The last time we featured BBC1’s Live Lounge was just before their 2014 album was released. Since then there have been scores of amazing covers by artists you could never imagine singing them. That’s the beauty of the Live Lounge, the cover versions are mostly a totally different genre than the artist normally performs. This has led to lots of new discoveries like when Jamie Callum performed a cover of Pharrell Williams’s ‘Frontin’ it eventually led to him being signed by Pharrell’s label.
The Live Lounge performances are intimate, alive and buzzing with energy. Invited artists usually perform one song of their own and a cover of someone else’s, always in an acoustic format. The Live Lounge is also a physical studio within Radio 1 studios from where the performances are broadcast. Some shows though, are broadcast from the BBC Maida Vale Studios as the Live Lounge is fairly small.
We’ve selected our Top 10 most recent performances. Creation 5 users – you’ll find all these performance already in Creation 5 under Playlists >> BBC Live Lounge
Ed Sheeran covers Christina Aguilera’s ‘Dirty’ in the Live Lounge
Fall Out Boy cover Mark Ronson’s ‘Uptown Funk’
Imagine Dragons cover Taylor Swift’s ‘Blank Space’ in the Live Lounge
George Ezra covers Macy Gray’s ‘I Try’ in the Live Lounge
Meghan Trainor covers 5 Seconds of Summer’s ‘Don’t Stop’ In The Live Lounge
Gorgon City ft Jennifer Hudson – ‘Go All Night’ in the Live Lounge
Hozier covers Ariana Grande’s ‘Problem’ in the Live Lounge
Years & Years cover Haim’s ‘Don’t Save Me’ in the Live Lounge
Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne cover Jungle’s ‘Busy Earnin’ in the Live Lounge
Kiesza covers Naughty Boy’s ‘La La La’ in the Live Lounge
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Natalie La Rose is one of 2015’s breakout stars. Her scorching debut single Somebody ft. Jeremih is a groovy, irresistible dance floor anthem inspired by the late, great Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody. It also samples parts of LMFAO’s song Shots. Add in Jeremih’s smooth cadence and a fiery hook and you’ve got a smash hit.
Natalie was born and raised in Amsterdam – her parents are of Surinamese descent. She was ‘discovered’ in 2011 at an ESPY Awards after party when she approached Flo Rida saying that one day she would work with him. Impressed by her confidence he invited her to the studio and over the following two years she performed with Flo around the world as his lead female vocalist. In 2013 she officially got signed to his International Music Group (I.M.G.) label and Republic Records. Look out for him in the video at 1:16.
Written by William Lobban-Bean, Alex Schwartz and Joe Khajadourian, Somebody is the first single from La Rose’s as yet untitled debut album, expected to be released later this year.
Iggy Azalea has finally premiered the highly anticipated music video for ‘Trouble’, her sassy collaboration with R’n’B powerhouse Jennifer Hudson. Directed by Iggy herself, this funky visual was shot in L.A and is a whole lot of fun! In it, Iggy, although not sure why and how she got into the situation, proves her loyalty to her man by being his feisty accomplice in a major crime before being arrested by Officer Hudson.
Azalea explained the characters in the video in a recent interview with MTV news: “I will say Jennifer’s character, I think [is] kind of like the sassy, no beep-taking type of police boss lady. I am, I suppose, just a bit of an accidental Bonnie and Clyde that I’ve naively have fallen into the role that I don’t really want to be into… She keeps it under control.”
It’s been an amazing 12 months for the Australian rapper: she has been nominated for 50 awards including 4 Grammys, 6 AMAs, 7 EMAs, and 9 VMAs. She has sold 13 million singles, 1 million albums and notched up over a billion Youtube views. She holds the record for both the longest reign at Billboard Nº1 for a female rapper, and in holding the Nº1 and Nº2 position on the Billboard Hot 100 for 5 consecutive weeks, she keeps company with the likes of The Beatles.
This Motown inspired funky cut is housed on Reclassified, the re-release, or deluxe version, of Azalea’s debut album The New Classic.
Creation manufactures all sorts of state-of-the-art tech products – we make technology easy to use and beautiful to behold. Our latest product is CDJ – an elegant workspace for DJing. Already endorsed by top DJs this is a serious workstation! No wires, no mess, no clutter, everything to hand.
This space saving table has a minimal and contemporary design and would suit any DJ that is interested in organising some serious sounds! It’s completely customizable with the wood and trimmings available to your personal specifications. We’ve built our first one and they are now available to order exclusively from Creation.
Take a look at the images below! Contact us here if you would like to receive more information.
Creation 5 will soon be having a baby! Yes, that sounds silly but it’s the best way we can think of to describe it. The Creation family of apps is getting bigger! In just a few weeks a new music discovery app called C1 will hit the App Store. This dedicated app has no other functions to slow it down – so it’s light, fast and zippy!
