RAYE has given an emotional rendition of Nina Simone’s iconic song ‘Feeling Good’. The Mercury Prize-nominated artist performed the song as part of Triple J’s ‘Like A Version’ series on February 9th. RAYE took a stripped-back approach to the song, playing alone on a piano and removing the band sections present in Simone’s 1965 recording. The artist also gave a more vulnerable vocal portrayal than Simone’s majestic performance.
After the release of the cover, another video was shared in which RAYE speaks about the reasons she chose to cover the song. She explained how much she loves the song and that it’s one of her all-time favourites. She also explained that she put her spin on the performance out of respect for Nina Simone because Simone is one of a kind and can’t be imitated.
Next month, RAYE will be performing at the 2024 Brit Awards ceremony, where she is up for a record-breaking seven awards. Her nominations span multiple categories, including Artist of the Year, Mastercard Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Pop Act, R&B Act, and Song of the Year with Mastercard. ‘Prada’, a song created alongside cassö and D-Block Europe, and ‘Escapism’, which features 070 Shake, both received nominations for the Song of the Year category.
While discussing her record-breaking number of nominations for the BRITs, RAYE expressed her surprise and gratitude towards the music industry. She never thought she would receive seven BRIT nominations, especially for Best Album. Before the BRITs next month, you can check out RAYE’s live performance of ‘Escapism.’, taken from her debut album ‘My 21st Century Blues’.
RAYE’s raw and moving cover of ‘Feeling Good’ highlights her genuine passion for music and exceptional vocal skills. Her success in the BRITs nominations proves she’s an artist to watch as she continues her promising career in the music industry
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