Dua Lipa
It would be inaccurate to say that Dua Lipa is entering her flop era – the first singles from her upcoming album, Houdini and Training Season, are currently in or around the top 20 most streamed songs globally on Spotify. But there’s something a little gimlet-eyed in how they’re written – catchy in a grimly determined rather than breezily natural way – that makes them hard to love, and some mean media types (not me, yet!) are wondering if she could be on the way down the other side of fame’s hill.
This fantastic performance is sure to quiet their critics. Wearing her second leather outfit of the night, she begins with “Training Season”. While I find this song a bit slow and lacking in funk on the recorded version, Lipa elevates it with her strong and lively vocals. She conveys a strong desire for the sexual and spiritual connection she sings about, and her voice remains steady even while dancing among a large group of acrobatic performers. This type of vocal training is only possible for top pop stars, and it sets the stage for a powerful beginning.
collaborated on the song “I Need Your Love”
“Let’s see what notifications we have today.”
Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding teamed up for their hit track “I Need Your Love.”
“What updates and messages do we have to check today?”
Despite the UK being viewed as a stingy and ungenerous island, there are a few things that make me proud to wave the Union Jack. One of those things is our love for dance music, which surpasses our enthusiasm for rap, indie-rock, and even popular artist Dua Lipa. Commercial dance has become our national pop music, and when Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding’s collaboration “Miracle” topped the charts for eight weeks, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of national pride. Harris expertly mixed trance classics like “Tell It to My Heart,” “Castles In the Sky,” and “Seven Days and One Week,” and Goulding’s dreamy vocals were the perfect fit for this genre. Nostalgia may have played a role, but it was the exceptional songwriting that solidified this hit’s success.
During the performance, Goulding maintains her ethereal tone and does not utilize her rougher tone that sets her apart from other singers. Harris, on the other hand, seems unengaged as he manipulates equipment, possibly without it even being connected. However, just as the performance starts to lose its momentum, Harris adds in a hard-trance breakdown from the REMIX by Hardwell, giving it a rejuvenating treatment. Goulding’s energetic movements with her backup dancers add to the lively atmosphere, reminiscent of a group of mischievous children causing trouble at Leeds festival. The energy is restored!
Tate McRae
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A year ago, this booking may have seemed less significant, but in the time since, McRae’s popularity has skyrocketed, making it quite a catch. Their song “Greedy” has achieved great success on streaming platforms and their follow-up track “Exes” has also performed well. Those who compared them to Billie Eilish after the release of their melancholic piano ballad “You Broke Me First” have been proven wrong. McRae’s talent shines through in their diverse performances, from vibrant deep house (You), to tech-y EDM (10.35), and glossy new wave (She’s All I Wanna Be).
We are becoming greedy here, with a lot of purposeful walking while she relies on the backing track to do most of the work. There is a portion dedicated to her oft-viral bougie-streetdance choreography, but my cardio levels are so low that I can barely speak after doing it all. She stays within her vocal comfort zone, casually moving around her middle range. It feels somewhat uninspired and I cannot help but be disappointed, considering she is the biggest star from across the pond that the Brits have brought in this year. Meanwhile, I am also experiencing a moment of confusion as a new father, trying to understand her fashion choices for her abdominal area.
Jungle
Jungle is the name chosen by a British music group who draw inspiration from the most innovative music in the UK, but then went on to produce music that is more traditional. Their early work is reminiscent of the loading screen songs from the popular video game Fifa-14, such as Busy Earnin’. However, their 2023 album Volcano lacks the edge and unique qualities that made their previous works enjoyable. It falls flat and sounds like a watered-down version of other artists. Some may compare it to the trendy phrase “live laugh love” in the world of funk and soul music. It’s almost as if an AI music software designed by Adobe was asked to create music for a conservative barbecue party. Their latest album is so unremarkable that it’s surprising they haven’t been replaced by a computer-generated artist. Despite their unimpressive music, they are a kind group, one member even shedding tears when they won the award for best group. But let’s be honest, Young Fathers deserve that recognition more.
Reworded: The band is performing their lesser-known song, “Back on 74,” which features a pleasant but unremarkable chorus melody. The lively dancers add a slight touch of a cruise-ship-at-teatime vibe. However, this performance is quite forgettable and reminds me of the mind-control technology depicted in the movie “Men in Black.” It will likely be quickly forgotten as time moves on.
