Earlier this year, British girl group Girls Aloud reunited for a series of shows in the UK and Ireland, their first since 2013. It was their first as a quartet following the death of member Sarah Harding, who died in 2021 aged 39 years old, after complications from breast cancer.
The band have now shared news of the upcoming release of “I'll Stand By You (Sarah's Version),” which will raise money for the BBC's charity event Children in need. The song will be released on November 15 during the telecast of the event.
“I'll Stand By You” was first recorded by the band in 2004 for Children in need and the ballad climaxed the UK Singles Charts for two weeks after release. The new version features Harding's vocals exclusively and was inspired by the version performed at those reunion shows over the summer. The band last released original music in 2012 via the greatest hits compilation Ten.
The song was originally a single for The Pretenders, written by singers Chrissie Hynde, Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, and hit No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its release in 1994. According to a press release, Hynde said on the new version : “How wonderful to hear 'I'll Stand By You' with Sarah Harding's beautiful vocals leading the way on the BBC Children in Need.”
After the premiere on BBC Radio 2 this morning (November 6), bandmate Nadine Coyle said the new version was a tribute to “our wonderful Sarah”. Later this year a filmed version of the group's reunion will be shown on television. A one hour special, The Girls Aloud Show: Live at The O2will be shown on ITV 1 and the full show will appear on streaming service ITV X. The broadcast date is yet to be confirmed.
Children in need raises money for disadvantaged children across the UK and Ireland and is held annually. Previous charity singles for the event have been recorded by S Club 7, Will Young, Jess Glynne and McFly.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/girls-aloud-first-new-music-12-years-sarah-harding-vocals-ill-stand-by-you-1235821218/
