You Oughta Know

July 17th, 2012 | 11:00 am by Zara Golden (@zaragolden)

You Oughta Know Live: The Lumineers Push Through “Stubborn Love”

It’s no secret that we love July and August You Oughta Know artists The Lumineers‘ “Ho Hey!” So joyous and ever infectious, they stomped their way straight to our hearts. We would be remiss, though, if we didn’t share also The Lumineers’ more plaintive side. At VH1 headquarters for their You Oughta Know Live performance, they slowed things down for “Stubborn Love,” a beautiful and yearning song about love that won’t give up. “She’ll tear a hole in you, the one you can’t repair,” it so goes, “but I still love her, I don’t really care.” Refusing to give in and raised by a crescendo of drums and cello, they insist that you “Keep your head up, keep your love” because “It’s better to feel pain than nothing at all.” And when Wesley Schultz wails that, “The opposite of love is indifference,” you can’t help but feel moved.

The rising American folk rock trio also performed “Ho Hey!” and “Slow It Down” off their self-titled debut. Check out their full session here!
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July 10th, 2012 | 5:28 pm by Zara Golden and Lauren Weissler (@zaragolden)

Music Seen: Say “Ho Hey!” To The Lumineers (Plus, Enjoy A Free MP3 Download Of Their Song “Big Parade”!)

The Lumineers had us at first “Ho Hey,” but their visit to VH1 headquarters a few weeks back really got our hearts and feet thumping. Looking the part in soft chambray shirts and suspenders, and with big smiles on their faces, they played a few songs before sitting down to talk about their move west from Brooklyn to Colorado and about hearing their music on television for the first time. All the while our photographer, Lauren Weissler, was tagging along to catch them setting up, hanging out, plugging in, and playing. We’ve named The Lumineers our You Oughta Know artists for July and August because we just can’t get enough of their warm, roots-revival rock; the rest of you, though, who have helped to propel their album to the #3 spot on Billboard’s Folk chart and #4 on the Indie chart, might have your own reasons for loving them. But check out the photos below and tell us: aren’t you so charmed, too?

But wait, we have a surprise for you! We have a special, free MP3 download of “Big Parade” by The Lumineers here for you!

DOWNLOAD “BIG PARADE” by THE LUMINEERS (right-click, save-as)

July 10th, 2012 | 11:00 am by Mark Graham (@unclegrambo)

More Dates Added To Ed Sheeran’s Wildly Popular VH1 You Oughta Know Headlining Tour

Last month, we announced that 21-year-old British troubadour Ed Sheeran was embarking on not just his very first U.S. headlining tour, but also on the very first VH1 You Oughta Know tour! The first batch of tour dates that our May You Oughta Know artist released sold out lickety-split, so we’re adding more. Sheeran’s debut album, +, made an impressive debut at #5 on the Billboard charts last month, and his lead single “The A-Team” (see our YOK Live video below!) has been steadily making a huge impact at radio stations nationwide. And don’t even get us started on his awesome live covers of songs like Ginuwine’s “Pony” and Lil Kim’s “Lighters Up”! Take a gander at the complete press release, which includes the new tour dates, below…

ED SHEERAN LIGHTING IT UP IN THE U.S.

NEW DATES AND LARGER VENUES ADDED TO BRITISH STAR’S FIRST-EVER HEADLINING NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
THANKS TO ENORMOUS POPULAR DEMAND

“VH1 YOU OUGHTA KNOW TOUR WITH ED SHEERAN” GETS UNDERWAY SEPTEMBER 8TH IN ORLANDO

INTIMATE NYC DATE SET FOR JULY 24TH AT IRVING PLAZA COMPLETELY SOLD OUT

“THE A TEAM” SCORES AT MULTI FORMAT RADIO NATIONWIDE AFTER“+” ENTERS SOUNDSCAN/BILLBOARD 200 AT #5

Elektra recording artist Ed Sheeran is proving to be as much a phenomenon here in the U.S. as he is in his native England. In response to his rapidly increasing popularity, the British troubadour has just added a number of new dates to his upcoming North American headline tour, much of which had already sold out within minutes of going on sale.

July 3rd, 2012 | 4:00 pm by Zara Golden (@zaragolden)

5 Reasons We Think You Oughta Know The Lumineers

We’d like you to say “Hey” (or even “Ho Hey!”) to July and August’s You Oughta Know artists, The Lumineers. Childhood friends Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites began writing music together after the tragic loss of Jeremiah’s brother and Wesley’s friend, Josh. Eventually growing tired of the Brooklyn gruel, they turned west to Colorado. The move, it turns out, was fruitful. Once there, they picked up cellist Neyla Perkarek and released their eponymous debut album, which has since seen rise on the Billboard charts. “I don’t know where I belong,” goes “Ho Hey!”, “but I can write a song.” And that they can. Like the Avett Brothers and Mumford and Sons and many roots-revivalists before them, The Lumineers provide solace from the imposing woomp-woomp of radio these days, favoring instead the thump-thump of their feet and hearts. We think you really oughta know these guys, and here’s five reasons why:

1. That Bing Commercial
Many folks first got wind of these guys during this year’s NBA Finals, when a Bing spot with an infectiously hopeful song played during every commercial break. One internet search for “what is that song in the Bing commercial” later, and before the game was even over, many found themselves officially intrigued by The Lumineers.

