Besties With Jesse

Hey guys, what's up?

Sometime last year, I got bored once again. As such, I decide to compile every song that had been performed on Nickelodeon's U-Pick Live (2002 - 2005).

Please note that this list might be incomplete, as not every show is available online, and not every musician who appeared also performed a song. Not only that, but while a decent amount of the shows are online in one way or another, I still have yet to sift through them all.

Additionally, just like the Fridays playlist, some of the songs are not available to listen to on Spotify (i.e. Wakefield, Nuttin' But Stringz).

Regardless, here's a list of the songs in the playlist, as well as the date of performance for each:

1. Goodbye to You by Michelle Branch (December 3, 2002)

2. Innocence by Hootie & The Blowfish (March 11, 2003)

3. Couch Potato ("Lose Yourself" Parody) by "Weird Al" Yankovic (August 17, 2003) (I wasn't sure whether or not to add this, since it was performed on Nickelodeon Magazine's 10th Anniversary special, and not U-Pick Live; however, it was hosted by U-Pick's Brent and Candace, and every other U-Pick cast member appears in it, so I'll let it slide)

4. School of Rock by the Cast of School of Rock (October 13, 2003)

5. Wild One by Wakefield (October 21, 2003) (SONG UNAVAILABLE)

6. Come On by Ben Jelen (February 19, 2004)

7. Penny & Me by Hanson (March 22, 2004)

8. Leave (Get Out) by JoJo (May 17, 2004)

9. Curbside Prophet by Jason Mraz (June 1, 2004)

9a. Miles by Moto Star (aka Brent's band) (June 1, 2004) (SONG ISN'T EVEN LISTED)

10. Accidentally In Love by Counting Crows (June 2, 2004)

11. I Don't Want to Be - Gavin DeGraw (June 3, 2004)

12. My Happy Ending by Avril Lavigne (June 4, 2004) (there was an acoustic version on Spotify, and since she performed this acoustically on U-Pick Live, I decided to include it here)

13. Pick Me by The Pickles (June 4, 2004) (the version on Spotify has different vocals, but you can listen to the original version over on SoundCloud)

14. Slide Along Side by Shifty (June 8, 2004)

15. Our Lives by The Calling (June 9, 2004)

16. Christine by Ben Jelen (June 11, 2004)

17. Rescue by Uncle Kracker (June 14, 2004)

18. Dreams by Diana DeGarmo (June 15, 2004)

19. Star by Tamyra Gray (June 16, 2004)

20. Pick Me by The Pickles (June 17, 2004) (the version on Spotify has different vocals, but you can listen to the original version over on SoundCloud)

21. Everything by Alanis Morissette (June 18, 2004)

22. Walk Tall by John Mellencamp (October 21, 2004)

23. Welcome to My Life by Simple Plan (October 27, 2004)

24. 1985 by Bowling For Soup (October 29, 2004)

25. True by Ryan Cabrera (November 11, 2004)

26. Jetpack by Jill Sobule (January 11, 2005)

27. Emotional by Diana DeGarmo (January 12, 2005)

28. Beautiful Soul by Jesse McCartney (January 17, 2005)

29. She Said by Brie Larson (February 10, 2005)

30. Down We Fall by Drake Bell (March 10, 2005)

31. All I Do by B5 (March 16, 2005)

32. Thunder by Nuttin' But Stringz (April 13, 2005) (SONG UNAVAILABLE)

33. Close by The Blackout Effect (May 17, 2005)

34. If Only I Knew by As Fast As (May 18, 2005)

roxas as jesse mccartney

So it’s 2001, and my family drives from fucking California and like three blizzards to get to Ohio for thanksgiving, becuase my grandparents are moving into a nursing home and it’s their last holiday in that house.  So its a bit bittersweet but ultimately a good thing.

Since it’s their last holiday there, the family pulls out all the stops when it comes to dinner, all the Russian desserts come out, as does the Lethal Bacon Mashed Potatoes and the horrible candied yams with the mini marshmallows dish because not all expressions of love are good, even if they are sincere.  In the spirit of going all-out, Uncle Bobby smokes a Turkey.  

Uncle Bobby started cooking as a boy scout by tossing foil-wrapped potatoes into a campfire and has been addicted since, and now has a hand-made smokehouse in the backyard where he makes various cured meats and other delights.  He seasons the turkey in the traditional manner, but he and grandpa have a shared passion for a spicier mesquite-style bird, so Bobby makes a Cornish Game Hen seasoned that way, for them.

