Digitizing History: The Beatles Story

In 1964, a group of 4 young men from Liverpool took the United States by storm with a performance on The Ed Sullivan Show, belting out hits including “She Loves You” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” 73 million people (that’s 34% of the U.S. population!) watched the performance, and America was officially brought into The Beatles craze. The Beatles gained worldwide popularity, with the Fab Four pumping out hit after hit for a decade. Time is often the enemy of bands, making them obsolete and old-fashioned, but The Beatles remain, popular with baby boomers and millennials alike.

Many fans make the pilgrimage each year to Liverpool, England to walk the famous Penny Lane, snap a photo by Strawberry Hill, and visit the grave of Eleanor Rigby. Liverpool is also home to a wonderful museum called The Beatles Story. The Beatles Story is located on Albert Dock, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and takes fans through the history of The Beatles. The museum contains the largest collection of Beatles artifacts, and memorabilia, including guitars, visas, photographs, suits, music video props, and even a tree branch that served as part of the inspiration of “Strawberry Fields Forever.”

Don’t have the time or funds to visit The Beatles Story in person? Satiate your need for all things Beatles with the wonderful online presence of The Beatles Story! There are a number of different ways you can connect with them:

1. Online Blog
   The Beatles Story blog is a wonderful resource to find out more “behind the scenes” information about the museum. You can read blog posts about artifacts in the museum, people who worked with The Beatles during their career, and recaps of events and programs at the museum. My favorite recent blog post is an interview with Geoff Emerick, who worked as a studio engineer for The Beatles in the mid-1960s.
2. The Beatles Story Twitter
   The Twitter account for The Beatles Story is very active and provides great information about the museum – they share information on events and programs, artifacts in the collection, and more. For you history buffs out there, they share a lot of “on this day” posts about The Beatles. They’re also great at interacting with fans, so tweet them with your questions and comments!
3. The Beatles Story Instagram
   Firstly, this Instagram account is BEAUTIFUL. The Beatles Story took a unique approach to their Instagram account – they use Beatles lyrics over many of their photos, promoting events, “this day in history,” and artifacts in the museum. They post pretty regularly, so follow this account and add a little bit of Beatles love to your feed!

Have you visited The Beatles Story? What’s your favorite Beatles song? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!

In the name of peace and love,
Rae

 

Wimbledon 101

Did anyone else notice the person dressed as a giant strawberry during Serena Williams’ Round of 16 match on Monday? I had to pause the match just to make sure I saw it correctly. This blog post was inspired by this strawberry-loving fan, whose presence at the match initiated an educational discussion with my boyfriend. As I explained the strawberry-Wimbledon tradition, I realized that my knowledge, gleaned from a visit to the Wimbledon Museum and years of watching the tournament, should be shared with our dear blog readers.

Here I am overlooking the Wimbledon courts – awestruck by all the tennis history.

Summer is tennis season and the 2016 Wimbledon Championship Tournament finals are already in play this weekend. As a lifelong tennis player, it was a huge treat to tour the Wimbledon grounds in 2009 during my Oxford semester. Wimbledon and its many traditions are a quintessentially British treat that is best enjoyed when you know a little bit about its history and the great sport of tennis. Check out this article to get a brief overview of the rules and etiquette of the sport of tennis.

Wimbledon is really old

The famous tournament began in 1877 and has been played at the All England Club in Wimbledon ever since. This was back when tennis racquets were made of wood (a tradition that lasted well into the 1970s). Located outside of London, you have to take a train to get out to the grounds. Wimbledon is part of the four major Grand Slam tennis tournaments and is usually held mid-summer (end of June/beginning of July).

The courts are made of grass

You’ll notice a crane in the background – they were putting the finishing touches on a retractable roof over centre court. It is coming in handy with this rainy 2016 tournament.

You heard me right. Grass. If you’ve ever stepped foot on a tennis court in the U.S., you’ve generally found a hard court made out of asphalt or concrete. The Wimbledon courts are made of carefully manicured grass, cut extremely short to allow for optimal ball bounce. You’ll notice when watching Wimbledon that the ball speed is much slower than on a hard court or clay court due to the grass. They take their grass very seriously and will definitely not let you touch the grass during the tour. Don’t worry, I asked a few times just to be sure.

At Wimbledon, we wear white.

