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[awardinary]

It's a common known fact that most songs which are used as official charity singles are covers of previous chart hits, often performed by the most mainstream artists at the time of release. Such charities as BBC's Children In Need, Comic Relief and Sport Relief have always had a supporting single to help push donations forward, and here is a concise list of those singles, along with any others I could recall from over the years.

BBC Children In Need

Clannad – Almost Seems (Too Late To Turn) {#80 in 1985}
The County Line – Heroes {Did Not Chart in 1986}
Spirit Of Play with Paul McCartney – Children In Need {Did Not Chart in 1988}
BBC Children In Need Choir – If You Want To Help {#78 in 1989}
Patsy Palmer & Sid Owen – You Better Believe It (Children In Need) {#60 in 1995}
Lou Reed and Various Artists – Perfect Day {#1 in 1997}
Denise & Johnny – Especially For You {#3 in 1998}
Martine McCutcheon – Love Me {#6 in 1999}
S Club 7 – Never Had A Dream Come True {#1 in 2000}
S Club 7 – Have You Ever {#1 in 2001}
Will Young – Don't Let Me Down {#2 in 2002}
Will Young – You And I {#2 in 2002}
Shane Richie – I'm Your Man {#2 in 2003}
Girls Aloud – I'll Stand By You {#1 in 2004}
Liberty X – A Night To Remember {#6 in 2005}
Emma Bunton – Downtown {#3 in 2006}
Spice Girls – Headlines (Friendship Never Ends) {#11 in 2007}
McFly – Do Ya {#18 in 2008}
Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band – The Official BBC Children In Need Medley {#1 in 2009}
JLS – Love You More {#1 in 2010}
The Collective – Teardrop {#24 in 2011}
Girls Aloud – Something New {#2 in 2012}
Ellie Goulding – How Long Will I Love You {#3 in 2013}
Gareth Malone's All Star Choir – Wake Me Up {#1 in 2014}
Brian Wilson & Various Artists – God Only Knows {#20 in 2014}
Jess Glynne – Take Me Home {#6 in 2015}
Craig David – All We Needed {#42 in 2016}

Comic Relief

Cliff Richard and the cast of The Young Ones – Living Doll {#1 in 1986}
Mel & Kim – Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree {#3 in 1987}
Bananarama & La Na Nee Nee Noo Noo – Help! {#3 in 1989}
Hale & Pace – The Stonk {#1 in 1989}
Victoria Wood – The Smile Song {#1 in 1989}
Smear Campaign – I Want To Be Elected {#9 in 1992}
Right Said Fred – Stick It Out {#4 in 1993}
Absolutely Fabulous – Absolutely Fabulous {#6 in 1994}
Cher, Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry & Eric Clapton – Love Can Build A Bridge {#1 in 1995}
Spice Girls – Mama {#1 in 1997}
Spice Girls – Who Do You Think You Are {#1 in 1997}
Boyzone – When The Going Gets Tough {#1 in 1999}
Westlife – Uptown Girl {#1 in 2001}
Gareth Gates with The Kumars – Spirit In The Sky {#1 in 2003}
McFly – All About You {#1 in 2005}
McFly – You've Got A Friend {#1 in 2005}
Tony Christie & Peter Kay – Is This The Way To Amarillo {#1 in 2005}
Sugababes vs. Girls Aloud – Walk This Way {#1 in 2007}
The Proclaimers with Brian Potter & Andy Pipkin – I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) {#1 in 2007}
The Saturdays – Just Can't Get Enough {#2 in 2009}
Vanessa Jenkins, Bryn West & Tom Jones feat. Robin Gibb – Island In The Stream {#1 in 2009}
The Wanted – Gold Forever {#3 in 2011}
Susan Boyle & Geraldine McQueen – I Know Him So Well {#11 in 2011}
One Direction – One Way Or Another (Teenage Kicks) {#1 in 2013}
Sam Smith feat. John Legend – Lay Me Down {#1 in 2015}

Sport Relief

Elton John feat. Alessandro Safina – Your Song {#4 in 2002}
Rachel Stevens – Some Girls {#2 in 2004}
McFly – Don't Stop Me Now {#1 in 2006}
McFly – Please Please {#1 in 2006}
Leona Lewis – Better In Time {#2 in 2008}
Leona Lewis – Footprints In The Sand {#2 in 2008}
Robbie Williams – Morning Sun {#45 in 2010}
JLS – Proud {#6 in 2012}
Little Mix – Word Up! {#6 in 2014}
James Bay – Running [Live from Abbey Road Studios] {#60 in 2016}

Other

Artists Against AIDS Worldwide – What's Going On {#6 in 2001}
Artists For Children's Promise – It's Only Rock 'N Roll (But I Like It) {#19 in 1999}
Artists Stand Up To Cancer – Just Stand Up {#26 in 2008}
Band Aid – Do They Know It's Christmas? {#1 in 1984}
Band Aid II – Do They Know It's Christmas? {#1 in 1989}
Band Aid 20 – Do They Know It's Christmas? {#1 in 2004}
Band Aid 30 – Do They Know It's Christmas? {#1 in 2014}
Ben Haenow – Something I Need {#1 in 2014}
Childliners – The Gift Of Christmas {#9 in 1995}
Ferry Aid – Let It Be {#1 in 1987}
Hear 'N Aid – Stars {#26 in 1986}
Helping Haiti – Everybody Hurts {#1 in 2010}
James Arthur – Impossible {#1 in 2012}
The Justice Collective – He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother {#1 in 2012}
The Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir – A Bridge Over You {#1 in 2016}
Live Aid Armenia – What's Going On {DNC in 1989}
Louisa Johnson – Forever Young {#9 in 2015}
Military Wives with Gareth Malone – Wherever You Are {#1 in 2011}
Music Relief – What's Going On? {#70 in 1994}
Rock Aid Armenia – Smoke On The Water {#39 in 1989}
Sam Bailey – Skyscraper {#1 in 2013}
Smokin' Mojo Filters – Come Together {#19 in 1995}
Taylor Swift – Ronan {DNC in 2012}
The X Factor Finalists 2008 – Hero {#1 in 2008}
The X Factor Finalists 2009 – You Are Not Alone {#1 in 2009}
The X Factor Finalists 2010 – Heroes {#1 in 2010}
The X Factor Finalists feat. JLS & One Direction – Wishing On A Star {#1 in 2011}

As always, if you can think of others, please reply so I can add them to the list.

Which one is your all time favourite?

In my case, I seem to prefer the "All-Star Various Artists" collaborations which showcases the vocals of many of my favourite recording artists into one song. It's hard to pick my all time favourite, but I think I've made up my mind that it is;

Tony Christie & Peter Kay – Is This The Way To Amarillo

This post has been edited by awardinary™: Feb 18 2017, 12:03 AM