BAFTA

Lizzo Did The Thing And Recreated Ariana DeBose’s Viral BAFTAs Rap Live On Stage

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Lizzo Barclay Center Concert 2023
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Apparently, Lizzo concerts are the best show on Earth, as SZA declared. As the “Special” singer embarks on the international stretch of her Special Tour, she is finding little ways to insert pops of fun outside of her festive bops. The songwriter’s animated personality isn’t just limited to her upcoming appearance on The Simpsons, but to her ticket-holding fans as well.

Yesterday (February 23), while performing in Amsterdam, the Grammy winner took a moment in between her original songs to sing a snippet of the internet’s new favorite jingle. Lizzo is not a stranger to covering songs she likes, having recently performed Sam Smith’s song “Unholy” featuring Kim Petras for BBC Radio 1. But who would’ve thought West Side Story actress Ariana DeBose’s viral opening number at this year’s BAFTA Awards would be next on the agenda?

In the song, DeBose sang the lyrics, “Angela Bassett did the thing / Viola Davis my Woman King/ Blanchett, Cate, you’re a genius/ Jamie Lee, you are all of us,” to honor the evening’s women nominees. Well, DeBose’s pronunciation of Angela Bassett’s name, along with the subsequent choreography, became an instant viral moment. Eventually, DeBose deactivated her social media account because of the unexpected attention. However, that didn’t stop Lizzo from showing love to the number will on stage, shimming her shoulders while singing, “Angela Bassett did the thing.”

When Lizzo returns to the States for the Special 2Tour in April, who knows what other viral track she’ll include in her repertoire.

Watch the fun clip above.

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Little Simz Wore Her ‘Heart On Fire’ At The 2023 BAFTAs And Brought Out Joan Armatrading

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Little Simz’s 2021 album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert propelled the UK rapper to acclaim, from the 2022 BRIT Awards to last year’s Mercury Prize. She surprise-dropped its follow-up, No Thank You, last December — along with a short film — and though 2023 is young, Little Simz is hitting the awards circuit again.

Simz took the Royal Festival Hall stage at the 2023 BAFTA Awards on Sunday, February 19, in London to perform “Heart On Fire” from No Thank You. As a bonus, she brought out Joan Armatrading to add some extra spice on the guitar.

“My heart’s on fire / I bought the dream with every penny that I acquired,” Simz rapped with a melodic, unwavering delivery. “It’s a set up and you’ll be next to those prior / The devil works hard, but the business works harder / I vowed from now to work smarter.”

The chorus hammers home the song’s poignant theme of a double-edged sword: “My life is a blessing / But it comes with the stresses / And I can’t take it all / Just don’t let me down when I’m in the fire.”

On a related note, Simz postponed a string of US tour dates last April due to “mental stress” and an inevitable “huge deficit” she’d be left in after self-financing a tour as an independent artist. All the more reason to soak up every Simz performance, including an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert tonight, February 20.

Watch Simz’s “Heart On Fire” performance from the 2023 BAFTAs above.