Charlie Wilson Tiny Desk AI: Take His Spot at the Desk

Every AI Tiny Desk video borrows one moment: Charlie Wilson closing his NPR Tiny Desk concert with "Outstanding", laughing through the song with a full band behind him. If you want a friend in his spot rather than in a band of coaches, this page shows how.

Which Tiny Desk this is

NPR Music published Charlie Wilson's Tiny Desk concert on June 5, 2023, as part of its Black Music Month series. The set list, in order:

1. "Charlie, Last Name Wilson"
2. "Computer Love"
3. "There Goes My Baby"
4. "I'm Blessed"
5. "Yearning For Your Love"
6. "Sweet Yamz"
7. "Outstanding"

Wilson is the lead singer of The Gap Band, which he formed with his brothers Robert and Ronnie. Hip-hop knows him as "Uncle Charlie", the voice on records with Snoop Dogg and many others. "Outstanding" is the Gap Band hit from their 1982 album Gap Band IV, and at the desk it is the closer: the band, his big laugh in close-up, then the sax solo. That ending is the Outstanding Tiny Desk meme.

Take his spot with The Original Desk

The Original Desk is our template made from the concert itself. It has two spots:

• The lead: Charlie Wilson's spot, in the blue beanie and sunglasses.
• The sax: the saxophone player who takes the solo.

Fill one or both. The clip runs about 14 seconds in 9:16, and whoever takes the lead gets the laugh close-up. People appear in the outfit from their own photo, not in Wilson's clothes, so the photo you pick decides the look.

Who to put in his spot

The lead is the star of the clip, so pick the person the joke is about:

• the friend who always grabs the mic at karaoke,
• the birthday person, or the one leaving the office,
• your team's captain, if they're in on it.

Everyone you add should be an adult who agreed to be in the video. Don't use photos of children, celebrities or anyone who would mind.

Want a bigger band?

The Original Desk holds two people. For a crew, the other desks hold four or five: the Coaches' Desk, Friends Band, College Teammates and Five Strangers. The AI Tiny Desk template guide compares them.

Photo tips for the lead

• One person, face sharp and looking roughly at the camera.
• Good light on the face; no sunglasses in the photo, even though Wilson wears them.
• Shoulders and outfit visible, since the clothes come from the photo.

Then follow the step-by-step guide or see the credit packs on the pricing page.