Imagine this title said in the voice of a Mean Girls character. You’ll notice the monochromatic theme when you compare Wimbledon with other Grand Slam tournaments, as the players are required to wear traditional white tennis uniforms. However, stars like Serena Williams get creative with their white color palate and there have certainly been some couture takes on the traditional tennis dress.

We enjoyed this homemade “American” version at a Memorial Day BBQ. A few blueberries were added for a red, white, and blue effect.

Strawberries and cream are kind of a big deal.

No one seems to know exactly why strawberries and cream became synonymous with Wimbledon, but it has been an enduring tradition since the tournament began. Fresh summer strawberries are topped with sweet, rich cream and are sold throughout the grounds.

You don’t need to be a tennis pro or to be dressed as a giant strawberry to enjoy this weekend’s Wimbledon Championships. Grab a bowl of strawberries, put on your favorite white outfit, and get ready for a weekend of phenomenal tennis.

Game, set, match!
Shan

Frank Turner LIVE!

If you’ve read our blog before, you know that I (Rae) am pretty obsessed with a certain British singer-songwriter named Frank Turner. Frank is the perfect combination of punk and folk, rock and bluegrass, guitar riffs and acoustic chords. I fell in love with Frank’s music when I lived in England and have been slowly trying to convert all of my friends to Frank fanatics ever since. I could never fully explain how much Frank’s music has meant to me, and the kind of impact its had on my life. For me, music is deeply connected to memories, and Frank’s soulful crooning draws me back to a hard place that got much, much better. For the first time since this musical love affair started, I had the chance to see Frank LIVE last week. Here’s my recap of the show:

First of all, I just have to point out the obvious that Frank is INCREDIBLE live. He has more energy and positivity than I could ever hope to possess, and he does this nearly EVERY NIGHT, FOLKS. Seriously, check out the list of shows on his U.S. tour – he’s going pretty much everywhere and I can guarantee he gives 110% at each and every show. Our show started with two openers, The Homeless Gospel Choir and Two Cow Garage, who were both talented and enjoyable acts. After a short break to reset the stage, our main man FRANK TURNER and his backing band, The Sleeping Souls (who are AMAZING, by the way), took to the stage. They started off with Frank’s seminal classic “I Still Believe” which contains one of my favorite lyrics: “now who’d have thought that after all, something as simple as rock ‘n’ roll would save us all.” He played a great mix of songs for fans both old and new from a number of his albums, including early hits like “Photosynthesis,” “The Ballad of Me and My Friends,” and “Love Ire and Song,” as well as many songs from his newest records, Tape Deck Heart and Positive Songs for Negative People. Nearly all of my favorite Frank songs were played, including “Plain Sailing Weather,” “The Opening Act of Spring,” and “Recovery.”

Frank also performed a NEW song for us (and kindly asked us not to record it, so sorry to tease you without a preview!). He had literally finished writing it a day before the show and guys, it was AWESOME. I can’t wait until he records and releases it for all of you to hear. What struck me most about Frank’s concert was his emphasis on turning it not only into a participatory event, but also a community gathering. He had all of us sit on the floor of the venue at one point and look around at one another, encouraging us to remember our fellow concert attendees as friends, sharing in these life moments together. He literally and figuratively put us all on an equal playing ground, a breath of fresh air in the world of live music that often emphasizes importance, status, and benefits based on how much you can pay for a ticket.

All in all, Frank played a total of 26 songs (!!!!) over about 2 hours. He played songs with his full band as a well as a few acoustic numbers alone, and also did a RAD cover of “Breed” by Nirvana. He brought someone on stage and had her crowdsurf, and during his final song, “Four Simple Words,” Frank himself dove into the crowd. The show was high energy from start to finish – my Fitbit counted nearly 8,000 steps during those 2 hours! At a Frank Turner show, “I want to dance” becomes less of a lyric and more of a mindset.

Oh, and did I mention that my friend and I got to MEET Frank after the show? It was an absolute dream come true for me. I stumbled over my words a little (but who could blame me?!) but Frank was incredibly kind, talking to us about my time studying in York, The Postal Service, Fitbits, and everything in between. He signed my CD insert and posed for a photo with me, even complimenting my camera. He spent almost 15 minutes talking to my friend and me, despite the fact that there was still a small pack of people waiting to meet him. I can genuinely say that Frank is one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. I hope all of you blog readers get the chance to see this incredible guy in concert one day.

