But...Who did the best Live Lounge during Live Lounge month 2017? Without further ado, here are the results! (please note, these are just 10 of my favourites, they are in no particular order.)
10. Lorde
I have to admit, back in 2013, I wasn't a massive fan of Lorde, in particular her song, Royals, with the main reason being that it was just heard too often. However, I appreciate her more. During her Live Lounge, she performed her latest hit, Green Light, taken from her latest album Melodrama, and she covered In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins: a song that suited her voice to a tee.
9. London Grammar
Okay...So I am a bit biased as London Grammar went to the same University as me. In fact, it is only this year that I have heard a lot of London Grammar and I have been impressed! In the Live Lounge, they performed their newest song, Non Believer, and classic, Hey Now. In terms of their cover, they performed classic: Purple Rain by Prince. The song was perfect for Hannah's voice, creating a very relaxing and peaceful version of the original.
8. Pink
Yep...She's Back! Pink made a much welcomed return to the Live Lounge, with the last time being in 2012, five years (!) ago. She opened up about what life was like being a busy, world famous popstar with two young children, and performed her latest single What About Us. Her cover surprised me as it was quite a recent song, Sam Smith's Stay With Me, but hey, it doesn't matter. what matters is that it was great and was it? It was Pink singing so of course it was good.
7. The Killers
Another music artist that has had quite the comeback is The Killers. In what is their first Live Lounge (apart from Radio 1 presents The Killers at the Royal Albert Hall), they performed their latest song, The Man, from their recent UK number one album, Wonderful Wonderful, as well as their timeless classic, Mr Brightside (let's face it, not many people can hold themselves back from singing this at the top of their voices). "What was their cover?" I hear you ask. Well, you may have noticed that parts of The Man sounds very much like a certain Mr David Bowie's Fame. so you can probably guess which song they decided to cover!
6. Wolf Alice
I wasn't a particular fan of Wolf Alice's debut stuff, as I am not a massive fan of heavy rock records. However, their recent stuff is not too bad, as it is less heavy. Their recent song, Beautifully Unconventional, taken from their latest album, Visions of a Life, sounded great in the Live Lounge and so did their cover, the beautifully melancholic Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day.
5. Jay Z
Okay...honestly, I did not expect this but yes, Jay Z came to do a Live Lounge, 8 years after his debut Live Lounge in 2009. Now, he did do a song of his latest album, 44:44, called Family Feud but I think we can all agree that the track he did that got everyone talking was his cover (or classic track, depending on how you see it) of his and Linkin Park's track Numb/Encore, in tribute to lead singer, Chester Bennington. Jay Z also used the Live Lounge as a way to raise awareness of mental health, which you can watch here.
4. Rag 'n' Bone Man
Rag 'n' Bone Man has had a great career so far, earning two Brit Awards, a UK number one album and earning slots at various festivals but then he gets a coveted Live Lounge Month slot. Live Lounge gives an artist a real chance to show off their vocals and wow...Rag 'n' Bone Man was definitely no exception! He performed his latest single, As You Are, as well as a beautiful version of Skin. His cover? Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones, which sounded fantastic.
3. Craig David
Along with The Killers and Pink, Craig David has had an amazing comeback and it seems to be going strength to strength, as he has just announced a new album, The Time is Now, the follow up to Following My Intuition. During the Live Lounge, he performed his new song, Heartline and the ultimate classic, aside from Fill Me In, 7 days. At first, I was slightly disappointed with his cover when he said it was Wild Thoughts. Mainly because I had heard the song too many times. However, he then said that he would mash it up with Music Sounds Better With You. His R 'n' B sound would have sounded great for Wild Thoughts but it was even better for Music Sounds Better With You. And the two songs together? Amazing!
2. George Ezra
It seems the Live Lounge was full of music artists making a comeback, which included George Ezra. Ezra had last released a single in 2015, releasing the relaxing and peaceful Barcelona. Now he is back, with the cheerful Don't Matter Now. He performed this track, along with the song that I actually guessed he would cover, purely because of how well it would suit his voice: Don't Worry (Be Happy). As for a new album, the follow up to the smash hit, Wanted on Voyage? No word yet but I would definitely keep your eyes and ears out for news of it.
1. Sam Smith
Probably one of the biggest acts in the world, Sam Smith is back to see whether he can continue his success of winning award after award, gaining UK number ones in the single charts and, in terms of the purpose of this blog post, performing in the Live Lounge. We last saw Sam in the Live Lounge in 2016, so it was a welcome return. In fact, he got a whole Live Lounge special. During his special, he performed his UK number one single, Too Good at Goodbyes as well as classic songs, such as Lay Me Down, Like I Can and Stay With Me. He also performed a cover of Alicia Keys' Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart and, poignantly, Father Figure, by the late George Michael.
You can read more of what I thought of Sam's comeback here.
Here's to next year's Live Lounge Month!
Em x
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