Sam Smith’s “Unholy” was an instant pop-shocker when the single dropped back in 2022. But when the Filipino singer Gigi De Lana covered the hit for her YouTube channel, her explosive rock twist magnified Sam’s sultry vibe, sending the clip viral with over 9.6 million views!
Sam Smith’s original was a masterclass in dark and seductive EDM; set against a devilish dance-pop soundscape, lacing sinful lyrics with spooky harmonies before Sam’s collaborating artist, Kim Petras, steals a verse of her own. Wicked, ominous, and unforgiving, Gigi’s ingenious cover translates Sam’s novel terrors to the original shock-horror genre: rock music – and the payoff is simply unreal.
Bass-heavy EDM beats transform into heavy metal riffs; a live drummer lines the cover with bold, dominating beats; Gigi’s keyboardist sets a freshly dark atmosphere on his synth pads, the cover toned with warbling chugs almost akin to a Rob Zombie hit.
But as A-class as her band is, it’s Gigi who steals the limelight. Her crisp rock tones are the ultimate match for this heavy track, brightening the cover with a unique, crawling horror; Gigi’s voice is truly authentic and unmatchable as she sinks into the creepshow atmospheres.
If Gigi was a fully devoted frontwoman for a rock band, this cover would be epic. By the blinding authenticity of her voice, it’d be easy to assume rock music was her forté. However, digging into Gigi’s musical versatility only amplifies the hype behind this cover.
In case you’ve never run across Gigi De Lana (or Gigi Vibes, her alternate stage name) before, her biography fills in the blanks: “From YouTube fame to global acclaim, Gigi Vibes conquers stages worldwide with heart-pounding classics, contagious beats, and electrifying musical versatility.” An online sensation, Gigi currently boasts over 2.3 million YouTube subscribers, over 1 million TikTok followers, and 840,000+ Instagram followers.
Her most popular YouTube video, boasting an incredible 61 million views, is the polar opposite to her Sam Smith cover – a soulful, old-school pop medley flocked with gospel vibes and topped with Gigi’s dazzlingly unique voice. Check it out in the video above, and get ready to be blown away by Gigi’s hypnotic ability to conquer covers in every genre, making each hit sound like her own.
This Sam Smith cover might leave us at The Music Man feeling robbed of Gigi’s fully-fleshed, rock-goddess era, but her extensive back-catalogue only proves what a rare addition to the music scene this star is, spreading her talent across whichever path sparks her interest, slaying seemingly every mix-matched set she takes on.
Gigi De Lana’s electrifying take on “Unholy” masterfully converges rock and pop, echoing Sam Smith’s haunting original with an invigorating twist. Her viral rendition showcases an astounding reinterpretation that captivates across genres. To delve deeper into this spectacular performance and more about Gigi’s artistry, explore the links below.