You can follow Frank’s Twitter here. Comment on this post or talk to us on Twitter about your favorite Frank Turner song!

Cheers,

Rae

How To Bake A Proper British Scone

Hello, blog readers!

After a bit of a hiatus, Shan and I are BACK and ready to make this blog better than ever! We’re giving you a delicious “first” post about how to bake proper British scones! So what makes a British scone different than the American scones we’re used to seeing in Starbucks? Well, for starters, you’ll notice the drastically different shape – the British scones are round (the shape usually achieved through the use of a biscuit cutter) while their American counterparts are cut into triangles. The British scones are also less sweet and not as dense, often topped with gorgeous clotted cream and jam. Ever since returning from my time in England, I’ve been searching for an authentic British scone recipe to remind me of the first cream tea I had at the Bullivant Tea Shop in York. I recently prepared a batch of scones that are the closest yet to what I remember, and I’ll be walking you through the directions step by step so you, too, can create the perfect British scone!

I’m using this recipe from RockRecipes.com. In my experience, the hardest part of finding a proper scone recipe is the fact that most of them use metric measurements, which makes complete sense, of course, but can be difficult for those of us who were trained in baking in America! The recipe I used had nicely converted American measurements and easy-to-follow directions. Proper scones are simple and require few ingredients – flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, and eggs are all you really need! You first start by mixing together your dry ingredients. The next step, which is arguably the most important, it adding in the butter. The key to a proper scone is making sure your butter is very cold. Cut your butter up in small pieces and use either a food processor or a dough blender until your mixture reassembles a coarse meal.

Next, you want to whisk your wet ingredients in a bowl. I added an optional 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla for a little extra flavor and sweetness – you could also add in some lemon juice or zest for a different flavor. Once it’s whisked together, add your wet ingredients to your dry ingredients and quickly mix it all up with a spoon. An important note about baking scones is to be careful not to over-mix – this could cause your dough to get to tough (the same goes for making brownies!). I also added in some blueberries, although they’re not traditional to scones, because I am obsessed with berries and I’ll take any opportunity to eat them.

After your dough is mixed up, transfer it to a floured surface and pat out a round. Using a biscuit cutter (I used a 1 1/2 inch circle), cut out your scones and drop them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. (I did not take my own advice because I was out of parchment paper, so it still works even if you don’t have it!). Brush your scones with a little bit of the mixture from your wet ingredients (I also failed to do this step) and stick those beauties in the oven! In 12 – 15 minutes, you’ll be looking at some delicious and proper British scones. Make sure to eat them with plenty of butter, your favorite jam, and DEFINITELY clotted cream, if you can find it!

Do you have a favorite scone recipe? Let us know in the comments or on our Twitter page!

Keep calm and bake on,

Rae

U.K. Shows in the U.S.A.: 2016 Edition

Happy 2016, blog readers!

Shan and I have always bonded over our love of British television. We marathoned season after season of Robin Hood, Merlin, and Doctor Who, and enjoy checking out the latest British imports from across the pond. This year, we fell in love with The Great British Bake Off (affectionately known as “GBBO”) and are thrilled that even more British television shows will be gracing our television screens next year. Here’s a guide to the U.K. shows we’re most excited to watch in 2016.

Sherlock
U.S. Premiere Date: Friday, January 1 at 9PM (PBS)

The game is on! Sherlock is back for a special Christmas episode between series 3 and 4. This episode, titled “The Abominable Bride,” features our favorite mystery duo in Victorian England solving the case of a bride who has supposedly come back to life. Will this episode hint at what’s yet to come in the next series? Will we learn more about Mary’s backstory? WHAT ABOUT MORIARTY?? We only need to wait a few short hours to find out!

Downton Abbey
U.S. Premiere Date: Sunday, January 3 at 9PM (PBS)

The final season of Downton Abbey has arrived, so make sure you have a box of tissues nearby! This season has already started and ended in the U.K., so cheers to you for avoiding spoilers! We don’t have to wait much longer to watch – our favorite Granthams will be back on our TV screens in only a matter of days!

