Today's Pick

As if "The Fault in Our Stars" didn't make fans weep enough in theaters, or if you still have any tears left after seeing the film, Birdy is out with an intimate music video for the super emotional ballad "Not For Angels," her contribution to the film's soundtrack. Featured at the end of the movie when Hazel leaves Gus' funeral and thankfully the new clip avoids footage from the movie - the sweet, sad song stands on its own. Though Birdy is still only 18-year-old, hearing her voice quiver through her own words is at once powerful and soothing.
Birdy contributed three three songs to soundtrack of blockbuster movie, but "Not About Angels" has connected with moviegoers the most with almost haunting mix of simple piano and vocals. The warm reception could have something to do with the fact that Birdy wrote it from the perspective of the characters in the film. In a recent interview, she revealed that this track was completely inspired by the film's storyline. "For the lyrics I was inspired by the way they speak to each other," Birdy says. "I was in tears when they read the book, and was so inspired by how the characters communicate."
The music supervisor Season Kent told The Huffington Post that the British singer was "so obsessed with the movie and the book." The song works because, as Kent said, "There's this whole back and forth that Gus and Hazel have about believing in God and believing in angels, and that's what her song is about: it's not about angels, it's about us." If you fancy a good cry, here's a couple of the lyrics for you: "We know full well there's just time, so is it wrong to toss this line? If your heart was full of love, could you give it up? 'Cause what about angels, they will come, they will go, make us special. Don't give me up..."
Given that "Not About Angels" is shaping up to be Birdy's much-deserved breakthrough hit in America, it was only a matter of time before it got a suitably moving video. Take in the beautiful simplicity of this video, which featuring Birdy belting the song at a baby grand piano with her reflection and a dazzling view of the Los Angeles cityscape behind her. Birdy's handwriting and floating notebook drawings bring the characters' tragic love in the film to life. That's really all you need for a song this subtle and beautiful.

If being a scarily talented 17-year-old wasn't enough to be going on with, Birdy is back with a brand new and totally awesome video for her new single, "Light Me Up," the latest cut to be lifted from the British singer/songwriter's recent UK Top 10 sophomore album, "Fire Within," which dropped in September. This will be the third song released from the new album, and follows the singles "Wings" and "All You Never Say." Birdy says that the new track takes the album in an "unexpected 80s direction," will release on December 9 via 14th Floor/Atlantic Records.
Birdy continues her unique sound in this latest release, moving between melancholic verse and its upbeat pop chorus with her typical indie style. After releasing a slew of piano driven ballads, Birdy finally loosens up and puts out this joyous upbeat number. It's good to hear her open up her vocals for a change and show off that amazing range. Speaking about the new single, an empowering and upbeat track about the feeling of being close to and completely in tune with someone, which Birdy worked on with producer Rich Costey and Ryan Tedder. Birdy says "I'm really excited about releasing 'Light Me Up.' It has a bit of an 80's feel and it's really up-beat, it's a sound that no one's heard from me before. I can't wait to share the video with you all!"
Showing 'the real you' on your debut can be a tough, uphill battle for most artists. The old saying goes that "you've got your entire life to write your first album." But when Birdy came to the world's attention, she was only 15-year-old. Her first single, a cover of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love," was charted across the world and went platinum. Now though, the teen folk-pop sensation is ready to strike out on her own and let people get to see the 'real' her. Her new album "Fire Within" consists of her own original material and sees Birdy come to the forefront as a songwriter in her own right.
The accompanying music video starts casually enough, with Birdy stirring things up and walking through the streets of East London, singing and minding her own business. That is until a fairly mysterious and quite good looking stranger decides to chase her. Naturally they do what any self-respecting newly acquainted couple would and head for a market, to check out the selection of doughnuts and bagels hanging from a string on the ceiling. Sounds like the perfect date, no? The young singer/songwriter's gallivanting through one of the most colorful lighted flea market of sorts around with her love interest, and it's fitting for such a live-wire of an artist as she is.

