Comic Relief has been raising money for Africa and projects in the UK since 1986. The Comic relief charity single has become as much a part of the fundraising drive as the iconic Red nose itself.
Since April 1986 , there have been 21 singles released , 13 of which have hit the top spot. Spice Girls , Bananarama , Boyzone , Per Shop Boys and this year One Direction have all released songs for the charity.
From the 21 singles released , I've compiled a definitive Top 5 of Comic Relief's greatest singles
5. Pet Shop Boys -Absolutely Fabulous (UK Number 6, May 1994 )
Featuring snippets of dialogue from Patsy and Eddie , this track was suitably camp as Christmas in the most blatant yet comedic way.
The dialogue used is genius , set to a Europop beat and Neil Tennants one word chorus. Fabulous darling
4. McFly -All About You ( UK Number 1 , March 2005 )
Possibly McFly's greatest moment as this soared to the top in 2005. McFly had been huge at the time , something Comic Relief cashed in on numerous times throughout the past 25 years. Recruit the pop act of the moment and let them loose on an old 80;s pop classic. It worked most of the time, Although , this iriginal song deserved it success. One of the charitys better chosen songs
3. Spice Girls -Mama/Who Do You Think You Are ( UK Number 1 , March 1997 )
The only Comic Relief song I've ever bought. Pairing the biggest pop phenomenon in the world with the charity was a stroke of genius. It gave us an alternative video for Who Do You Think You Are featurign the Sugarlumps. Lulu as Baby Spice , Dawn French;s hilarious turn as Posh Spice and Jennifer Saunders as Ginger. Kathy Burke was Sporty Spice. It remains one of Comic Reliefs most memorable musical moments. The double A side was Number1 for 3 weeks and the Spice Girls were on top of the world
2. Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay - (Is This The Way To ) Amarillo (UK Number 1 , March 2005 )
What started as a spoof featuring Peter Kay lip synching to 70;s crooner Tony Christie , flanked by the likes of Ken and Deirdre from Corrie , Shakin Stevens , Shaun Ryder and Bez , Michael Parkinson and most memorably Ronnie Corbett. It became a phenomenon. The video was one of the highlights of that years telethon. The single was released to huge demand where it subsequently spent a massive seven weeks at Number 1.
It single handedly resurrected Tony Christie;s career and made Peter Kay a national treasure. The longest reigning UK Number 1 in almost seven years. The track has since sold over 1 million copies in the UK alone , making it one of Comic Reliefs most successful and beloved singles
1. Cher , Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton -Love can Build A Bridge ( UK Number 1 , March 1995 )
This blockbuster collaboration , for me , remains the greatest Comic Relief charity single of all time. Three heavyweight female vocalists on an old country song by The Judds, It was tender yet rousing , a perfect song to soundtrack that years fundraising drive. Eric Clapton's guitar solo stops it from becoming a sombre , saccharine laced power ballad. Instead , it's the charity's greatest music moment. And one they should perhaps try and replicate in some form for future campaigns
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