Yungblud wowed fans today with an explosive performance of ‘Cotton Candy,’ for BBC’s Top of the Pops New Years Eve special this year. The performance, which was a big moment for Yungblud, celebrates his latest album ‘Weird,’ entering the UK album charts at number 1 earlier this month with a dynamic version of the leading single from the album ‘Cotton Candy.’
Yungblud took the opportunity of his television appearance to dress up with a look inspired by Punk Rock and posed on Facebook with a Sid Vicious snarl calling on his fans to tune in because ‘it’s gonna be fookin mental.’ The performance was anarchic and full of energy with Yungblud making a dramatic entrance screaming ‘Top of the Pops!’ and ending the song with a similarly energetic scream of ‘Happy New Year Baby.’
It’s been a long while since someone has put as much effort into a Top of the Pops appearance as Yungblud put into this performance. His band play their part perfectly, while he enjoys the limelight and plays the part of frontman, acting out the lyrics and giving the song attitude. The best thing about this performance is the effort which has been put into making it a live performance, rather than just miming along to a perfect recording, there are moments in there which you would genuinely expect at a live concert.
Perhaps it is the lack of live music this year which has led to artists like Yungblud taking to Top of the Pops to connect deeply with their fans, but surely its no bad thing to have the format shaken up and brought into the twenty first century so violently, or more specifically brought into 2021. 2021 certainly looks to be a very exciting year for music, assuming that the fight against coronavirus is indeed won in Spring as is currently being predicated. It is set to be a big year for British Indie, with Yungblud and Declan McKenna both ready to gig and tour in support of their second albums, and in the pop world Dua Lipa is all set for world domination.
The energy that Yungblud brought to Top of the Pops in many ways reflects the pent up energy that many of us are feeling right now, with almost a whole year of strict restrictions on all socialising except for a brief window at the end of summer, many of us cannot wait for 2021 and for a time when we will once more be able to go out and interact with others just like we used to. It is almost certain that there will be an explosion of sociability after this crisis comes to an end, with even the more introverted of us realising how much we depend on one another this year.
Top of the Pops today was just a small taste of the live music which Yungblud has in store next year along with his contemporaries, all the great British artist’s who’ve released music this year, the fans are ready and the band’s are waiting, all we need now is the vaccine.