Much has happened to the young Jasmine Van Den Bogaerde, aka Birdy since she came out of nowhere with a striking and stripped down piano-backed soulful cover of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love." Birdy might not have made so much as a peep for the last year or so, but after what feels like an eternity of waiting, the 17-year-old songstress is back with a brand new pretty snazzy video for her latest track "Wings," the lead single from British singer/songwriter's upcoming sophomore set, moodily titled album, "Fire Within," which scheduled for release on September 23 via Warner Music Group.
Birdy generated a mountain of buzz with her eponymous debut self-titled album. The somber collection of covers showcased the teenager's haunting voice to perfection and topped the charts around the world. "It's been an incredible few years since I released my debut album back in 2011," the British teen said in a statement. "I've been writing new songs and I'm so excited for people to hear them. They come straight from my heart." For a taste of Birdy's new, slightly less morose sound, check out "Wings." The focus is still very much on her glorious voice but the soaring track has a radio-friendly sheen missing from her debut.
Written by herself in collaboration with Ryan Tedder and produced by Tedder and Rich Costey, "Wings" sees Birdy explore familiar themes of love and passion. Sticking with the big, haunting vocals, "Wings" is a folky track with an indie edge and it seems fair to say that once you start, you just can't stop listening. Birdy joins forces with Sophie Muller for the promo to the emotive, widescreen pop of "Wings." The video is pretty edgy too and going for a Gatsby-gone-wrong sort of feel, it matches the ethereal vibe that makes us wish we were prancing about the countryside in some sort of lacy veil.
Muller invites viewers into a Renaissance fantasy world in the artful clip, which follows Birdy as she strolls through an extravagant garden party in a sumptuous mansion surrounded by a bunch of odd and flambouyant characters complete with acrobatics, masks, fencing and horses. The Black Dog director captures a haunting feeling of loneliness from Birdy, even as the revelers play around her in flamboyant costumes and masks. Amidst the stylized celebration, we get private moments with the teen songstress as she pierces the viewer with her melancholic - if not completely heartbreaking - gaze. The clip is a gorgeous fever dream that captures the delicate limbo between innocence and adulthood, as Birdy's dulcet tones float airily against the chaotic backdrop.

With the way her rich voice flutters, British YouTube teenage sensation Jasmine van den Bogaerde couldn't have chosen a better stage name than Birdy, who has blowing up in the UK, and has unveiled the music video about two years ago for her breakout debut single, "Skinny Love," a rendition of American folk band Bon Iver's 2008 hit from their 2008 album "For Emma, Forever Ago." The young songstress was 14 when she recorded this song after she won the under 18s category of the UK talent contest UK Idol at the age of 12.
Birdy chose to cover "Skinny Love" for her debut album after her aunt, who is a fan of the song, first played it for her. This 16-year-old chanteuse bearing her soul (via Bon Iver's Justin Vernon) all the way from the UK. With only a piano to accompany her, Birdy unleashes her tender and frankly jaw-dropping vocals and bowls the listener over by her breathtaking voice. A sparse, yet utterly emotional version of a spectacular track that has seen her playlisted by the top UK DJs. If Van den Bogaerde keeps this up it won't be long before Birdy becomes a household name on both sides of the Atlantic.
We speculate widely about the meaning of "Skinny Love," is it about a relationship petering out? Is it about a real-life skinny lover? We asked Birdy how she interprets the lyrics and it's something of a mystery to her too. "When I'm singing it, I'm not really sure of the actual meaning of the song," she admits. "But... to me it feels it's like a break-up, people who really love each other but having to move on then. For me, it's more about the melody and the music," she adds. If you're into delicate prodigy-grade piano pop, and haven't heard this beautifully innocent song, you can watch the video clip below you'll find some other treasures from this young star.
I do prefer her breath-taking version to the original. Birdy's version of "Skinny Love" is just phenomenal and her vocal strength is amazing! This is a beautiful summer song and Birdy has a stunning voice. The piano is poignant and powerful alongside the lyrics. The promo for song was directed by Sophie Muller, in which we sees the Birdy walking around an abandoned house and also playing the piano. The video also marks the first time the public have seen the Birdy. The video is beautiful, haunting and so mature!