Sure, politics makes strange bedfellows. But so does late-night TV. Case in point: The eclectic musical roster brought together on Wednesday’s shows. Let’s start with the most potent, topical and yes, political performance of the night: Rapper Chika’s powerful delivery of Rachey v. Alabama on Jimmy Kimmel Live (followed by her second song No Squares). From there, pull a hard right — sonically, stylistically and sartorially — to catch Billy Ray Cyrus making like a cross between Kris Kristofferson and Preacher’s Saint of Killers during his dusty, haunting ballad I’ve Been Around on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Then swing around again for classical piano virtuoso Lang Lang, masterfully tossing off a medley of Chopsticks, Variation in C and Maple Leaf Rag for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. After all that musical headspinning, you might want to end on more stable, conventional turf — so enjoy L.A. indie outfit Feels, playing Car and Find a Way on Last Call With Carson Daly. Say what you will, it was not a predictable night. Or a boring one.
https://youtu.be/T9NrkXGyuok
https://youtu.be/k3_4T0aTRAM
https://youtu.be/gBLM3kTp9JI
https://youtu.be/WaAML1Cf8RM
