Today’s Performance Choice of the Day is none other than the immaculate Robyn.
One of her most illustrious catalogue tracks, it’s “With Every Heartbeat”—performed live from Radio 1 Big Weekend, Maidstone, UK, circa 2008. A moment of pure pop transcendence, where vulnerability meets synth-driven power.
This era marked Robyn’s triumphant return to the global stage. After early success in the late ’90s with hits like “Show Me Love” and “Do You Know (What It Takes)”, she broke away from major label constraints and launched her own imprint, Konichiwa Records. That independence led to the release of her self-titled album Robyn, which included “With Every Heartbeat”—a collaboration with Swedish producer Kleerup.
Released in 2007, the track was a chart-topping hit in the UK, praised for its unconventional structure, absence of a traditional chorus, and emotional string arrangements. It was inspired by Giorgio Moroder and even ZZ Top’s “Legs”. Critics and fans alike hailed it as one of the best pop songs of the decade, with Popjustice naming it the best single of 2007.
By 2008, Robyn was riding a wave of critical acclaim and cult fandom. Her performance at Big Weekend was part of a broader movement in pop—where artists like Robyn, Goldfrapp, and La Roux were redefining electronic music with emotional depth and DIY ethos.
Press play and let the nostalgia wash over you: the tender yet pulsating beats of “With Every Heartbeat” still hit like a sonic hug.
