Last week Simon Cowell announced that he’d begun making phone calls to gather an all-star group of artists for a charity single benefiting the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in London. According to the NME, the single is expected out on Wednesday (June 21) and artists including Craig David, Emeli Sandé, James Blunt, Rita Ora and the Libertines’ Carl Barat were spotted heading into a Notting Hill studio to record the song over the weekend.
The track they’re collaborating on is said to be a cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” It was originally slated for release on Monday (June 19), but has reportedly been pushed back to allow time for Celine Dion and Robbie Williams to record their vocals. Good Morning Britain host Philippa Tomson wrote on Sunday (June 18) that the song was expected to drop a week after the fire engulfed the residential tower, with 79 people feared dead at press time. A spokesperson for Cowell could not be reached for comment at press time.
Artists For Grenfell charity single – available for download on Wed from 8am. Exactly a week after the disaster. It’s sounding incredible —
— PHILIPPA TOMSON (@PipTomson) June 18, 2017
Tomson has tweeted that she’s been speaking to Cowell exclusively about the progress of the single and she’s posted updates on its contributors, which reportedly also include a choir of 300 people, among them local residents and singers. The Guardian reported that rapper Stormzy, Stereophonics singer Kelly Jones and X Factor winner Louisa Johnson are involved.
MTV News UK claimed to have a fuller list of contributors, which is said to include: Liam Payne, James Arthur, the London Community Gospel Choir, Who singer Roger Daltrey, Paloma Faith, Jessie J, Labrinth, Leona Lewis, Dua Lipa, Queen guitarist Brian May and Louis Tomlinson.
I understand @emelisande and @louisa duetted today on #GrenfellTower charity single. They sounded incredible! More on @gmb tomorrow —
— PHILIPPA TOMSON (@PipTomson) June 18, 2017
Celine Dion, Robbie Williams, Emeli Sande. Some of the stars recording the Artists For Grenfell single. Released on Wed. More on @gmb MON
— PHILIPPA TOMSON (@PipTomson) June 18, 2017
Emeli Sande, Pixie Lott, Gareth Malone, Shane Filan. All been chatting to me about Artists For Grenfell single. Out on Wed. More on @gmb MON
— PHILIPPA TOMSON (@PipTomson) June 18, 2017
Artists For Grenfell charity single – available for download on Wed from 8am. Exactly a week after the disaster. It’s sounding incredible —
— PHILIPPA TOMSON (@PipTomson) June 18, 2017
Others have also been tweeting about the sessions for the song:
Recorded a chorus with other West Londoners today for the #GrenfellTower #charity single led by @GarethMalone! So emotional! #Grenfell ——– pic.twitter.com/wOamvNsXZT
— Conleth Kane (@ConlethKane) June 18, 2017