John Lewis Christmas advert 2021: Who sings the song and who sang the original?

It’s Christmaaaaaaas (Picture: PA)

This John Lewis 2021 Christmas advert has landed with another cover track that will no doubt be stuck in our ends until the end of the year.

The heartwarming two-minute campaign, Unexpected Guest, follows a sweet story of a girl from space and a boy who shows her all the festive traditions and is set to a celestial version of the 80s bop Together in Electric Dream.

Previous adverts from the retailer have featured Sir Elton John’s Your Song as well as a whole array of covers ranging from The Beatles’ Golden Slumbers, Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know and Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want by The Smiths.

Here’s everything you need to know about the music featured in this time around.

Who sings the John Lewis Christmas advert 2021?

This year’s John Lewis Christmas advert features a rendition of Together in Electric Dream, which was originally released by The Human League’s Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder in 1984.

Lola Young is behind this year’s John Lewis Christmas advert cover (Picture: Getty)

Up-and-coming singer-songwriter Lola Young covers the song in the two-minute commercial.

The 20-year-old performer from South London is described as ‘fiercely independent and exceptionally talented’ and has been tipped to become the UK’s next biggest star.

Her debut collection of tracks and Renaissance EP received impressive critical acclaim and garnered radio support from the likes of Annie Mac, Clara Amfo, Benji B, Giles Peterson, Jo Wiley, Mistajam and DJ Target.

Since the middle of 2020, Lola has been in the studio writing with acclaimed producer Paul Epworth, working on a new collection of tracks that will form part of her output for 2021.

She has had two major television appearances this year, having guest performed on James Corden’s Late Late Show in September before going on to star on Later… With Jools Holland where she performed her track Fake.

Lola was initially enrolled at the world-famous Brit school where she found herself ‘musically and stylistically’.

After graduating, she began gigging non-stop around London before industry figureheads Nick Shymansky and Nick Hugget, who’ve managed the likes of Amy Winehouse and Adele, snapped her up.

Lola Young was a guest performer on James Corden’s Late Late Show earlier this year (Picture: Getty)

‘It’s all been a crash course in resilience,’ Lola previously said. ‘And when I say resilience, I mean you have to be able to know what you want. And you have to know what you are.

‘Actually, no one knows who they are but you can know what you’re trying to be. I always had a rough idea of what I was trying to be.’

Who sang the original?

The original version of Together in Electric Dreams was performed and written by The Human League’s lead singer Philip Oakey and Italian composer and producer Giorgio Moroder.

The song was recorded for the original soundtrack of the 1984 film Electric Dreams before forming part of the joint album the creators released in 1985.

Together in Electric Dreams is usually credited as a Human League single as it debuted at the height of the band’s stardom.

Because of this popularity, the track was included in the band’s various Greatest Hits compilation albums.

More: Christmas

Although the Human League have never recorded their own version, due to the song’s popularity the band frequently play their own version when they perform live, often as an encore.

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