C1 can work in conjunction with C5 as ithelps you to discover new music. It’s fast, it has a beautiful and stunningly simple interface and you can switch between the two apps with a simple tap. C5 will have a button that takes you to C1, and vice versa.
If you hear a song that you love the sound of but don’t know who it is, open C1. Press the ‘discover’ button and within seconds you will be shown the cover of the album (or single if there is no album), the name of the artist and be presented with a choice of music videos. The song will play for 30 seconds. To listen to the song in full you just need to tap the C5 button. A full history of your searches are stored in both apps.
The screen shot below gives you a sneak peek as to how gorgeous the new baby is. As soon as it hits the App Store we’ll send you a invitation to download. It’s free, of course. If you haven’t signed up for our newsletter you can do so at the bottom of the page.
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No one likes receiving large messages – it clogs up your device and slows things down. But everyone likes to have high quality images – they look great on the big screen and you can print them out and they still look gorgeous. By linking your Creation 5 app to Flickr you can share large images with anyone, even if they don’t have a Flickr account. #ShareTheLove
It’s really easy to connect to Flickr, even if you don’t have a clue. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:
1. In Creation 5 Photos, tap and hold the image you want to share. You get three options – Add to Album, Add to Selfies or Share. Tap Share.
2. If you don’t have a Flickr account, or haven’t linked your Flickr account to Creation 5, a message will appear giving you the option to link C5 to Flickr – you can choose “Yes, Please” or “NO!”
3. Once you tap “Yes, Please” you just have to type in your Flickr (Yahoo) username and password, tap ‘Sign In’ and then give Creation 5 authorisation to link to your account. That’s it, you’re set! (At this point, if you don’t yet have a Flickr account you can create one and then sign in using the same process.)
4. The person who receives your image will simply get a link and a thumbnail. It doesn’t matter whether they have a Flickr account or not. Once they click the link they can choose to download the image in ‘Small, Medium or Original’ quality.
Creation 5 simply uploads the image you want to share to your Flickr account, thus enabling sharing without having to send hefty messages.
Don’t have Creation 5? Download it from the App Store!
Here’s a bit of fun for Friday 🙂 American rock band Falling In Reverse poke fun at talent competitions in their video for Just Like You, where contestants take to the stage hoping to win ‘The Choice’. The visual sends up not just the competitions but the personalities involved like Simon Cowell, Steven Tyler, Jessie J and Randy Jackson.
Directed by Zach Merck the video features lots of cameos from pro-wrestler The Main Event, We Are Harlot‘s Danny Worsnop, The Word Alive’s Telle Smith and comedian Andy Dick.
Just Like You is featured on their new album of the same name and follows on the heels of God, If You Are Above … and Guillotine IV (The Final Chapter).
February is drawing to a close, so here’s our list of the best new music videos released this month that you need to see – there’s something for everyone from pop to rap to disco to funk. #CatchUp
To watch any video in Creation 5, just tap the title.
Calvin Harris – Pray to God ft. HAIM Calvin Harris teamed up with Haim to produce something deeper than just another EDM pop song. It has a luxurious fullness to the beat. Pray To God is from Harris’ new album Motion.
Madonna – Living For Love
Madonna is the Queen of the Big Top in her lush, arresting video for Living for Love. It’s her best work in 10 years!
Imagine Dragons – Shots
Imagine Dragons released an awesome music video for their new track Shots. Inspired by the paintings of Tim Cantor this is a stunning visual.
Giorgio Moroder – Right Here, Right Now ft. Kylie Minogue
Check out the stunning new music video from dance music legend Giorgio Moroder and Pop Princess Kylie Minogue for their latest single Right Here, Right Now. It’s disco heaven!
Cheryl – Only Human
Ever felt that you could hold the universe in the palm of your hand? Well, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini does exactly that in her new video for Only Human – her best ballad ever!
Avril Lavigne – Give You What You Like
Avril Lavigne is back and has premiered the full music video for Give You What You Like. The track is lifted from the forthcoming movie Babysitter’s Black Book.
Taylor Swift – Style
Taylor Swift’s new music video for Style is stunning! Splendidly cinematic! A story about a red-lipped girl and a James Dean guy…
Ariana Grande – One Last Time
Ariana Grande has released an apocalyptic new music video for One Last Time. It’s catastrophic! Literally.
Maná – “Mi Verdad” a dueto con Shakira
Shakira’s beautiful duet with Maná, Mi Verdad, debuted at Nº1 on Billboard’s Latin airplay charts. This fantastic collab is Maná’s 3rd Nº1 debut and Shakira’s first.
Sevyn Streeter – Don’t Kill The Fun ft. Chris Brown
Sevyn Streeter keeps the party rocking in the undeniably fun music video for Don’t Kill The Fun, featuring and directed by Chris Brown. It’s all Lamborghinis, underground parties & fancy footwork.
