Rina Sawayama Delivers Stunning New Performances on BBC Radio 1
Rina Sawayama made her debut on BBC Radio 1 on September 27. The “Forgiveness” singer performed two songs: “Hold the Girl” and a Billie Eilish cover of “Happier Than Ever.”
Sawayama began her lounge performance of “Hold the Girl,” the title track off her second studio album. Hold the Girl arrived on September 16, following the singer’s debut, SAWAYAMA.
In an interview with Amfo on the BBC Radio 1 show, Future Sounds, she expressed what writing “Hold the Girl” meant to her. She states, “‘Hold The Girl was the first song I wrote for the record at the end of 2020. I had gone to therapy and had a revelation, so I decided to write this song… that was the start of [the writing process for the album]. I was crying before going into the studio to write about it.”
After an incredible vocal performance of the title track, Sawayama invited listeners to hear a powerful rendition of “Happier Than Ever,” the title track to Eilish’s second studio album released in 2021. Sawayama reveals that the track is “one of my favey songs ever” and performing it live in the lounge was “a dream.”
covered one of my favey songs ever Happier Than Ever by @billieeilish on @BBCR1 Live Lounge !!!!!!! aaaaaaa a dream to do live lounge 😭 https://t.co/2zB11yAEZJ pic.twitter.com/vPvnfenUhp
— RINA SLAYWAYAMA (@rinasawayama) September 27, 2022
The “Minor Feelings” singer elaborated on her decision to cover Eilish’s song, stating, “This is the dilemma about [the] Live Lounge, ’cause it’s like songs you love so much… you don’t want to change it too much, but you want to change it a little bit so it’s fun. So I think that’s what I’ve done.” Sawayama is a big fan of the original and hopes that her cover did the iconic track justice.
Congratulations to Rina Sawayama on an incredible debut performance on BBC Radio 1. Hold the Girl is available to stream on all major music platforms.
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