July 3rd, 2012 | 3:00 pm by Zara Golden (@zaragolden)

5 Reasons We Think You Oughta Know Rebecca Ferguson

Meet Rebecca Ferguson, one of our two You Oughta Know artists for July and August. Hailing from Liverpool, the 25-year-old singer made her first big splash on Britain’s The X Factor‘s seventh season, where she won-over the usually salty Simon Cowell and placed second overall. Her successful showing subsequently earned her a record deal. And although her debut album Heaven only hit shelves stateside in May, the lead single “Nothing’s Real But Love” has already found its way to both the top of the UK charts and deep into our hearts. Ferguson’s belting recalls the classic soul of Aretha Franklin as well as that of the quirkier Macy Gray, but she cites also acts like Mike Posner and rockers Kings Of Leon as influences. Here are five things that make us proud to have her as our latest You Oughta Know artist:

1. Earning It On The X Factor

As she explains in her audition tape for The X Factor, Ferguson assumed her dreams derailed when she got pregnant at the age of 17. “I thought, well, maybe I won’t be able to become a singer. Who’s going to want me, now I’ve got a kid? I lost me confidence,” she shared through tears. Not yet ready to put aside her life long dream of being a singer, she climbed the audition stage and hasn’t looked back since.

For her audition, she sang “A Change Is Gonna Come,” and, oh boy, did a change come. Not even the notoriously difficult Simon Cowell could say no to a voice like hers. “You’re voice is totally on the money,” he said. “Let me try to restore that confidence for you,” he told her, sending her forward to reclaim her spirit as well. It was a long time coming, but she knew a change was going to come.

June 25th, 2012 | 12:26 pm by Bené Viera

Emeli Sande’s Cover Of Blur’s “Country House” Is Anything But Country

Emeli Sandé’s Our Version of Events has been a constant fixture in the iPod for weeks now. The beauty of her voice matches her incredible songwriting that has the power to make random strangers cry for no other reason than her magical sound. As our June YOK artist we’re happy to share some of our favorite cuts from the album like “Next to Me” or style photos that show her boisterous personality. Today we gift you with her cover of Blur’s “Country House.” Read more…

June 19th, 2012 | 12:15 pm by Bené Viera and Michele Crowe

Music Seen: Spending A Day With Emeli Sande Is Pure “Heaven”

Emeli Sande Music Seen

When our June You Oughta Know artist Emeli Sandé isn’t making people cry from the beauty of her voice and lyrics, her cool, mellow demeanor makes you feel at ease. On the day she stopped by VH1 Headquarters she was spunky and full of energy. Her smile was radiant, her laughter infectious. There was no inner diva with this British soul singer whose debut album topped the UK charts at #1. Our photographer Michele Crowe captured a range of Emeli, from the songstress cackling with laughter before a pose for her live set to prepping for a show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg earlier this month. Speaking of live sets, the strength of her vocals are exemplified in her performance of “Heaven.” The clarity and sound of her voice, yes, heavenly indeed.

Emeli Sande - VH1 You Oughta Know Music Seen

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June 13th, 2012 | 10:01 am by Bené Viera

Emeli Sande Is VH1′s June You Oughta Know Featured Artist

When 25-year-old British singer Emeli Sandé visited the VH1 offices a few months back, her performance left several employees in tears. Her live performance of “Clown” at Williamsburg Music Hall moved me to tears as well. Her poignant voice coupled with the mastery she possesses of writing beautiful songs is why she’s our June You Oughta Know artist. Her debut album, Our Version of Events, may be new to the U.S. audiences, but it has already topped the UK Album Charts at number one. Within the first two weeks of release in the UK the album sold 300,000 copies, and has already reached platinum status according to the British Phonographic Industry. Her official U.S. first single, “Next to Me,” is an ode to her boyfriend. Sandé wrote the song because she wanted a radio hit that uplifted good men, which she says there isn’t enough of. Read more…

June 12th, 2012 | 5:30 pm by Zara Golden (@zaragolden)

Ed Sheeran Deftly Covers Lil Kim’s “Lighters Up” in New York

Lil’ Kim‘ probably didn’t imagine that, when she rapped “no matter where you from, put your lighters up” in “Lighters Up,” a young troubador from England would eventually take heed. But, here we have it: Ed Sheeran, putting his lighter up, so to speak, during a set last night at New York’s Bowery Ballroom. In town to celebrate the stateside release of his debut album +, the 21-year-old You Oughta Know artist who hails from Halifax, England skillfully wove a cover of the Queen Bee’s ode to Brooklyn into his own “Grade 8.” And, of course, the crowd went wild.

In the above video, Keernan sets up with a little beat boxing and then transitions into his half-rapped “Grade 8,” at one point dropping in (at around 2:40) a few lines borrowed from Kim. “It’s the land of trouble / Brooklyn home of the greatest rappers / Big comes first then the queen comes after,” he rhymes, leaving —at least for now— himself out of it.

June 11th, 2012 | 5:00 pm by Zara Golden (@zaragolden)

Taylor Swift And Ed Sheeran Perform An Acoustic “Lego House”

Country cutie Taylor Swift and You Oughta Know artist Ed Sheeran have been logging lots of studio hours together, working hard — mostly! — on the follow-up to Swift’s Speak Now. Last night, the two took a break from whatever they’ve got cooking there to record this acoustic duet of Sheeran’s hit, “Lego House.” And it’s pretty much the sweetest thing you will see today.

Posted to Twitter late last night by Swift, the Viddy finds the two in her kitchen, on the floor in front of the stove, where Sheeran strums an acoustic version of his hit, “Lego House,” while Swift harmonizes. We’ll have to wait to hear what more they’ve got in the works, but, for now, this glimpse shows a promising chemistry between the two.

And as for Sheeran, he will be on VH1′s Big Morning Buzz Live tomorrow to celebrate the stateside release of his debut album, +.
—Zara Golden

Taylor Swift And Ed Sheeran Perform An Acoustic “Lego House” [Idolator]