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Raye
This performance is sprinkled with fairytale magic, representing a crowning achievement for a pop artist who was once excluded from the spotlight and forced to work under a major record label for an extended period of time. She managed to break free from that stagnant contract and emerged as one of the top independent artists in the UK, as demonstrated by her impressive seven nominations and six victories.
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On the piano, she begins with her performance of “Ice Cream Man,” a song that highlights her experience of being sexually assaulted during a recording session. This raw and honest songwriting is a departure from the polished style she was expected to produce during her unsatisfactory time with Polydor Records. Next, she transitions into an orchestral rendition of her hit song “Prada,” which earned her one of two nominations for Song of the Year. The performance then shifts again to a 1920s lindy-hop introduction to “Escapism,” her other nominated song of the year, before concluding with a lavish big band arrangement.
The rap drum programming in the original version of this song gives it a strong sense of urgency and makes the message about nihilism and wild parties more impactful. The orchestral version, while stylish, may not be necessary for this uniquely tortured song and the live performance may have been too crowded with different elements. However, Raye’s passion, star quality, and talent for expressing her pain are undeniable and capable of captivating even the largest audiences.
are two popular artists who have
Two well-known artists, Chase & Status and Becky Hill, are known for their popularity.
In the past two years, Becky Hill has been a dominant force in the dance category and her demeanor while accepting each award has been compared to Olivia-Colman-at-the-Oscars. She exudes an evident love for dance music culture and does not try to act too cool to acknowledge it. One can hear this passion in her singing voice, which is filled with powerful emotions. She has now become a beloved figure amongst partygoers at clubs, where they may make questionable decisions. There is a rumored ritual where one can summon her by writing “motive” on a Be At One mirror in lipstick and chanting her name three times, and she will appear with a Jägerbomb. Meanwhile, Chase & Status’s popularity has skyrocketed. Despite the decline of drum’n’bass in the charts, they stuck with the genre and were ready to take advantage when it resurged, with their hit track Baddadan.
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The performance starts with Irah delivering a portion of Baddadan, followed by the Hill-helmed Disconnect, whose melodious rising tune evokes a euphoric dancefloor sensation. They return to Baddadan briefly before transitioning to Disconnect again. It’s difficult to replicate the feeling of switching between two decks in a large nightclub like the O2 Arena, but everyone involved does a commendable job, with Hill’s exceptional vocals. This gave the slightly deflated audience at the Brits a much-needed boost.
Rema
Supported and promoted by the diaspora in this region, the rest of the UK has finally embraced the appeal of African pop music. Burna Boy, Libianca, and Tyla have all had huge chart-topping hits in the past few years. One of the most successful has been “Calm Down” by Nigerian singer Rema, a catchy tune that not only stays in your mind all day but also finds a permanent home in your subconscious.
Similar to Raye, this artist receives a more intense musical arrangement, which suits the song much more effectively. The tempo has been slightly increased to maintain high energy, possibly to create more room for the host Maya Jama to discuss getting intoxicated, as she often does. However, there is still a moment for the song’s pace to slow down and then build to a dramatic finish. Rema has a beautiful, expressive singing voice and performs the song’s intricate runs with ease, making it one of the standout performances of the night. He is donning a thick fur hat that would keep someone warm in a harsh northern winter, and as a journalist and parent, it is my duty to point out that he must be quite warm wearing it.
Kylie Minogue
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A quiet melody of Spinning Around gradually builds into a grand fanfare, reminiscent of the score from a melancholy Christopher Nolan movie. Then, the performance shifts to Padam Padam, with Kylie emerging from a high pedestal, a popular staging choice seen in X Factor, Eurovision, and other shows. She exudes the same relatable energy as she did in her legendary Glastonbury performance, clearly relishing in the moment. Unlike Robbie Williams who failed to do so a few years back, she delivers hit after hit without disappointment. Can’t Get You Out of My Head leads into a rendition of Slow, followed by Love at First Sight, which captures even more dancefloor euphoria than Calvin & Ellie and Chase & Status. She ends the performance with All the Lovers, jumping around with the same excitement as a child who has just consumed a handful of Haribo candies. It’s a genuinely carefree and celebratory conclusion, mirroring Raye’s elation at her landmark victories.
Source: theguardian.com
