WONGIE BALLAD OF THE WEEK: aurora - half the world away (john lewis xmas 2015 theme song) / npr tiny desk concert

aurora - half the world away (video premiere)
getting the coveted theme song to front the annual john lewis xmas ad campaign has been very beneficial for past stars (ellie goulding, tom odell, lily allen) and this year 19 year old aurora gets the chance to pull at our heartstrings with her cover of the oasis hit "half the world away". all this means big things for the norwegian singer/songwriter who has been on our radar since the summer. with a debut album set for early next year, this is just the perfect track to create some crossover buzz.

wanna see the john lewis ad? here it is below:

john lewis christmas ad 2015 - #ManOnTheMoon

UPDATE: check out aurora performing her just released npr tiny desk concert:

aurora - tiny desk concert
"Runaway"
"Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)"
"Running With The Wolves"

WONGIE XMAS 2014: tom odell - real love (the beatles cover) / john lewis christmas ad

tom odell - real love (the beatles cover)
it's that time of the year again! xmas 2014 kicks off with the annual john lewis ad campaign pairing a pop star with a classic cover. this years vocalist tom odell gives us a lush version of the beatles classic that will have you swooning!

wanna see the ad that's getting some serious 'awwwww's out for the season? check out the john lewis ad below:

tom odell - real love (john lewis christmas ad 2014)

XMAS MIX 2013: lily allen - somewhere only we know

lily allen - somewhere only we know
chosen as this years official theme song to the john lewis xmas campaign, lily allen covers the classic keane song and gets a wonderful visual accompaniment from this animated storyline. le sigh...

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

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:

WONGIE SONG OF THE MONTH: ellie goulding - your song (elton john cover) (john lewis xmas theme ad)

ellie goulding - your song (elton john cover) (john lewis xmas theme ad)
[how awesome that UK dept. store john lewis decided to use ellie's cover of the classic elton track for their christmas ad campaign. not only is it a big push for the singer, but this new take, produced by mumford and sons' ben lovett is just simply amazing! forget the x-factor xmas #1, lets make this gorgeous take the UK's #1 instead!]

here is the ad that ellie's song is used for: