Stella Donnelly appeared on the Valentine’s edition of triple j’s Like A Version segment. Donnelly and her band delivered a spirited and romantic take on John Paul Young’s ‘Love Is In the Air’.
The date was not lost on Stella Donnelly as the Perth musician backed up a successful Laneway tour with a visit to the triple j studios. Six musicians joined Donnelly for a bloody excellent rendition of Young’s 1977 original.
Donnelly’s known for her bumper energy and perceptible fearlessness, all of which is on display in this performance. But the singer’s playfulness and uninhibited dancing didn’t interfere with her impeccable vocal performance.
Watch: Stella Donnelly – Love Is In the Air
Donnelly also performed a stripped down version of ‘Die’ from her debut album Beware of the Dogs. The record came out in March 2019 and received critical acclaim around the world. Pitchfork praised Donnelly for her “complex and surprising [songs], full of sharp corners poised to bruise unsuspecting limbs.”
The Guardian gave the record four stars out of five. Reviewer Brodie Lancaster noted that “Donnelly’s message is located beneath her sweet brand of guitar pop – like a razor blade hidden in a bowl of custard.”
Watch: Stella Donnelly – Die (live on triple j)
triple j listeners were similarly captivated by the album. It came in at number six in the station’s annual album poll. It’s interesting to note that every other album on the list deposited songs to the subsequent Hottest 100. Donnelly wasn’t successful in this regard, which underlines the album’s strength as a complete body of work.
While Donnelly’s songwriting is regarded for its glaring depictions of everyday despicableness, she’s no stranger to soft rock/disco covers. We recommend you check out her version of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time’ from ABC Australia’s 2017 New Year’s Eve special.
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Watch: Stella Donnelly – Time After Time
