Late night TV talk shows have always been fertile ground for great musical performances, and this year proved no different. From the Foo Fighters' touching farewell for David Letterman to Adele's Roots accompanied kiddie instrument cover of "Hello" on The Tonight Show, 2015 was filled with its fair share of great gigs. Here are some of our standout picks featuring Kendrick Lamar, Tracy Chapman and Beach House.
Adele Featuring Jimmy Fallon & The Roots - "Hello" (Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon)
By now, this video needs no introduction. To celebrate the release of her record-breaking album 25, Adele enlisted the aid of Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon and his house band The Roots to craft this playful rendition of the record's first single, and her iconic flip phone even makes an appearance.
Beach House - "One Thing" (Late Show With Stephen Colbert)
2015 was a huge year for Alex Scally and Victoria LeGrand, the Baltimore duo behind dream pop outfit Beach House. In August, the pair released their fifth album, Depression Cherry, to strong reviews from critics. Two months later, they shocked fans by releasing another full-length album, the equally well-received Thank Your Lucky Stars. This October performance on the Late Show With Stephen Colbert, which features a rare glimpse at LeGrand on guitar, was another highlight of the band's big year.
Kendrick Lamar - "To Pimp a Butterfly Medley" (Late Show with Stephen Colbert)
Grammy frontrunner and current king of rap Kendrick Lamar helped usher in the Stephen Colbert era at the Late Show by playing four songs from To Pimp a Butterfly: "Wesley's Theory", "Momma", "King Kunta", and "u."
Foo Fighters - "Everlong" (Late Show with David Letterman)
One of the biggest stories in late night was the end of David Letterman's 22-year reign at the desk of the Late Show. To commemorate his successful tenure, Foo Fighters graced the stage on his final show to deliver this stirring performance set against a career-spanning video montage of Letterman's finest moments.
Tracy Chapman - "Stand by Me" (Late Show with David Letterman)
Another highlight from Letterman's last days was this touching performance from Tracy Chapman. The reclusive singer-songwriter made a rare appearance on American TV in order to serenade Dave with one of his favorite songs, the Ben E. King classic "Stand by Me."
