @ronmiller811
    @ronmiller811 Před 11 lety +1

    Wow, Is he ever charming.

  • @larryolson3309
    @larryolson3309 Před 10 lety

    Just wonderful. Tell me which Gibson guitar Billy has, model and year. He makes it sound so beautiful.

  • @PickeringSamuel
    @PickeringSamuel Před 7 měsíci +1

    The Handyman of Human Kindness

  • @spectralmelodies5979
    @spectralmelodies5979 Před 4 lety +1

    I got an ad in the middle of "I aint got no home" how appropriate.

  • @pidedpiper2832
    @pidedpiper2832 Před 4 lety +2

    theres no music except the blues we all live in the blues. dont we>>>>>>

  • @willsmith9325
    @willsmith9325 Před 5 měsíci

    the internationale
    unites world in song 💕

  • @ernestmaciel
    @ernestmaciel Před 11 lety +3

    I'm not your handyman. I'm your milkman.

  • @westonshumaker6231
    @westonshumaker6231 Před 4 lety +1

    Oh man Billy you can't let the banging of a hammer bother a man in your position.

  • @whitelight7733
    @whitelight7733 Před 9 lety +1

    ....& this is how music talks to you...but they were busy ...building something...

  • @pidedpiper2832
    @pidedpiper2832 Před 4 lety +1

    for the Folks like us

  • @mateusoliveira7556
    @mateusoliveira7556 Před 2 lety +1

    P.S. i listening in Brazil. Sai hello to us

  • @stevemel908
    @stevemel908 Před 4 lety

    Uncle Bill a genius

  • @LoLoo-wg3wj
    @LoLoo-wg3wj Před 3 lety

    william should be an actor; looking good my brother.

  • @nickfromCO
    @nickfromCO Před 11 lety +3

    the thumbnail made this guy look just like matt berninger from The National

  • @huldraslaat225
    @huldraslaat225 Před 11 lety +2

    does anyone know what kind of slide he's using?

  • @rich3371
    @rich3371 Před 4 lety

    Funny how every single thing he said he couldn't on the handyman song I've done before- I guess we're polar opposites, ha ha. Great songs BTW

  • @DavidKroll
    @DavidKroll Před 6 lety +8

    "Alliteration trumps grammah." I'm using that!

  • @ebel74
    @ebel74 Před 4 lety +5

    00:18 Handyman Blues
    07:38 I aint got now Home
    11:30 Sexuality
    17:05 No one knows nothing anymore

  • @CaLebHillSmallMt
    @CaLebHillSmallMt Před 11 lety +1

    what is the friar from van helsing doing playing dobro here?!

  • @cameronhollbeck3765
    @cameronhollbeck3765 Před 10 lety +1

    Dammit! I misread the title. I thought it was Bill Bailey! What with the B's and everything

  • @paulwilkinson7144
    @paulwilkinson7144 Před rokem

    I love Billy Bragg. He reminds me of my happy childhood. He does whinge on a bit though..

  • @ade1963
    @ade1963 Před rokem

    Pass the hat round 🤣

  • @bradbennett9970
    @bradbennett9970 Před 5 lety +2

    I wish I had the balls to sing my own songs. X

  • @drewanderson7396
    @drewanderson7396 Před 10 lety +1

    Contd...the lyrics are just that :about embarrassment..a Song ive always loved of billys..what, i wonder brings

  • @philg379
    @philg379 Před 10 lety +1

    He actually said 'alliteration trumps grammar'

  • @jagarfi
    @jagarfi Před 6 lety +1

    what if our ancestors had stayed up in the trees? would we still be weighed down by these worries? nobody knows nothing anymore...

  • @msimonse
    @msimonse Před 10 měsíci

    ...I saw two shooting stars last night
    I wished on them but they were only satellites, BB too fine.

  • @celticgodsoriginal
    @celticgodsoriginal Před 8 lety +1

    CJ see Jerry

  • @SondraSneed
    @SondraSneed Před 10 lety +1

    Yes, that was a spelling corrector error - I meant to write alliteration, but then it looks silly to go back and say "'alliteration,' I meant." So I just thought, ehhhphf, and moved away.