Since the beginning of the single chart in 1952 there has been one spot more prestigious than any other; the Christmas number 1.
This year Paul McCartney joined forces with others such as Robbie Williams, Mel C, Paloma Faith, the Clash guitarist Mick Jones and Holly Johnson from Frankie Goes to Hollywood to make a charity single by covering Hollies “He aint’ heavy, he’s my brother”. The group which goes under the name “The Justice Collective” hope to raise money for the Hillsborough campaign and to the families for their future legal expenses while they continue to fight for justice after the 1989 football tragedy.
Not only musicians participate in the project, Liverpool MP Steve Rotheram former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish and comedian John Bishop also joined in.
Tony Barrett, football writer for the times said: “The Hillsborough charity single is brilliant. I’d say that even if it wasn’t but it really is. All we have to do now is buy it.” He is just one of many who is now encouraging people to make the song his years Christmas number one.
Hillsborough Charity Single “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” Release date – 17 December. Let’s make it the Xmas No. 1 #JFT96 – Sir Kenny Dalglish
According to BBC bookmakers have the track down as a solid contender to be this years Christmas number 1.
Fighting the up coming X-factor winner for the title.
Here are our top five charity singles of all times
We are the world
Released in 1985 to create awareness about the Famine in Ethiopia. Sold more than 20 million copies worldwide and raised more than £63 million for charity. Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie the song featured artist such as Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Ray Charles.
Do they know it’s Christmas?
Written in 1984 by Bob Geldof to create awareness of the famine in Ethiopia and was the inspiration to ‘We are the world’ a year later. Preformed by Band Aid, a group consistent of people such as Bono, George Michael, Phil Collins, Boy George and Sting. It sold more than 3 million copies and has been remade on two other occasions, in 1989 by Band Aid 2 and in 2004 by Band Aid 20.
Candle in the wind
Written by Elton John originally in memorial of Marilyn Monroe, but became famous after it was re-recorded and used after the death of Princess Diana in 1997. The song sold more than 33 million copies worldwide and is one of the most selling singles of all times. All the income for the sales goes to Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Found.
Everybody Hurts
The song was originally recorded in 1990 by R.E.M, but after a request from Prime Minister Gordon Brown Simon Cowell assembled artist to re-record the song and raise money for relief work after the Haiti earthquake in 2010. The song is preformed by artist such as Susan Boyle, Leona Lewis, Rod Stewart, Kylie Minogue and Jon Bon Jovi. The song is also the fastest selling single in the century in the UK according to Official Charts Company.
What’s going on?
The remix of Marvin Gayes song was preformed by All-Star tribute which consisted of P. Diddy, Jermaine Dupree, Bono, Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears among others. The song was originally produced in 2001 to create awareness about AIDS and help aid third world countries in their fight against the disease. However, since the song was recorded only weeks before 9/11 it was later decided that some of the proceeds would go to the America’s Red Cross september 11th fund.
Main image: Terry Robinson
