BANKS Covers Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody?” For BBC Radio’s Live Lounge: Listen

Carl Williott | March 20, 2014 6:50 am

Fast-rising California singer BANKS covered Aaliyah‘s “Are You That Somebody?” for BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge last night (March 19), which is no small undertaking since the iconic song basically serves as Year 0 for today’s new wave of R&B singers. But instead of trying to add a modern twist to the still-modern-sounding 1998 hit, BANKS takes the opposite approach, singing with just an acoustic guitar accompanying her.

The stripped take highlights the song’s lilting melody and rubber band vocal rhythms, as well as BANKS’ ability to transition from chirped whisper to full-bodied vibrato in a few bars. Hear it below.

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