In a performance that’s already being hailed as one of the most emotionally resonant Live Lounge sessions in recent memory, YUNGBLUD took the mic at BBC Radio 1 and delivered a spellbinding cover of Taylor Swift’s “cardigan.” But he didn’t stop there—midway through the delicate, piano-laced ballad, he wove in a surprise verse from Avril Lavigne’s early 2000s anthem “With You,” blending eras, genres, and emotions with astonishing ease.

Standing under moody lighting in all-black with his signature punk flair, YUNGBLUD (real name Dominic Harrison) channeled every ounce of vulnerability into the performance. Taylor’s lyrics—already heart-wrenching in her own version—took on a new edge in his voice. Cracks, sighs, and whispered confessions turned “cardigan” into a slow-burning cry from the soul. There was no overproduction. No flashy tricks. Just raw emotion and a connection that could be felt through the screen.

“Taylor’s words are timeless,” YUNGBLUD shared in a post-performance interview. “They’re delicate, but they cut deep. I wanted to honour that—and bring a little piece of myself into it too.”

That piece of himself came shining through during the unexpected transition into “With You” by Avril Lavigne. As he sang “I don’t know who you are, but I… I’m with you,” the crowd—and the internet—collectively lost their minds. It was a quiet explosion of nostalgia and emotional catharsis, bridging the gap between two generations of honest, heartbreak-fueled music.

The reaction online was immediate and intense:

 “YUNGBLUD covering cardigan and then flipping it into ‘With You’ by Avril Lavigne? GENIUS.”
 “This is what happens when poetry meets punk. I’m not okay and I love it.”
 “This is why the Live Lounge still matters. That was art.”

It wasn’t just a cover—it was a conversation between artists across time. Taylor’s introspective storytelling, Avril’s angst-laced yearning, and YUNGBLUD’s unapologetic sincerity fused into something unique, something modern, and yet drenched in early-2000s nostalgia.

The performance is already being bookmarked as one of the standout moments of the year, cementing YUNGBLUD’s place as not just a genre-defying artist, but a masterful interpreter of feeling.

“Music saved me,” he once said. “So I wanna make music that does that for someone else.”

Mission accomplished.

Watch the full performance on BBC Radio 1’s YouTube now.
And bring tissues.
Because this “cardigan” has been rewoven in tears, eyeliner, and truth.