We’ve all played the curate your dream girl band line-up game. Radio 1 played it just last night, only they went one step further and actually got their selection to unite and perform Dua’s IDGAF. It. Was. Awesome. With Dua on lead vocals, Charli, Zara, Karen and Alma sing harmonies and backing vox while step-tapping on the spot. Girl band persona wise; double denim-clad Zara takes the grown-up stylish role, MØ is the androgynous punky one, Alma the cyber goth outsider, Charli the poptastic Gucci girl and Dua full on sporty spice.
As our friend Peter “popjustice” Robinson points out, this is an epic scheduling feat, given all five artists are so damn busy. He also, quite rightly, mentions that while brilliant, the line-up isn’t the greatest display of ethnic diversity in pop. Nice little live lounge performance though, isn’t it? If you look closely you can see my pal Will, Dua’s drummer, in the background barely being able to contain his excitement at being a part of 2k18’s answer to the Spice Girls. Catch him, Dua, and the rest of the band playing live at The BRIT awards, where the London-born Albanian singer is nominated for Best British Artist Video, Best British Album, Best British Single, Best British Breakthrough Act, Best British Female Solo Artist and Best At Everything In The World Now And Forever Amen.
If you’re interested in The BRITs, you might also be interested to know that this year’s award show will be hosted by offensively posh comedian Jack Whitehall but saved by performances from Dua, Jorja Smith, Liam Payne, Foo Fighters, Stormzy and Sam Smith. There will also be live music from Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake, Rag’n’Bone Man and Rita Ora, but we’re not making any promises there. The show starts at 8pm tonight and can be streamed live on both ITV and YouTube. Full nominations are listed here.