Charlie Puth put in more than a double shift this morning, June 30, on the “Today” show. The 25-year-old is used to hard work. The New Jersey native has been creating his own brand of songs that utilize his soulful, perfect pitch and voice to the fullest. For the morning, he played the part of co-host with Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, and Dylan Dreyer, and Charlie was fast on his feet with segues and playful banter. The prodigious Puth even provided some on-the-spot tutorials, along with talking about his early years promoting his own music. He played a set with styles for everyone and pleased his female following especially.
The truth about the turtle
Charlie Puth got congratulations all around from his co-hosts, showing the ranking for his latest single, “Attention” among the hot hits from his own phone. The notice prompted the artist to clarify one of those issues that plagues every composer—getting his words right. The composer noted that he always hears fans singing “throw a turtle on my knee” in the new song when the words are actually “throwing dirt on my name.”
The lyrical confusion will likely go down in an illustrious history for the Berklee College of Music graduate in music engineering and production. It’s hardly a wonder that Charlie Puth incorporates such a fusion of styles. He excelled as a piano major and classical studies minor in his pre-college program at Manhattan School of Music.
Charlie charged into the bass-heavy tune that revolves around lovers’ jealousy a little later, and ladies who filled the front railings sang every word. Charlie Puth even gave a lesson in beat-boxing.
Charlie explained how the inspiration for his upcoming second album, “Voice Notes,” arose on train rides or walks while he was in Tokyo, without a laptop or studio gear.
He would sing beats into his phone to save them, and fill in the body for each song later. Dylan asked how a beat came on, and instantly, Charlie Puth proceeded to beat-box. Al and Sheinelle chimed in as back-up for Dylan, but the power came from Charlie.
More from the stage
Charlie Puth has been writing music since he was a child, and launched his own YouTube channel in 2009.
He got noticed by Ellen DeGeneres for his renditions of Adele’s songs, but his breakout year was 2015, when his song with Wiz Khalifa, “See You Again” paid fitting tribute to actor Paul Walker in “Furious 7.” “One Call Away” was a monster hit for the exuberant musician, and equally well received by fans at Rockefeller Plaza.
More songs from his first album, “Nine Track Mind,” were included in the performance. Earlier in the morning, Charlie Puth reminisced about being his 12-year-old self, selling his self-produced Christmas album door-to-door. He sold 600 copies -- that's not bad for someone so young. “Suffering” and the sad-themed but up-beat “We Don't Talk Anymore” show that lots of practice and hard work make the reward that much richer.
