Yungblud delivered a live cover of The Verve‘s ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ during a radio session yesterday (June 17). Watch below.
The Doncaster artist (real name Dominic Harrison) appeared in the Radio 1 Live Lounge, ahead of releasing part one of his double fourth album, ‘Idols’, this Friday (June 20).
His soaring, emotive rendition of Richard Ashcroft and co’s 1997 hit single saw the singer-songwriter perform alongside his live band and a string section – the latter of whom provided the iconic, orchestral riff.
Speaking about his choice of cover, Harrison explained: “[It’s] an absolute classic… I think this album [The Verve’s ‘Urban Hymns’] and Richard Ashcroft, really, has been such a massive inspiration to what we’ve just made, and what’s coming out on Friday.
“I think we really wanted to try and make something classic, and give it that thing that’s five-dimensional with emotion. And this song… honestly, I feel so lucky we get to play this on [the] radio right now. I can’t believe it.”
He added: “It’s been a song that’s stuck with me forever, and really lifted me up when I was lost. So I hope we do it justice.”
In addition to paying homage to The Verve, Harrison played a live version of his latest single ‘Zombie’. You can watch both videos above, and listen to the full session via BBC Sounds.
Yungblud cited The Verve as an inspiration for the Britpop-influenced ‘Idols’ during an interview with NME last year, while also name-checking the likes of Oasis, Primal Scream, Suede, Stone Roses, David Bowie and Madonna.
“It’s that thing in your stomach when you listen to [them],” he explained. “It makes me feel like I can get up today. It makes me feel like I’m invincible and that I can do anything – that’s what this new album sounds like.”
Yungblud then told NME: “This is [me asking], ‘What does my soul want to say? What do I feel in my fingertips when I stick on [Oasis’] ‘Live Forever’, [The Verve’s] ‘Valium Skies’ or [Primal Scream‘s] ‘Screamadelica’?”
He continued: “It’ll be a great ‘Urban Hymns’ or ’Screamadelica’. I know the old dudes are going to leather me in the comments for that, but I don’t give a fuck because I’m going to go there. If you listen to it, then it’s that from a new perspective.
“We might as well just try and reach for fucking Queen, Bowie and The Verve – because they didn’t even know what they were doing at the time. I hope people like it, because it’s fundamentally the most truthful I’ve been able to be since [2018 debut] ’21st Century Liability’. I’ve approached this album like I’ve just started.”
Harrison has also previewed the imminent first part of ‘Idols’ with the singles ‘Hello Heaven, Hello’ and ‘Lovesick Lullaby’. The LP, described as the musician’s “most ambitious” yet, follows his 2022 self-titled third full-length effort.
In other news, Yungblud has announced a UK and Ireland arena tour for 2026 (buy any remaining tickets here).
This will follow a brief run of intimate UK dates, dubbed ‘Idols – Up Close And Personal’, next month and Yungblud’s headline tours in North America and Europe later this year. BludFest 2 takes place in Milton Keynes on June 21.
Yungblud has spoken to NME again as he prepares to drop ‘Idols’ part one. He spoke about his rebirth, the “darker” themes of part two, why he feels “intertwined” with Charli XCX, and more.
“Part one is about the reclamation of yourself: ‘All you are is a self-fulfilling prophecy / A product of your own temptation’,” Harrison explained. “Part two is the dark and downward spiral to the inevitable realisation that I’m not going to be here forever – who do I want to spend my life with? Mortality. Part two plummets you back down to earth, and it’s a little bit more cynical.”
You can read NME‘s new interview with Yungblud in full here.
