OneRepublic might be best remembered as the hitmakers behind “Stop and Stare,” “Chasing Stars,” and the Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack, “I Ain’t Worried.” But when the Colorado band rocked up to Pinkpop festival, the spotlight fell on their debut single, “Apologize,” — with this impeccable, live and acoustic rendition amassing over 106 million views to date!
OneRepublic’s atmospheric intro melts into a staggering piano riff by the band’s frontman, Ryan Tedder, who attacks the grand piano like Chopin, thundering out an extravagant cacophony of notes soaked in beauty and wonder. Once Ryan’s classical wizardry bleeds into the iconic chords of “Apologize,” the Pinkpop crowd goes wild, chanting every emotional lyric in a choir of multi-thousands.
But this isn’t your usual rendition of “Apologize” by a long shot. The band’s 2007 single, in collaboration with Timbaland, uplifts its ballad chorus with a drum machine, the beat driving the song out of its simmering, inner melancholy. But taking the hit to the Pinkpop stage, OneRepublic carves out that electro excess, letting a live cello carry the weight of the emotion without pandering to those radio-pop tropes that dimmed the track’s core power.
Matched with Ryan’s soulful ad-libs and the swelling voices of their vast audience, this live version practically tops the studio original.
However, OneRepublic hadn’t finished stunning their fans just yet. At the moment their hit single draws to a close, Ryan sends the Pinkpop crowd wild when he belts the chorus lyrics of Sam Smith’s recently released chart-topper, “Stay With Me.” The crowd’s reaction is bound to give any Music Man reader goosebumps – voices rising from the pit chanting those legendary lyrics at the top of their lungs. When the rich sound of the cello flocks to the power of Ryan’s grand piano, the moment is simply golden.
Even more stunning is Ryan’s voice; his raspy tones and unimaginably high notes are an impeccable match for this ballad, on par with Sam Smith’s own version.
You don’t have to be a bubblegum pop fan to fall in love with this viral clip. As one top commenter over on YouTube wrote, ”No matter what “genre” you lean to, this is the greatest live performance I’ve ever seen or heard. Chills and tears… and I’m a metal guy! Love the PASSION and the undeniable talent!”
OneRepublic continues to captivate audiences with their ability to transform hits like “Apologize” into mesmerizing live masterpieces. This raw and emotional version demonstrates their profound musical depth and creativity. To delve deeper into OneRepublic’s journey and explore more of their electrifying performances, check out the useful links below.