Then Bobby has a Brilliant Idea.  He realizes that he can stuff the turkey (once it has been smoked) with regular stuffing, and there is still plenty of room for him to put the game hen inside THAT, and stuff the game hen becuase why not?  He confers with Mom, and she explains how to cut open the turkey so there’s  dramatic reveal as the stuffing and game hen come out.  It’s Genius.

Except, of course, that my Aunt Sue is attending, Uncle Cliff slouching after her.

So the day of the dinner, tensions are running a bit high, between the marathon cooking, the kids all being trapped indoors due to aforementioned blizzards, and Uncle Cliff deciding that the best way to amuse himself is by hiding from the adults in the basement, getting drunk and rambling about how various ethic groups were destroying America.  Being that I had close Muslim friends that were leaving the country becuase of 9/11, I was near tears from this nonsense and ready to fight a man roughly five times my size.  

Sue, for some reason, keeps coming down and defending him, or telling us we’re rotten children for ‘attacking’ him, becuase she Must Stand By Her Man, even if her man is a hefty bag of dog feces with an ugly mustache.

My sister eventually bolts upstairs to tattle and my grandfather limps down to the basement and brandishes his Hip-Bone Cane, hands rock-steady in spite of the Parkinson’s slowly taking over him.

“Firstly Cliff, It may not be my roof much longer but while you are under it you will be civil, or I’ll beat your skull in.  Also, dinner’s ready, everyone go wash up.”

We go upstairs and sit down, and do the traditional “Name one thing you’re thankful for” as the bread gets passed around the table, and things calm down a bit.  Bobby brings out the Turkey and everyone goes OOH becuase it’s really pretty, them Mom carves it open so that the stuffing spills out dramatically along with the game hen and there’s an appreciative gasp all around becuase it looks cool.

Only Sue KEEPS gasping, in utter horror, before getting up and clasping her hands to her face ala Edvard Munch and shrieks-

“OH MY GOD IT WAS PREGNANT!”

We all stare at Sue.  We all look back at the fully-dressed-cooked-and-stuffed birds that in no way had any internal organs in them or ever gave live birth. Then we all looked back at Sue, trying to figure out where to begin but since she’d been trying to justify Cliff’s behavior she was pretty much free-associating conspiracies and scandals now, and just kept going.

“IT WAS PREGNANT MY GOD WE’VE COMMITTED AN ABORTION WE’RE ALL GOING TO HELL FOR THIS, I’M SO SORRY JESUS-” She goes into full pearl-clutching gibbering horror at this point and falls back into her chair like it’s a Victorian fainting couch only it’s a shitty chair from the Eisenhower administration so it collapses and she slams into the floor, sobbing and kicking her feet like a toddler.

Everyone watched for a moment before my Mom sighs heavily and starts carving and serving the turkey while my grandmother mouths “she’s not coming back”.   

Cliff, reactions delayed by about six beers, finally notices his wife is on the floor and tries to pick her up, falls on his ass himself.  They are assisted by Dad, who is saintly patient man and less immune to this jacknapery at that point. I am stuffing dinner rolls into my face to keep from laughing at this grand spectacle and it’s not working.

“I CAN’T EAT IT, I REFUSE TO PARTAKE IN THIS BARBARISM-”  Sue begins but Dad puts on his best Kindly Father voice (he was heavily involved with the catholic church and even considered becoming a priest before getting drafted but that’s another story) and assures Sue that she need not eat, or even be in the room if she wants.  She nods, placated by being the center of attention again, and Dad goes in for the kill.

“I wouldn’t want you to go hungry.  Can I make you some Eggs?”

“That would be lovely.” Said Sue, joke flying over her head like a boeing 747.  I recall watching my grandmother nearly choke to death on the green beans over that, and everyone pointedly trying to avoid talking about anything poultry-related while Sue sat there and ate the most ironic scrambled eggs in the history of mankind.

Shortly thereafter, Cliff threw up in the sink and they went home, and the party got underway properly, with Grandpa raising a toast to Mom and Uncle Bobby “For marrying well, for a change” “Pregnant Turkey” has been an Ohioan thanksgiving staple since then.  I’ll see if I can hit Uncle Bobby up for instructions but if you decide to make it 1. you HAVE to shriek “OH MY GOD IT WAS PREGNANT” when you carve it open, or it’s not authentic and won’t taste as good 2. Share the pictures with me.

