Lorde calmed her nerves before performing her tribute to David Bowie at the BRIT Awards by imagining she was singing directly to the late rocker.
Lorde arriving at the Warner Music and Ciroc BRIT Awards Party
The 19-year-old musician was joined by Bowie's former touring band for her rendition of his track 'Life On Mars' which she sang in memory the late great artist - who passed away in January at the age of 69 after losing his battle with cancer.
Before stepping on stage at The O2 in London on Wednesday night (24.02.16), Lorde was suffering from major butterflies but she just reminded herself to forget the watching world and think of Bowie.
In Twitter posts, she revealed: "I was so nervous in the wings, and then i whispered to myself 'just sing it to david', and nothing else mattered ... Such an honour getting to perform #BRITs2016 paying tribute to my hero (sic)"
Lorde was backed by Mike Garson on piano, Gail Anne Dorsey on bass and Gerry Leonard and Earl Slick on guitars - all of whom played with Bowie on his 'A Reality Tour' in 2003 and 2004 - for her sombre cover which was preceded by a medley of Bowie's major hits, including 'Space Oddity', 'Rebel Rebel' and 'Under Pressure'.
Before the New Zealand songstress sang, Annie Lennox delivered a moving speech to the pop legend and Bowie's friend Gary Oldman accepted the BRITs Icon Award on his behalf, praising him for his "superhuman potential" and "remarkable music".
Lorde had been personally selected by Bowie's estate as she had been one his favourite new artists in the years leading up to his passing. The pair met when Lorde was just 16 at Bowie's request at a 2013 benefit honouring actress Tilda Swinton.
Lorde celebrated her performance by attending the Warner Music and Ciroc BRIT Awards Party held at Freemasons Hall in Covent Garden in the UK capital.
Other stars in attendance included Mark Ronson, Charlie XCX, Jess Glynne, Jourdan Dunn and Simon Le Bon among others.
Famous guests partied in the DSquared2 VIP Room where Grandmaster Flash, Diplo and Seb Chew took to the decks for DJ sets and many sipped on Ciroc cocktails.
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