Earlier this year, British girl group Girls Aloud reunited for a run of shows in the U.K. and Ireland, their first since 2013. It was their first as a quartet following the death of member Sarah Harding, who passed away in 2021 aged 39, following complications from breast cancer.
The group have now shared news of the upcoming release of “I’ll Stand By You (Sarah’s Version),” which will raise money for the BBC charity event Children In Need. The song will be released on Nov. 15 during the TV airing of the event.
“I’ll Stand By You” was first recorded by the group in 2004 for Children In Need and the ballad topped the U.K. Singles Charts for two weeks upon release. The new version features solely Harding’s vocals, and was inspired by the version performed at those reunion concerts in the summer. The group last released original music in 2012 via the greatest hits compilation Ten.
The song was originally a single for The Pretenders, written by singer 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 of the new version: “How wonderful to hear ‘I’ll Stand By You’ with the lovely vocals of Sarah Harding leading the way for BBC Children in Need.”
After premiering on BBC Radio 2 this morning (Nov. 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 O2, will air on ITV 1 and the full show will appear on streaming service ITV X. An air date has yet to be confirmed.
Children In Need raises money for disadvantaged children across the U.K. and Ireland and takes place on a yearly basis. Previous charity singles for the event have been recorded by S Club 7, Will Young, Jess Glynne and McFly.