The 25 Best Live Performances of 2009

When it was announced that Jimmy Fallon would take over Late Night I thought it was the bad idea to end all bad ideas. When he finally took over the desk that was basically was the case. One bright spot was the Fallon brought on The Roots as his house band leading to many once in a lifetime collaborations, five of which landed on the list this year. Unfortunately copyright restrictions keep some of these performances hard to find, but I have linked the ones I could find.


1. Let’s Go Crazy – Incubus and The Roots (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)



2. Cowboy Casanova – Carrie Underwood (American Country Awards)



3. Lost/Viva la Vida - Coldplay and Jay-Z (Grammy Awards)

4. Ride Like the Wind – Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald and The Roots (Jimmy Fallon)

5. Da Rockwilder / I’ll Be There for You / You’re All I Need to Get By – Redman, Method Man and Mary J. Blige (Hip Hop Honor)

6. 15 Steps - Radiohead and the USC Marching Band (Grammy Awards)

7. You Belong with Me – Taylor Swift (MTV Video Music Awards)

8. So What’cha Want – Beastie Boys and the Roots (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

9. Medley - Bruce Springsteen (2009 Super Bowl)

10. East Jesus Nowhere – Green Day (MTV Video Music Awards)

11. Train Kept a Rollin – Metallica, Jeff Beck, Flea, Jimmy Paige, Joe Perry (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction)

12. No Sleep till Brooklyn – Wale, KRS-One, and Gym Class Heroes (Hip Hop Honor)

13. Use Somebody – Kings of Leon (MTV Movie Awards)

14. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffet and The Roots (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

15. Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z and Alicia Keys (MTV Video Music Awards)

16. Bo Diddly - B.B. King, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, and Keith Urban (Grammy Awards)

17. Lady of My Life – Maxwell (Grammy Nomination Special)

18. Party Up (Up in Here) – DMX and Gym Class Heroes (Hip Hop Honor)

19. Chasing Pavements - Adele and Sugarland (Grammy Awards)

20. Enter Sandman/Master of Puppets – Metallica (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

21. Regulate – Warren G and Trey Songz (Hip Hop Honor)

22. Amen/All Summer Long/Rock & Roll Jesus - Kid Rock (Grammy Awards)

23. Barely in Love – Q-Tip and the Roots (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

24. Four Tops Medley - Duke Farik, Smokey Robinson, Jamie Foxx, and Ne-Yo (Grammy Awards)

25. Rebel Without a Pause – Public Enemy, The Roots and the Street Sweeper Social Club (Hip Hop Honor)