Trey Songz – Slow Motion
Trey Songz has released a steamy hot video for his smooth and sexy song Slow Motion. It’s directed by Dre Films and it’s hot!
Omarion Ft. Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko – Post To Be Post To Be, the winter jam that sounds like a summer vacation, has finally got a music video! Omarion, Chris Brown and Jhene Aiko have a dance-off and it also stars a white Ferrari.
Florence + The Machine – What Kind Of Man
Classic rock firepower, searing guitar riffs and high-flying vocals – Florence and the Machine is back! What Kind Of Man – the first single from their new album – now has a cinematic visual.
Jess Glynne – Hold My Hand
The new song and video from Jess Glynne – Hold My Hand – will make you feel so goooood! This uplifting house-pop track is packed with positivity. Take a ride with Jess!
Enrique Iglesias – Let Me Be Your Lover ft. Pitbull
Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull have teamed up for the infectious Let Me Be Your Lover and the video is such a laugh! You’ll be tapping your toes to this and smiling (unless you’re in a coma).
Paloma Faith – Beauty Remains
Paloma Faith has premiered a video for her new single Beauty Remains. Laden with disco and Motown influences this is an uplifting, emotive track. Don’t watch it if your partner rides a motorbike!
Sam Smith – Lay Me Down
Sam Smith’s beautiful new visual for Lay Me Down will slay you with it’s emotion. The video certainly brings the lyrics to life.
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#ThrowbackThursday – Today we go way back to 1966 when Nancy Sinatra was at Nº1 on the US and UK singles charts with ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking’. It was released towards the end of February and went straight to Nº1.
The song was written by Lee Hazlewood who encouraged Nancy to sing the song as if she were “a sixteen-year-old girl who fucks truck drivers.” It worked because the song was a huge hit and has been covered so many times by hundreds of artists in all sorts of genres: metal, pop, rock, punk rock, country, dance, and industrial.
The recording was made with the help of Los Angeles session musicians known as the Wrecking Crew – Hal Blaine on drums, Al Casey, Tommy Tedesco, and Billy Strange on guitars, Ollie Mitchell, Roy Caton and Lew McCreary on horns, Carol Kaye on electric bass, and Chuck Berghofer on double bass, providing the notable bass line.
It was the second single to be taken from Nancy’s debut album Boots and a follow-up to her minor hit So Long, Babe. In 2006, Pitchfork Media selected it as the 114th best song of the 1960s. Critic Tom Breihan described the song as “maybe the finest bitchy kiss-off in pop history.”
Creation 5 users – you will find this song in Playlists > Throwback Sessions.
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The Award season rolls on! Last night the prestigious BRIT Awards took place at the O2 in London. As a quick summary, Ed Sheeran & Sam Smith were the big winners, Madonna fell off the stage and Kanye West was so explicit that ITV practically muted his whole performance. The O2 arena looked stunning, neon signs all around the arena carried the same quotes that Tracy Emin wrote on the trophy, “Congratulations on your talent, on your life. On everything you give to others. Thank you.”
The Awards were hosted by English comedy and TV presenting duo Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, otherwise known as Ant and Dec. At the beginning of the proceedings they gave a ‘Kanye’ warning, reminding the winners that “Kanye West is in the house, So if he thinks Beyonce deserves your award, just give it to him!”
Taylor Swift opened the show with a fantastic performance of Blank Space. The monochrome set with dancers in white suits and bowler hats was very dramatic. Swift owned the stage with her slick, professional performance. Later on in the ceremony she won Best International Female, beating Beyoncé, Lana Del Rey, Sia and St Vincent. It is Swift’s first BRIT award and she dedicated it to Ed Sheeran who started her love affair with the UK by “taking me to pubs and showing me how to make a proper cup of tea.” Both Swift and Sheeran referenced their slow-building success in the UK. “Oh my god, wow,” said Swift. “I’ve been coming to England and playing shows for eight years and this is my first Brit Award, I’m so happy.”
(Tap on any video title to play the video in Creation 5.)
British Male Solo Artist went to Ed Sheeran plus he scooped the main prize of the night Album of the Year for his best-selling record of 2014 X. Accepting his trophy from Russell Crowe, Sheeran said “I was really worried abut this album, it took a long time to make.” He also stated how he felt that this year had been a “very, very good year for British music.” he continued “I don’t think a statue gives justification of people’s success.”
One huge surprise of the evening was Best British Group winners Royal Blood. “This is a huge surprise for us, probably more of a surprise for everyone here as you may not even know who we are. This is huge, so thank you.” This statement was met by a huge roar of approval from the balcony, suggesting that plenty of people knew who the band were. The reaction on Twitter was also huge with many applauding the choice: “Royal Blood just won an award over One Direction, finally British music is going somewhere #BRITawards.” and “That is incredible! Go royal blood! #BRITAwards.”
