Top 10 Best BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge Covers

Cheyenne Johnson
1 hour ago
4 min read

A graphic featuring BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge logos.

Photo credits: BBC

An infamous segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1, the Live Lounge has become known as a space where artists deliver incredible performances of other artists' songs. There have been hundreds of these performances to date, giving BBC Radio 1 a lengthy playlist of over 900 covers on YouTube. Given that there are so many wonderful covers featuring artists from Hozier to Dua Lipa to Khalid, it was difficult to narrow down our favorites to just 10. Despite the tough decision process, we're giving you a snapshot into some of the best performances you can listen to from some of your favorite artists. These picks aren't in any particular order as they're all spectacular, but without further ado, enjoy our favorites in this Top 10 Best BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge Covers.

10. Bring Me The Horizon - "when the party's over"

Dipping their toes into recent pop hits, Bring Me The Horizon delivered a tender, heartfelt rendition of Billie Eilish's "when the party's over." The track was released in October of 2018 as the second single from Eilish's debut studio album, later being covered by Bring Me The Horizon in January 2019. The British rock band shows their soft side, keeping things simple and haunting with lush vocal melodies and harmonies accompanied by delicate acoustic guitar lines.

9. Teddy Swims - "Cruel Summer"

Putting a new spin on a hit single, Teddy Swims reinvented Taylor Swift's "Cruel Summer" last year. The track is originally from Swift's seventh studio album, Lover (2019), and is a catchy blend of synth-pop, electropop, and industrial pop. Teddy Swims masterfully took the song in a new direction, turning the track into a soulful, mid-tempo ballad. The indie-pop artist gives his all during this Live Lounge performance, belting out the track's infamous melodies with his powerhouse R&B vocals.

8. Khalid - "Fast Car"

While there have been many covers of this popular '80s hit, Khalid's version of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" stands out. Khalid's vocals are enchanting on this cover, sometimes even sounding like Tracy Chapman herself. The track is a fully acoustic version of the folk-pop/soft rock song, creating an intimate, heartfelt sonic atmosphere that's easy to lose yourself in.

7. Miley Cyrus - "Summertime Sadness"

One of the most perfect covers, Miley Cyrus' take on Lana Del Rey's "Summertime Sadness" is one for the ages. The iconic pop ballad was originally released by Lana Del Rey in 2012, serving as the fourth single of her second studio album, Born To Die. Cyrus covered it a year later in 2013, performing a beautiful, captivating acoustic version of the song with her smokey, powerhouse vocals.

6. Bruno Mars - "All I Ask"

Showing off his vocal prowess, Bruno Mars' version of Adele's "All I Ask" is one of the most stunning covers on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge. The track was originally released by Adele in 2015 on her third studio album, 25, later being covered by Mars in 2016. The choice for the pop artist to cover this song is no surprise as he helped write it, but his version is certainly iconic. Mars brings his signature soulful vocals to the track, letting the melodies soar over his talented band's tender accompaniment.

5. Olivia Rodrigo - "Stick Season"

Helping launch the song into international success, Olivia Rodrigo's version of Noah Kahan's "Stick Season" quickly became a fan-favorite and internet sensation. The track was originally released by Kahan in 2022 as the lead single for his third studio album of the same name, later being covered by Rodrigo in 2023. After her cover aired, "Stick Season" went viral on TikTok and charted internationally in countries like Australia, Belgium, the UK, Canada, and the US.

4. Nothing But Thieves - "Wings"

Adding a heavier flair to Birdy's tender pop ballad, Nothing But Thieves reimagined "Wings" in their BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge cover. The track was originally released by Birdy in 2013, serving as the lead single from her second studio album, Fire Within. Nothing But Thieves covered the song two years later in 2015 and is one of many appearances the band has had on the British radio station. Staying true to their signature sound, Nothing But Thieves brings the heat on this cover with powerful guitar riffs, pulse pounding drums, and Conor Mason's fierce, passionate vocals.

3. Dua Lipa - "Do I Wanna Know?"

Sultry and sexy, Dua Lipa does not disappoint with her cover of Arctic Monkeys' "Do I Wanna Know?." The English-Albanian pop artist reimagines the heavy-hitting indie-rock hit, turning the track into a haunting piano-laden ballad. Dua Lipa's seductive vocal performance is a captivating one listeners aren't soon to forget, showcasing the versatility of her voice and ability to seamlessly cross genres.

2. Hozier - "Problem"

Dipping his toes into mainstream pop, Hozier makes a bold yet satisfying choice to cover Ariana Grande's "Problem." The track featuring Iggy Azalea was originally released in 2014 and was later covered by Hozier in 2015. Deviating from the song's dance-pop composition, the Irish singer-songwriter reimagined the hit song into a mix of folk-rock and pop-rock, staying true to that signature Hozier sound.

1. Demi Lovato - "Take Me To Church"

Be prepared to have goosebumps listening to Demi Lovato's cover of "Take Me To Church" by Hozier. The American singer-songwriter bravely takes on Hozier's mighty gospel-pop ballad, delivering her own astonishing acoustic cover. Lovato's powerhouse voice shines on this track, proving again and again that she's an absolute force to be reckoned with in the pop industry.

Do you have any favorite BBC Radio 1 Lounge Live covers? Did you hear any in this list you love? Let us know on our socials!

Written By Cheyenne Johnson