London Spy
U.S. Premiere Date: Thursday, January 21 at 10PM (BBC America)

London Spy has been phenomenal hit in the U.K. since its release in November. The show follows the story of a couple, Danny and Alex, and the mysterious circumstance surrounding Alex’s disappearance. Though London Spy has only 5 episodes to date, it’s already gained critical acclaim. The show stars Ben Whishaw, one our favorite British actors who has had a phenomenal 2015 with supporting roles in Spectre, The Danish Girl, Suffragette, and In The Heart of the Sea. London Spy also features many other seasoned British actors including Jim Broadbent (fondly remembered by many of us for his performance as Professor Slughorn in Harry Potter) and Sherlock’s Mark Gatiss. Tune in for a compelling drama set against the backdrop of modern London!

War and Peace
U.S. Premiere Date: Monday, January 18 at 9PM (A&E, Lifetime, and the History Channel)

Were any of required to read Leo Tolstoy’s 1,000+ page epic? If you did, good for you! If you didn’t, you’re in luck: the BBC is creating a miniseries that will air this January! The show follows the story of France’s invasion of Russia, and the trailer is absolutely beautiful, reminiscent of Anna Karenina and other period dramas. War and Peace stars Lily James of Downton Abbey and  Cinderella, as well as Jim Broadbent and Paul Dano. The show will be split into four two-hour episodes in the U.S., airing simultaneously on A&E, Lifetime, and the History Channel.

You, Me and the Apocalypse
U.S Premiere Date: Thursday, January 28 at 8PM (NBC)

You, Me and the Apocalypse aired in the U.K. in September to rave reviews and was quickly picked up by NBC for a U.S. premiere this January. The comedy-drama follows a group of people with very different lives waiting out the apocalypse in a bunker. The show features many famous American and British actors including Rob Lowe, Jenna Fischer (The Office), and Matthew Baynton, who starred in one of my favorite Brit shows of all time, The Wrong Mans. We absolutely can’t wait to check out this hilarious comedy!

Orphan Black 
U.S. Premiere Date: Spring 2016 (BBC America)

Orphan Black is finally returning to the U.S.!! Series 4 promises to bring us dangerous new enemies, as well as a strain placed on the relationships within the sisterhood itself. Tatiana Maslany also (FINALLY!) received an Emmy nomination for for Orphan Black last year – needless to say, it’s been a great year for the show and we hope the momentum keeps up throughout 2016. Keep your eyes peeled for more details about series 4, as well as release date!

What other shows are looking forward to watching? Comment on this post or let us know on Twitter: @ukintheeveryday!

Happy watching,
Rae

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Said in River Song’s lilting voice: SPOILERS. Stop right now if you haven’t watched the final episodes of season 9. Go watch, cry buckets of tears, re-watch to figure out what in the world is actually happening, then come back and read all about Clara Oswald, the Impossible Girl.

I have to admit, I have been sobbing since Doctor Who forced me to face…[SPOILERS] the death of the empowered, gutsy Clara Oswald. It is always tragic when we lose a companion – be it through memory loss or disappearing into an alternate dimension (I still tear up every time I see the photo of Rose and 9 leaning against the walls, separated for all time). But we haven’t, in the latest reincarnation of the series, been forced to watch a beloved companion die.

It was tragic, in slow motion, and featured a ruthless raven pulling the life right out of Clara. Sniffle. Then I continued to cry through “Heaven Sent,” as the Doctor struggled to face her death in the strange torture chamber that led to his home planet. Why can’t Clara be there? Why is she gone?!

Not all of his female companions have been fully empowered. Their role is to act as an extension of the audience, following the Doctor blindly, being wow-ed at his daring escapes and complicated plans. We’ve seen glimpses of strength, but in the end, the Doctor has the ultimate agency. Just think about poor Donna, who was forced to have her memories of the Doctor erased because her feeble mind couldn’t handle being “DoctorDonna.”

But Clara, our dear Clara, may have saved this entire series by doing the one thing those other companions struggled to do: to make the ultimate choice about her future, all by herself. In choosing to keep her memories even when facing her ultimate death, Clara became more like the Doctor than even the Doctor was in the final series 9 episode, “Hell Bent.” I can’t say that Clara was empowered throughout her time on Doctor Who, but this one last act of agency was enough to redeem her and to place her at the top of the female companion list.

I salute you, Clara Oswald, for ending your time on Doctor Who the same way you began: your way. To commemorate our beloved Clara and to help imagine just where she may be traveling in her own TARDIS-shaped-like-a-diner, I’m sharing my favorite Clara episodes:

The Snowmen

This fun period piece introduces you to Clara Oswald version #2 and features vicious live snowmen. A holiday classic.