Sam Smith took home two awards, Best Breakthrough Actand the Global Success Award, recognising his sales achievements outside the UK. Smith, who won 4 Grammys earlier this month, gave a lovely acceptance speech thanking his fans. “Since I was a little kid I dreamed of people all over the world singing my songs and although I’ve got a long way to go, this shows that I’m stepping in the right direction.” Smith’s performance of Lay Me Down caused a flurry of appreciation not only in the audience but around the world too as Twitter went into overdrive. Ant and Dec just commented, “He’s got a lovely set of pipes…”
We’re very pleased to report that Best Female Solo Artist went to Paloma Faith. About time as well, this was her third nomination. Naturally, she was very emotional and was fighting back the tears whilst thanking everyone. “I’m so moved! It’s been a long time coming. It’s taken me 14 years to stand up here and accept this award and it means so much to me.” Her speech wasn’t short, which she apologised for and ended with a rather nice dedication: “I want to dedicate this to all the underdogs and all the grafters.” Faith’s third album, A Perfect Contradiction, was the biggest-selling female record in the last year, shifting more than 725,000 copies. Her performance of Only Love Can Hurt LikeThis was probably the most elaborate of the entire evening as she belted her heart out under a streaming waterfall.
After presenting Sam Smith with his award Kim Kardashian announced: “I want everyone to get on their feet and welcome my husband, Kanye West.” The rapper made his first live performance of a new track All Day. Viewers who were watching on ITV only heard about 3 words as virtually the entire performance was muted due to its explicit content. “Genuinely thought there was an audio feed glitch on @ITV. Seriously, what was the point of that?! #BRITAwards.” Whether the BRITS was the right place to premiere such a dark track is another question – but this is Kanye West we’re talking about, compromise is not in his vocabulary.
Best British Single was won by Uptown Funk – “This is incredible,” said producer Mark Ronson. “I wouldn’t be holding this without the world’s most talented Hawaiian, Mr Bruno Mars, and I’m going to share this with him for sure.” He also thanked “people like Lionel Richie and The Commodores and Earth Wind and Fire and James Brown – the people that invented this genre of funk.”
The performance that got everyone talking was the closing performance from Madonna who took rather a nasty tumble down some stairs when her cape got stuck and she was pulled backwards. As a true professional, she carried on, stating after the show that she was fine and the cape had been “tied too tight”. Referencing the lyrics to her song she said on Instagram “Nothing can stop me and love really lifted me up. Thanks for your good wishes!” Many wondered why they was no audible gasp of shock coming from the audience, but if you were sitting in the balcony you could easily have seen it as some kind of clever dance move. Plus it came at the exact moment in the song when the lyrics say “I let down my guard, I fell into your arms” and she was back on her feet to sing “now that it’s over, I’m going to carry on”.
Some Red Carpet magic
And the winners are:
British Male Solo Artist
Damon Albarn Ed Sheeran – WINNER
George Ezra
Paolo Nutini
Sam Smith
British Female Solo Artist
Ella Henderson
FKA twigs
Jessie Ware
Lily Allen Paloma Faith – WINNER
British Group
alt-J
Clean Bandit
Coldplay
One Direction Royal Blood – WINNER
British Breakthrough Act
CHVRCHES
FKA twigs
George Ezra
Royal Blood Sam Smith – WINNER
Critics’ Choice
George The Poet James Bay – WINNER
Years & Years
British Single
Calvin Harris – Summer
Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne – Rather Be
Duke Dumont featuring Jax Jones – I Got U
Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud
Ella Henderson – Ghost
George Ezra – Budapest Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk – WINNER
Route 94 featuring Jess Glynne – My Love
Sam Smith – Stay with Me
Sigma – Nobody to Love
British Video
Calvin Harris – Summer
Charli XCX – Boom Clap
Duke Dumont featuring Jax Jones – I Got U
Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud
Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk One Direction – You and I – WINNER
Rita Ora – I Will Never Let You Down
Route 94 featuring Jess Glynne – My Love
Sam Smith – Stay with Me
Sigma – Nobody to Love
MasterCard British Album of the Year
alt-J – This Is All Yours Ed Sheeran – x – WINNER
George Ezra – Wanted on Voyage
Royal Blood – Royal Blood
Sam Smith – In the Lonely Hour
British Producer of the Year
Flood
Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory
Jake Gosling Paul Epworth – WINNER
International Male Solo Artist
Beck
Hozier
Jack White
John Legend Pharrell Williams – WINNER
International Female Solo Artist
Beyoncé
Lana Del Rey
Sia
St Vincent Taylor Swift – WINNER
International Group
5 Seconds of Summer
The Black Keys
First Aid Kit Foo Fighters – WINNER
The War on Drugs
Brits Global Success Sam Smith – WINNER
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