Have the walls of your house lost their lustre in the past couple of weeks due to social-distancing?
Do you long for the sweet embrace of your once-maligned office space?
We can't deliver the feeling of the uncomfortable wheely chair upon your back, but we can offer an alternative.
Moreover, do you have a craving for live music?
Do you long for the potential of contracting tinnitus due to an excessively loud soundsystem?
We can't bring you the feeling of incessant ringing, but we can offer you something along similar lines.
NPR's 'Tiny Desk' series brings some of the world's biggest acts into NPR's offices in Washington for an intimate live performance unlike any other.
Think of it like Bob Geldof and the rest of the Boomtown Rats setting up right beside the water cooler, and you had no choice but to experience it.
Thankfully, you can opt-in to these concerts, so you won't have to worry about hearing 'Rat Trap' whilst trying to fix an Excel spreadsheet.
There are loads of these videos, but we've chosen five of the best to keep you entertained.
The Roots ft Bilal
The Roots have enough members to get through a regular concert, there are an abundance of them. Then, for their Tiny Desk, they decided to enlist the help of R&B singer Bilal.
It works, though, with Bilal's soulful voice and Black Thought's intricate rhyme patterns tying together expertly. Furthermore, when you're kept in rhythm by Questlove, one of the greatest drummers ever, it's hard not to sound smooth.
But the highlight of the show is most definitely the brass section. They add a unique element to what is a very intimate setting, creating a bombastic soundscape in the process. Also, the tuba player, known hilariously as 'Tuba Gooding Jr.' plays non-stop throughout the performance. The man has no lungs.
Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals
This one is just pure unadulterated funk.
Anderson .Paak, despite being the star man, is the drummer in this one. Be prepared to watch a man try his best to keep the sound of his drumkit to a minimum so that other instruments and his vocals can be heard.
Might be the only time when a band full of lads wearing sunglasses indoors actually looked good. Either way, we dare you to not jam to this.
Hozier
Okay, it's true, we can't get enough of Hozier, especially after his performance on The Late Late Show.
This performance is nearly six years old, with the tunes taken from his debut album, and it's clear to see that he could captivate audiences for quite some time.
Also, watch out for his guitar playing on both 'To Be Alone' and 'Cherry Wine', keeping himself in check playing a bass note whilst simultaneously playing the guitar notes. It's very impressive and we're very impressed.
Lizzo
If 2019 was anyone's year, chances are it was probably Lizzo's.
The singer was everywhere, she even got herself a mural in Dublin city.
This Tiny Desk shows us exactly why, with earworm tunes delivered by an unmistakably brilliant vocal performance.
It's magnified in a setting like Tiny Desk, where it seems like she doesn't even need a mic to be heard.
Mac Miller
Mac Miller's untimely death at the age of 26 in September 2018, just a month after this performance was released, has catapulted this gig to legendary status.
It showcases Miller's growth over the course of his career to that point, becoming more evolved as an artist and as a man.
The final song, '2009', poignantly marks this evolution of Mac, from adolescent weed rapper to an adult with security in himself and his art.
There's also a guest appearance from bass guitarist Thundercat, who adds a wickedly funky dimension to the performance.
It's an amazing three-song salvo from an artist taken far before his time.
