Nick Lachey And Big Morning Buzz Live‘s Favorite Performances Of The Season

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• Sam Smith hair

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• Sam Smith, Brandy, Katy Perry, Ellie Goulding, Charli XCX

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• Sam Smith and Taylor Swift

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• Sam Smith Fiji water

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• Sam Smith wins 2014 Critic’s Choice Awards

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• Sam Smith at the 2014 Grammy Awards

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• Sam Smith loves Beyonce

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• Sam Smith Nirvana EP

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• Sam Smith and Lily Allen

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• “La La La” Naughty Boy featuring Sam Smith

It’s been a great year and a lot of fun on the set of Big Morning Buzz Live. As the current season draws to a close ahead of summer, Nick Lachey, Jim Shearer and the production staff look back on a number of buzzworthy live performances to pick their favorites of 2014. Everyone from Sam Smith to Pharrell Williams took the stage as Lachey and Shearer introduced fans to the hottest new bands and artists each morning. “This cycle we had some of the best, coolest artists perform in our studio,” says Associate Producer Sofia Gomes. We couldn’t agree more! The show saw no limits to genre, attitude, style and even studios. And nothing really beats The Fray performing on a bus. How is that for a musical version of Snakes on a Plane?

Click through the gallery above to watch the performances of the acts that made the staff’s list. Among those most admired by the group:

Sam Smith — Everyone from Nick Lachey to our associate producers fell in love with the British crooner. “This performance was my favorite because basically the dude went through, and read my diary & then decided to write a song about everything he read,” says Producer Dillon Couvillon. Associate Producer Adam Garcia adds, “Few performances moved the audience the way this song did, and it still moves me long after the music ended.”

Fitz and the Tantrums — “Their sound is just so cool. This song makes you want to get up and dance,” says Senior Producer Ellen Carl. A number of staffers agreed, making it the second most popular performance of the season. It was partly thanks to the happy energy that put smiles on everyone’s face. “Watching [Michael Fitzpatrick] dance around with the cool outfit made me smile and want to get up and dance,” adds TelePrompTer Operator Dawn Russo.

The Fray — The band helped kick off the season with a special performance. “Besides it being an amazing song and a talented band all around, the specific performance on the tour bus in the heart of Times Square gave me such a feeling of excitement and motivation to do all I could to help make it a great season,” says Graphics Coordinator Michael Delavan. We have to agree with Editor Rick Brown, “It was such an unusual fun performance on top of that bus!”

John Oates — The rocker’s performance became a huge hit among the team when he performed live with Nick Lachey. “The coming together of Lachey & Oates for a one-time-only duet on ’Out of Touch’ was just the definition of epic,” says Supervising Producer Andrew Goldstein of the surprise performance. “What Oates lacked in his signature mustache, Lachey made up for by harmonizing perfectly with the Philly soul legend. Loved every minute.”

Karmin — The duo won fans over with their great vibe. “I love that they are a couple, the vibe of the song was great, and — as silly as it seems — when the guy bust out the trumpet it made me cry,” says Associate Producer Lajune Grant. “I just love their story and it was great to see them rock out on the Buzz stage. “