Girls Aloud are releasing an emotional new version of ‘I’ll Stand By You’ for BBC Children In Need.
The update to the song, titled ‘I’ll Stand By You – Sarah’s Version’, features the late Sarah Harding exclusively on lead vocals and comes 20 years after the band topped the charts with their cover of The Pretenders hit for the charity.
Sarah’s vocals were discovered in the Girls Aloud vault as ‘The Promise’ group were putting together material for their sell-out The Girls Aloud Show arena tour earlier this year that featured remaining members Cheryl, Nicola Roberts, Nadine Coyle and Kimberley Walsh.
The track featuring Sarah – who passed away aged 39 in 2021 after a battle with breast cancer – was a highlight of the tour and a freshly produced studio version will be released on November 15 as a special charity single in support of BBC Children In Need.
A post on Girls Aloud’s Instagram page said: “‘I’ll Stand By You (Sarah’s Version)’ features Sarah on lead vocal throughout using vocals we discovered in the Girls Aloud vault from the original recording sessions.
“The track played a key role in our The Girls Aloud Show arena tour this summer and was an emotional moment for us.”
‘I’ll Stand By You – Sarah’s Version’ premiered on ‘The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show’ on BBC Radio 2 on Wednesday (06.11.24) and a new edit of the original video with unseen archive footage will be released during the BBC Children In Need Appeal Show on November 15.
The Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde – who wrote the song with Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly – said: “How wonderful to hear ‘I’ll Stand By You’ with the lovely vocals of Sarah Harding leading the way for BBC Children In Need. Happy Christmas all!”
Proceeds from the single will benefit BBC Children In Need projects working with children in communities across the UK facing a variety of challenges, including those supporting children with cancer.