The Name of the Doctor

Ignore the fact that Clara states, “I was born to save the Doctor.” She was certainly born for more than that. However, this is the episode where she once again takes control of her past, present, and future by jumping into raw time itself to save the Doctor.

Face the Raven

“Let Me Be Brave.” And Clara truly was.

Hell Bent

As I said, this might be my favorite ending to a companion. Pulled out of time in her last moments of death, Clara is faced with a manic Doctor willing to break time itself to save her. Before he can erase her memories, enabling him to hide her away in some distant corner of the Universe where she will live on and be “safe,” Clara takes her life into her own hands and reclaims it.

Run you clever girl, and be Clara.

Shan

 

Adele is back!

As fans of the U.K. living in the States, we are used to waiting. We wait a little bit longer for Sherlock, Downton Abbey, and even for some of our favorite new artists. However, we shared the world’s pain after LOVING Adele‘s album, 21, only to wait 4 LONG, PAINFUL years for another album. How did we know how to love? How to feel without Adele’s soulful voice to tell us? Somehow, we survived and the wait really was worth it.

After only 5 short weeks on the Billboard charts, Adele has held the #1 spot, selling 7.13 million copies of her much anticipated album, 25. It can be daunting when you first are listening to a new album – which sounds should I listen to first? What will capture all the emotion I’ve felt over the last 4 years without Adele?

Don’t fret, dear friends. We have been listening to 25 on repeat for the last month and want to share some of our favorite songs from the biggest album of 2015. Prepare to feel again…

Rae’s picks:

Adele was really popular when I lived in England in 2009, and I fell in love with her beautiful, raw voice and powerful songs. I’ve listened to 21 more times than I could ever count and I’m thrilled that our girl Adele is back with 25. Here are some of my favorite songs from the album:

Send My Love (To Your New Lover)

This might be my favorite song from Adele’s new album. The sound is a little different for Adele – it’s so catchy, a song that you would perhaps expect to hear Taylor Swift singing with her crew from the “Bad Blood” video. But Adele’s voice has a natural rasp that adds so much to this song. It’s also not your typical breakup song – instead of crying over the guy or getting mad at his new girl, Adele sings of being “set free” and asking her ex to treat his new lover better.

Million Years Ago

THIS IS MY GIRL ADELE, 100% ON POINT. Million Years Ago is stripped-down and raw, influenced by the Spanish flamenco style of music. I can just picture Adele belting this out in a courtyard somewhere with a flowing red dress and flowers in her hair. This is a song of yearning and heartache – if you ever need a good cry, blast this and get all of your emotions out.

River Lea

“River Lea” is an example of an excellent Adele power ballad. This song just gets me, too – sometimes it’s hard to move on, even when you know it’s best for you. I also love how Adele uses the example of a real river to metaphorically talk about love (“it’s in my roots, it’s in my veins”).

Shan’s Picks

Per the usual, I fell in love with Adele before she hit global stardom, back to the days when she was just 19 and her music was only playing on radios in the U.K. I even had her song, “Chasing Pavements” on my music playlist when I first visited England in the summer of 2009. While all of these new songs speak to me, I do happen to have a few favorites from 25: 

When We Were Young

I especially love this live version of “When We Were Young.” I appreciate the lost youth theme of this album, as I am about to turn 27 (just like Adele!), I feel those early 20’s fading away and am not sure I’m ready for my looming 30’s. This song will make you ache for those youthful times when things seemed just a little bit easier.

Water Under the Bridge

The plunky guitar beat and background clapping makes this a more playful tune. As one of the more upbeat songs on the album, it instantly makes me smile, even if it is about ending a relationship.

All I Ask

This song is most reminiscent of the 21 era. Beautifully sung, it is one of those that you can’t help but curl up and cry to every time you hear it. Her heartbreak is palpable. You can see her perform this little gem on her NBC special, which premiered this December.

We can’t ever find someone like you, Adele. You are the singer of our generation and we salute you.

