Cher Lloyd offers a bold take on a Katy Perry hit, and the performance lands with assurance. The UK singer, known for her breakout single Want U Back and the album Sticks and Stones, returns with a version that crafts its own pulse while honoring the song’s sparkle. The interpretation stays faithful to the melody yet lets Lloyd’s distinctive voice carry subtle, personal twists, giving the familiar tune a refreshed energy. You can hear her crisp enunciation in the verses, a touch of rasp in the chorus, and a drift toward a warmer, lullaby-like bridge that still propels the track forward. The production feels clean and immediate, letting the vocal performance take center stage rather than heavy instrumentation. It is a rendition that will resonate with longtime fans and new listeners alike, proof that a pop classic can glow again in capable hands, even when the arrangement remains faithful to the original structure.
Across her career, Cher Lloyd has journeyed from a chart-topping debut to an enduring presence on the international pop scene. The UK native first burst onto the scene with Want U Back, a gleaming track that traveled far beyond her homeland and connected with audiences worldwide. Her subsequent album Sticks and Stones broadened her sonic scope, merging candy-sweet hooks with sharper storytelling and a more confident delivery. The E.T. cover demonstrates that growth in real time: the tempo holds just enough swing to keep the energy buoyant, while the vocal lines ride a slightly lower register that grants a new texture to Perry’s famous chorus. The choice to emphasize breath control and precise consonants adds a sense of polish that casual listeners can appreciate on first listen, yet rewards repeat listening for the sly phrasing and tonal shifts. This progression is audible in her version, a performance that moves from playful homage to a confident, unmistakable interpretation within the familiar framework.
At the Billboard Women in Music Candid Covers event last Friday, Lloyd stepped into the spotlight to perform E.T. in front of a watchful audience that included Katy Perry, Ciara, Carly Rae Jepsen and several other stars. The setting felt both festive and intimate, with Lloyd inserting a few tasteful twists such as tempo shifts and small vocal inflections that reframed the chorus while preserving the spirit of the original. Her voice sits higher and lighter in verse transitions, then gathers intensity at key moments to lift the peak of the chorus. The band supports with subtle synth textures and a restrained rhythm section, ensuring the focus remains on the vocal line and expression. The crowd welcomed the rendition with warmth and applause, and the moment underscored Lloyd’s ability to reinterpret a beloved hit while staying true to her vocal personality, inviting fans to hear a familiar song through a different artistic lens.
For fans who want to hear it again, the clip below captures the moment and invites listeners to compare the two versions side by side. The E.T. cover demonstrates how a well-known track can be reimagined by an artist who respects the source material and adds something personal to it. Cher Lloyd’s take on E.T. stands as a reminder that pop music remains vibrant when proven performers bring new energy to classic moments, especially when a performer from the British pop scene can connect with American audiences through a shared love for well-crafted hooks and magnetic delivery. It is the kind of rendition that spurs discussions about interpretation versus imitation and reminds listeners that sometimes a favorite song sounds like it was written again, only with a fresh voice steering the ship.