I Wish for You the World
| "I Wish For You the World" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Games Maker Choir featuring Alistair Griffin | ||||
| Released | 16 December 2012 | |||
| Recorded | October 2012 | |||
| Length | 3:16 | |||
| Label | Decca Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Alistair Griffin, Richard Chance | |||
| Producer(s) | David Watts, Richard Chance, Alistair Griffin | |||
| Alistair Griffin singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "I Wish For You the World" on YouTube | ||||
"I Wish For You the World" is a 2012 song by Games Maker Choir featuring Alistair Griffin. It was composed on the occasion of 2012 Summer Olympics by Griffin and songwriter/composer Richard Chance, who writes music for television and film. The single was released officially on 16 December 2012 as a UK Christmas single on Decca Records. The proceeds from the single went to the British Olympic Foundation and the British Paralympic Association.[1]
The song was promoted with videos and messages of support from the mayor of London Boris Johnson[2] and many Olympic athletes, notably rowers Katherine Grainger, Andrew Triggs Hodge and Great Britain Rowers team[3] and by tenor Alfie Boe.
Mayor Johnson said about the song:
This song is a great tribute to the feelings of pride, inspiration and goodwill that spread throughout the country during the 2012 Games. I wish everyone involved the best of luck in their efforts in keeping the Olympic spirit alive.
Background
[edit]The Games Maker Choir had been put up during the Olympics when Victoria Verbi, a university student and Games Maker on the Olympic Park, placed a call for singers in the volunteers' newsletter.[4] Within two days she had more than 200 members and the choir went on to perform at several locations around the Olympic Park and on local radio during the Olympics.[5]
Alistair Griffin wanted to record a song he had been inspired to write whilst attending the Olympic Games[6] and knew about the existence of the choir and invited them in October 2012 to take part in the recording.
Griffin says about his choice of the choir:
The idea and the sentiment of the song is about giving something back. Everyone involved hopes it will keep the Olympic spirit alive.
I wrote the song after being so affected by the Olympics, to reflect the amazing year we've had as a nation, and when I heard the Games Maker Choir I knew they had to sing it. They're the people who made the games and this is the people's song.
A select group of elite members of the 400 strong Choir held a rehearsal in The Actors Workshop in Covent Garden and the final recording was in Angel Recording Studios in Islington, London.
Support
[edit]The single received high-profile support from Boris Johnson.
On 16 December 2012, the choir performed it as part of the coverage of BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2012, performing on BBC Radio 5 Live.[7]
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2012) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 70 |
References
[edit]- ^ The Sunday Times (2012-12-16). "The real Olympic legacy". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on July 19, 2014. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
- ^ Gazette Live: Boris Johnson backs Boro fan and Olympic Games Makers Christmas single Archived 2013-02-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "I Wish For You The World - feat. Katherine Grainger, Andrew Triggs Hodge and the Team GB Rowers". YouTube. 2012-12-09. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
- ^ Russell Jenkins Published at 12:01AM, December 12, 2012 (2012-12-12). "Games choir aims for Christmas No 1". The Times. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Games Makers' Christmas single - ITV News". itv.com. 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
- ^ "Christmas 2012: Olympic Games Makers sing for victory". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
- ^ "BBC Radio 5 live - Sports Personality of the Year, 16/12/2012, Games Maker Choir sing I Wish for You the World". bbc.co.uk. 2012-12-16. Retrieved 2012-12-23.