BALLAD MONDAY: ella henderson - yours

ella henderson - yours
kind of the perfect yuletide love song release before xmas. ella offers up yet another strong number from her debut album and which looks set to continue churning hits through 2015. nice one.

BALLAD GAL: mary lambert - she keeps me warm / macklemore x ryan lewis feat mary lambert - same love

mary lambert - she keeps me warm
the sweet vocalist of the macklemore/ryan lewis smash expands her chorus into a gentle love ballad of 'aw shucks' proportions.

but if you still don't know the song to which it's derived from, you better get your lesson now (cause it's a 2013 gem):

macklemore and ryan lewis feat mary lambert - same love

DRAMA FRIDAYS: zara larsson - she's not me (pt 2) / uncover

zara larsson - she's not me (pt 2)
this is so surprisingly raw and sad for a swedish teenage sensation to sing. but here is zara, staring at the camera, opening her heart out in the form of this catchy pop number. i'm kind of intrigued to see what kind of album this young act is going to release.

if you want to hear more, check out her massive hit 'uncover' below:

zara larsson - uncover
already certified platinum back home, this pop number (very riri-esque don't you think) will definitely translate internationally with zara already signed for sony music in the US. you have been warned!

BALLAD GAL: gabrielle aplin - the power of love (frankie goes to hollywood cover)

gabrielle aplin - the power of love (frankie goes to hollywood cover)
recorded for the 2012 john lewis xmas campaign (see below), gabrielle made a name for herself as a youtube performer before getting signed on to a major label earlier this year. the cover totally worked for her as it went to #1 earlier this month and sets her up as someone to watch in 2013.

john lewis 2012 xmas ad

WONGIE SONG OF THE WEEK: agnes obel - riverside

agnes obel - riverside
though i am late on discovering danish singer/songwriter agnes obel's haunting beautiful song (it's already been a massive hit throughout europe during the summer), i can now make up for lost time by checking out the rest of her award winning debut album 'philharmonics'!

BALLAD GAL: slow moving millie - please, please, please, let me get what i want (the smiths cover)

slow moving millie - please, please, please, let me get what i want (the smiths cover)
[like most people, we all heard this borderline blasphemous cover of the classic smiths song via the lovely john lewis xmas advert that's been passed around virally (see below). turns out amelia warner (aka slow moving millie) is putting out a whole album of covers featuring 80's classics from thompson twins, black and yazoo! i'm definitely curious (heck if birdy can do a whole ballad album of current indie hits, why can't amelia?)]

as promised, the john lewis xmas advert:

BALLAD GAL: christina perri - a thousand years (twilight breaking dawn pt 1 soundtrack)

christina perri - a thousand years (twilight breaking dawn pt 1 soundtrack)
[though i'm sure this posting (and the bruno mars one last night) will bring some twihards to the site, but the truth is christina is cranking out solid ballads and this one is no different. team bella yo!!!]

BALLAD GAL: charlene soraia - wherever you will go / lightyears

charlene soraia - wherever you will go
[just 22 years old, singer/songwriter charlene is turning into a bit of an instant sensation with her gentle cover of the calling classic 'wherever you will go' for the twinings tea campaign. it's definitely a wonderful intro to a talented new voice.]

want to check out the twinings tea ad that alot of people discovered charlene? press play below:



charlene soraia - lightyears
[of course charlene has original material and it's just as strong.]