8 unmissable collaborations from the Radio 1 Live Lounge
6 April 2018
What's the only thing better than one pop star? Two pop stars, duh!
The Live Lounge regularly plays host to famous faces and sometimes those famous faces bring along an equally famous friend to sing with them. In some cases, they bring along four famous friends (we're looking at you, Dua Lipa).
With that in mind, here are eight of our favourite Live Lounge collaborations from recent times...
1. Craig David and Bastille
Everyone welcomed Craig David back to the pop world in 2016 with his album Following My Intuition but his new release, The Time Is Now, confirms that he's back in the game for the long haul.
He teamed up with one of the UK's finest pop voices (hello Dan from Bastille) on The Time Is Now, giving both artists their biggest chart hit in several years. Their Live Lounge duet was a masterclass in restraint and was responsible for bringing some serious chills to Radio 1.
2. Machine Gun Kelly and Camila Cabello
When Camila Cabello performed in the Live Lounge as a solo artist for the first time, there was a general expectation that she would go on to do quite well for herself.
But since her Live Lounge duet with Machine Gun Kelly, Camila has smashed all expectations with her career. All the signs of a superstar are right there in this performance.
3. Alma and Raye
Alma and Raye are two of the hottest new female stars in music and so we're almost glad French Montana couldn't make an appearance to perform his part of Alma's 2017 hit.
Raye stepped in with her own verse and slayed it. Officially.
The third voice and performer is Alma's sister Anna-Livia, who tours with the Finnish star as her backing singer and emotional support.
4. JP Cooper and Yungen
Logic and Alessia Cara's 1-800-273-8255 is one of the most powerful and important pop songs of the past year. JP Cooper covered the anti-suicide track alongside Yungen in October 2017.
JP Cooper nailed the hook, but Yungen's verse about his mum stole the show and put some real emotion into this cover.
5. Kygo and Ellie Goulding
Kygo and Ellie Goulding visited the Radio 1 Live Lounge to perform their hit First Time, but they also dropped a spectacular cover of Harry Styles' Sign Of The Times during their stint with Clara.
Swapping Harry's rock-influenced vocals for Ellie's sweet sounds worked wonders and reminded us how great a track this is.
6. Snakehips and MØ
There are few artists who can turn out a collaboration like MØ, who's been bossing it since 2014 when she teamed up with Elliphant on their criminally underappreciated No More in 2014.
Oh yeah, she also sung on a little song called Lean On by Major Lazer. You may be aware of it.
MØ joined Snakehips in the Radio 1 Live Lounge in 2017 to perform their hit Don't Leave and a cover of Rihanna'sLove On The Brain. Both were magnificent.
7. Martin Garrix and Bebe Rexha
Both Martin Garrix and Bebe Rexha are experts at collaborations, but they both struck gold with this musical hook-up.
It scored the perfectly paired duo a UK Top 10 and their Live Lounge session was a chance for both stars to showcase their talents as a live performer.
Bebe's vocals in particular, were on point.
8. Dua Lipa ft. Charli XCX, Zara Larsson, MØ and Alma
Not technically a collab but we couldn't possibly not feature the supergroup that is Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, Zara Larsson, MØ and Alma.
Ahead of the BRIT awards (where she scooped the gongs for British Breakthrough Act and British Female Solo Artist), Dua Lipa paid the Live Lounge a visit and brought her vocally-blessed pals along for a rendition of IDGAF. Prepare to become obsessed...
