White Stripes Toast Conan, Avoid Bursting Into Tears

The White Stripes reunite, play saddest song in the world.

For Conan O’Brien’s final Late Night show, he probably could have gotten any musical guest he wanted, including Bruce Springsteen. After all, E Street drummer Max Weinberg is right there.

But instead, O’Brien chose the White Stripes, the Detroit duo who last performed live in 2007 (the Stripes retired from the road citing Meg White’s “accute anxiety.”) O’Brien and the band have maintained a close working relationship over the years – the comedian even appears in the Stripe’s video for “The Denial Twist.”

On Friday, the White Stripes reunited to toast O’Brien, performing their 2001 song “We’re Going To Be Friends,” with Meg White accompanying Jack White on guitar and vocals.

Usually a happy little song, the Stripes played up the pathos, turning in the saddest reading of “We’re Going To Be Friends” you’ll likely ever hear, with Jack nearing tears at one point.

Instant Internet reaction was mixed — some found the performance painful, while others found it to be genius. O’Brien appeared to enjoy it, telling the band their performance meant the world to him. Earlier, he told Rolling Stone about his connection to the red and white musicians:

“There has always been a childlike silliness to our show, and I’d like to think there’s been a silly sweetness to our show. There’s a sweetness to the White Stripes – there’s the hard rock but there’s this sweetness that I think resonates a little bit with our show and it’s always been a good fit.”

O’Brien, a talented musician himself, likes to play “We’re Going to Be Friends” on guitar to disolve tension during rehearsals.

“It’s in G. G and D are my favorite chords.”

Check out the band’s performance, via Stereogum: