Girls Aloud release new single I’ll Stand By You (Sarah’s Edition) for Children In Need

This year, Girls Aloud came together for an arena tour as a four-member group after the heartbreaking loss of Sarah Harding in 2021. (Getty)

To support the BBC's Children In Need, the pop band Girls Aloud has launched a new rendition of "I'll Stand By You" today (November 15) in line with the charity's telethon taking place this evening.

"I'll Stand By You" was first performed by The Pretenders in 1994, but it was later covered by Girls Aloud in 2004 for the Children In Need charity campaign. Their version became the official charity single and soared to the top of the UK charts that year.

The latest release, named “I’ll Stand By You (Sarah’s Version)“, showcases the late Sarah Harding as the sole vocalist. This serves as a heartfelt homage to Harding, who passed away in 2021 after her struggle with advanced breast cancer. Her bandmates expressed their profound sorrow when they learned of her passing.

In a recent announcement about their latest song, Girls Aloud shared: “This year, we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of our single ‘I’ll Stand By You’ for BBC Children in Need. To commemorate our wonderful Sarah, we’re putting out a new studio version of the song to support BBC Children in Need once more.”

"I'll Stand By You (Sarah's Version) showcases Sarah as the main vocalist, utilizing vocal tracks we unearthed from the original recording sessions."

Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts, Kimberley Walsh, and Cheryl, the last four members of Girls Aloud, took to the stage this summer for their first performance since Harding's passing. They sang hits like "Untouchable," "Whole Lotta History," and "I’ll Stand By You," accompanied by video clips of Harding, which played in the background while they shared memories of her on stage.

“The song was a significant element of our ‘The Girls Aloud Show’ arena tour this summer, and it brought a heartfelt experience for everyone involved,” they shared.

Chrissie Hynde, the lead singer of The Pretenders, expressed her delight at hearing the song featuring the beautiful vocals of Sarah Harding for BBC Children in Need. Hynde collaborated on the song with her bandmates Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly.

Every penny earned from the single will be directed towards Children In Need initiatives that support young people in various communities throughout the UK, including those from LGBTQ+ backgrounds.

This is happening only two days before ITV is set to broadcast The Girls Aloud Show: Live at the O2, which was filmed during their tour, on what would have been Harding's 43rd birthday.

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