The Roots really are one of the top 5 best bands in late night television. For my money, they are number one. The tops! One of the overwhelming favorites of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is the creativity and thought The Roots put in to deciding what songs to play as each guest walks on. Have you ever paid attention to that? It's a fun game to figure out why they chose what they chose. Sometimes it's obvious but sometimes it takes more thought to find the connection. Can you name why they played what they played? We've been keeping track of all the songs for you! Here's the most recently updated list:
JJ Abrams: Theme from Good Times
Colin Quinn: "Going Back To Brooklyn", Dave Van Ronk
Amy Poehler: "Palin Rap" from Saturday Night Live
Diego Luna & Gael Garcia: "We're A Winner", Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions
Martha Stewart: "Black Steel", Public Enemy
Mike Epps: "Lottery Song", Harry Nilsson
Zachary Quinto & Leonard Nimoy: "Brooklyn's Finest", 2Pac
Joan Rivers: "Poker Face", Lady GaGa
Rachael Ray: "Hey Good Lookin'", Ray Charles
Susan Sarandon: "Dammit Janet" from Rocky Horror Picture Show
Randy Jackson: "Get At Me Dog", DMX
Andy Samberg: "Good Vibrations", Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
Jorge Garcia: "Lost Ones", Jay-Z
Jane Krakowski: "Muffin Top" from 30 Rock
Jeff Probst: "Survival of the Fittest", Mobb Deep
Maya Rudolph: "Loving You", Minnie Ripperton
See the rest after the jump.
Damon Wayans, Jr.: "Move", Q-Tip
Shawn & Marlon Wayans: "Brother's Gonna Work It Out", Willy Hutch
Steve Kroft: Tick from 60 Minutes
Simon Baker: "Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time", The Delphonics
Carla Gugino: "Car Wash For Peace", Jimmy Fallon
Matt Lauer: "Today", Jefferson Airplane
Mary McCormack: "Mary Don't You Weep" (traditional)
Dana White: "Kung Fu Fighting", Carl Douglas
Jim Cramer: "Mo' Money Mo' Problems", Notorious B.I.G.
Bryce Dallas Howard: "Cap'n Save-A-Ho", E40
Keith Olbermann: "Final Countdown", Europe
Sig Hansen: "Water", The Roots
Kiefer Sutherland: "Bang Your Head", Quiet Riot
Ivanka Trump: "Rich Girl", Gwen Stefani
Beastie Boys: "The New Style", Beastie Boys
The Amazing Kreskin: "Welcome Back" from Welcome Back, Kotter
Whoopi Goldberg: "Sound of the Police", KRS-One
Stephen Baldwin: "Jive Talkin'", The Bee Gees
Brooke Shields: "Hello Brooklyn", Jay-Z
Kris Allen: "Champion", Kanye West
Chris Hardwick: "Web", The Roots
Jack McBrayer: "Top That", Teen Witch
Janeane Garofalo: "Fight the Power", Public Enemy
Justin Long: "Computer Love", Zapp
Tony Hawk: "Kick Push", Lupe Fiasco
Nacho Figueras: "Wild Horses", Rolling Stones
Anne Hathaway: "Won't Get Fooled Again", The Who
Will Forte: "MacGruber" from Saturday Night Live
Steve Martin: "The Steve Martin", EPMD
Paul Simon: "Take Me to the Mardi Gras", Paul Simon
Vanessa L. Williams: "Black Betty", Ram Jam
Danny McBride: Theme from Land of the Lost
Sean Riley: "Summertime", DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Jessica Biel: "Is She Really Going Out With Him", Joe Jackson
Rachel Dratch: "Poor Rachel", The Roots
Bradley Cooper: "In The Air Tonight", Phil Collins
Denise Richards: "Wild Thing", The Troggs
Kelly Ripa: "The Kelly Song", Woody Boyd
Mark-Paul Gosselaer: Theme from Saved by the Bell
Will Ferrell: "Don't Fear the Reaper", Blue Oyster Cult
Kyra Sedgwick: "Mrs. Officer", Lil' Wayne
John Krasinski: "Lovefool", The Cardigans
Stephen Moyer: "One Blood", Junior Reid
Betty White: "Golden Lady", Stevie Wonder
Opie and Anthony: "On the Radio", Donna Summer
Jarod Miller: "I'm an Animal", Sly & The Family Stone
Mary J. Blige: "Mary Jane", Rick James
Harold Ramis: "Ghostbusters", Ray Parker Jr.
Matthew Broderick: "Oh Yeah", Yello
Heidi & Spencer Pratt: "Loser", Beck
Horatio Sanz: "The Touch of Cotton", Aaron Neville
Selena Gomez: "The Angry Song" from Barney
Al Roker: "Roker Roker", N.W.A.
Joshua Topolsky: "Mr. Telephone Man", New Edition
Ryan Reynolds: "Ex to the Next", Gang Starr
Lauren Conrad: "Doo Wop (That Thing)", Lauryn Hill
Jeff Goldbum: "You Ain't Fly", The Roots
Mike Birbiglia: "Talking In Your Sleep", The Romantics
Tamra Davis: "Samson's Rap", Dave Chappelle
John Leguizamo: "The Pest Theme", John Leguizamo
Nick Cannon: "Cannonball", The Breeders
Abigail Breslin: "Superfreak", Rick James
James Purefoy: "Give It Away", Red Hot Chili Peppers
Blake Griffin: "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh", Bell and James
Richard Branson: "Like A Virgin", Madonna
Dwight Howard: "Superman Lover", Johnny Guitar Watson
Neil deGrasse Tyson: "Starz", Jaylib
Tiger Woods: Theme from Woody Woodpecker
Evan Rachel Wood: Theme from Woody Woodpecker
Cameron Diaz: "Dancin' Machine", The Jackson Five
Universal Records Database: "Beat It", Michael Jackson
More Roots Walk on Music coming soon!
