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This one has been a year unlike any other, so it seems only fitting that this year's Christmas number one could also be also be, well, unlike any other. Hoping for this year's spot at the top, Justin Bieber [3] is teaming up with our wonderful NHS choir on a special version of his single "Holy."
Five years ago, Bieber and the NHS choir were both edging closer to becoming the number one in the charts, before Bieber urged his fans to buy the choir's version of "A Bridge Over You", over his 2015 single "Love Yourself." This year, Bieber reached out to the choir to perform their own version of his single, aiming to reach this year's Christmas number one. Proceeds from the single will be split between NHS Charities Together and the choir's local NHS Trust charity.
"Humbled" to work with the choir this year, Bieber revealed to The Independent [4] that "It's great to be reunited with the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS choir, as we share a fun bit of UK chart history together. Especially in these difficult times, I'm humbled to team up with them for a charity single that will benefit NHS workers on the frontlines of this pandemic and pay tribute to their unbelievable dedication."
The single was recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios, to which choir leader Caroline Smith said "to walk into Abbey Road … it was beautiful, and [the choir] hadn't seen each other in so long. It reminded me how talented everyone in the choir is, and hearing it played back with Justin's vocals was amazing."
Adding to this, she said that she was "so grateful" to Bieber and his team for reaching out after what has been "an incredibly tough year."
"Holy" by Justin Bieber and the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir is set for release on Friday 18 Dec.