Harriet - You Have Been Loved (George Michael cover)

Buy tickets to see Harriet perform live here (Pizza Express)

It is funny how time changes your perspective. June 25th sees six months since legendary singer songwriter, George Michael, passed away on Christmas Day. It is also George Michael's birthday and six months until the next Christmas Day. While the loss of a great talent is never really healed, time gives you hope, comfort and salvation in the fact that the art they created will never fade away. It will live on, passed from generation to generation, and paid tribute to by new talents and voices. Such is the case with the always lovely Harriet who has crafted her own version of George's You Have Been Loved. She has chosen a composition full of poignancy and pathos, an exploration of the soulful yearning and reflection that the passing of a loved one can bring. Originally, You Have Been Loved was released shortly after the death of Princess Diana and, although not specifically written about her, resonated with the public due to the beautifully, poetic lyrics. Harriet's approach to the song is to imbue it with a haunting sense of reverence and spirituality; performing with an aching honesty that touches your very soul. Set to a languid and lovely jazz-tinged percussion, Harriet entwines her voice perfectly with the mournful piano; a mesmerising duet between vocal and instrument. She never fails to enrich line after line with a performance of remarkable emotive pliability and nuance. This sterling vocal tour de force doesn't have to be belted from the rafters to get her point across - indeed, one of the outstanding qualities of George's lyrics and Harriet's voice means that she is able to express delicate shadings of meaning and feeling with precision perfect delivery each time. The result is warming, aural hug that edifies and uplifts. It is clear that Harriet studies the songs she chooses to sing - and is not her first time tackling Mr Michael. Her devastating version of Last Christmas is still a highlight of Winter Stories, as is December Song (coincidentally, co-written by David Austin who also worked with George on You Have Been Loved). You leave each of her journeys through George's back catalogue with the a clear sense of what happens when two extraordinary talents combine - magic happens and regardless of anything else going on in your life, the music helps you realise that, indeed, you have been loved.

Top 25 songs of the week:

25 ~ Sound of Arrows, Beautiful Life
24 ~ Steps, Scared Of The Dark
23 ~ Eric Odeen, I Don't Really Dance
22 ~ Robbie Williams, The Heavy Entertainment Show
21 ~ Jukebox The Ghost, Stay The Night
20 ~ Erasure, World Be Gone
19 ~ Mary Lambert, Know My Name
18 ~ The Killers, The Man (NE)
17 ~ Olly Murs ft Louisa Johnson, Unpredictable
16 ~ Little Mix, Power
15 ~ Jakil, Every Time We Talk
14 ~ Bleachers, Don't Take The Money
13 ~ Carlos Marco, Summer Something
12 ~ Carly Rae Jepsen, Cut To The Feeling
11 ~ JIM, Under Attack
10 ~ Eric Saade, Another Week
09 ~ The Heydaze, New Religion
08 ~ Take That, New Day
07 ~ DNCE, Kissing Strangers
06 ~ Sean Smith, Magic
05 ~ Tove Styrke, Say My Name
04 ~ Shania Twain, Life's About To Get Good (NE)
03 ~ Steps, Story Of A Heart
02 ~ Bright Light Bright Light, New York Pretty (NE)
01 ~ Zoot Woman ft Kylie, Feels Like The First Time (NE/1 Week)