Happy year of Adele,
Shan & Rae

 

Girl Power!: The Best Female Brit Lit in 2015

2015 was a great year for books by British authors. There were new novels that captured our hearts, sequels to beloved past stories, and everything in between. The 2015 literary scene was also dominated by women – in fact, on Kobo, an ebook retailer, the top 10 bestselling books of 2015 were all written by women. I am going to outline my top three favorite books written by female British authors this year (and give you a head start on creating your 2016 reading list!). In no particular order:

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

 I can honestly say that The Girl on the Train is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I’m not usually interested in mystery novels but after hearing rave reviews of this book, I decided to get a copy from my local library. I finished the book in 12 hours. The Girl on the Train is one of those books that you LITERALLY cannot put down. Author Paula Hawkins does a fantastic job with creating well-rounded characters, flawlessly weaving the life of protagonist Rachel, an average English women, into a mystery for the ages. The ending was twisted, offering both shock and relief, a feat not easily achieved by a writer. The film version of this book, with an all-star cast of Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Justin Theroux, Lisa Kudrow, Allison Janey, and Luke Evans, is set to be released on October 7, 2016 – make sure you read the book before you hit the theater!

After You by Jojo Moyes
After You is the sequel to the beloved novel Me Before You. Me Before You told the story of Will
Traynor, a man who seemingly “had it all” before an accident left him paralyzed from the neck down, and Louisa Clark, his caretaker. Will and Louisa’s lives intertwined, creating an intricate and emotional story with an unexpected ending. You can read our review of the book here. Jojo Moyes returns to the world of Louisa and Will in After You, giving readers the rare opportunity to see what happens after the story seemingly ends. Raw, emotional, and beautifully written, Moyes tackles the very real issues of love, loss, and redemption through her unique writing style. Me Before You will be released as a film on March 4, 2016 and stars Sam Claflin, Emilia Clarke, Jenna Coleman, and Neville Longbottom himself, Matthew Lewis.

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce
The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy is a companion to Rachel Joyce’s wildly popular The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. What makes these two books so interesting is the fact that they are not prequel and sequel, but rather happen in the same space of time. Harold Fry tells the tale of a retiree named Harold who travels across England by foot to visit a co-worker (Queenie Hennessy) who has cancer. Along the way, we learn more about Harold’s past, including the secrets surrounding his mysterious family life and his relationship to Queenie. However, it’s not until Queenie Hennessy, written from Queenie’s perspective, that we learn about her life and connections to Harold’s past. I was unsure how I would feel about Queenie Hennessy at first, as many authors have had difficulty in publishing the same story from a different perspective. However, Joyce gives us new characters, new information, and a completely new perspective, offering an entirely different story built from a familiar tale. There are no talks of a film adaption yet, but I have to believe that a story this good will be snatched up soon!

What were your favorite British books of 2015? Leave a comment below or let us know on Twitter!

Happy reading,
Rae

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I’ve followed the musical careers of a number of X Factor U.K. stars, but have never been able to enjoy their journey through the show…until just a few weeks ago! I stumbled upon the TV channel, axsTV, and found that they play the latest episodes only a few days after they originally air in the U.K.! I’m completely engrossed in this season and have sorely missed the curmudgeon-y Simon Cowell.

I am certainly emotionally invested in the show (I will be DEVASTATED if Ché doesn’t win the whole thing). However, even those who didn’t win have made it big, sometimes bigger than the winners, after the show concluded. In honor of this weekend’s finale,  this post features a few of my favorite singers who got their start on the X Factor.

Ella Henderson

Ella appeared on the X Factor in 2012 at the tender age of 16 and blew the judges away with her rich, soulful voice. She launched her solo career in 2014 with the album, Chapter One, and has become an international star in her own right.

Sounds like: Adele meets Emeli Sande

Mirror Man

One of her sassier songs, this has a wonderful blues sound and is a nice tell-off song.

Yours

I love this raw, emotional side of Ella.

Olly Murs

Olly was the runner up on the 2009 series and is now a co-host this year. Known for his playful, upbeat pop stylings, he has had some fun collaborations and catchy albums over the years.

Sounds like: Maroon 5 meets Ed Sheeran

Up

My favorite Olly Murs song is off his 2014 album, Never Been Better, and is this soaring breakup/makeup song featuring Demi Lovato. 

Rebecca Ferguson

Runner up on the 2010 series, blues singer, Rebecca Ferguson has a raw, raspy voice and soulful style. Her 2015 album, Lady Sings the Blues, is a fantastic re-envisioning of Billie Holliday classics. Check out the lead single:

Sounds like: Amy Winehouse meets Duffy

I Hope

I can already see a number of this season’s contestants making it big after the finale!

Shan