halsey jonas brothers cover
[Courtesy of BBC Radio 1/Republic Records]

Flashback: Hear Halsey's sultry, stripped-down cover of Jonas Brothers' "Sucker"

This is Flashback, where we’re reminiscing about some of the most iconic and obscure moments in alt-rock history. This week, we’re looking at when Halsey covered “Sucker” by Jonas Brothers in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge.

The Jonas Brothers may have made pop-rock for most of their career, but the band also has a history with pop punk. Their first album, 2006’s It’s About Time, was full of pop-punk influence — like their cover of “Year 3000” by Busted, which became their breakout hit.

Read more: Every Halsey album ranked

Halsey is another pop artist with alt-rock history — from being a devoted fan of the genre to collaborating with scene staples. While Halsey and the Jonas Brothers have yet to officially team up for the ultimate pop-rock collaboration, the singer has in fact covered the JoBros in the past.

She didn’t give them a pop-punk bent, though. Rather, when she covered their 2019 chart-topper “Sucker” for BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge that year, she turned it into a sensual jazz number. Slowed down from the original and with the addition of a saxophone, Halsey brings out the lustful qualities of the song, even growling at times in the chorus.

Watch the performance below.