✨ Weightless Tour 2025 ✨

I got to see Jesse McCartney live in Charleston — and I’m so glad I had this experience! 💚 Being able to draw something for one of my biggest childhood inspirations meant the world to me (and yes, I even hid some Easter eggs in the designs inspired by characters he’s played 👀🎨).

Even when you weren’t feeling your best, you still showed up for us, performed your heart out, and took the time to meet everyone. That kind of dedication and love doesn’t go unnoticed.

Thank you, Jesse, for your time, kindness, and the memories you continue to create for all of us. We’ll always be supporting you as you keep inspiring fans around the world. 💫

Awwwww, that’s a sweet thing of him to say. I wonder who voices him—

…

Y/N’S POV

I was in my backyard getting ready for some friends to have a bonfire.

After getting the everything set up the doorbell rang and I went to opened the door and all of my friends got to my house and everyone went to the back to hang out the last person to show up was my friend Jesse now I was excited because i've had a crush on Jesse and i'm hoping tonight would be the night that I confess my love for him.

Everyone got settled down near the fire. I already had the snacks and drinks out for everyone.

I went over to Jesse and sat down next to him.

“Hey Jesse, how is the party?” I asked.

“Hey Y/N the party is amazing.” Jesse said as he took a bite out of the little sandwiches I made.

“I'm glad you're having fun.” I said.

2 hours later

The party was dying down and everyone had left except Jesse. He stayed behind to help me clean up the mess of the party. We were almost done when Jesse walked over to me and said he wanted to talk to me.

“Y/N you are the most beautiful/handsome person I have ever met and I was wondering if you wanted to be my Partner?” Jesse asked me.

I sat there for a minute trying to process what he had said then I put a smile on my face.

!!! Jesse McCartney is at the Taylor concert today 10/20/24 !!!

3rd Person’s Pov

On foggy nights in the small town of Sleepy Hollow, whispers of the Headless Horseman echoed through the air. Clad in dark armor, with his flaming pumpkin head clutched under one arm, he rode a black stallion through the woods, his presence striking terror into the hearts of those who dared cross his path. Yet, beyond the tales of dread, there was another story—one hidden from the fearful villagers.

One evening, as the Horseman rode through the woods, he came upon a young woman named Y/N. She was lost, her lantern barely cutting through the mist. Unafraid of the stories, she sought shelter beneath an old oak tree, humming a tune she hoped would calm her nerves. Intrigued by her gentle voice, the Headless Horseman approached her. Instead of screaming or fleeing, Y/N looked up at him, her curiosity overcoming her fear.

"Are you here to frighten me, sir?" she asked, her voice steady.

The Horseman tilted his flaming head in surprise. He lowered his pumpkin and gently placed it beside him. Through gestures, he explained his story: a curse bound him to ride each night, searching for his lost head. But something about her presence eased his restless spirit, even if only for a moment.

Y/N also found out that the headless horseman had a name in life: it was Jesse.

From that night on, Jesse would watch over Y/N from the shadows, making sure she returned home safely. As weeks passed, Y/N grew fond of her mysterious guardian. She would leave small notes under the oak tree, and he would leave trinkets in return—a feather, a polished stone, even a rose.

One evening, as the first snowfall blanketed the ground, Y/N found a message from him written in the snow: "Meet me." She followed the path he left, arriving at a clearing where Jesse stood. For the first time, he removed his armor and, through gestures and the soft glow of the moon, conveyed his wish—to know love, to feel a connection beyond his curse.

Y/N, touched by his vulnerability, stepped closer, placing a gentle hand where his heart might be. She whispered, "You don’t need a head to have a heart.”

That night, in the moonlit forest, Jesse and Y/N shared a dance—awkward yet tender, as snowflakes fell around them. And though he could never speak a word, his unspoken love for her filled the silence between them.

Over time, the curse began to weaken. The Horseman no longer rode with the same fury; his visits became gentler, more human. Y/N’s presence, he found peace. She, in turn, found a love unlike any other—one that transcended the boundaries of life and legend.

Though the villagers continued to tell their tales of the dreadful Headless Horseman, Eliza knew the truth. He was not just a figure of terror, but a lonely soul, searching for love. And with her, he found a place where he could finally rest his weary heart—even without a head to call his own.