Singles supporting charities this Christmas
Melanie May | 14 December 2021 | News
With the 2021 Christmas number one announcement nearing, the big question is whether it will be one that’s benefitting a good cause.
With numerous singles out there doing just that – as well as many that aren’t – the latest Christmas number one odds put LadBaby Featuring Elton John and Ed Sheeran as the odds-on favourite with a current 1/8 chance (88.9% likelihood).
Gambling.com betting expert, Joe Short says:
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“It appears as though LadBaby was one step ahead of the bookies by teaming up with his fellow betting frontrunners and creating a song designed to create profit to help feed the hungry this Christmas. By joining forces, the trio look unstoppable and with odds of 1/8, punters would probably be better off buying the single to ensure their money goes to a good cause as there won’t be a lot of winnings to collect on such a short price.
“The odds swing has of course had an impact further down the list of contenders, with some huge names such as ABBA and Mariah Carey drifting as a result of ‘Sausage Rolls for Everyone’, which will be officially released on December 17. Having earned the UK Christmas number 1 gong in 2018, 2019, and 2020 for their charity offerings, it’s no surprise that LadBaby is favourite to win it in 2021 too.”
Elton John and Ed Sheeran’s Merry Christmas is also in the running – currently at 7/1 (12.5%) – and again, this is benefitting good causes, while ABBA is at 50/1 with just a 2% chance.
So here’s a round up of some of those singles that are raising funds through sales this Christmas for a varied range of good causes. Enjoy!
LadBaby are back and going for a fourth UK Christmas number one in a row. This year’s attempt is a version of Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s Merry Christmas, called Sausage Rolls For Everyone. It comes out on the 17 December, is now available for pre-order and will again go to the Trussell Trust.
The Portraits are performing a version of Ed Sheeran’s Photograph, with a video featuring 300 portraits of people who have lost their lives to Covid. Funds raised by the single will be donated to Cruse Bereavement Support and Mental Health Ireland.
BBC Children In Need has unveiled its first-ever charity single. It features TV favourites from the hit CBBC show Andy And The Odd Socks. The CBBC stars have produced a festive double A-side record with the proceeds going towards the charity. The double A-side record includes a cover of Shakin’ Stevens’ Merry Christmas Everyone as well a new original song called We’re All Together (At Christmas Time).
Our Hospitality Voices, a group made up of customers, employees and industry legends, including Celebrity Chef and Patron of Hospitality Action Brian Turner CBE, has launched a charity Christmas single raising funds for Hospitality Action to support those who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Songwriters Tony Hall, Steve Jones and Ian Thompson have written “Welcome”, raising money for the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds. Rugby League legend Rob Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in December 2019. Since then he has publicly championed raising funds and awareness for everyone impacted by the disease with his latest goal to realise the dream of a new MND Care Centre in Leeds, that will bear his name.
Wolverhampton Samaritans has recorded At Christmas, to raise awareness that they are still open and operating at Christmas for anyone who needs them.
Leeds-based Get Your Media has created a video for ‘Rate My Takeaway’ YouTube personality Danny Malin, for his Christmas charity single. The video was shot in locations around Leeds in seven days and all proceeds from the single will go to charities Trussell Trust and MIND.
Here’s a song that benefits Crisis, written by Johnny Daukes, along with Pepper and Betty. They’ve been making a Christmas song every year since 2010, and since 2015 it’s been in aid of the charity.
The Irish Chamber Orchestra has launched a Christmas single with Eurovision winner Johnny Logan – a version of Driving Home for Christmas. The single raises funds for Parkinson’s Association of Ireland (PAI) & ICO’s free education programmes.
The Church of England has announced its first Christmas single, a version of In the Bleak Midwinter, sung by St Martin’s Voices at the London church St Martin-in-the-Fields. The single has been composed by Rebecca Dale and all royalties from the digital streams and downloads of the track will be donated to charities supporting people who are homeless in the UK.
Ed Sheeran and Elton John have teamed up to bring up Merry Christmas. The track will raise money for the stars’ charities, the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation and The Elton John Aids Foundation.
GYPSY PISTOLEROS, flamenco rock rumba punk ‘n’ roll pioneers, are aiming for the Christmas No.1 spot with a version of Livin la Vida Loca! The full release is on 17 December, with all proceeds going to Shelter.
M&S Romford have an excellent Christmas tune – and they’re donating proceeds to Together for Short Lives and Shelter.
Here’s one raising money for Crisis and Age UK. Over £1,100 has been donated so far from “Christmas Crackers” by Phil & Evie Goodman.
ABBA’s new single Little Things is also benefitting charity, with the band members donating all royalty payments to UNICEF. ABBA’s contributions will be paid into UNICEF’s Global Child Protection Fund.
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.