You Oughta Know postmortem

YOU OUGHTA WATCH: Last night’s VH1 You Oughta Know concert provided a lively forum for Lorde, HAIM, Emeli Sande, The Lumineers, Ed Sheeran, Matt Nathanson and Johnnyswim—all of whom had been beneficiaries of the network’s program to boost up-and-coming artists. Among the highlights of the evening's performances, filmed at New York’s historic (and soon to be shuttered) Roseland Ballroom: Sande’s emotional “Next to Me”; Lorde’s mesmerizing take on “Royals” (a sea of phones glittering in the crowd as the legions in attendance recorded it); HAIM’s spunky, rocking “The Wire” and beguiling rendition (with Lorde) of Sheryl Crow’s “Strong Enough”; and the all-hands-on-deck finale of The Lumineers’ hit “Ho Hey.” Taped interludes, meanwhile, tasked the artists with quirky creative assignments and biographical show-and-tell (under the antic supervision of Rainn Wilson). All in all, it was an inventive showcase that not only showed off the talent of these young performers but demonstrated that fresh magic was possible when they shared a stage. (11/22a)