7 of the most incredible Piano Sessions
Radio 1's Piano Sessions have provided so many magical musical moments over the past few years. To celebrate reaching the 50th Piano Session, Huw Stephens is laying on a series of very special shows, featuring the likes of HAIM, Queens of the Stone Age and Joey Bada$$ with Dave.
"I love the simplicity of the Radio 1 Piano Sessions"Huw Stephens
The slot sees seriously talented performers come in to give an ivory-tinkling version of a cover of their choosing and one of their own tracks. It's pretty much guaranteed to get the hairs on the back of your neck prickling.
"I love the simplicity of the Radio 1 Piano Sessions," says Huw. "Our show goes out at night time, and the intimacy of the artist and the piano makes for a very special listen. Every artist loves playing the Piano Sessions; they love the challenge and the stripped back nature of the songs."
To get you in the mood, we've picked seven of the most stunning Piano Sessions yet. Just sit back and enjoy...
1. Sigrid
Norway's hottest new pop star, Sigrid, showed off her vocal prowess with a haunting, melancholic take on Justin Bieber and BloodPop's chart topping single Friends.
We also swooned over the Don't Kill My Vibe singer's emotive version of her hit - and we predict this girl will go far.
2. Kano
It takes a brave artist to take on The Streets' 2002 hit Has It Come To This, a track which triggers waves of bittersweet nostalgia in many. But grime king Kano was, of course, more than up to the job, layering his own insightful lyrics over that famous piano riff in a way that both honoured the original track and totally made it his own.
We think Mike Skinner would approve - and Huw has even called this his favourite ever piano session so far. "It floored me," he says.
Kano also gave us an intimate version of his incredible song , taken from the Mercury nominated album Made In The Manor.
Haim kick off Huw's big week of Piano Sessions
HAIM - I'll Try Anything Once (The Strokes cover) - Radio 1's Piano Session
HAIM perform a stripped-back piano version of 'I'll Try Anything Once' by The Strokes.
3. Maggie Rogers
Maggie Rogers is well known as the woman who made Pharrell Williams cry...by playing him her folk electro hit Alaska for the first time.
So it's no surprise we got goosebumps listening to her lovely cover of Here's Where The Story Ends, originally by 1990s alt rock act The Sundays. Her voice also sounded beautiful on a stripped down version of her track .
4. Sampha
Multi-talented, Mercury Prize winning artist Sampha played his own keys while singing in that uniquely beautiful voice, taking on French electronic act Air's gorgeous All I Need. He turned the track into a sensitive piano ballad, giving it different emotional dimensions and making us feel all kinds of overwhelmed.
Queens of the Stone Age perform Huw's 50th Piano Session
Queens of the Stone Age - The Way You Used to Do - Radio 1's Piano Sessions
Josh Homme and Queens of the Stone Age perform on the Radio 1 piano.
5. Blossoms
Stockport's Mercury-nominated indie rockers Blossoms, who went to No. 1 with their eponymous debut album last year, made an unexpected but oh so welcome decision for their piano session - choosing to cover Swedish pop sensations Abba.
Their take on the bittersweet 1980 break up ballad was a gem, complete with some lush vocal harmonies.
We were also blown over (appropriately enough) by their lovely, lilting version of their track .
6. Jorja Smith
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Music Sound of 2017 nominee Jorja Smith, who featured on Drake's album More Life, gave us a jazzy strip down of Mario's 2004 hit Let Me Love You - showing off her sublime voice, and giving us a nostalgic urge for a bit of mid noughties R'n'B into the process.
The West Midlands born rising star also delivered a stellar interpretation of her track , teaming up with Maverick Sabre.
Joey Bada$$ & Dave perform a stunning mashup
Joey Bada$$ & Dave - Dead Presidents vs Amerikkkan Idol - Radio 1's Piano Sessions
Joey Badass mashes up Jay-Z's Dead Presidents with his own track Amerikkkan.
7. Billie Marten
Singer-songwriter Billie Marten played her own piano as she made a smokey, hushed and icily beautiful interpretation of American duo Twenty One Pilots' track Heathens.
She also gave us a spine-tingling version of her own track, Teeth. Watch and you're bound to feel like there's something in your eye...
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