As someone who feels like they live in the subway system (I take it ALLL the time), I can definitely appreciate a good busker or musician. The moment that music hits my ears, it immediately makes my commute just a little more colorful. It has to be the acoustics that come with being underground, or maybe it’s the spontaneity of hearing a song unexpectedly. Either way, a good act can stop you dead in your tracks.
And this act is definitely one I’d stop to listen to. First of all, it’s a good song, and secondly, they look like they just stepped out of the 1970s. This commute is already starting to get a little better, and then they reveal themselves, and that’s when things get extra exciting.
Unbeknownst to any of the passers-by, Jimmy Fallon is totally disguised along with Adam Levine and James Valentine from Maroon 5. All three are decked out in hats, sunglasses, long beards and baggy clothes, rendering them almost completely unrecognizable. The trio is at the 50th St subway station, below the Rockefeller Center, and they are ready to have some fun!
They’ve got a drummer on upturned buckets while James rocks out on the guitar and Adam and Jimmy rip through the vocals. They’re doing a little retro version of Elvis Presley’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and it’s already pretty good! People are taking a time out from their travels to stop and have a listen. Adam’s Elvis voice is bang on, and he sings the song really well. When they’re done, Jimmy takes over and breaks into the reveal, “We’re going to do just one more song for you guys, uh, but first I’d like to say I’m Jimmy Fallon and this is Maroon 5!!!” He rips off his fake beard and hat.
The band is now back to normal as they break into the Maroon 5 hit song, “Sugar.” The crowd is so happy and thrilled that they were able to catch this one-of-a-kind, impromptu performance. And they’re so good live! These guys put on a great show and it immediately collects a huge audience. It looks like every person in the station dropped what they were doing when Jimmy made the reveal. It looks like so much fun and without frills. I mean, there’s a guy banging buckets and Jimmy is singing back up vocals. Does it get any more random? What a great little act!
Click on the video below to watch another great NYC Subway Busking segment brought to you by the Jimmy Fallon Show
